Aggh! It's been so long! I'm working on ALL of my stories tonight. I'm full of turkey and loaded with inspiration. Gimmeh suggestions! I know where I'm going but I don't know how to get there! R&R, please! Reviews keep me eager to write more! I love criticism, seriously. It in no way offends me. Honest, unless you're rude about it, you will have me brimming with joy. Now, without further daft blethering (I love Leviathan, can't you tell?), I give you chapter four!
The minute Blackjack landed, he nearly knocked Percy down with the Pegasus equivalency of a hug. He wrapped his wings around Percy, very macho-like.
"Yeah, I missed you too, Blackjack. It must've been hard for you, what with nobody buying you doughnuts," Percy told his Pegasus, patting his nose. Blackjack nodded and backed up, sniffling.
Just now landing were Guido and Porkpie, who were carrying Rachel, Grover, and, strangest of all, Juniper, carrying a book bag.
"PERCY!" Rachel shouted, practically cannon-balling herself at Percy. He hugged her, then high-fived Grover.
Annabeth watched all this silently, not wanting to admit to herself that she was jealous. Come on, she hadn't seen Seaweed Brain in eight months. Annabeth was sure that she was permitted alone time with her boyfriend.
Percy grinned. "I thought I'd never see you again, man!"
"Juniper, how did you get here?" Annabeth asked.
Juniper pulled her book bag off and unzipped it, revealing a potted juniper bush. "I found a way around it! As long as I keep this with me, I can go wherever I want. It took forever to dig up, though, and I almost missed them. We were supposed to arrive earlier,"
"And you got here not a moment too soon. Look," Hazel said, pointing across the field. Jason and Reyna were walking toward them, about a foot apart and not talking. Reyna looked angry and sad, but Jason just looked plain tired. Annabeth couldn't blame him; this whole Reyna/Piper thing was just one of his problems.
"Percy, I don't think you've formally met Jason yet. He was your predecessor as praetor. Jason, this is Percy," Reyna said stiffly.
Percy and Jason shook hands, grinning at each other. It just so happened that Percy was wearing his purple Camp Jupiter shirt, while Jason was wearing his orange Camp Half-Blood shirt.
"Man, that must have made Octavian really mad," Jason said.
"Octavian?" Annabeth said.
Hazel scowled. "He's the camp augur. You'll meet him soon enough."
"So they don't have an oracle?" Rachel asked.
Reyna nearly laughed. "Of course we don't have an oracle! Why does this come as a surprise to every greacus that visits this camp?"
"Because I am the oracle! The first living on in over sixty years!" Rachel said, slightly offended. "And I am not a Greek, I'm a mortal!"
Reyna's eyes widened. "You're the oracle? If you're mortal, as you say, that would be very unlikely."
"Don't get me started," Rachel warned. "Sometimes I just spout prophecies, like- oh no…" Rachel doubled over. Jason caught her arm, and she immediately straightened up. He eyes glowed bright green, and when she spoke, her voice was tripled, as if there were three of her speaking.
"Seven half-bloods shall answer the call, to storm or fire the world must fall, an oath to keep with a final breath, and foes bear arms to the Doors of Death."
Rachel collapsed, and Juniper and Hazel helped her lay down on the sand. Reyna looked horrified. "You know that prophecy? It's a very old prophecy, one of the few we have. We've dreaded the time that it might come true-"
"That time is now," Annabeth said. "The seven have already been chosen. Percy, Jason, Leo, Piper, myself, and two others from your camp."
Percy nodded. "I already know who they are. Hazel and Frank," He told them.
"Where is Frank, anyway? And Leo?" Hazel asked, looking around. She looked nervous. Annabeth couldn't blame her.
Annabeth shrugged. "I don't know about Leo, but here comes Frank now."
Frank walked up to them. "What is up with the Mars children? The oldest girl, Clarisse, is terrible! How could they be my siblings?" He looked positively outraged.
"They're really Ares kids. Clarisse, well, she's just Clarisse. Once you get to know her, she's not really any better," Percy explained.
Frank shook his head in bewilderment. "And that guy, Chris, how can he stand her?"
Annabeth rolled her eyes. "Percy's just being stupid. Clarisse has been a really good friend. She's known Chris for a long time, and she helped save him from eternal madness. She more than just brawn and bulk, you know."
Frank mulled this over for a second. "I guess you're right. Mars told me some stuff about that; that being a child of Mars is about having a sense of duty."
From her spot away from everyone, Piper glanced their way, noticing the unusually large gathering. Annabeth waved her over, not wanting the girl to feel left out.
"Looks like everybody got here before me. But where's Leo?" Piper asked, her voice softer than normal.
Sighing Annabeth answered, "I think I'm going to have to look for him. Wanna come with?"
Piper nodded eagerly. "Yeah, sure. It would be nice to explore this place," she replied.
As she and Annabeth left the group, she heard Piper mutter beside her, "At least then I'll have someone to cheer me up a bit."
