Reyna pointed out a clearing close to Camp Half-Blood, and Nightwing landed there, expertly. She couldn't help but be impressed. He opened up the back hatch, and Lenny did a weird kind of goat skip as he led the kids out. Reyna picked up the body of the dead kid and followed them. "I'm going to talk to their camp director about a funeral for him and about what's going on. You don't mind waiting, do you?" She addressed Nightwing.

Nightwing, who had been about to follow them stopped. "Sure. I'll just wait here." His nonchalant comment didn't fool her. She could see the curiosity written all over him.

The kids followed Lenny up the hill and each one ran right past the barrier, except one. He had been lagging behind, even stopping on occasion with a worried look. When he reached the barrier, he could not pass. Reyna was completely confused. She lay the dead kid down, mumbling for Peleus to watch over him. She then guided the kid back down the hill.

"I don't want to go there." He said with a relieved look as they walked away. Nightwing was still outside the plane and gave Reyna a questioning look as she brought the kid to him.

Reyna mouthed, "Mortal." as way of explanation. "I'll be back as soon as I can." Reyna reassured them.

She quickly made her way back up the hill, picked up the dead kid and walked through the barrier, past the Athena Parthenon and Peleus the dragon. The kids were filing into the farmhouse as Reyna walked down the hill. She was beginning to draw attention as campers began gathering in small groups to watch her pass by. Reyna placed the body on the porch before she entered. The kids were looking around the house with curiosity.

"This is an unexpected surprise." Chiron said as he wheeled himself into the room.

"Chiron, sir." Lenny bowed respectfully.

"I thought you were only watching one?" Chiron raised a questioning eyebrow at Lenny.

"Sir, we need to talk." Reyna interrupted.

Chiron turned his attention toward Reyna. "Lenny why don't you get the orientation video started."

"Yes, sir." Lenny bowed and guided the kids to another room.

"So, Preator Reyna, how did you end up bringing so many half-bloods to Camp Half-Blood?"

Reyna took a deep breath and told Chiron everything. The dreams she had been having of half-bloods being kidnapped, Lupa's visiting her, the senate meeting, and the auguries. Then she talked about getting Nightwings help, and what they had discovered on their missions about monsters working with mortals to kidnap half-blood kids and studying their blood in labs while holding them captive. It took all of Reyna's strength to not cry when she told of finding the half-blood being cut open.

"That is disconcerting." Chiron stroked his beard.

"Will you give him a burial?" Reyna asked.

"Of course. And a meeting with the counselors and the sayters is in order. Will you stay, so the information is accurately reported?"

"It will have to be quick. Nightwing is waiting on me, and he is too curious for his own good." Reyna didn't think that Chiron needed to know about the mortal child that was with the other half-bloods.

"We'll call an emergency meeting." Chiron nodded and left to call the councilors.

A few minutes later the kids emerged from their orientation video with wide eyes. Lenny looked around for Chiron. "He went to gather the councilors for an emergency meeting." Reyna explained his absence.

"Ah, I'll just take them to get settled then." Lenny looked uncomfortable but eager.

Reyna nodded in agreement and watched as he led the kids out of the farm house. It was another half hour, before everyone had arrived. The room became crowded with kids from each god and goddess, major and minor. Reyna didn't recognize anyone. Everyone she had become acquainted with had left camp. She had seen some of them in New Rome, moving on with their lives, going to college, while she and Frank remained as Preators. Chiron managed to get the kids settled down somehow. Reyna explained the situation to everyone. After that, she didn't pay too much attention as they squabbled and talked in circles. The senate wasn't much better, but at least the councilors understood one thing: half-bloods were being targeted by mortals, who were supposed to be unaware of their existence.

Eventually, she lost interest and left the room altogether. The body had been removed from the porch. She looked out at the main fire that was always burning. The body of the kid was being wrapped up in gauze next to the fire. A little while later, the Athena cabin came out with an orange flag with Camp Half-Blood written on it. They draped it over the kid. Reyna thought it fitting. They were his family, claimed or not. Shortly after, Chiron with the rest of the councilors filed out. Chiron blew into a large conch shell and a long even note sounded. Campers from everywhere gathered around the fire. He was silently placed on the fire as campers paid their respects. The bright orange flag that had been draped on his body caught fire, but instead of burning, it changed the flags color to a shiny black with the insignia of a white chain. The campers murmured in wonder at the change in the flag before the flames finally consumed it. Chiron had his head solemnly bowed. He looked so sad. Reyna had an idea of how he felt. Death is inevitable, but to see it so young, rocked her.

She couldn't stand to see more. Chiron must have sensed her thoughts as he raised his head. His sorrowful eyes caught her long enough to help her to steady her emotions. She raised her hand in farewell, he nodded in return, and she turned her back on the scene. She walked as dignified and as quickly as she could back to the plane. The back was still open, so she walked in. Nightwing was sitting at the main controllers with the kid leaning over him watching everything he was doing. She plopped in the co-pilot's seat, drawing their attention.

"How'd it go?" Nightwing asked.

"Fine." Reyna said tonelessly. She didn't feel fine.

Nightwing hesitated for a moment. "This is Charlie Dunham, from Gotham." He turned toward the kid, who grinned at Reyna.

Reyna raised an eyebrow.

"We've been talking, and I've been looking into things and found out he's special."

"Oh? How so?" Reyna wondered since he was clearly a mortal.

"He's a meta." Nightwing looked at her expectantly. When Reyna's expression didn't change, he elaborated. "Some mortals have a mutated gene that if activated, which no one knows when or how it will happen or even if it will ever be activated, they develop powers."

"So you think he was mistaken for a half-blood?" Reyna wondered.

"What's a half-blood?" Charlie interjected.

Nightwing ignored the kid's question and addressed Reyna's. "Not sure, but could be. I'll have to look into their files some more before I'll know for certain. In the mean time, I thought we should get him back to his mother."

"In Gotham," Reyna clarified. "In the plane?"

"Well, we were just looking into that. I could borrow a vehicle."

"Stealing?" Reyna looked appalled.

"No." He looked offended that she would even suggest such a thing. "I mean borrow. My . . . mentor has some extra vehicles, he won't mind if we borrow one." He sounded like a kid talking himself into stealing his dad's car.

"Are you sure?"

"Sure. Once we're in range, I just need to hack into the remote and I can summon it to us."

"Why can't you just take us to the car, since your mentor doesn't mind?" She questioned, seriously doubting that his so called mentor wouldn't mind.

Nightwing smirked. "I can't go into your lair, you can't go into mine."

Reyna stared at him disbelievingly. "But your a mortal." She objected. "And it's not a lair."

"Tomato, tomato. No offense, it's a superhero thing." He smirked again.

Reyna huffed as she turned in her seat to face forward. He got Charlie buckled up as the kid once again asked, "What's a half-blood?"

"You'll find out when you're older." He winked.

"Everyone always says that." Charlie grumbled.

Nightwing closed the hatch, started up the plane and took off. "I also got that dead kid's file. He doesn't live too far from Gotham. Thought you would want to visit with the mother.

Reyna turned her face away, not able to trust her expression. "Sure." She mumbled. A heaviness settled over her chest making it hard to breath. The feeling wasn't new, but it was getting stronger. She just needed to hold it together a little while longer.