Chapter 10: Arete –Begging Is Not Beneath Me

Sunday March 9

Heavy storms had hit Camp Half-Blood on and off in what felt like an endless cycle of flood and mud. Demigods from every cabin worked on making more sand bags to help control the flood waters from drowning them all.

Eventually Arete had to be literally dragged to cabin two by Grover. As bad as it was for Zeus to be pissed, no one wanted to get on Hera's bad side. Their reasoning was if Hera wants her, Hera can have her. But hey, isn't that what friends are for?

She treated anyone who did try to make things easier with suspicion or complete lack of acknowledgement. Needless to say she felt that absolutely everyone around her had consented to her fate once Leo and Butch came in with a bed frame followed closely by Percy with a mattress. Connor, Travis, and Piper helped with the rest of her things letting her simply sit back and watch as Malcolm sat beside her on the floor.

"Is this a good idea?" Malcolm asked after sitting next to her silently. He looked around with narrowed eyes as if expecting for some trap to come hurdling their way at any moment.

She stared at him a small twinge of hope. This was the second time that he had come to her rescue. Back when she had first arrived the Stoll brothers had taken to trying to get her claimed by setting competitions with other campers. They had put her against Malcolm on a race up the lava wall where she unfortunately learned that she was afraid of heights and prone to vertigo. She would have gladly stayed on top of the lava wall if it wasn't for him helping her the entire way down. The guilt she had for being uneasy around the children of Athena swelled.

"No, we can't risk having Hera offended as well," Annabeth added from the door.

Her words were apparently the signal for the lightning that lit up the sky followed by the rumble of thunder. Rain droplets pounded the cold marble walls. Damn her, thought Arete as she eyed Annabeth skeptically.

"Yeah," Malcolm said slowly as he went over to close a near by window.

Once everything was arranged neatly and thankfully far away as possible from the giant cold marble woman, they left softly speaking a few quiet hopeful words. She ignored them refusing to speak.

Alone she sat on the floor near the door of her cabin staring at the statue of Hera. She wanted to run back to the Oracle's lair with Rachel but she knew eventually someone would be sent to drag her back, again. For some reason when it came to Arete, Rachel's powers seemed to just stop working. Arete prayed to Apollo for help but got no answer, again.

She even resorted to talking to the statue of Hera in the middle of the night. She stared up to the statue asking all the questions that she had buried deep down. They always ended with a stream of tears and no response always followed.

She then tried to yell at the statue asking why she had even bothered to claim her to only ignore her pleas. But she was trapped and it made her skin crawl. The walls seemed to slowly creep closer toward her closing her in, sucking the air out of the room. Even the camp itself seemed too enclosed and small. She had even tried escaping but the Stoll brothers caught her before she could make it over Half Blood Hill. Luckily they kept that incident to themselves to spare her the embarrassment.

Next she tried to cross the barriers through the forest late at night but Leo had found her. He took her to Bunker 9, lit a crackling fire, gave her some towels, and a plate full of burgers from his magic tool belt. As much as she liked being around him she grew suspicious of him and wondered if he was asked to keep an eye on her too.

Everything turned and swirled around her. She knew people were trying to comfort her but all she could think of was that she was trapped and she needed to get the hell out. But of course she was banned from doing so for her own safety. But in her mind she felt that she would rather take her chances with Zeus as long as she had her freedom.

If things couldn't get worse many of the other campers took to avoiding her. Annabeth who seemed to have wanted to force some type of friendship between them couldn't even look at Arete without suspicion shining in her eyes.

Tuesday March 11

On one stormy night as the rain continued to assault the earth Arete couldn't take the walls of her cabin. She grabbed a jacket and ran off into the forest not bothering to look over her shoulders for harpies. She dashed around the scattered trees. She yearned for Leo's warm forge where the walls didn't seem to want to trap her and the ceiling stayed put. She knew Leo would be there and wouldn't send her back or try to comfort her. He'd just smile and tell silly jokes as he'd show her how to work on whatever new project he was in the middle of.

Her chest felt constricted as her skin crawled. She slid on the slick water logged grass and came to a muddy halt. Salty air filled her nose calming her breath. She took shelter under the canopy of a large tree that stood just at the edge where the sand and grass met haphazardly. As if being pulled by an invisible string she made her way onto the sand. The storm above brewed violently but the waters crashed calmly toward her.

Each wave tumbled in closer than the one before it tempting her in. She walked forward looking out to the endless waters in front of her sensing freedom. Her heart thumped joyfully the closer she got to the water. Just a few more steps and she'd be in.

She stopped just before reaching the water and looked up at the sky and closed her eyes. She sighed as the drops of water slid across her face. She enjoyed the feeling of the cool fresh water on her fevered skin. She looked out to the eastern horizon and prayed to Apollo, the god of truth. A gust of warm air made her shiver unexpectedly.

"Escape by water? I wouldn't say that this camp is as bad as Alcatraz."

Arete turned quickly and lost her footing. She fell to the ground with a thump splashing water around her. In front of her she saw a silhouette of a teenager with a bright yellow umbrella. He strolled forward and held out his hand toward her.

As he drew closer she could see his sandy blond hair and bright smile. Even in plain jeans and white T-shirt he had a good looking outdoors style. It was the last thing she wanted to think about but she blushed as her hand touched his warm firm palms. As he pulled her up his arms flexed. As her eyes met his something that Arete couldn't place sparked in his eyes.

Arete looked away embarrassed. "Thanks."

He let his hand linger with hers as she stood. "Just lending out a helping hand."

"What are you doing here?"

He stuffed his hand in his pocket casually and examined her with a cheerful expression. "I thought you needed some help."

"I … I'm fine. Just felt cooped up." Arete's words came out horse.

The boy twirled the yellow umbrella in his hands with a thoughtful expression sending water droplets spiraling around him "Uh huh, sure. Not what I heard. So, you're looking for a way out."

Arete turned to him suspiciously. She was already sure that Percy had ordered Mrs. O'Leary to keep an eye on her was this guy in on it too?

He raised an eyebrow staring into her eyes intently. "Well are you?"

She swayed uncertainly side to side. "You know a way?"

He leaned forward so that she was under the umbrella with him. "But you'll have to do something for me."

Arete leaned back, her heart fluttering as she was so close she could feel the heat from his skin. "What exactly?"

"Tomorrow there's going to be a quest. Once they leave no one will really notice if you just so happen to slip away, and just maybe make your way to the Radio City Music Hall." He said casually.

"But what do you want in return?"

"There are a couple of demigods that are going to be there on a school trip. They've been tailed by some monsters for a couple of days now. I think the team would have a better chance with one more for back up."

He took a step back and turned making his way back through the forest and waved his hand. "See you next time sweetheart."

Arete chased after him. "Wait, what's your name any way?"

Once she got to the tree line there was only darkness. She searched for him but instead found Mrs. O'Leary who shoved her back to her cabin. Her sleep was restless with dreams she couldn't remember.

Wednesday March 12

The next morning Arete carefully scanned the crowds at the dining pavilion hoping to find the boy with the yellow umbrella. It was hard to get a good look with so many rowdy campers and soon gave up. She sat alone poking at her breakfast on a frosty marble table.

Breakfast was interrupted by a very round satyr with grey fur stumbling in the hall shouting for Chiron and Mr. D. Campers shushed each other trying to overhear what was being said but Chiron insisted on taking the conversation elsewhere.

Once they left an eruption of whispers rumbled over everyone. Being that she was now a camp counselor she got up and headed outside. Once she reached outside she saw Grover with teary eyes holding a large cardboard box taking it inside the Big House.

Percy came up behind her. "What happened?"

"The box has the same markings as the one I found with the Stoll brothers. It had furs in it."

Percy's face darkened as he kept his eye to where Grover was just standing. "I'll see you later Arete."

Arete grabbed onto Percy's arm. "Those weren't normal animal hides were they?"

A sad look crossed Percy's face but his gaze shifted to behind her.

"Come on, why won't anyone tell me anything? I was there with Connor and Travis too!" Arete pressed.

"If Chiron needs more campers to know he'll call a meeting." Annabeth's eyes were cold and calculating.

Arete's face flushed as Annabeth started towards the Big House.

"But you're just going to waltz right in?"

Annabeth turned with raised eyebrows. "You want to know what's going on? Then maybe you can tell me what you were doing in the forest last night? You weren't with Leo."

Percy turned to Arete with searching eyes. Arete knew that Percy was one of the few people who was completely on her side after being claimed by Hera. But at the same time she had a way out of camp and didn't want to rat out the other camper.

"I just wanted to take a walk, I don't like being controlled."

Annabeth's eyes narrowed searching for lies. "You were running."

"I didn't want to test if the Harpies are really allowed to eat campers."

"They are."

"Well, then I'm glad I ran."

Annabeth turned without another word and headed back toward the Big House. Percy paused looking out to Annabeth and back to Arete.

"Did you meet anyone out there?"

Arete felt her heart drop. She didn't want to lie to him. Percy was more intuitive that she gave him credit for. "I don't think that it's that common for kids to go running around the forest in the middle of the night while it's raining."

Percy's eyes saddened just a bit but nodded as he left following Annabeth. Arete marched to her own cabin careful to steer clear of Zeus' right next to her. Her eyes stung.

Later that day a big commotion started as the Argo II was starting to be loaded with supplies. Several campers were leaving on a quest but the details were fuzzy. The only thing anyone knew for sure was that Percy, Annabeth, Leo, Jason, Piper, and Butch were going.

Most guessed that it had something to do with the second box that arrived. It was hard getting any details since everyone in the loop was keeping tight lipped and kept busy readying the ship. Whatever new information they had they were in a hurry which was probably why they were taking Butch since he was the best at manipulating high speed travel.

Once Arete was sure Annabeth and Percy were nowhere near the ship she walked up a wooden ramp leading to the top. While she had helped Leo a bit with parts of the ship in the bunker she had yet to step foot on the actual boat.

Each step made her heart race just a little faster. She grinned wildly once she was on board. Nobody else was around. She yearned to set sail on the boat to freedom as she grazed the railings with her fingerer tips. A surge of adrenaline spiked as a sea breeze blew threw her hair and lifted the sails. The boat rocked on the water and the roped strained under the pressure making creaking noises.

A crackling machine sound caught her attention. She ran over to the front of the ship to see a huge gold dragon looking back at her with shining eyes. His head tilted and the creaks continued. For a scary looking gold dragon head it was giving her a curious puppy look.

She reached out her hand warily at that moment wishing that the ship and Festus was hers to sail remembering how fondly Leo would talk about it. The breeze picked up and the ship rocked against the waves that tried to pull it away. Her figures touched the cool metal and Festus made what she thought was a purring sound.

"Well looks like you two are getting along well without me." Leo smiled carrying a large duffle bag in his arms.

Festus' gears creaked and groaned.

Leo looked a bit confused as the dragon chattered. "Oh?"

Arete brought her gaze back to Festus and she stroked his forehead. "What's he saying?"

"He's saying that you wanted to go sailing."

With just Leo saying it, she wanted it even more. A low groaning sound of the ropes tightening grew louder making Leo look over the ship warily. But dread filled her knowing that Annabeth wouldn't let her join in the quest with Zeus still in a bad mood. Another round of thunder boomed in the distance. She was a liability after all.

"I don't think I'm invited to the party."

Leo looked up at the now slacked sails. "When we get back we'll take a tour down the coast. But … can I ask you something?"

She raised her eyebrows. "What?"

"Was that you?" Leo's voice was calm trying to express reassurance.

She looked confused as he pointed to the sails.

"Festus said that you really wanted to set sail. Try thinking about that again." Leo went on.

She lowered her eyes over the horizon. Out there was freedom and open space where she couldn't be controlled. Out there was where they couldn't tell her what to do.

"Whoa, we're not supposed to leave yet!" Leo yelped as he struggled to keep balance clutching onto the bag.

Arete looked around wide eyed. Her hair blew in the wind and the ship began to tilt toward the open waters with the sails full. Bags and weapons that were left on deck began to slide against the boards.

"I – I didn't mean …"

"Its okay, Chiron did say that Hera was the goddess of air."

She looked up at the now slack sails disdainfully.

"Hey, it's not that bad."

She looked at him with ferocious eyes.

He raised his hands in surrender. "Okay, its bad but we can figure this whole thing out."

She leaned against the railing. "Whatever."

Leo came up next to her sticking his hand in his tool belt. "That reminds me. I might as well give you this now."

He pulled out a braided bracelet consisting of celestial bronze, imperial gold, and glittering silver that looked similar to table for the Hunters of Artemis. It shimmered in the small amount of sunlight that was able to peek through the storm clouds. He strapped it on his wrist took a step back. He flicked his wrist and tapped the bracelet with his other hand. The bands contracted and rapidly began to expand into a full size shield.

All three of the metals sprung out into a swirling pattern. Vines and lotus flowers rimmed the edge with a lotus staff decorating the middle.

Leo face looked giddy as he placed the shield in front of him. "Throw something!"

"What?"

Leo dug into his tool belt and tossed a bolt to her. "Throw it at the shield then get out of the way … quickly."

Arete tossed the bolt in her hand unsure but did as she was told. She threw the bolt at the shield. Instead of a normal metal clang it sounded more like a vibration of a gong with its crashing waved of metal and then the damn bolt shot right back at her. The bolt skidded and rolled across the deck nearly decking her in the face.

"If an attacker hits the shield it absorbs the blow, amplifies it and sends a shock wave right back at the attacker. I dub it, Rebotar," Leo said rolling his r's. "It means –"

"Rebound." Arete stops wide eyed and looked up at Leo. "I remembered something!"

Leo smiled putting his hands on his hips looking quite proud of himself. "So you just might be a Latina, huh? We'll work on your Spanish when I get back then." Leo's eyes widened. "Well that would explain why we couldn't find anything on you!"

"What do you mean?"

"We assumed you were from around here or maybe even Canada. We even checked other English speaking countries but if you're from Mexico or South America …" Leo stopped. He waved his hands in front of him. "We just wanted to contact any family to let them know you're okay."

She nodded but she doubted that was all they were looking into. She wanted to talk to him about all she was thinking and feeling. To unload the pain and pressure that was boiling up inside. But then Annabeth and Percy showed up. They both went below deck. She didn't know if they saw her but she didn't feel like dealing with them. She said her goodbyes to Leo and promptly left. She wondered if Leo would tell Annabeth and Percy what had happened on the ship.

Arete returned a few hours later, the Argo II wasn't set to sail quite yet but she knew Leo would still be on board finishing any final touches as the other were in the Dinning Hall for Breakfast.

She stood at the harbor dock staring at the golden dragon head as it made little smoke signals through its nostrils. She bit her lower lip looking down at the magical bracelet that Leo had given her. She fidgeted wondering if she should leave. It wasn't until she saw the ship that she realized that they are probably going off to a dangerous mission. The thought of Leo never coming back left an uneasiness in her stomach.

"Arete?"

She turned quickly to see Leo holding another backpack swung over his shoulder. "What are you doing here this early?"

"I came to say a final –" The words choked up in her throat as she looked back up at Festus who seemed to be looking straight back at her, encouraging her to continue.

"Good-bye?" Leo offered softly, the danger of the mission that he was leaving on wasn't lost between them.

Before he could say anything else she embraced him throwing her arms around his neck, her cheek pressed his collar bone. She felt the rising of his chest as he let out a sigh. He slowly wrapped his own arms around her lower back holding her tightly against him.

"Come back alive, Leo." She whispered into his neck sending a small chill down his spine.

"Hey, you forget who you're talking too. I'm Leo Valdez, builder of the Argo II, one of the Prophesy of Seven, I'm . . . I'll come back, I promise." Leo leaned his face against hers trying to comfort her.

He opened his eyes and saw Festus looking straight at him. A small amount of smoke rose from his nostrils; his head gave a slight nod. Leo shut his eyes tightly turning his face into her hair but before he could say anything a bright light illuminated and the sound of a flash went off.

"Well isn't this adorable?" Butch said with a smirk on his face while he swung a camera around by its cord.

Arete quickly backed away, her face flushed. "I gotta go, Travis and Connor will give me hell for being late. . . . Bye. I'll see you later Butch."

Butch grinned with mischief in his eyes. "See ya Arete. Remember to give those Stoll brothers hell for me."

"I will, bye." Arete dashed away back toward camp barely hearing the first bits of Leo and Butch's conversation.

"Dude, that was so not cool." Leo sighed.

Butch laughed. "Consider it pay back."

Later Arete watched from afar as the campers gave the group a sendoff. She gulped down glad that she wasn't down there. Her eyes stung from tears that threaten to spill. The worst possible scenarios whirled in her head. 'Leo will come back,' she kept telling herself.

She pulled her hair up in a pony tail and made her way up to Half-Blood Hill. A team had just left a few minutes earlier on an extraction mission. She kept a quick pace once out of the boarders making it down to a gas station that she remembered one of the campers mentioning had a bus stop.

She curled her legs feeling anxious in the stale air of the bus. She had so far avoided any monsters and lightning strikes. The weather had eased considerably once the quest was given; she guessed it had something to do with Jason made her stomach turn sour. It was probably because of him she hadn't become a human lightning rod and now he left.

She made it surprisingly easily to Manhattan. She stole a baseball cap and lowered it over her head as she zig zagged through the crowds. She saw the two woman team Lacy and Kayla. But they weren't heading towards Radio City Music Hall. Arete started walking toward them but stopped remembering what the boy with the yellow umbrella said. She turned around and left the opposite direction.

The stagnate air was suffocating as she reached her destination. A school bus was letting out a mixed group of girls. The group's ages seemed to vary so she didn't have a problem blending in. She snuck over and started walking behind the group hoping they won't notice through the steady rainfall as they finished unloading off the bus hurriedly as a short man with a megaphone and a baseball cap shouting out what sounded like marching orders.

She held her breath as they walked through the front doors entering the music hall. She walked with the group keeping to the back as a cheery blond college girl chattered on about the history of the place listing famous people who performed there. Just as the tour became too boring to bear they were lead inside the seating area to watch a performance rehearsal for Hearts and Lights.

Arete was impressed and almost missed two girls leaving through the back. She got up and muttered that she had to use the bathroom to the chaperon in the back. It was dark so she doubted she would recognize her as not being part of their group.

She blinked wildly reaching the brightly lit lobby. She checked the bathroom looking under the stalls but no one was there. The sound of a distant thud and yell barely reached her ears. She stalked quietly down an empty hallway.

Two thumps and a dark chuckle came from a door just ahead of her. Arete leaned with her back against the wall and looked at both ends making sure no one was coming her way. She leaned her ear to the door and lightly grabbed the door knob giving it a slight twist.

The door opened up to an overly large supply room with extra instruments and racks of clothes. She could see what looked like the back of an older woman. Under her skirt were two mismatched legs. One was a donkey leg and the other looked like metal. If front of her were two twin girls with wide watery frightened eyes. Their blond hair was tussled as they sat bound and gagged next to a satyr who was gnawing through a thick rag stuffed into his mouth and stomped his hoof on the ground with another thump.

Arete opened the door slowly. The satyr's eyes caught hers and he began to wildly thrash and mutter through his gag to keep the attention on him. The woman cackled at his struggle. Arete activated her shield and took out a spatha, an ancient Greek short sword that Percy had picked out for her.

Just as Arete raised the sword to slash the empousa it turned around bringing up her arms and just barely missing the oncoming sword. The empousa lashed out striking toward Arete. She lifted her shield and the monster struck causing the shield to hum and blasted the empousa across the room.

Arete ran over to the satyr who had eaten the gag already shouting threats at the monster. She sliced through the bonds feeling a steady shakiness start in her knees.

"Behind you!" The satyr yelled.

A baton came hurling toward her. She raised her shield but it struck the side and it shot off to the side with a clang. Arete groaned seeing that the shield only worked right if it was hit in the center. She made a mental note to remind Leo to list any drawbacks or weaknesses next time he gives her any magical items or else risk being haunted for the rest of his life.

The empousa drew a sword and gave a wicked grin. "Now, now darling. I still have to make a long trip with these three. Run along now."

"Die!" The satyr yelled sending the baton flying through the air behind Arete and smacked the empousa right between the eyes.

Arete took the opening and charged not letting up. She didn't give the monster a chance to recover or dare take her eyes off of her. Arete yelled as she put all her strength into each strike pushing the empousa father back into the room. She hoped that this had given the satyr enough time to get the two little girls out.

Arete laughed as she forced the empousa back to a wall. Then it threw itself back into a bench and kicked Arete in the chest with her donkey leg. Arete skid across the room and took a ragged breath.

The empousa stabbed forward but Arete rolled to the side raising her shield to smack the monster's side. The empousa snarled not looking that pretty anymore and hurled a fire ball. Arete blocked with the shield just in time sending the flame back at the monster that dogged out of the way.

The flames hit a cupboard and burst into a bigger fire ball. Their swords locked again as the fire alarms rang in the air. Water poured from the sprinkler system. The empousa's donkey hoof slipped in the water and lost her balance.

Arete lowered her shield and charged with her sword putting her entire weight behind it praying that she too wouldn't slip on the marble floor. The sword stuck through the empousa's shoulder. She vaporized leaving a muddy spot of monster dust on the floor.

Outside people were screaming. Even with the sprinklers the fire started spread. Arete barged outside and was nearly slammed into the wall as people ran down the hall holding their jackets over their heads. She recalled her shield and sword and ran along with them.

Arete yelp as a strong calloused hand grabbed her arm. She swung her fist but another hand stopped it.

"Knock it off spitfire. I'm a satyr." He let go and grabbed on to the two little girls. "This way, monsters are crawling all over this place."

The girls sobbed as they were dragged out of the music hall. "Mr. Hedge what's happening?"

He didn't say anything but took a sniff squinting through the light mist of water that fell from the sky and led them down the street in hurry. They made it a couple of blocks before Mr. Hedge cursed and back tracked leading them down another street. No one seemed to mind the furry legged man shoving his way around Manhattan.

It took a moment for Arete to figure it out but they had ended up heading the same direction that Lacy and Kayla had gone earlier.

A block away an explosion busted a window sending shards of glass onto pedestrians and car's on the street. People screamed and ran in all directions. Some ran out of their cars trying to help people wounded on the street.

Arete ran towards them sliding on the wet pavement shouting for Lacy and Kayla. Black smoke filled the air as people groaned and cried. The store where the explosion went off smoldered as small patches of fire caught on racks of clothes that lay tossed and scattered. The people who were able to struggle their way out were covered in black and red. Blood seeped from their limbs and faces where glass had embedded itself.

A woman sobbed and wailed as she held someone in her arms. Their arms limp and blood pouring out of their neck where a large shard of metal stuck out. Arete looked away knowing that there wasn't anything she could do. She called out again among the others who cried out for their companions.

"Over here!" Kayla yanked and pulled at the ruble underneath her looking battered and bruised.

Arete dug through the smoking pieces of wood, metal, and cloth. Lacy looked up dazed shielding a small boy as they were uncovered.

"We got to get out of here quick!" Mr. Hedge yelled as the twins' cowering behind him.

Arete helped Kayla pull them out. Hedge pulled the unconscious boy over his shoulder.

Lacy looked around wildly. "Wait the satyr we need to-"

"It's too late, he's … he saved us." Kayla sobbed.

"Let's not make his sacrifice in vain. Out! I can smell more heading our way." Mr. Hedge yelled as he ran out of the store. Arete grabbed onto the two girls as they ran. Outside the first wave of police yelled over the crowed trying to get cars out of the way as ambulance sirens screamed in the distance.

At the front of the intersection Arete spotted an empty SUV with the driver's door slightly ajar. The motor was still running. "Over here!"

She shoved the two girls in the back. Mr. Hedge handed the boy back to Kayla in the back seat ordering her to start healing him up. Lacy went back to the third row trying to calm the two frightened girls. With the back full Arete rode shot gun as the satyr slammed his door and floored the gas pedal.

They sped across the city driving onto the sidewalk frightening pedestrians along the way. Once a police car tried to stop them but Hedge proved to be the better driver. Once out of the city they didn't fare too much better.

"Arete take my arrows, now!" Kayla shouted as she used a resistance band from a gym bag to stop a gushing wound.

Arete grabbed the bow and arrows as Hedge lowered the window. They were almost at camp and behind them were two hellhounds gaining on them. The SUV they stole wasn't as fast as the modified ones at camp.

Arete stuck her head and arms out of the car. The wind blew in her face as she aimed. "I hope you can hear me this time Apollo!"

Arete had gotten better at archery, mainly due to Austin insisting that he could teach anyone to hit a target, but had yet to practice on moving targets. She pulled back on the string with arrow in hand. She released and the arrow snapped through the air shooting one in the eye making it stumble and howl in pain.

She took out one more and aimed it at the last hound on their tail. "One more time Apollo. I really need to make this shot. I'm begging."

The hound had gained ground and was just a couple of feet from grabbing onto the back bumper with it's snarling teeth. Hedge swerved putting the hellhound in clear view. Arete shot the arrow piercing the hound right in the nostril. It yelped and stopped to paw at its face.

Hedge grabbed the back of Atere's shirt and yanked her back into the car as they sped into the woods. A tree knocked off the side mirror where her head was just a second earlier. She laughed looking at the rays from the sun that peeked through the grey sky silently thanking Apollo. She didn't think she could have made those shots on her own. Austin wasn't that good of a teacher.

She beamed at the satyr who quite literally saved her head. Before she could say anything he took a sharp turn tossing her in the SUV making her scramble for the seatbelt.

Hedge drove the car straight up the hill towards camp launching them into the air and nearly crashing into the Big House's neatly trimmed bushes causing several campers to scamper out of the way. Arete vowed to never make fun of Travis' driving again.

Hedge pumped his fist in the air. "Now that's a rescue mission!"

They all stumbled out of the car. Nearby campers rushed forward to help. A flash of light shone from behind Arete. Two golden bows glittered above the two blond girls' head. 'He did hear me,' thought Arete.

She walked behind Kayla who was shouting orders to her to hold tightly on the small boy's wounds. They placed the boy on a bed. He was badly hurt covered in dirt, ash, and blood. Arete pressed down on his shoulder near his neck. The boy had dark jet black hair and was looking rather pale from the blood loss at the moment.

Kayla did what she could but the wounds were deep and blood continued to pour out. She started wiping the grim off with a wet cloth so that Austin could stitch up the wounds. The boy already had a fever from the ambrosia and couldn't take more.

Arete shut her eyes pressing down harder with the wet cloth on the wound to stop the bleeding. "Hera, help me out just this once will ya?"

The boy gasped and groaned. His eyes were a startling electric blue as he gazed up at Arete in pain. She didn't know why but she let go of her grip on the boy and pulled back the dry cloth. The wound that was once an open gash that gushed blood now looked like a scar covered with an ugly bruise all around it.

Kayla and Austin stopped what they were doing. Chiron clopped in and stopped short seeing what Arete had done.

"What happened?" Kayla asked startled.

"She healed him, shouldn't that be obvious?" Mr. D said lazily eating a grape. How long had he been there doing absolutely nothing?

Arete looked down at her own blood caked hands and then back at the boy who was breathing heavily.

"He still needs assistance Austin." Chiron ordered.

Once it looked like the boy was going to live Arete was ordered to help bandage the twins while Chiron helped stabilize the boy.

Malcolm came by placing his steady hand on her trembling ones. "I can take it from here. Go take a break."

Another came up behind him giving her a small nod. She vaguely recognized him as another one of the younger Apollo campers.

Arete kept her head down and tried to stay in the background. So far no one seemed to remember that she wasn't supposed to leave camp.

Chiron rolled in his magical wheel chair with a calm expression. "Arete may I talk to you?"

She nodded reluctantly and followed him to an empty room. She gulped wondering what the standard punishment was for leaving camp without permission.

"Gleeson Hedge told me about how you helped rescue the three children. You did well."

Arete stared out at him with hard angry eyes. "Another satyr died. How is that doing well?"

Chiron raised his eyebrows. "From what Gleeson has told me you couldn't have made it on time to both places."

Arete looked away still upset. He was practically saying job well done but it didn't feel that way for her. She felt like she had failed. I wasn't good enough, she pondered.

Chiron sighed and rubbed his beard. "Arete you –"

"Chiron!" someone shouted.

Chiron and Arete turned to see a misty image of Annabeth. They could hear shouting and vague images of fighting behind her.

"Chiron, the Argo and some of its crew are missing. Percy, again! And Leo-" Annabeth stopped and whirled around slashing an oncoming monster.

Chiron turned to Arete. "Go get Rachel and the other head counselors, quickly."

Arete dashed out just as Annabeth started explaining what happened in hurry.

Connor came down from the lava wall with a stern look on him. "Where've you been? I looked all over for you."

Arete gave him a quick recap of what happened while talking to Chiron while leaving out the part that she had snuck out of camp. She'd rather deal with that later and the look in his eyes before he left confirmed that he wasn't going to let it go either. He nodded and went to tell the others Arete dashed up to the cave where Rachel would be.

Rachel was outside with an easel starting a new painting. She raised an eyebrow at Arete who was now huffing as she ran up.

"Chiron needs you down at camp. Something happened to Leo." Arete gasped out.

She had meant to say the Argo and her crew but her mouth got ahead of her as all she could think about was Leo. Rachel nodded properly interpreting what Arete meant.

As they made their way back to camp Arete felt exhausted with the entire day's activities finally catching up on her. Used to being kept out of the loop she went to the infirmary and plopped herself on a chair watching the rain fall steadily on the ground.

Gleeson Hedge walked up to her with a Styrofoam cup and bright pink straw. "Here, you deserve this."

She took the cup with a shaky hand both exhausted and cold from the icy rain. She sipped the nectar. It tasted like freshly picked guava. It took her several moments to realize that since coming to camp she hadn't eaten any. She looked at the cup sadly.

Gleeson looked at her proudly as he ate the now empty cup and used the straw as a toothpick. "Feeling better? There's someone who wants to meet you."

Arete followed him silently toward the back where the beds were for more critical patients. The black haired little boy sat upright with Kayla by his side. He was bandaged up and had more color to his face. He looked about ten years old with a sweet round childish face.

"You're the one that helped save me. I – I knew I was dying. I felt it. But you …" The boy looked down at his hands then back up at her. "Thank you. Thank you so much. You have no idea." The boy shook his head unable to find the words.

She held out her hand. "I'm Arete. Don't worry about it. I'm sure one day you'll return the favor."

He looked up with wide eyes and took her hand in his. "Yes, I swear I will. My name is Danny."

As their hands parted Arete's first thought was 'so I guess I die now' as a bright blinding light blurred her vision.

"Holy Zeus!" Gleeson shouted.

As Arete's eyes refocused she saw a lightning bolt directly over Danny's head. She stared blankly at his confused face as she let all that had happened settle.

Danny shielded his eyes. "What's going on?"

"It means that Zeus is your daddy." Gleeson grinned.

"Is that a good thing?" Danny asked uneasily studying Arete's face carefully.

Kayla shifted uncomfortably then looked at Arete. "Yes, it can be."

Arete sat on a rocking chair on the porch of the Big House too emotionally drained to walk back to her own cabin. She kicked the floor lightly rocking herself back and forth. It was dusk now and the clouds were finally parting. The sky was painted with shades of red and orange as the sun began to set. The rain had finally stopped.

The other campers began to file out muttering to themselves as they headed toward the camp fire. Gleeson was walked in and filled Chiron in on what had happened in the infirmary with Danny. Gleeson gave Arete a pat on the back as he left muttering about being late for dinner.

Chiron rolled toward Arete slowly, examining her carefully. They both stared at each other for a moment but Arete looked away feeling as if he was trying to see into her soul.

She looked back to see that he was still staring at her but this time she saw something glitter in his eyes that bordered on hope.

"You remind me of a boy I once trained long ago. I will consult Rachel, but no matter what she says I want you on the rescue team." Chiron announced with confidence.