Ugh. Okay, so if the last chapter didn't show it: s q u i r r e l s 1 4 . d e v i a n t a r t . c o m / # / d 2 x e 8 7 q (without the spaces)

Okay, I'll admit it. Cabin zero is pretty awesome. The outside was a smooth black stone. Random colourful bursts of energy travelled across it, and when I touched it, the energy would also encircle me (I once left my hand there too long, and since then, my hair has had a few weak highlights).

The inside was full of posters of bands that I liked (you hear quite a bit when you live on the streets for seven years), and a rack of CDs went around the whole room, while one of them was playing in the stereo next to the bed. I must say, the bed was cool. It was basically a pull- out sofa with a couple of mattresses on top. I loved it.

On the opposite wall there was a dresser with lots of electronics on top. Curious, I walked over to it. On top of it was a note.

Dear Aaron,

I know you live in the 21st century, so I got you some 21st ventures weapons. Use them wisely. Oh, yes, by the way, I manipulated the Mist around you. I figured you couldn't be around mortals with your weapons looking the way they do, so your bow and quiver look like a backpack and your knife is a cell phone holder. Enjoy!

-dad (Chaos)

I picked up a cell phone and flipped it open. But what was in my hand was no longer a cell phone, but a switch blade dagger. I grinned as I clapped the knife back down and it turned into a cell phone. This would be fun.

Next thing I saw was an iPod. As I could see, there were several apps. One of them, however, was bigger than the others and always appeared in the center of the screen, no matter what page I was on. It was called 'iSword.' For a moment, I was filled with disbelief, but when I tapped the screen, the iPod morphed into a sword.

It was a beautifully crafted sword, with images engraved on the blade, and outlined in black stone against the silvery blade. I knew that it wasn't celestial bronze, but I felt like it was something equally powerful. I laughed quietly as I saw the 'home' button on the cross guard. I pressed it, and immediately, the sword shrank back into an iPod.

I put the iPod and the cell phone in my pockets and continued to look around the small cabin. In the corner opposite the dresser it looked like a tree had grown in the cabin. I had this sneaking suspicion that it had.

There was a hole in the tree about where my head was. I looked inside. Inside, there was a small peace of paper. I took it out and looked at it. It wasn't a peace of paper. It was a photo. It wasn't just any photo. It was me hugging a little wolf closely to my chest. The wolf was underfed and looked like death itself, but it looked so happy in my arms. It was the day I had found and saved my best friend. Aniketos. I felt the tears come again, but I swallowed them, and placed the photo back in the 'shrine.'

"Y'know, your dad was here. He spoke with Aniketos. The cub doesn't blame you for anything," I voice said behind me.

I spun around, and with speed I didn't know I had, I was pointing my bow with an arrow notched in it at the point where the voice came from.

"Whoa, chill. I live here. I'm Nikodemos, but you can call me Niko. Your dad thought you needed a friend. Personally, I think other mortals would do, but no, you have to have an animal friend," the squirrels said, raising its paws protectively.

I put the bow back on my back and the arrow back in my quiver. I sighed.

"I guess dad really cares then," I said to no one, but the squirrels, Niko, answered.

"Well, what to you think? Of course Chaos cares about you. Hey, I wouldn't tell the primordial gods this if you ever meet them, but I think you're his favourite son so far."

"Why thanks. A squirrel is telling me that I am my dad's favourite kid. My dad hardly knows me, and hasn't been here for me for fourteen years. Now tell me, why would he be proud of me? Why would I be his favourite son?" Damn, I was getting really angry now. "I can't read, much less sit still, I cause trouble wherever I go. What is there to be proud of?" I was shouting by now.

"You're loyal to your friends, you care about them, you know how to survive."

"Okay, that's three things. I could say thousand other things that are wrong with me!"

Niko looked like he was deep in thought, until he finally gave up. "Oh, alright. I'm hungry anyways. What's there to eat?"

I was confused momentarily, but then I grinned. I went over to the tree and picked a fruit. It was a lime. My favourite. Niko eagerly scampered over onto a branch and somehow found a couple of acorns.

Just when I was done with the lime and deciding where to put it, there came a knock from the door. Hastily throwing the rest of the lime in an empty pot of dirt, I raced over to the door and opened it. Outside stood Jayden and Finn with someone else I didn't recognize. They were grinning.

"Can we come in?" They asked, and without waiting for me to say yes, they stepped in. I finally saw who was standing behind them: a girl.

She was about twelve years old and had blonde hair that was maybe down to her shoulder, but she had it in two little messy ponytails on either side of her head. In the front, she had a dyed red streak. Her eyes were brown and they had a glint of pride in them.

She looked like a walking advertisement for Nike. She had on a purple 'Just Do It ™' shirt on, and dark blue jeans. Around her right upper arm was a captain's band that you could rip off and Velcro it back on. She even had on a Nike necklace. She looked like she did a lot of sports, and I had this feeling that she didn't lose very often.

"Who are you?" I asked, not being able to think of anything better to say.

"I am Nicolette, daughter of Nike, spirit of victory. And you are Aaron, son of Chaos, I know. Jayden and Finn dragged me here. They were saying something about a prophecy. I have no clue what they're talking about though."

Okay then.

"So, uh, what are you guys doing here?" I asked Finn and Jayden.

"Looking at your cabin, of course. And talking to you. Did you hear the rumours?" Finn said.

"No," I replied.

"Well, apparently, Chiron thinks we're the kids of the Great Prophecy. I don't think so though. Anyway, he's thinking of sending you on a quest. Seeing that we'll need seven half bloods, we brought Nici along. I hope you don't mind," Jayden said.

"No, I don't," I lied. Of course I minded having some random girl in my cabin.

"Hey, look, I don't want to be rue or anything, but I have to go," I said, heading towards the door. Jayden, Finn and Nicolette followed me. When they noticed I was heading to the Big House, they went to their own cabins. I was kind of glad about that.

"Ah, Aaron, perfect timing," Chiron said as I entered. "I want to send you on a quest. It is by request of the Olympians. I am afraid to say that you don't have a choice. Pick three people to go with you. You leave in the morning. Anything else you need to know, well, ask the oracle. She's in the third room to the right."

I nodded and headed in the direction that Chiron was pointing.

I knocked on the door. After hearing a quiet 'come in,' I opened the door.

The room looked like a normal room, except for the canvases full of painting standing everywhere.

"Hello, Aaron. Yes, I know its cliché, but I've been expecting you. Sit down and ask your question," a girl with frizzy red hair and startling green eyes said.

"Okay. Uh, what do I have to do?" I asked. The girl looked as if she entered a trance.

"Four to head north,

Three to come back forth

Two to make the dive

One not to make it alive"

The girl stopped talking in the raspy voice and looked confused for a moment. Then she turned her back to me and kept on working on the painting she had been working on when I came in. I figured I should go.

The lines of the prophecy didn't bother me much, except the last one. "One not to make it alive."