Chapter 7:
Percy flashed into Zeus's temple to find his father already there, sitting in a throne teeming with electricity.
"Percy my dear son, how have you been?" Zeus began.
"I have been well father, what is the meaning for your request of my presence?" Percy's arms crossed as he tried to see what his father wanted.
"Is it so bad that a father wants to reunite with his long lost son?" Seeing Percy unimpressed, he continued on. "Blunt and straight to the point, just like your mother. Well, if you must know very quickly, I was wondering about whether you would consider being the 13th Olympian on the Council?"
The news came as a shock for Percy. I mean, he had only been in this world for a few days since returning from Chronos's mansion. "Why me father?" He finally mustered out.
"Well my son, you are power, strong-willed, and I sense you will be very important to the gods and goddesses." Percy was now deep in thought, there were disadvantages to joining the council, but also advantages.
"I request some time to think about this father."
"Understandable, you will have exactly one week for your mind to be made." Sensing the conversation was done, he thanked his father and flashed to camp.
No sooner had he flashed to camp had he seen Apollo's bus screech onto the grass of Camp Half-Blood with all it's riders jumping out, trying to resist the urge to throw up.
"What happened to you guys?" Percy asked, taking a step away from the horrible stench.
"Thalia happened to us." Apollo said, looking a bit wobbly. "That's the last time i'm allowing you to fly."
Thalia herself just blushed in embarrassment.
"What child of Zeus doesn't know how to fly, or at the very least know the sky?" One of the hunters who had finished puking out the contents of her stomach asked.
"I'm sorry ok guys, can we just forget about it." Thalia was clearly flustered, and trying no to cry at the harsh words directed to her.
"Come on Thalia why don't we let them finish up while you go to your cabin." Thalia nodded sheepishly and walked with me until we reached the Zeus cabin.
"Hey; Thalia, just between you and me, i'm not a big fan of the sky either. I am the titan of water after all." Thalia just chuckled as she closed the door behind her.
Percy walked over to the Big House, and saw Chiron in his classic wheel chair and Dionysus. "Chiron." Percy greeted.
"Percy, pleasure to see you again." He got up from his chair and became his centaur form once again.
Percy remembered the first time he had met Chiron, it was one of the rare times Chronos had given him a job on Earth to do. Chiron had trained him secretly for a week in almost every weapon.
"How's the camp doing my friend?"
"It's doing well Perseus, but I fear something is no the horizon that will screw everything up." Chiron said as they stopped on the beach.
"Indeed, I fear Kronos is rising and gaining followers rather quickly."
"Well, let us join the camp, it is time for the hunters vs. campers game of capture the flag."
They both walked, making little chit chat until they arrived at the pavilion where most everybody in camp had gathered.
"Campers, hunters, it is time for the game of capture the flag between you two. Currently, the hunters lead the campers 99-0, one more win would bring the total to 100-0. As always, I wish everyone good luck. The game will start at the top of the hour so get ready."
The campers and hunters immediately dispersed, honing weapons, strapping on armor, and clashing heads.
When the horn sounded, Percy was in the sky, using his control over water to freeze a platform over the battleground so he could watch. He could see the campers being brash and immediately rushing towards the hunters' silver flag. The hunters on the other hand, spread out in groups of five and cautiously approached, arrows already pulled back in a bow for shooting.
As soon as the campers had crossed the halfway line, a barrage of arrows was shot, taking down 15 of the 25 campers that had crossed.
Seeing the demolition, may of the remaining campers retreated with the rest of their group. All except a few children of Ares. A daughter of Ares seemed to be the leader and was currently yelling profanity at those who had retreated, claiming they were all scared.
Percy chuckled, leave it to a child of Ares to be so brash and uncalculating.
Within half an hour, all the campers had been subdued and the hunters had their 100th victory over the campers.
With the latest victory being announced, campers had held their head low with the hunters talking nonchalantly.
Percy descended towards Zoe, deciding he would scare her.
She was currently talking with Phoebe, heading towards the Artemis cabin.
He made sure to be as quiet as possible, however fortune was not on his side as he stepped on a tree branch. With quickness that would makes Hermes proud, she turned around, her bow pointing straight at him.
"Hey Zoe, Phoebe, good job guys." He said while engulfing Zoe in a hug. Unnoticed by him, Zoe had actually blushed while Phoebe snickered.
"It's nothing really, we beat them every single time. It's really quite boring now." Phoebe said nonchalantly.
"Either way, you would think luck would smile against them out of 100 times. Well I'll see you guys at dinner." Phoebe just stared at the still blushing Zoe.
"Shut thy mouth Phoebe." Phoebe just erupted in laughter as Zoe made her way quickly to the Artemis cabin to take a shower.
Dinner soon came with the hunters sitting at the usually empty Artemis temple, and Percy sitting at the table with Chiron and Dionysus.
After, it was much less peaceful for most there.
Percy spotted out of the corner of his eye the Oracle of Delphi making it's way towards the mass of campers and hunters surrounding the campfire. It soon stopped just in front of Zoe, almost in the flame.
"Five shall go west to the goddess in chains,
One shall be lost in the land without rain,
The bane of Olympus shows the trail,
Campers and Hunters combined prevail,
The Titan's curse must one withstand,
And one shall perish by a parent's hand."
The whole camp was silent before erupting in whispers, talking about who we lead the quest, what it meant, who would die.
"Silence!" Chiron roared, calming everyone down. "Cabin leaders, meet in the Big House for a meeting. Everyone else, I suggest you get some rest, it is starting to get late."
The crowd slowly got smaller with the leaders of each cabin walking together to the Big House.
"C'mon Zoe, let's go figure this thing out. Are you ok?" Percy thought Zoe looked a little paler and seemed like she was about to throw up.
"Yes I'm fine." Percy wasn't so sure, but decided not to be too nosy.
As soon as everyone had grabbed a drink and settled down, the meeting started.
"I guess we should address the meaning of the prophecy before deciding the candidates." Chiron began.
"Well the first part is obvious, five will go west to a goddess…"
"Artemis." Zoe said, looking down.
"Are you sure Ms. Nightshade." Chiron asked, stroking his beard.
"Yes, before we rescued the two demigods, Milady claimed that Lord Zeus had given her a mission to deal with beast." Zoe said.
"Well," Annabeth continued, "then a group of five hunters and campers will go save Lady Artemis. There will also be two deaths, one in the land without rain, and one by a parent's hand. I don't know about the first one, but obviously someone's parents must have some serious hatred to kill their descendant." Percy could see the knowing look on Zoe's face which only reassured his theory that it was her father that would be the one to do it.
"it's going to be ok, i won't let that happen to you." Percy whispered, clutching her hand tightly.
Zoe gave a small smile to Percy, glad that he would give his best effort. 'Sadly', she thought, 'the prophecy is a prophecy for a reason.'
"The Bane of Olympus, what could that possibly be though?" Asked the daughter of Athena.
All eyes turned to Chiron who was obviously the most knowledgeable on the subject on monsters.
"I fear that there are many monsters that could be the Bane of Olympus. Typhon for example was a major pest that, even with all the gods' powers combined, it would be difficult to take down. Despite the fact that Artemis would be easily overpowered while facing him, it is also a sea monster. If a sea monster such as him was released from it's chains, Jonathan's father, Poseidon, would've already informed most everybody.
"I guess the five must seek out Nereus. He would be their best bet." Chiron said.
"Since we have that covered, there's only one part left. The Titan's curse must one withstand. I don't understand that one either." Again the eyes went to Chiron.
"Again, the five chosen must figure it out for themselves. I have theories, but let's hope that they are not right."
"C'mon Chiron, at least give us one of your theories." Jonathan probed.
"I'm sorry Jonathan, but not this time." Everyone in the group sighed at their leader's denial.
"Well, onto the people chosen for the quest." Chiron continued.
"I shall go of course." Zoe said, regaining a little more color than previously. "With me shall be three other hunters and one camper."
"I hardly believe that's fair." Thalia interjected.
"And why is that daughter of Zeus?" Zoe challenged.
"The prophecy said campers, not just camper. Obviously there is more than one camper.
"She has a point Zoe, how about two other hunters and two campers?" Percy asked, trying to diffuse the quickly escalating situation.
"Fine." Zoe said after a couple of more seconds of staring down Thalia.
"I wish to bring with me Phoebe, who is our best tracker, and Bianca."
Hearing her name was a big surprise for Bianca, who's mouth was agape.
"Why me? I'm so new to the hunters." Bianca argued.
"Thy needs to prove one's self, and thy has a perfect opportunity here."
After a few feeble attempts at getting out of it, Bianca reluctantly agreed.
"What campers shall grace our presence?" Zoe asked.
"I say Jonathan." Annabeth proposed.
"What? Preposterous, I refuse to have a male accompany us on this quest." Zoe denied.
"Well you're obviously fine with Percy." Annabeth said, defending her boyfriend.
"Percy is Milady's sibling and I have known him for many centuries." Zoe said. "Thy boyfriend is a pig."
"You're one to talk missy, how about you bring that mouth over here." Annabeth had taken out her knife now with Zoe reaching for one of hers.
"Stop this immediately." Chiron yelled. After seeing both sit down, he continued. "Unfortunately Miss Nightshade, I will have to agree with Miss Chase. Jonathan is one of the most powerful demigods residing in this camp."
Percy held her hand as she squeezed it tight. Luckily, her strength wasn't enough to crack any of a god's, no less a primordial's, bones.
"Very well, thou will be allowed to accompany us on our quest."
"I wish to go as well." Thalia claimed as she stood up.
Zoe squeezed Percy's hand until her knuckle turned white, but didn't openly object.
"Very well, the demigods are chosen. You will leave tomorrow at dawn in order to get this quest done." Chiron said, dismissing the group.
Zoe grabbed Percy's hand and rushed out of the room towards the Artemis cabin.
"Hey Zoe, slow down." When she fully stopped, he continued his talking. "I know you don't want to have to interact with the campers, but you have to, ok? And listen, I'll follow you every step of the way. You won't be killed, I promise."
For the first time in his life, Percy saw Zoe cry.
"I'm scared Percy." She said as she cried in his shoulder.
"It's alright Zoe, we'll figure this out together. I refuse to let this happen to you." Once she had gotten over her crying, he walked her to the Artemis cabin, hugging her goodnight.