The trident floated peacefully in the air, seemingly unaware of the terrible consequences it had placed on Percy. He stared at the image above him with extreme trepidation. The trident was excellently-crafted, resplendent with gold and sea-green jewels. After a few seconds, it slowly faded away, leaving a silent hall and a very confused Percy. Percy awkwardly cleared his throat as he saw everyone looking at him in surprise.

Without taking his eyes off of him, Marina slowly brought her hands up above her table. She slammed the table, making a loud thud that resonated throughout the pavilion. She kept hitting the table rhythmically, slowly at first but speeding up. The other kids at the Poseidon table eventually took up the action, pounding the table with increasing confidence. The Ares table, not one to be outdone, started slamming their table harder, giving guttural shouts as they knocked over cups. Eventually, all of the other groups were hitting their tables, still looking straight at Percy.

Percy felt very strange as the Hermes table started doing it, Luke gravely smacking his palm against the wood while the twins were beside themselves with mirth, quickly drumming both of their hands against the table. The pavilion was filled with the cacophony raised from a hundred demigods loudly slamming tables and shouting.

Athena looked slightly perturbed at the events that were unfolding around her. She glanced warily around her, probably wondering what the puny mortals were doing.

The noise rose to a peak as everyone sped up, and Percy could feel the table shake under his hands. From the front of the hall, Chiron stood up and waved his hands, stopping the clamor instantly.

"It appears one of our campers has been claimed," he shouted. "Rise, Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon."

Shaking slightly, Percy stood up, acutely aware of the eyes of everyone on him. As he stood, the Poseidon table erupted into shouts at their new member, clanging their swords and shields together. He kept standing, unsure if he was supposed to do anything else.

Athena looked over to the waterfront before regarding Percy. "Congratulations, son of Poseidon. My uncle has decided to bring you forward. Do you think you're up to the task I've set out?"

"Honestly?" Percy swallowed heavily. "I doubt it. M-my lady."

Muffled laughter scattered around the hall as Athena chuckled. "A humble demigod. How refreshing. Come here." She raised her arm and beckoned for him to get closer. He slowly went around the table and approached the dais where she was standing. He bowed his head fearfully as she looked him over.

"Doesn't look like much, does he?" she muttered under her breath. She turned back to face the rest of the hall. "Who will accompany the son of Poseidon?"

Unless someone else was suddenly claimed by their parent, Percy didn't think anyone would step forward. Going on a dangerous quest was bad enough, but going with someone as inexperienced as himself was, he assumed, suicide. He was enormously surprised, then, when Annabeth shot her hand up and stood from her bench.

"I will go with him," she shouted a bit too loudly.

Athena looked at her warmly. "One of my own. Good job, Annabeth."

Annabeth gave a small smile at her mother's praise, though she still looked frightened. She made her way to stand next to Percy, bowing deeply in front of her mother.

"What are you doing?" Percy whispered.

"Saving your life," she hissed back.

From behind Chiron, Grover ran out, waving his arms wildly.

"I'm coming too!" he called out.

Athena regarded Grover with mild disdain. "...Sure, you can come, too."

Grover grinned at Percy, who looked back in concern.

Athena clapped her hands together. "There. Three seems like a good number. You will be my champions."

Percy didn't remember ever agreeing to be this woman's champion, and he felt a terrible sense of foreboding about whatever she was about to ask him to do.

Annabeth stepped forward, bowing again. "What would you have us do?"

"As I said, I have lost something important to me. I need you to get it back."

"What is it?"

"A powerful magical item. The Sword of Peleus."

From behind Athena, Chiron started slightly in surprise, though he managed to regain his composure quickly. "My lady, wouldn't it be better if we talked about this somewhere else, in private?"

Athena sighed, clearly annoyed by the interruption. "Fine." She snapped her fingers, and Percy's vision went white.

When he blinked, he was standing in the middle of an office with Athena, Annabeth, and Grover. The office was finely decorated, with expensive silks and ancient weapons hung on the walls. From the window, Percy could see the rest of camp, so they couldn't have gone far. He guessed that this was Chiron's office, and doubted that the director would appreciate them using his quarters.

He was still recovering from their instantaneous movement, unable to process how they had gotten to this room so quickly, but Athena kept talking as if nothing had happened.

"So," she said, sitting down in the lush chair. "We were talking about the sword."

"Why can't you get it yourself?" Percy asked, stepping forward next to Annabeth.

Athena's eyes widened slightly at his boldness. "Because, under his infinite wisdom, Zeus has forbidden us from interfering with human affairs until the war is done. And whatever it would take for me to find and get the sword back would definitely be considered interference."

"Why? This doesn't have anything to do with the war."

Athena shook her head. "That's the second part. Once you get the sword, you must bring it to the American army for them to use. The sword was taken before I could deliver it myself, which was no doubt the intention."

"Bring it to America?" Percy spluttered. "That's thousands of miles away!"

"Then you'd best get a fast ship," Athena replied, glaring angrily at him. "I'm told it's dangerous on the ocean."

Both Annabeth and Grover were looking at Percy like he was crazy, astonished by his lack of respect for Athena. Annabeth grabbed his arm, trying to pull him back. "I never agreed to be part of this," Percy said. "What do I gain from risking my life?" He could feel Annabeth's grip tighten as he spoke, her nails digging into his skin. Pain shot through his arm.

Athena's eyes blazed. "I could vaporize you with a thought, son of Poseidon. You are in no position to question me. If it's a reward you want, you had better start acting more civilly towards me."

"I don't want anything."

Athena raised her eyebrow. "Really? A poor dock worker that doesn't want anything? Even one with a crippled mother?"

"How do you know about that?"

"I'm the goddess of knowledge. I know everything."

Except where your sword is. Percy pressed his lips together, not daring to hope. "And you're saying you could help her."

"Not me, specifically. But I could ask Apollo to take a look at her. If you do what I say. And with that attitude, I'm starting to rethink my generosity."

Percy bit his retort back. If his mother was healed, they wouldn't be at such a loss for money. And they might even be able to get rid of Gabriel…

"I'll do it." Annabeth and Grover gave out audible sighs of relief as he said this, and Annabeth released her grasp on him.

Athena grinned. "That's more like it." She stood up and looked over all of them. "Take a day to get ready, then you should set out. I want this completed as soon as possible." She snapped her fingers, and a paper, inkpot, and quill appeared in front of her. She quickly wrote something on the paper, then used a stamp that similarly came out of thin air to mark the paper. She handed the paper to Annabeth. "I'd start looking here. Ask for the Cabeiri, and tell them I sent you. They should be able to help."

"Thank you," Annabeth said, tucking the paper in her bag. "We'll get the sword back."

"I should hope so." Athena cocked her head, as if she was listening to something. "Ah, it appears Zeus has noticed where I've been. I'd best be off. Look away, children." Annabeth and Grover immediately turned their backs to Athena as she said this, and Annabeth forcefully turned Percy to do the same. From behind them, Percy saw a flash of light and a wave of heat wash over him. When he looked back, Athena was gone.

He was looking where she had gone when Annabeth reached up and slapped him in the face.

"Ow! What was that for?" he said, rubbing his cheek ruefully.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed, talking to Athena like that?" Annabeth hissed. "She wasn't lying when she said she could vaporize you."

"I never asked for this!" Percy argued. "I think I have a right to question her decisions."

"Not to her face!" Annabeth sighed, running a hand through her hair.

Grover nodded, looking distressed. "You really should stop antagonizing every god you meet."

"Look, if you think I'm so bad, why'd you agree to join the quest?"

"Because," Annabeth said angrily. "Judging by what just happened, you'd die before you got a mile from camp."

The door to the office suddenly burst open as Chiron ran in, breathing heavily. He looked at the three of them in dismay.

"Where is Athena?" he asked, looking around as if she might be hiding somewhere.

"She left," Annabeth said. "And we're to leave tomorrow."

Chiron nodded, clearly troubled. "I'm afraid that's how it appears." His horse tail swished anxiously behind him. "I believe that we've all had enough excitement for tonight. We'll talk in the morning. For now, you're dismissed. Get your things in order."

They left the office single-file. Annabeth was still giving Percy a dirty look, though she seemed to have softened slightly. Percy's cheek still tingled where she had hit him.

"See you tomorrow, then." Percy waved meekly as Annabeth turned and walked down the hall, muttering to herself all of the supplies she would need. Grover nodded to him and left too, anxiously wringing his hands together.

Percy followed them out and headed towards the Hermes dorm. Full night had settled already, and he just wanted to sleep. Torches had been lit around camp, illuminating the path and a few nighttime activities. The Hephaestus cabin was brightly lit from the light of several forges blazing inside. As he walked, Percy could see people watch him, pointing and whispering with each other as he passed.

As he trudged up to the Hermes dorm, he saw that Luke and Marina were talking on the front porch. He couldn't hear what they were saying, but they were whispering intensely. When they noticed him approaching, they quickly stopped.

"Evening," Percy said, raising his hand. "Don't stop on my account."

"Ah, Percy. Just the man I wanted to see." Luke smiled. "I'm told you've made a name for yourself already."

"Against my will, unfortunately," Percy responded. Luke chuckled.

"That's often the way it goes. Well," he said, clapping his hands. "It looks like you'll be leaving the Hermes dorm. Arrived and claimed in the same day, that's…impressive."

Marina stepped off of the porch to Percy. "I'll bring you to the Poseidon quarters. That's where you'll be staying from now on. Your things are already there."

Percy nodded. "Of course. Thank you." He raised his hand to Luke. "Thank you for having me."

Luke gave a quick nod. "Pleasure. Try not to get yourself killed." He smiled widely.

"It looks like it's too late for that."

Chuckling, Luke turned and went through the door inside.

Marina beckoned for him to follow her, and they walked across the field that separated all of the cabins.

"I hope you know what you're doing," Marina said as they walked. "Taking a quest on your first day, and one straight from Athena…"

"It can't be that bad, surely? We're only getting a sword back."

Marina looked at him like he'd taken leave of his senses. "Have you thought to wonder who would be powerful enough to steal something from the goddess of knowledge without her knowing?"

"Ah. I see your point."

"Absolute best case scenario, you somehow manage to steal it back without them noticing. And, no offense, but you don't look like the sneaky type."

"I'll choose to take that as a compliment."

"So you're probably going to have to fight whoever stole the sword to get it back. And they'll most likely be wielding the sword - a magic sword - to prevent you from taking it."

Percy nodded, realizing what exactly he'd been chosen for. By then, they had arrived at the front of the Poseidon cabin. It appeared to be made out of a repurposed ship's hull, with a door and windows cut into the side. Blue-green lanterns hung on the sides, bathing the area in soft light. Solidified barnacles clung onto the bottom of the sides, and seaweed grew up the walls like vines.

They stepped in to find a room that resembled a below-decks quarters on a ship. Rows of beds were scattered around the room, but a number of hammocks hung from the ceiling. A large window had been cut in the back wall to show the waterfront, moonlight glinting off of the rippling waves. There were some people already in the cabin, getting ready for bed or talking quietly to each other. Crystals were placed around the room that gave off a dim blue light. A large harpoon hung on the wall next to the horn of a narwhal.

Most of the campers looked up as Marina and Percy walked in. A quiet murmur started as they whispered to each other. Percy could see Flatfoot, the stable hand from before, glare at him from across the room.

A tall black-haired boy stood up from his dice game and walked towards Percy.

"You're the new guy, right?" He gave Percy a firm handshake, causing Percy to wince slightly in pain.

"Percy Jackson."

"Adrian Dunbar. Nice to meet you."

Percy took his hand back, shaking it to regain feeling in his fingertips. "You too."

Marina patted Percy on the back. "Adrian, why don't you show Percy to his sleeping quarters?"

"Sure. Come with me." He beckoned Percy to follow him and walked back into the middle of the beds. Percy looked back at Marina quickly, then decided to follow Adrian. The boy led him to a small hammock in the corner of the room, with his box of things tucked underneath.

"Did ye really take a quest from Athena?" Adrian whispered to him conspiratorially. When Percy nodded gravely, he smiled broadly. "That's incredible. You must be really brave."

"Or stupid," Percy responded dryly. Adrian gave out a loud bark of laughter, causing everyone to look at him in alarm.

"Aye, or stupid. Though we're all a little of both, here. Comes with the territory, kind of."

"Sounds like I'll fit right in."

"Aye. Though you won't get the chance to, what with your leaving to go on a quest."

Percy thought for a moment. "You're a son of Poseidon, too, right?" Adrian nodded. "So you're my…half-brother?"

"I am. Just like Marina's your half-sister. Everyone in this cabin's like that, though it's not exactly as simple as half-siblings. Relations get a bit fuzzy when the gods are involved."

Percy was an only child; he had never had siblings before. Having them now didn't feel like an altogether bad thing.

He eyed the hammock that was given to him. "Thank you for bringing me. I can take it from here."

"You got a big day tomorrow, aye." Adrian winked, grinning. "Better rest up." He patted Percy on the back heavily, driving the air from his lungs. With a last smile, he went back to the game he was playing.

Percy coughed, noticing that Adrian was too strong for his own good. He changed into his night clothes, a simple cloth tunic and loose trousers. He tried a number of times to get on the hammock, once falling onto the floor to the amusement of everyone. He eventually managed to scramble onto the hammock and stay there, gripping the canvas tightly. He laid there for a while, looking at the roof and hearing the quiet movements of his fellow cabin mates. If he closed his eyes, he could pretend that the swaying of the hammock was that of a ship, and that he was in the middle of the ocean. He fell asleep to dreams of the sea.