Annabeth, Chiron, and Rachel all walked back to camp together, Annabeth questioning Chiron about Micah.

"I've never seen anything like it. He… he should have been…"

"Dead? Yes, as harsh as it sounds, even a demigod should have died from an accident like that" He commented. Rachel played with the ruby necklace still around her neck, thinking. When they got to the Mess Hall, They were greeted by another unbelievable sight: Micah eating. Around him were stacked at least 20 plates, all cleaned off thoroughly. Percy spotted them and waded through the crowd, then helped the girls to the table. Micah noticed them and simply nodded. Clarisse stepped up to them, jaw hanging.

"Please tell me that's not who I think it is." she growled. The 2 shook their heads.

"Nope. Super weird coincidence. But that's not him, Clarisse." Percy reassured. They all sat next to Micah as he consumed inhuman amounts of food. When he noticed them, he smiled.

"Hey, what took you so long? The food here is great!" He said cheerfully. Seeing Annabeth's expression, he answered her unspoken question.

"Super enhanced regeneration. Only works in life-or-death situations, and takes up a heck of a lot of energy. So, yeah, after a huge heal I get extremely hungry. And I can't run as fast until my blood sugar levels are back up to par." he slurred between bites. He ate at least 20 more plates, then stood up and walked outside.

"Hey, uh, I need some time to think." he said over his shoulder as he walked. The door slammed behind him, causing a momentary silence to fill the room. A few seconds later, everything went back to normal.

"Does he realize that's…" Clarisse started

"Against camp rules? Yeah, no I don't think he does. I'll talk to him." Percy said cooly. He followed Micah out, only to find he was long gone. Percy looked around, then sighed.

"So much for slowing down for a while." he said to himself as he walked back inside to eat. After they all ate, they had some free time. Percy and Annabeth looked around for Micah, finally having some alone time while they walked.

"So, you ok?" Percy asked. Annabeth looked at him, sorrow evident in her eyes.

"Yeah, I'm fine." she said after a few moments. Percy looked at her in disbelief.

"Come one, Wise Girl, you know I know you better than that. Talk to me." he said, throwing his arm over her shoulder. He used his trump card: Percy's Puppy Face. It worked every time. She sighed and rolled her eyes, unable to hide the tiny smile appearing on her face.

"Ok, so maybe i'm not completely ok…" she admitted.

"It's just… it's hard, you know? I'd….finally moved on, at least I thought so. I was so happy. Being with you, going to school together, It was amazing. Then… then he showed up; so much like Luke… I can't help but hurt. He walks, talks, and looks just like him. I… I honestly wish he didn't." she choked. Percy turned her around and buried her in a hug. She cried for a few moments, before calming down.

"Hey," he said softly, tilting her head up to meet his. He gently put a hand on her cheek and wiped a stray tear.

"I know its hard, trust me I know. But you aren't alone. You'll always have me Annabeth. I promise. We'll get through this together." he whispered softly. This time, she squeezed him, burying her face in his chest.

"You're all I'll ever need, Percy Jackson." she whispered back. He smiled and kissed her gently. After a few moments she stepped back. She merely looked at him, and he smiled.

"This goes nowhere?" he chuckled

"Not a place." she giggled right back. Percy extended his hand, and she took it. They walked hand in hand, searching for their new friend.

BREAK*

Micah sat on the roof of the Big House, overlooking the whole camp.

'What am I doing?' he mentally questioned himself. He was a survivor. His whole life, the only thing he had to worry about was his own safety. Now, he was tasked with working with a whole team to save all of western civilization from some monstrous primordial being. He wasn't ready for that. He would fight to keep himself alive, and if he could maybe a few people here and there. But putting ALL those lives on his shoulder? That was a task he didn't think he could succeed at alone. He pulled off his ring, feeling it become Δήμιος in his hands. He looked at the blade, then back out over the camp.

'Not my problem.' he unsuccessfully tried to convince himself. He recalled a fond memory of his old sensei. When he was 13, he began taking jeet kune do at an unmarked dojo. His sensei was a kind man, allowing him to train in exchange for Micah cleaning the place up. He was very wise ,and Micah would never forget his words:

'It is the duty of the powerful to protect the weak.'

Micah sighed sadly. He missed his sensei. He was right, if you were given power, you should protect those who weren't.

'But, I can't do this alone. The weight of the world on my shoulders? That's not possible.' he thought.

'But you won't be alone,' the other side of his conscious argued,

'The prophecy said that a TEAM would save the world.' Micah stood up and zoomed back to the ground.

"I'll sleep on it." he decided, setting off to find the rest of the group. He found them all around some weird looking campfire, singing. He waited just outside until Chiron announced it was time to prepare for bed, and the mass of campers started piling out. Percy spotted him and jogged over.

"Hey man we looked all over for you! You ok?" he asked. Micah nodded.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just needed some time." They heard hooves hitting the ground, and turned to see Chiron trotting over.

"Ah, there you are Micah. I was just about to tell you that, since you haven't been claimed by your godly parent, you will be staying in the Hermes cabin. Percy will lead the way."

"No offense, but I'm not a people's person, and Cabin 11 looks pretty crowded." Micah said, a look of distaste written all over his face. Chiron looked at him curiously.

"How'd you know it was Cabin 11?" he asked slyly. Micah simply held up Chiron's personal camp journal. Chiron looked at him for a few moments, and Micah got the memo. Right before all of their eyes, the book seemed to 'reappear' right back where it was.

"I suppose we can make an exception and let you stay in the lounge." he finally said. Micah half smiled.

"Thanks Mr. Chiron." Just then, Dionysus walked by on his way back to his office. As soon as he saw Micah, he spewed out the Diet Coke in his mouth, looking at Micah with awe and horror.

"You...you're the Lyte… OUR Lyte! That means that…. Oh crap no!" Micah looked at Dionysus, then at Chiron.

"Um…. And he is…" Micah questioned.

"Our Camp Director, Mr. D," Chiron said. Micah got a weird feeling when he looked at Mr. D. Annoyance. He kept it at bay as best he could

"That means what Mr. D? What does me being here mean?" Dionysus started to sweat, and looked around. He leaned real close.

"Look, Peter and I,"

"Percy. You...you know it's Percy" Percy said in disbelief.

"Yeah him too. Look, we go way back, so I'll tell you this. You being here means one thing and one thing only, kid. War. It means that…" Dionysus was cut off by the eruption of thunder overhead.

"ALRIGHT ALREADY GEEZ!!!" He screamed at the sky, then sighed.

"Look kids, this ain't like Kronos and Gaea. This is worse. Far far worse. That's all the big guy'll let me say right now." he started to walk away, when he turned to the group once more

"You take care of yourself, Micah. We'll be watching." With that, Dionysus seemed to vanish into thin air, leaving them with a little more knowledge of the horror to come.