The least the Oracle could've done was walk back to the attic by herself.

Instead, she had to be carried back. Gohan, surprisingly, volunteered, along with Percy. Gohan awkwardly lifted her like a bag, while Percy managed the door.

"Watch her head!" Percy warned as they went up the stairs. But it was too late. Bonk! Gohan whacked her mummified face against the trapdoor frame and dust flew. "Ah, man." Gohan set her down and checked for damage. "Did I break anything?" "I can't tell," Percy admitted.

Gohan dropped her on the stool and readjusted her.

"You know, in my world, we have fortunetelling too."

"You do?"

"Oh yeah. Only, our fortuneteller's alive. Though she's pretty old too. Name's Baba. Uses a crystal ball."

"A crystal ball? Seriously? That's pretty cliché."

"It still works." Percy shifted nervously, not looking forward to the real reason he had volunteered to take the Oracle with Gohan.

"Why didn't you tell me about your plan?" Gohan rolled his eyes.

"Seriously!"

"Honestly? I meant what I said. I needed a wild card. The Hunters aren't stupid. I needed to lure the hunters into the clearing, but they would've seen a coordinated assault from a mile away. So, I left you and Thalia out of the loop, hoping you would do something so crazy and reckless that they knew couldn't be planned in any way and take chase. And you did."

Percy felt a swell of anger bubble up in him. Did Gohan really think Percy was that predictable? Still, he cursed mentally at the fact Gohan had been right. It had been a clever plan, one that Annabeth would have been proud of. There were times Percy forgot just how smart Gohan could really be. The two descended from the attic and stepped outside to find Grover, fretting nervously.

"You've looked better." Gohan commented with a grin on his face.

Percy felt annoyed. They should have been celebrating their big win against the Hunters, but that elation had been muted somewhat with the new prophecy from the Oracle. But this bothered Percy way beyond that. It was like the spirit of Delphi had gone out of her way to exclude Percy. She'd ignored his question and walked half a mile to talk to Zoe. And she'd said nothing, not even a hint, about Annabeth. That pissed Percy off to no end.

"You think the Oracle would tell me how to get back home?" Gohan joke.

"Probably not. She'd just ignore you, then run a mile to tell Silena where her make-up is." Percy sighed as he turned to look at Grover.

"What will Chiron do?" he asked Grover.

"I wish I knew." He looked wistfully out at the rolling hills covered in snow. "I want to be out there."

"Searching for Annabeth?"

Grover shuffled nervously, ignoring Gohan. Then he blushed. "Oh, right. That too. Of course."

"Why?" Percy asked. "What were you thinking?"

He clopped his hooves uneasily. "Just something the manticore said, about the Great Stirring. I can't help but wonder... if all those ancient powers are waking up, maybe... maybe not all of them are evil."

"You talking about Pan?" Gohan asked, remembering one of the first conversations that he had had with Grover. Pan was Grover's life ambition. The nature god had gone missing two thousand years ago. He was rumored to have died, but the satyrs didn't believe that. They were determined to find him. They'd been searching in vain for centuries, and Grover was convinced he'd be the one to succeed. This year, with Chiron putting all the satyrs on emergency duty to find half-bloods, Grover hadn't been able to continue his search. It must've been driving him nuts.

"I've let the trail go cold," he said. "I feel restless, like I'm missing something really important. He's out there somewhere. I can just feel it."

"Well, Pan's been missing for two thousand years. I doubt a week or two is going to make that much of a difference in the long run." Grover gave Gohan a very offended look.

"Come on, Gohan." Percy protested. He really didn't need more tension between Gohan and Grover again.

"Sorry. I'm just saying."

Before Percy could respond, Thalia tromped up. She was officially not talking to Gohan now, but she looked at Grover and said, "Chiron wants Percy and Gohan to get their butts downstairs."

"Why?" Gohan asked.

"Did he say something?" Thalia asked Grover.

"Um, he asked why."

"Dionysus is calling a council of cabin leaders to discuss the prophecy," she said. "Unfortunately, that includes Percy. And Chiron wants Gohan there for some reason. Despite the fact he's not a cabin leader. Not even a demigod for that matter." Then, she briskly turned and stomped away.

"You know, you'd think we'd lost the game from the way she's acting." Grover sighed.

"She just doesn't like being tricked." Gohan sighed.

"Fine, I'll say sorry next time I see her."

The council was held around a Ping-Pong table in the rec room. Dionysus waved his hand and supplied snacks: Cheez Whiz, crackers, and several bottles of red wine. Then Chiron reminded him that wine was against his restrictions and most of the people present were underage. Mr. D sighed. With a snap of his fingers the wine turned to Diet Coke. Nobody drank that either. Well… almost everyone. Gohan chugged an entire bottle while shifting in his chair. He burped, getting angry glares.

"Personally, I don't like this stuff. I like the regular kind. More sugar. Better kick."

"No one cares which kinda Coke you like!" Thalia snapped.

"Thalia!" Chiron snapped. Thalia rolled her eyes and leaned back.

Mr. D and Chiron (in wheelchair form) sat at one end of the table. Zoe and Bianca di Angelo (who had kind of become Zoe's personal assistant) took the other end. Thalia, Grover, Percy and Gohan sat along the right, and the other head councilors—Beckendorf, Silena Beauregard, and the Stoll brothers—sat on the left. The Ares kids were supposed to send a representative, too, but all of them had gotten broken limbs (accidentally) during capture the flag, courtesy of the Hunters. They were resting up in the infirmary. Gohan made a mental note to go thank them later, even if they had a grudge against him. They had agreed to go along with his plan, after all.

Zoe started the meeting off on a positive note. "This is pointless."

"Cheez Whiz!" Grover gasped. He began scooping up crackers and Ping-Pong balls and spraying them with topping.

"There is no time for talk," Zoe continued. "Our goddess needs us. The Hunters must leave immediately."

"And go where?" Chiron asked.

"West!" Bianca said. It was amazing just how different she looked after just a few days with the Hunters. Her dark hair was braided like Zoe's now, so you could actually see her face. She had a splash of freckles across her nose, and looked like she'd been working out, and her skin glowed faintly, like the other Hunters, as if she'd been taking showers in liquid moonlight. "You heard the prophecy. Six shall go west to the goddess in chains. We can get six hunters and go."

"Yes," Zoe agreed. "Artemis is being held hostage! We must find her and free her." "You're missing something, as usual," Thalia said. "Campers and Hunters combined prevail. We're supposed to do this together."

"No!" Zoe said. "The Hunters do not need thy help."

"Your" Thalia grumbled. "Nobody has said thy in, like, three hundred years, Zoe. Get with the times."

Zoe hesitated, like she was trying to form the word correctly. " Yerrr. We do not need yerrr help."

Thalia rolled her eyes. "Forget it."

"I fear the prophecy says you do need our help," Chiron said. "Campers and Hunters must cooperate."

"Or do they?" Mr. D mused, swirling his Diet Coke under his nose like it had a fine bouquet. "Two shall be lost. One shall perish. That sounds rather nasty, doesn't it? What if you fail because you try to cooperate?"

"Mr. D," Chiron sighed, "with all due respect, whose side are you on?"

Dionysus raised his eyebrows. "Sorry, my dear centaur. Just trying to be helpful."

"We're supposed to work together," Thalia said stubbornly. "I don't like it either, Zoe, but you know prophecies. You want to fight against one?"

Zoe grimaced, but it was clear Thalia had scored a point.

"We must not delay," Chiron warned. "Today is Sunday. This very Friday, December twenty-first, is the winter solstice."

"Oh, joy," Dionysus muttered. "Another dull annual meeting." But then, a smirk came across his face.

"Of course, we can finally decide what to do with him. I'm hoping for burn to ashes." He glared at Gohan.

"Say that again!" Percy snapped in rage, while Gohan simply chuckled.

"Just ignore him, Percy. There's more important things to think about."

"Indeed, Gohan is correct. Artemis must be present at the solstice," Zoe said. "She has been one of the most vocal on the council arguing for action against Kronos's minions. If she is absent, the gods will decide nothing. We will lose another year of war preparations." Connor snorted at that.

"Something to add, Connor?" Chiron asked, intrigued.

"Yeah. Why bother? No one can beat us while we have Gohan on our side. He's unstoppable! No one messes with him!" his brother, Beckendorf and Silena nodded their heads at that and pounded the table. Mr. D's sons didn't join in, but they nodded all the same. Thalia, notably, didn't, giving Gohan an angry glare. Gohan himself blushed in embarrassment. At the same time, he was elated inside, and trying not to cry. He hadn't had any friends his age back home. But here? He had known these kids for a little over a year, yet they considered him a fellow brother-in-arms.

"Aww, guys." Gohan grinned. Chiron frowned, and then let out a loud whistle, causing the pounding to stop.

"Be that as it may," Chiron paused, before continuing.

"Gohan is very powerful, yes. However, he still only one man. And mortal, at that. We need the gods united in this conflict if we want any chance of victory."

"Are you suggesting that the gods have trouble acting together, young lady?" Dionysus asked.

"Yes, Lord Dionysus."

Mr. D nodded. "Just checking. You're right, of course. Carry on."

"I must agree with Zoe," said Chiron. "Artemis's presence at the winter council is critical. We have only a week to find her. And possibly even more important: to locate the monster she was hunting. Now, we must decide who goes on this quest."

"Three and three," Gohan said.

Everybody looked at him. Thalia even forgot to ignore him. Gohan grinned. Was this the way his dad had done it with the Z Fighters? It seemed so natural to him.

"We're supposed to be six," Gohan stated. "Three Hunters, three from Camp Half-Blood. That's even. Basic math."

Thalia and Zoe exchanged looks. "Well," Thalia said. "It does make sense." Zoe grunted. "I would prefer to take all the Hunters. We will need strength of numbers."

"And if you run into those things again?" Zoe snorted.

"We were taken by surprise and distracted. That will not happen again."

"You'll be retracing the goddess's path," Chiron reminded her. "Moving quickly. No doubt Artemis tracked the scent of this rare monster, whatever it is, as she moved west. You will have to do the same. The prophecy was clear: The bane of Olympus shows the trail. What would your mistress say? 'Too many Hunters spoil the scent.' A small group is best."

Zoe picked up a Ping-Pong paddle and studied it like she was deciding who she wanted to whack first. "This monster—the bane of Olympus. I have hunted at Lady Artemis's side for many years, yet I have no idea what this beast might be."

Everybody looked at Dionysus, likely because he was the only god present and gods are supposed to know things. He was flipping through a wine magazine, but when everyone got silent he glanced up, "Well, don't look at me. I'm a young god, remember? I don't keep track of all those ancient monsters and dusty titans. They make for terrible party conversation."

"Chiron," Percy said, "you don't have any ideas about the monster?"

Chiron pursed his lips. "I have several ideas, none of them good. And none of them quite make sense. Typhon, for instance, could fit this description. He was truly a bane of Olympus. Or the sea monster Keto. But if either of these were stirring, we would know it. They are ocean monsters the size of skyscrapers. Your father, Poseidon, would already have sounded the alarm. I fear this monster may be more elusive. Perhaps even more powerful."

"Maybe it's something new." Percy volunteered, causing everyone to look at him.

"Explain." Chiron asked.

"Artemis said that when Gohan got blasted into our world, he cracked some kind of barrier. And not only is that barrier cracked, but the cracks are growing bigger, and things are seeping through it. That could explain that girl we saw on Luke's ship. The one that could control metal." Zoe snorted.

"Why am I not surprised that all this is his fault?"

"Zoe…" Bianca whispered softly, clearly trying to avoid another argument.

"So… Luke is amassing an army of Otherworlders? That's not good. Gods only know what else is out there." Silena commented. Gohan, however, noticed that Zoe seemed to visibly pale and glance at Chiron. However, he quickly shook his head.

"That doesn't make any sense, though. If there are others out there, why haven't we encountered any? And if this is all true, how in Olympus is Luke finding and contacting them? Does he have a magic portal or something?"

"I don't know. But, this means that we have no idea what's awaiting us at where Artemis is. There could be a giant squid monster or something for all we know."

"That's some serious danger you're facing," Connor Stoll said. (Gohan noted how he said you and not we.) "It sounds like at least half the group is going to die."

"One shall be lost in the land without rain" Beckendorf said. "If I were you, I'd stay out of the desert."

"One will be lost to the wall of water"What the heck does that mean?" Percy asked.

"A tsunami, maybe? That could fit. West could mean the Pacific Ocean."

There was a muttering of agreement.

"And the Titan's curse must one withstand," Silena said. "What could that mean?"

Gohan saw Chiron and Zoe exchange another nervous look, but whatever they were thinking, they didn't share it.

"One shall perish by a parent's hand," Grover said in between bites of Cheez Whiz and Ping-Pong balls. "How is that possible? Whose parent would kill them?"

There was heavy silence around the table.

Percy glanced at Thalia and wondered if she was thinking the same thing he was. Years ago, Chiron had had a prophecy about the next child of the Big Three—Zeus, Poseidon, or Hades—who turned sixteen. Supposedly, that kid would make a decision that would save or destroy the gods forever. Because of that, the Big Three had taken an oath after World War II not to have any more kids. But Thalia and Percy had been born anyway, and now they were both getting close to sixteen.

"There will be deaths," Chiron decided. "That much we know."

"Oh, goody!" Dionysus said.

Everyone looked at him. He glanced up innocently from the pages of Wine Connoisseur magazine. "Ah, pinot noir is making a comeback. Don't mind me."

"Percy is right," Silena Beauregard said. "Three campers should go."

"Oh, I see," Zoe said sarcastically. "And I suppose you wish to volunteer?"

Silena blushed. "I'm not going anywhere with the Hunters. Don't look at me!"

"A daughter of Aphrodite does not wish to be looked at," Zoe scoffed. "What would thy mother say?" Silena started to get out of her chair, but the Stoll brothers pulled her back.

"Stop it," Beckendorf said. He was a big guy with a bigger voice. He didn't talk much, but when he did, people tended to listen. "Let's start with the Hunters. Which three of you will go?"

Zoe stood. "I shall go, of course, and I will take Phoebe. She is our best tracker." "The big girl who likes to hit people on the head?" Travis Stoll asked cautiously. Zoe nodded. "The one who put the arrows in my helmet?" Connor added..

"Yes," Zoe snapped. "Why?"

"Oh, nothing," Travis said. "Just that we have a T-shirt for her from the camp store." He held up a big silver T-shirt that said ARTEMIS THE MOON GODDESS, FALL HUNTING TOUR 2002, with a huge list of national parks and stuff underneath. "It's a collector's item. She was admiring it. You want to give it to her?"

To all the campers, it was obvious the Stolls were up to something. They always were. But, Zoe just sighed and took the T-shirt. "As I was saying, I will take Phoebe. And I wish Bianca to go."

Bianca looked stunned. "Me? But... I'm so new. I wouldn't be any good."

"You will do fine," Zoe insisted. "There is no better way to prove thyself."

Bianca closed her mouth. Percy felt kind of sorry for her. He remembered his first quest when he was twelve. He had felt totally unprepared. A little honored, maybe, but a lot resentful and plenty scared. He figured the same things were running around in Bianca's head right now. Unfortunately, Gohan chose that minute to make things even worse for her.

"Hold on a second!" Gohan protested. Zoe glared at him.

"What right do you have to speak, boy?"

"I'll speak when I hear an extremely stupid decision." There was a brief pause, where several campers took in a sharp intake of breath, not looking forward to this blowout, especially given the expression on Zoe's face.

"Excuse me?"

"Bianca should not go on this mission. It's way too dangerous."

"We are Hunters, boy! We face danger every single day."

"I can take care of myself just fine!" Bianca protested.

"I'm not questioning that! However, Zoe wants to send an untrained, inexperienced girl on an extremely dangerous mission where we could be facing dangerous, unknown creatures, and at least half the group is going to die. And Bianca has… how much training now?" Bianca bristled.

"I can learn!"

"Exactly! You're immortal now, you have, quite literally, forever to train! You shouldn't jump the gun and go on an extremely dangerous mission like this right off the bat, where you'll likely die!"

"ENOUGH!" Zoe smashed her fist on the table, her eyes blazing with rage.

"It is not up to thy! Bianca is going, that is FINAL!" An awkward silence fell over the room, which was thankfully broken by Chiron.

"And for campers?" Chiron asked. His eyes met Percy's and then flittered over to Gohan, but he couldn't tell what he was thinking.

"Me!" Grover stood up so fast he bumped the Ping-Pong table. He brushed cracker crumbs and Ping-Pong ball scraps off his lap. "Anything to help Artemis!"

Zoe wrinkled her nose. "I think not, satyr. You are not even a half-blood."

"But he is a camper," Thalia said. "And he's got a satyr's senses and woodland magic. Can you play a tracker's song yet, Grover?"

"Absolutely!"

Zoe wavered.

"Very well," Zoe said. "And the second camper?" "I'll go." Thalia stood and looked around, daring anyone to question her. No one did.

"And the third?

"Me!" Percy said. "I want to go too."

"Same here. You guys need me." Gohan chimed in

Thalia said nothing. Chiron was still studying them, his eyes sad.

"You both cannot go. That exceeds the number that the Oracle dictated."

"Absolutely not!" Zoe said. "They are boys. I won't have Hunters traveling with a boy. Under any circumstances. Especially the Otherworlder. I will never fight alongside an Otherworlder!"

"What is your problem with Otherworlders? Gohan's done nothing to you! Not to mention, you traveled here with us!" Percy protested

"That was a short-term emergency, and it was ordered by the goddess. I will not go across the country and fight many dangers in the company of a boy."

"What about Grover?" Percy demanded.

Zoe shook her head. "He does not count. He's a satyr. He is not technically a boy."

"Hey!" Grover protested.

"I have to go," Percy said. "I need to be on this quest."

"There is another reason no man can go on this quest."

"And what's that?" Percy demanded. She grinned.

"Thy said it yourself. We very may encounter those beings from before again. And one of them, if you recall, replicates the abilities of Aphrodite. Which includes controlling men, as this otherworlder can attest to." Gohan's face blushed, clearly a bit annoyed at the jab. Silena looked offended, though likely for different reasons.

"But-!"

"But what? She can control any man just merely speaking to him. If you went with us, she would control you and force you to turn against us. You would become an inconvenience, not an asset. Just like before."

"You're just pissed that you lost to Gohan." Percy stated coldly, causing the Hunter to glare at him.

"Excuse thy?"

"Percy!" Chiron pleaded.

"Do NOT question me, boy! That was merely a petty contest. I will not place the fate of the goddess in an Otherworlder's hand! They care nothing for our world, for our world is meaningless to them! They care only how it benefits them."

"We need to go!" Percy looked at Gohan, who was sitting back with a calm expression on his face. He simply nodded.

"Why?" Zoe asked. "Because of thy friend Annabeth?"

CRUNCH! Several shocked yelps erupted as cracks suddenly appeared all along the table. Percy swallowed nervously as he turned, looking to see the source of the cracks. Gohan looked down, blinking in realization that his hands had clenched instinctively, and broken through the table like paper. He slowly unclenched his hands, letting the pieces of table in his hands drop to the ground. Several sparks danced across his body before quickly flickering out.

Gohan's face flushed red as heat filled his cheeks. He hated that everyone was looking at him. He hated feeling helpless, and he hated being completely unable to help Annabeth. Mr. D looked bored, still reading his magazine. Silena, the Stoll brothers, and Beckendorf were staring at the table. Bianca gave him a look of pity.

"I… need some air." Gohan stood silently and exited, leaving an awkward silence. This time, Zoe broke the silence.

"I insist upon this. I will take a satyr if I must, but not a male hero."

Chiron sighed. "The quest is for Artemis. The Hunters should be allowed to approve their companions."

Percy's ears were ringing as he sat down. He knew Grover and some of the others were looking at him sympathetically, but he couldn't meet their eyes.

"So… who will the third camper be?" Silena asked. An awkward silence follow as Percy noticed something: nearly all the counselors present were boys. The only female counselors at Camp were Silena, Clarisse, Thalia, and Katie Gardner, daughter of Dementer. Clarisse was gone, Thalia had already volunteered, and Silena had flat-out refused, not to mention the pure loathing between her and Zoe. Which left…

"Oh, come on!" Katie protested, her eyes wide in horror.

"Why not? Your mother works with plants." Thalia pointed out.

"Agriculture!"

"Look Katie, we don't exactly have a lot of other girls here right now besides us. I'd ask Clarisse, but she's not here. You're a good fighter, Katie. You've been here for four years already, you can hold your own."

Katie looked around desperately, before finally slumping her head in defeat.

"Fine, I'll do it." She agreed, albeit extremely reluctantly.

Percy just sat there as Chiron concluded the council.

"So be it," he said. "Thalia, Katie and Grover will accompany Zoe, Bianca, and Phoebe. You shall leave at first light. And may the gods"—he glanced at Dionysus—"present company included, we hope—be with you." At that moment, the ping-pong completely collapsed into pieces, spraying Cheeze Whiz and Diet Coke in all directions. Dionysus lowered his magazine and blinked in amusement.

"Hmph. What a pleasant start."