"About time you got back." Thalia said, glancing up at Ryker when he strode into the Big House. "Anything?"

Ryker shook his head once. "Nothing more than a few stray monsters." He said quietly. "They're dust by the way."

Chiron came limping up to them with one arm in a sling and a heavily bandaged fore hoof. He had been injured in the battle against Atlas's forces and was now occupying his time by coordinating the camp's defenses. The Hunters of Artemis had decided to stay and assist them, much to the campers' delight and immense relief. "Let's be glad that they were not intending on a second attack." He said gravely, placing his hands on the pool table and staring down at the defensive layout they had drawn up. "I'm not sure that we could withstand a second assault of such magnitude. Not without severe casualties."

Ryker leaned against the wall and glanced to the side when Nico stepped out of a shadow in the corner of the room. Nico nodded at him and strode to the table, thoroughly surprising Thalia and Chiron. "Nico, a little warning next time." Thalia said, fervently shaking her head. "Where have you been?"

"The Underworld." Nico answered coolly, clearly unconcerned with Thalia's surprise. "Silena was taken from Eylsium-."

"Silena?" Thalia cut him off, one eyebrow raised in confusion. "Silena Beauregard?"

"You didn't tell her?" Nico asked Ryker, frowning.

Ryker scowled. "Tell her what?" He growled. "That we rescued some girl from Python?"

"That was kind of important." Nico shot back.

"To you." Ryker countered. "I couldn't care less."

"Enough." Chiron said loudly, interrupting the inevitable argument. "Nico, what's this about Silena?"

"Silena was taken from Elysium against her will." Nico explained. "She was being held prisoner by Python in a jar. They forced her to accept the Oracle of Delphi, which means that Thanatos can't take her back to Elysium. Not until we have a better idea on what exactly is going on here. I heard that you were attacked, what happened?"

"Atlas." Chiron said darkly. "He staged a surprise attack and nearly overwhelmed us. If it was not for the Hunter's assistance I fear that the Camp might have been lost. As it is, we have many demigods who require the funeral rites. Once we finish here, would you be willing to assist us Nico?"

"Of course." Nico's face softened for a moment as he remembered the list of names Thanatos had shown him. A feeling of anger suddenly filled him and he whirled around on Ryker. "You!"

"Me." Ryker was unconcerned with Nico's anger, but he tensed all the same. "Something bothering you?"

"Why didn't you protect them?" Nico demanded. It was irrational and very unfair on Ryker's part, but Nico was furious all the same. So much death had been caused for the simple fact that Ryker had been so obstinate in his assistance. If he had just given in to the gods' whims like he should have perhaps more deaths could have been avoided. "You act like such a big shot, like you are some great fighter, but you haven't done anything. You can't protect anyone. You only get people killed or captured."

Ryker rolled his eyes. "I kept myself alive." He answered back with a smirk. "If the others couldn't do the same, well, I guess they just weren't good enough were they?"

It was a curious thing, Nico's anger. Ryker watched as the pale demigod shook with rage, his face contorting into a fearsome scowl. The shadows around the Big House seemed to spread further along the walls, creeping towards Ryker like the roots of a tree. "How dare you?" Nico whispered, his eyes malevolent. "How dare you act like their blood is not on your hands?"

Ryker smirked again and made a show of examining his hands. "I don't see any blood on them." He answered back, turning his hands over and examining his palms.

"Enough, Nico." A clear voice said. The mere sound of the words seemed to force the shadows to retreat back to where they had come from. A beautiful woman clad in a silver Hunter's outfit strode into the cabin, a ghostly white bow slung over her shoulder. "I understand well your anger, but at present it is not wise to unleash it on your allies. No matter how infuriating they may be." Artemis glanced accusingly at Ryker and he shrugged.

Nico took a steadying breath and resumed his blank expression. "Fine." He said.

"My Lady." Thalia inclined her head in deference.

"Artemis, it is always good to see you." Chiron greeted. "But if I may be blunt, why are you here?"

"I am here to assist you." She answered back simply.

Mr. D strode into the Big House at that moment and nodded in agreement. "Going to be rather crowded here soon." He said with a shred of interest. "That last attack here was not the only one."

"What's that mean?" Thalia asked warily.

"Oceanus has returned as well." Artemis said gravely. "He has begun anew his old war with Poseidon. At the same time that Atlas attacked here, Oceanus attacked Poseidon's palace. Both attacks were devastating. Poseidon was able to push back the offense, but not without severe losses."

"And they were only two of the attacks." A third voice added, one that was very familiar to Ryker. The wooden walls of the Big House seemed to shift and change until Cybele simply stepped out of the wood. She smiled at Ryker and moved to stand next to her son before continuing, "The nymphs, dryads, and satyrs of the forest were attacked as well."

"Cybele." Artemis nodded at her. "It has been quite a while. I must say, it is unlike you to show yourself among so many."

"We all must make sacrifices to face what is to come." Cybele answered gravely. "In addition to the forest, the Roman Camp was attacked as well."

"And my Amazons as well." A rather angry voice added. A surge of flame appeared at the end of the pool table opposite where Chiron stood and when it died away a man in armor stood there, scowling. "They had to flee from their factory. Do you know how much merchandise they lost because of that battle?"

"I would imagine quite a lot." Mr. D rolled his eyes. "But I don't really care. How many Amazons were killed?"

"Too many." Ares growled. "If they hadn't been caught by a surprise attack, none of them would have died! They are my daughters after all."

"Honorary daughters." Artemis corrected. "But I see your point. Kind of."

Thalia, Nico, and Chiron seemed to be at a loss for words at having so many gods show up in such a short amount of time. Ryker on the other hand was not quite as star struck. "So why are all of you here?" He asked abruptly, cutting off Ares before he could speak again. The god of war sent him an incredulous and affronted look that Ryker met with a cool stare. "You must have a reason." Ryker reasoned, looking away from Ares to meet the eyes of every other god.

"Ah yes," Mr. D sighed. He sent a long-suffering look to Cybele and she smiled back apologetically. "I rather liked your daughters better, Cybele. They were much more respectful. You should really try to teach him some manners. My patience is wearing thin."

Ryker glared at him and opened his mouth to speak, but Cybele cut him off with a look that Ryker could only describe as motherly. "I will work on him." She promised Dionysus.

"He makes a good point though." Thalia said slowly. "Why are all of you here?"

"Because events have deemed it appropriate for us to take action." Artemis said. "The recent attacks have been well orchestrated precise things. In addition to that, it appears that the Titans and Giants have been placed under the same banner."

"Wait, shouldn't we have the others here as well?" Nico interjected. "They will want to-."

"Yes, you are quite right." Mr. D cut him off and waved a hand airily. "I am sure that your little group would be happy to be here, but it is not wise to place all of your chips in one basket as it were. It's best to keep you separated. For now at least."

"Speaking of our group," Thalia's voice was firm, "What about my brother? Atlas said that he is holding up the weight of the world right now! We need to save him!"

"I agree." Ares nodded vigorously. "The boy is a good fighter. Besides, he actually respects me. Can't have a good demigod like him die."

"So what would you have us do?" Mr. D asked in bored voice. "Run to his aid with the strength of the camp? If Atlas said it there is a good chance there is a trap there waiting for us. I'm sure that he was not intending on being defeated. He most likely thought to destroy the camps and then kill the rest when they went to save Jason. Or at least something to that effect. Regardless, whoever we sent would be walking right into a trap."

"I'll go alone then." Thalia snarled, her eyes filled with determination. "He's my brother. I have to save him."

"I am afraid that I cannot permit that." Artemis told her regretfully. "You are my lieutenant. The Hunters need you to guide them."

"And yet she is correct." Cybele mused. "The boy must be rescued. A child of Jupiter should not be abandoned, especially considering all we do not know."

"And yet it seems that we have no way to get him." Chiron said sadly. "Until we deal with our present issues I am afraid that Jason might have to be put aside for now."

"Who knows how long that will take?" Thalia snapped. "It could take months maybe years for us to figure out what's going on there. He won't survive that long! Percy and Annabeth only held the sky for a little while and they nearly died! He might be dead already."

The cabin lapsed into silence as each of the occupants considered how best to deal with the problem facing them. It was Dionysus, to everyone's surprise, who spoke after the pause. "It seems to me that a Hunter would have to be the one to go rescue the boy." He said finally. When Artemis opened her mouth to object Dionysus held up a hand, forestalling her inevitable argument. "And yet your Hunters are needed to defend this camp."

"So what are you saying?" Nico asked, lost as to his point. "Why would it have to be a Hunter?"

"Because it was Atlas who informed us of John's position." Dionysus answered him.

"John?" Ryker inquired quietly. "Who's John?"

"The titans undoubtedly expect a Hunter to go to Jason's rescue, most likely Thalia." Artemis seemed to have gained an understanding of where Dionysus was going with this train of thought. "So you are saying that we should send one?"

Dionysus stifled a yawn and nodded. "But perhaps not one that they expect."

Comprehension dawned on everyone in the cabin and they turned to stare at Ryker. The wild demigod raised an eyebrow and scratched his head with a sigh. "I'm about to be sent on another of your little quests again, aren't I?" He asked miserably.