IX: Arrival
-Oasis-
The nice scent of fresh woodland grass and leaves filled my nose. A cold breeze wafted through the air, perfectly contrasting the torrid sun beating down on us. I gritted my teeth as I stepped out of the forest. "Code names only," I whispered. "I don't need them knowing who I am." I adjusted my mask, pulling my hood over it. I could sense a serious tension among the party.
A soft hand rested on my shoulder. I twisted my head to see Hannah looking at me. Her cold eyes peeked out through her mask, causing me to smirk. Luke gave me a faint nod which I cordially returned. We were both misunderstood by people at these camps. It's terrible for both of us more than anyone else. The two traitors, they'd probably call us.
We descended the hill toward the infamous Big House, the Camp Demigod flag waving in the sky. The weight of my camp necklace weighing down on my neck. I'm telling you, its to remember the good times. Should have burnt it a while ago.
Smoke billowed from the dining pavilion. Heads swirled in our direction as people began to run towards us. They searched for any monsters who may have been near us but came toward us when the realized we were alone. Our masks were painted white with two sawed out eye holes and a slight breathing hole. The mask also had a red star across the center. My eyes now we're a different couple shades of green with aqua rings around it.
Our cloaks were a size too big to conceal our weapons and armor. The distant slapping of horse hooves came from the distance. Chiron approached from the camp, other campers around him. Your idea is good. We won't gain their trust if we spite some of them. We should treat them ALL normally for business purposes.
"Hello, may I ask who you are," the Centaur asked. I let out a quiet breath.
"We're here to aid in your upcoming war with Kronos and Gaea. Chaos sends his assistance, his most powerful soldiers. Unfortunately, the actual army is one other missions and planets now."
"Chaos!? As in the creator of the Universe?" I continued staring at Chiron, not daring to look towards the voice. I recognize that tone all too well. She would know who Chaos is instantly. She loved to read and theorize about the world and gods. I audibly groaned.
"Yes. We are Chaos's top commanding soldiers." I shifted my head to face a slightly taller and longer haired Annabeth. She was standing next to two of my least favorite
people, Jason and Piper. They looked almost the same as when I last saw them, likely due to partial immortality they received. The look on Jason's face had changed though. Used to be a face of pride.
There I saw Jason and Piper walking in my direction. "Hey!" It took everything I had to manage a scream. "Help!" Jason eyed me warily.
"With you gone," Jason started with a stone cold face. "I'll be the strongest." He turned on his heels and just left, Piper trailing behind him.
I clenched my fists so hard my knuckles cracked. A hand rested on my shoulder. "This is no matter to discuss here." Hannah stated. "Gather the Camp leader or leaders. We need to discuss the war in private for now." Chiron looked stunned and scared, but called for the 'council,' anyway.
I wonder what the so called council is. There was no council last time I was here. Then again the camp seemed almost three times as big as when I was last here. There even seemed to be cabins and buildings. Almost like people actually live here.
We left Beckendorf back in the forest to set up the tents we will likely sleep in. Chiron shooed the gathering demigods back to their activities and a few of them jogged towards the Big House. I assumed they were the infamous council members. Unfortunately Piper, Jason, and Annabeth walked with him. My face scrunched up in disgust just looking at them.
"Um, excuse me," a quiet voice came from behind me. I turned to see Hazel looking up at me. She immediately looked away under my gaze, lightly biting her lower lip. She tapped her foot seeming much more shy and impatient sense the last time I saw her, though that was long ago. "I'm not supposed to mention this, but have you met someone named Percy Jackson?"
Anger began bubbling within me, but I kept composure, instead letting curiosity take the reins. Why wouldn't she be able to ask about me. Was it some sort of civil crime to bring me up. Chaos had once told me that the peace in camp following my leave was shaky and unstable. There were times where looking at someone the wrong way could cause a fight no matter who you were. A lot of my supporters were unfortunately sent away or left on their own. Nico and Leo to the wall, Grover in the woods with Juniper in the forest, Thalia with the hunt, and likely more.
"We've never been to this planet, but have heard of a man named Percy Jackson," Hannah mentioned. Hazels face lit up upon hearing that which confused me. Why would she care, she hates me anyway. She posed to Nico like she was on my side, but was neutral at best. That's probably an overstatement though. "He died about four years ago," she added quickly. Without saying anything, Hazel disappeared into a shadow, leaving all of us confused. Guess she can Shadow Travel.
"We should get to the meeting. Me, Oasis, and Itchiama for obvious reasons. We don't want them to feel threatened, and both Itchiama and I don't need masks or code names." I smiled at Hannah's quick decision making. It was a good idea, and the campers do need to feel like their working with real people, not just masked robot like assassins. It doesn't matter if they reveal their identity right? It's not like anyone knows them.
"I'd like to go as well," Zoe spoke up for the first time sense arrival. "You know, just in case something goes wrong there will be an extra one of us." Hannah nodded and grabbed Itchiama, as I grabbed Zoe, using out respecting Shadow and Vapor Travels to get to the Big House.
When I opened my eyes I was in the Big House, on the opposite side of a Ping Pong table as a group of people. My eyes drifted across the group of people before me. There were people I knew and people I didn't. THAT trio was obviously sitting there with pride at the center of the table. Chiron coughed, unstartled at our entrance, despite others certainly getting spooked. Seeing Piper jump back upon spotting us made my day.
"So," he begun. "Were eager to learn about this war you've come to assist us in. These our the council members, Annabeth, Jason, Piper, Kyle, Hazel, Frank, Conor, Reyna, and Adeline. More would be here if it wasn't such a surprise. Maybe a representative from the wall or hunt. Care to introduce yourselves?"
"I'm Oasis and that's Star. We have both defeated millions of villains and our true identities being revealed could cause our enemies to send for help, or help to come on it's own." Hannah looked at me conflicted as if she was torn between being proud I made a convincing story, or disappointed she couldn't be part of the million villain club. She and Itichiama threw off their hoods and masks, Shadow Traveling them near where the others were. "This is Hannah, and Itichiama."
"So about the war," Hannah started for me. "Chaos has informed us of the rise of both Kronos and Gaea. They will oppose you with a growing army of monsters that could become a threat to more than just Earth. Earth is definitely one of the weaker planets but that doesn't mean it's useless." Everyone seemed slightly offended at the comment about Earth being weak. The truth hurts.
"Were providing our own support, as well as weapons and protection if the war carries out. We are happy to help in any ways as possible, and will leave the planet as soon as the wars over." An uneasy silence filled the air. Both sides stared at the other, wondering who would make the next move. I couldn't and wouldn't dare look at Annabeth, so I kept my eyes on Kyle.
"Well," Annabeth started. "We could station you guys on the wall to protect camp. I could help make a plan to fight off an attack utilizing the soldiers we have there as backup."
"It's not a great plan," Hannah stated earning a glare from Annabeth. "We circled the wall and found out it's very long and could be easily breached from a side. I doubt we have the people to station around the entire wall, so it could overtaken from a side or the sea. I propose a few of us guard the walls gates. Climbing or demolishing parts of the wall would take time and draw attention. An attack will definitely come for the gate."
"Then why don't we use my plan to put yo-"
"It won't work. They will launch a big attack on the gate and have other monsters sneak around. That doesn't mean we should sacrifice everyone at the wall either. We need a group on the gate with plenty here to kill the stragglers. In fact, I assume the more here the better sense you guys seem to be living the good life away from the battle, losing any skills you may have once had." Collective pride washed from their faces.
Hannah was the sibling I always wanted, not to put anything against Tyson and Kyle of course. Constantly stating facts the Athena spawn couldn't work against, but would definitely try too. Pride will be the downfall of our race, something I knew from the first day in the army. Annabeth wasn't ready to give into a better idea quite yet, and I rolled my eyes knowing this argument would go on for a while. More of a beat down than an argument though.
"We could just pull back from the wall," Annabeth only got to start her idea.
"Why would we lose such a pivotal part in our defense. Did you even listen to what I said? If we fight off a main attack, and they think they can win breaching the sides then they will end up wasting a slew of their monsters easily. We just have to fend off the main attack, without losing too many soldiers."
"Is that all they are to you," Reyna spoke up. "Do you just want to move our campers like pawns in Chaos's great game?" She brought up a fair point. Hannah was going a bit all out with the 'soldier' terms, not like you could consider anyone here that. Concealed by my mask I smiled at Renya, but she just shifted nervously from only seeing my eyes. Thanks for not betraying me.
"No, but this is a strategizing session. We are the higher ups commanding them to safety. They rely on us to keep them safe, even if they're poisoned by the fantasy that they can be heroes. If you'd prefer me to refer to them as campers I will, but all I want is a good strategy where no 'pawns' have to die."
Renya seemed to pick up on the ending sarcasm, but Piper definitely didn't. "So they are pawns then? Make up your mind!"
"I can't believe you can't read sarcasm despite having charmspeak. Must be next to useless wielded by the likes of you."
"Ok now everyone," Chiron intervened. "This has gone on long enough. We will have a real strategy session with all demigod parties in a couple of days. This will include hunt and wall representatives. In the meantime hopefully you all can get to know each other better and next time will be less bickering." Turns out Hannah was the only one of us to actually talk, and it really wasn't a good session. I frowned and nodded, as Shadow transported Itchiama out of the room.
I stayed for a few seconds eyeing the crowd. No one was moving. So their planning on talking behind our backs. I'm certain Itchiama noticed something and dropped a recorder. Zoe grabbed my hand and I prepared to Vapor Travel when one line stopped me. "Wait whos the hot girl!?" I swear I felt my jaw unhinging and falling to the floor. Did Jason, the guy with his girlfriend two feet away just refer to my sister as the hot girl.
Zoe tried to pull me back but I hopped over the ping pong table in front of Jason's ear. I couldn't hurt him and jeopardize the mission, but my body ached with years of anger and sorrow. I clenched every muscle in my body, and forced myself to be content with just talk for the time being. "Don't you ever refer to my sister as the 'hot girl' again," I whispered. Zoe grabbed my shoulder and I whisked us away into the forest.