Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson or Harry Potter.
Consul of the Underworld: Grinding Phase
Chapter Eighteen: Double Quest, Double Danger
Beta: ShadowofAxios
Alkaid and Pyrrha arrived to Camp in the late evening in December to find that it had visitors. While they were away during the day, the Hunters of Artemis had shown up. These maiden warriors of the Goddess of the Hunt occasionally stopped by Camp when they were in the area and sometimes engaged in Camp activities.
This time was no exception and fortuitously they had arrived on the day for Capture the Flag. Hence, as was tradition, they were taking on the whole Camp in the game. Pyrrha had been itching to join, but since they had arrived only as the Campers were already set up in the play area Mr. D had insisted she sit out.
As such, the whole Potter family was watching the game from the Big House with Mr. D instead. The god had conjured a bunch of computer monitors to display the Hephaestus TV broadcast of the event. Each monitor displaying the image of one group of participants or other.
"Wow," Pyrrha said sounding impressed as she looked at the elaborate set up. "I didn't know Capture the Flag was even covered on Hephaestus TV."
"It's quite the spectacular actually," Alkaid said. "There's multiple versions of the broadcast. This is the highest tier one with the split screens and a whole host of stuff."
"Did you think I would go for anything less than the best?" Mr. D said from where he was lounging on a daybed and sipping from a can of Diet Coke. "I might not think this is all that, but that's no reason to skimp on the amenities."
"Mum, did you watch this often as a little girl?" Mina asked curiously as she got comfortable on a comfy looking sofa.
"Not often," Alkaid said with a shake of her head. "Though I did tune in once in a while when there was nothing else good on."
"Explains why you didn't know who I was before we met," Pyrrha said with an amused snort as she settled on the sofa to the right of Mina. "Betcha that wasn't very often."
"That's true," Alkaid admitted as she sat down to Mina's left. "I'm not a TV person overall."
"Mum, Mama, shush! The game's started." Mina insisted even as she snuggled into her parents'.
"And let the humiliation begin." Mr. D with a low cackle as he rubbed his hands in demented glee.
"I know the Hunters are tough, but it can't be that bad." Pyrrha insisted.
"Ha! You brats haven't won yet. Not in the hundreds of years we've been here and started this game. I think it was fifty to nothing?"
Pyrrha boggled at the thought of such an uneven score.
Alkaid pinched her nose, "I think there's a reason for that."
"Silly Campers," Mina said with a sagely nod of her head. Or what she thought was one anyways, in truth it just came across as adorable. "They think a few years training will make them as good as a bunch of immortal warriors who've hunted monsters for a long time."
"Exactly," Alkaid said with a nod. "Some of the Hunters are as old as Ancient Greece itself. Against someone with that much experience, the Campers are just woefully outclassed."
"But you could squish them, right Mum?" Mina asked, murderous delight in her eyes.
"The Hunters are notorious for being useless against magicians," Mr. D said chiming in. "Why do you think they stick to monsters? So almost certainly. Even Artemis is pretty bad at dealing with them."
"There's gotta be more than that?"
"Of course." Mr. D scoffed as he sipped from his diet coke. "They also hunt monsters because while Artemis won't admit it, she's as fashion obsessed as any other woman and is always in need of a new fur coat to expand her wardrobe."
"Really?" Mina asked curiously.
"Yes, anyone who visits her temple on Olympus will know that. Half the damn thing is a giant walk-in wardrobe."
"Let's set aside Artemis' hoarder tendencies for now," Alkaid said gesturing to one of the monitors which was showing a group of Campers about to walk into a ambush set up by the Hunters. "The action's started."
"Finally," Mr. D said with an irritated grunt.
The Campers were cautiously slinking their way through the undergrowth when suddenly a rain of arrows descended upon them from the trees and a trio of Hunters jumped down into their midst with their knives drawn and started slashing at the surprised demigods. The handful of Ares and Athena Campers in the group tried to assert some semblance of order by shouting orders, but what they were saying kept contradicting each other and just created more confusion among their allies. It also served to single them out as potential leaders and led to the Hunters taking them out first. Within under two minutes, the two dozen or so Campers were completely wiped out by a force that was revealed to be little more than a half dozen Hunters.
Pyrrha just covered her face at the display her siblings being handed their asses so easily, "Ugh, they deserve every broken bone. Come on, at least fight as a unit!"
"Mm," Alkaid responded disinterestedly, keeping her eyes on both Percy and Thalia's performance instead. Thalia was leading a small group of campers to search for the Hunters flag only to be caught up in some kind of woodland magic that Artemis' chosen had set up and had her group walking in circles hopelessly lost all whilst triggering trap after trap that had been laid out to welcome them.
Percy who Annabeth had called back from home just to, in the girl's own words, "save us from another humiliating loss" was doing much better in his role as defender. He was living up to his girlfriend's hopes admirably. The Hunters kept harassing him, trying to lure him away from the Camper's flag. But acting on Annabeth's instructions, he was holding firm to his spot and tallying up quite a few knocked out Hunters to his credit. Thanks in no small part to Hephaestus Cabin rigging up a powerful heater next to the flag that had melted a whole patch of snow and given him a ton of water to work with.
Hm, note to self, see if Percy can change snow and ice to water. Or manipulate them in general. It doesn't seem like it, but it's still worth a shot to try.
"Oh, oh! Mum, look! Auntie Bianca is doing shadow-y stuff." Mina gasped and tugged at Alkaid's sweater.
Turning her emerald eyes to another screen, Alkaid could see Bianca sneaking around wrapped in shadows to become invisible. Her sister had certainly taken to the shadows much easier than the other power sets typically available to children of Hades. That along with being pretty quick with a dagger made her perfect for the stealthy assassin that the Italian girl was trying to be.
Unfortunately for Alkaid's younger sister, she seemed to have forgotten that sight wasn't the only sense which others could use to detect her. As such, she was sneaking up on a seemingly unaware Hunter when suddenly the older girl spun around and lashed out with her hunting knife. She managed to parry the first swipe, but that just served to give her position away and open her guard. With a swing of her other knife, the Hunter easily dealt Bianca a blow to the head that knocked her out.
Having received only a little more than a month of training Bianca had stood no realistic chance but Alkaid nevertheless winced at the way her sister crumpled to the ground and memorized the Hunter's face for… future reference.
"'Kaidy, your bloodlust is showing." Pyrrha dryly informed her.
"Oh," Alkaid looked embarrassed, "How unbecoming of me."
"It's a good thing," Mr. D chimed in. "The Hunters are too full of themselves. You showing them up later for hitting your sister will teach them a much needed lesson in humility."
"I'll be sure to come up with something ironic and vicious." Alkaid told the god with sharp smile.
"Uh, 'Kaidy, did you teach Nico some necromancy?"
"A litte, why?"
"'Cause I think he's rocking the whole undead king thing a little too much." Pyrrha grumbled with crossed arms.
On screen, Nico was commanding a small squad of skeletal redcoats as they formed up in a perfect square formation and blasted away with their rifles in a near continuous barrage that was keeping at least a dozen Hunters pinned. Unfortunately, it was also keeping three squads of Campers likewise stuck behind cover.
"Hey, hey! He's doing your fear thing. Malcolm wouldn't be cowering like that from just this." Pyrrha noted as she pointed to a panicked looking son of Athena. "Ugh, you children of Hades are so hax."
Alkaid was glad she had recommend him to hang out with some of Cabin 6. Hopefully some strategic knowledge will brush off on him more. Now if only he understood the concept of friendly fire. Maybe she shouldn't have given Nico the Resurrection Stone to boost his necromancy.
The creaking of a stair interrupted the family's viewing of the game and had them all spinning around to identify its source.
"What was that?" Pyrrha asked, her hand itching for her labrys.
"It came from the attic." Mr. D noted ominously as he stood, tossing his Diet Coke can into the trash can, showing a rarely seen seriousness as he did.
"But the only thing in the attic is-"
"-the Oracle." Alkaid finished for her lover, biting back a growl.
"Mum, Mama, Mr. D, the mummy is walking to the forest." Mina singsonged while pointing out a nearby window.
"Shit, what happened to make it go looking for questers?" Pyrrha flashed a nervous look to Alkaid.
"I don't know, Penelope." Mr. D said, his whole body tense. "But we need to find out."
Zoë Nightshade, Lieutenant of Artemis, was having quite the fun time in this little game of Capture the Flag she and her fellow Hunters of Artemis were playing with the Campers of Camp Half-Blood. They would win of course, but unlike the last few times she and her sisters had played this game, it was proving to be a challenge.
Objectively, she knew this was because the Campers had for the first time in half a century counted amongst their ranks children of the Big Three and particularly talented individuals at that. Even if they were boys. She might not like them for their sex, but she could appreciate their skill. Both the son of Poseidon and the son of Hades, were proving quite difficult to overcome.
Though the younger boy seemed too trigger happy, literally.
Now if only the girls hadn't been such disappointments. From her perch in the canopy of one of the taller trees in the forest she'd seen the daughter of Zeus bullrush right into the magical trap her sisters had set up and stubbornly refused to turn around even when it became clear it was a trap. It was typical of a child of the lord of the skies, but nevertheless was a sight that brought a sigh to her lips.
The daughter of Hades used the shadows decently, though her stealth skills needed a great deal more refinement. At least if she intended to pit it against a trained Hunter. The girl had potential, Zoë could see that, but it would likely take years to master the skills of the assassin that she appeared to be training to be.
At least the sorceress wasn't in the game. She would have made victory truly difficult. Thankfully staff couldn't participate in such an event. Though, Zoë wasn't afraid to admit such a rare challenge would be nothing short of a thrill. The last great sorceress she was pitted against was back in Ancient Greece.
Her ponderings were interrupted though when her arboreal perch was suddenly shaken violently. Leaping out of the tree and onto another, she caught sight of her 'attacker'. It was the mummified corpse that was the current host for the Pythia.
"What?" The immortal maiden gasped out in shock.
"Stop the match!" Chiron, the trainer of heroes, shouted as he galloped up with the insane speed of his kind to stand beside the oracle which even now was staring at Zoë unerringly. "Stop the match!"
His voice carried across the whole forest and moments later the sound of fighting everywhere disappeared. It was replaced by a murmur of confusion as everyone could tell that neither side had won yet.
"Zoë, come down." The centaur urged. "It's obvious the prophecy is for you."
As she did she spotted the sorceress, Alkaid Potter, was walking over with her family and even Dionysus in tow. The Hunter's eyes were focused on the spellcaster though for she was directing a murderous visage towards the Oracle. Magic wafted from her fingertips until her paramour, the daughter of Ares, seemed to calm her down with a few words.
With the dangerous mage calm for the moment, Zoë steeled her nerves and turned to look at the gaunt face of the Oracle even as an anxious bolt ran down her spine. A prophecy, when was the last she was given one? By the gods, Zoë honestly felt her centuries catching up to her as she felt rooted in place as the Oracle recognizing that she finally had her attention began to float in the air and delivered her riddle.
"Five shall go west to the goddess in chains,
One shall be lost in the land without rain,
The bane of Olympus shows the trail,
Campers and Hunters combined prevail,
The Titan's curse must one withstand,
And one shall perish by a parent's hand."
With her message complete, the mummy turned around and staggered back to the Big House leaving behind a confused and wary bunch of Hunters, Campers and gods.
After the Oracle mummy's rather dramatic rendition of the latest prophecy, Camp's staff, Head Counselors, and the Hunters' lieutenant met in the Big House to discuss how to proceed. All around the Ping Pong table, which was scattered with junk food that Chiron had arranged to be delivered to serve as snacks, they all stood nervously fidgeting and waiting for the meeting to begin. The food, usually greedily devoured during such meetings was being left largely untouched today as the participants had mostly lost their appetite in the face of the unprecedented turn of events.
"We must depart immediately." Zoë declared sternly, "The Hunters shall pack and depart West."
"You would defy the prophecy Nightshade?" Mr. D asked warningly.
"Of course not, Lord Dionysus," The Elder Hunter cowed her zeal before the god. "Forgiveness, my worry for Lady Artemis weighs heavily upon me."
"You should know better nymph," the god of madness hissed, his eyes ablaze with violet flames. "You tempt the Fates by seeking to defy the prophecy. It has decreed that five Campers and Hunters will rescue Artemis and so it shall be."
What's his angle? Alkaid thought suspiciously. He's not usually so concerned with things like this. Normally, he'd much rather watch us all fall on our faces, laughing at our suffering all the while.
"Miss Nightshade," Chiron cut in, "Perhaps a compromise. Two Hunters, two Campers, and a satyr guide? We all wish for the safety of Lady Artemis. This lineup would both ensure the highest likelihood of success while meeting the terms of the prophecy."
"Indeed, Chiron. That will suffice. Who would thou recommend? I have not kept an ear of thy Campers' abilities and only managed glimpses during the Game earlier."
"By strength alone Percy and Grace are your best picks," Alkaid suggested, ignoring the by now familiar glare the daughter of Zeus sent her way for the use of her surname. Bad blood with her mother or not, the girl's reluctance to identify with her own name was downright childish.
If you dislike it so much girl then go make it your own! Stop being all petty about it and a brat at every mention of it.
Mr. D snorted, "Modest much, girl?"
"I'm not a Camper," Alkaid pointed out. "As you said let's not tempt the Fates."
"How droll."
Zoë looked at Grace and frowned with a sigh, "Very well, the child of Zeus may come. Though the son of Poseidon will stay. Another girl will travel with us."
"What I'm not good enough just because I'm a boy?" Percy said, his eyes narrowed and his features forebodingly dark. "Sexist much?"
Alkaid permitted herself a slight chuckle. Leave it to Percy to lighten the mood, at least in her mind, with a barb. Most of the meeting's participants weren't so amused though. In fact, every Head Counselor shared the same look of anger their peer from Cabin Three was directing at the Hunter. This though didn't seem to faze the ancient woman in the slightest.
"It is not that," The nymph backtracked. "I trust the sorceress Alkaid's judge of your ability. Even if I have not seen proof to substantiate it fully yet. That said, we Hunters do not work well with men. Too many of our number have unpleasant histories with them. As such, I cannot risk taking one along on a quest. Especially one as important as the rescue of my lady!"
"Just let it go, Percy." Chase told him calmly.
"Yeah, you'd have a better chance getting a monster to have a meal with you then getting the Hunters to work with a boy." Grace scoffed.
"Besides the son of Poseidon, who would thou recommend sorceress, Trainer of Heroes?" Zoë asked as she leveled a small glare at the child of Zeus. "I would defer to your superior knowledge of your charges."
Alkaid exchanged a look with Chiron and he nodded towards the blonde head of Cabin Six. The daughter of Hades frowned slightly at this. While Annabeth definitely was a more than capable addition to any band of questers, this was a quest that would very likely lead to a confrontation with Luke Castellan and the sorceress had her doubts the younger girl could handle that.
When it came to the son of Hermes, Chase was as subtle as a blushing maiden. Alkaid paused, Nightshade's old English, or her mangled version of it at least, was rubbing off on her. Curse her love for old literature.
Nevertheless Alkaid couldn't really think of any other female Camper she'd recommend. Certainly not Pyrrha, she would never let her lover go on a quest without her, something that she was sure the daughter of war would wholeheartedly agree with. Sending the head of Aphrodite Cabin would be like mixing blood and oil if she quested with the Hunters. As for the rest of the female Campers… Well, sad to say, none of them were really skilled enough for the task.
"Reluctantly, I put forward Chase as my recommendation."
"Reluctantly?" Zoë asked, cautiously.
"The girl's got a huge ass crush on Luke Castellan." Pyrrha informed the Hunter. "If she goes, you'll need to be careful."
"I wouldn't compromise a quest!" Chase snapped in outrage, her face red as a tomato. Though whether that was from anger or embarrassment Alkaid couldn't be certain.
"Methinks the lady doth protest too much." Alkaid retorted. She blinked and sent a dry look to Nightshade accusingly.
The nymph had the good grace to shoot her an apologetic smile even as Silena Beauregard, Head Counselor of Aphrodite's Cabin chimed in with her own two cents.
"While I don't trust the Hunters as far as I could throw them-"
"Tis not far." Nightshade chimed in.
"-I would have to agree on Annabeth's feelings for Luke." Silena said as she shot a dirty glare at the Hunter. "She is still crushing on Luke, though I can't say why, but she'll keep her head. For the most part."
There were murmurs of agreement at the daughter of love's observation from most of the Head Counselors.
"Gods, what is this, the gossip corner?" Charles "Charlie" Beckendorf, Head Counselor of Cabin Nine, objected as he pinched his nose in exasperation. "Can we focus on the facts here? Will her feelings cause her to screw things up or not? Silena?"
The honey blonde daughter of Athena looked like she wanted to sink in a hole and die.
"Ninety percent sure she'll keep her cool." Selina shrugged. "Give or take of course."
"Then I say we let her go," Travis Stoll, co-head of Cabin Eleven, opined along with a nod from his brother Conner. "If Alkaid's out, Pyrrha's out. They're a team and even we're not stupid enough to split that up. Which sucks, but we gotta live with it. And if we do, then Annabeth's our next best choice."
"Why do I sound like chopped liver?" Annabeth asked looking at the older Stoll brother with a glare.
Travis sent her a dry look, "Magical Tactical Nuke that spits money. What do you have on that?"
"Enough," Zoë said cutting into the derailing conversation. "If that is the consensus from the Camp's staff then I will take the daughter of Athena on this quest."
"That leaves your satyr guide and your other Hunter." Alkaid asked, "I won't make any aspersions on your choice of Hunter but would you be willing to accept a recommendation on your guide?"
Before the Hunter could reply, Grace jumped in.
"Grover," the daughter of Zeus said hastily. "You've gotta take Grover. No one else is as brave or capable as he is."
Alkaid cocked a brow, "He doesn't have the greatest track record. Not to mention his Empathic Link to Percy puts him in as much danger as Grover. A risk I'm very uncomfortable taking. Plus, satyrs are relatively squishy."
"I have to agree with Alkaid here, Thalia," Pollux said, sounding apologetic that he needed to point this out. "Grover is hardly the best satyr around."
"He need not be," Zoë said, much to everyone's surprise. "I'd rather have a familiar face than one that is capable but wholly new to us. If Grace knows and trusts this satyr-"
"I do too!" Annabeth said in hasty support of her friend.
"Fine, but he should be guarded. If he dies then Percy either dies as well or sinks into a vegetative state. We can't afford to risk losing a big player in the coming war like that." The child of the Rich One stated sternly to the Hunter.
"If Lady Artemis remains chained, then we have lost already." The Hunter countered. "But I see thy point, the satyr's empathy link is a weakness. Has attempts been made to abolish it?"
"Yes," Alkaid said with a tired sigh. "Neither truly wants to do so though, as such it remains."
Percy scowled, crossing his arms. Alkaid sent him a look of understanding and he lightened his scowl a touch. It was a touchy subject. As with everything to do with his sense of loyalty, Alkaid found it to be somewhat of a liability at times.
Make that all the time. Alkaid thought with a sigh. Why couldn't he have a simpler Fatal Flaw, like, I dunno, the need to crush those who you hold a grudge against as brutally and swiftly as you possibly can? Now, that I would totally know how to handle.
After all, doing so was as easy as breathing to the child of Hades.
"Then all is settled." Zoë said with finality. "I will take Thalia Grace, Annabeth Chase and their satyr friend Grover along with Phoebe and I on the quest."
Turning to the two girls, the Hunter continued. "Go inform your friend and make your preparations. We leave at Lord Apollo's first light."
With that and one last respectful nod to Mr. D, the lieutenant of Artemis walked out of the meeting room.
"Gods she is so uptight," Pyrrha groaned, making Alkaid crack a smile at her.
"It is a product of her times. And she is trying." Chiron said with a sigh. "But that's enough talk about Miss Nightshade. It's getting late so why don't all of you head to bed."
It was getting quite late. Late enough that Alkaid and Pyrrha had long since sent Mina home for her bedtime, even with the timezone difference. Add the late hour to the aborted Capture the Flag game and the Campers were all exhausted. So it was no surprise that they all quickly began filing out to head back to their Cabins.
"Indeed, we should all rest up while our questers prepare for tomorrow." Alkaid nodded to Chiron as she addressed the departing teenagers. "I'll prepare some essentials so we can hand them off to the questers in the morning."
"Leave that to the dryads and satyrs." Mr. D said as he looked intently at the daughter of the Underworld. "I need to speak to you. Peter and Pamela too."
"Of course." Alkaid nodded, a neutral look on her face.
"Mr. D?" Chiron asked, sounding worried. "Do you know something that I should as well?"
"Go tuck in the Campers, Chiron. This is just business as usual." Mr. D said with a shooing motion with his hands.
The centaur frowned but obeyed, trotting off to make sure the counselors headed to bed and to oversee the preparation of the supplies for the questers departing tomorrow.
Mr. D waited until he was alone with the three people he'd requested before he spoke.
"So Apollo called in a favor," the god of madness said shooting Alkaid a meaningful look. "I'm sure you can guess what he wants."
"He wants a second quest to make sure things go well and Lady Artemis is rescued."
"Exactly," the god said with a sigh and pulled up a folded piece of paper that he handed over to Alkaid. "So here's his Prophecy."
Unfolding the scrap of paper that literally looked like it'd been ripped out of some random notebook, Alkaid eyed the letters written in gold ink and frowned.
Dreadful wintertime
An imprisoned goddess saved
Beyond the Rockies
"This is a haiku," Alkaid said her right eyebrow twitching. "A bad haiku."
"Yes, it is." Mr. D agreed with a derisive snort. "One he came up with in a couple seconds when he dropped by to beg for you three to go on a completely separate quest that has nothing at all to do with the one the others were going on."
"Lord Apollo's not one for being sneaky huh?" Pyrrha asked, sounding resigned as she took the note and read the haiku prophecy for herself. "So much for being god of the arts."
"Not all art are masterpieces." Alkaid defended her godly cousin half heartedly. "Though I think he was probably just a little too shaken up by Lady Artemis' capture to come up with something better."
"He was behaving like a right mess," Mr. D agreed. "I offered him a drink, but Father rumbled at me. Honestly, all I was trying to do was be nice."
"Uh, Mr. D, Alkaid, not to interrupt or anything but why am I here?" Percy asked, sounding at once hopeful and confused. "Does it mean I'm supposed to go on this second quest?"
"Ah, yes, Paul. I forget how forgettable you are." Mr. D nodded, "You are here since it's highly possible you will die on this quest which I would find hilarious. So you'll be a gentleman and escort these ladies cross state. Do keep your hormones in check, Phillip."
Percy blushed like the hormonal teenager he was at the image Mr. D had put in his head, causing Alkaid to chuckle at his expense.
"Percy, how bold you've gotten."
"H-Hey, come on!" Percy exclaimed, his cheeks brightening further.
"'Kaidy, stop teasing the poor kid." Pyrrha said with her own amused grin, causing Percy to look at her hopefully. "We can do that on the quest."
Percy slumped in dismay.
"Alright, if we are done tormenting Percy-"
"Never." Mr. D declared.
"-then we should all get some rest. Sweet dreams, Percy." Alkaid smirked as she walked away with a sway of her hips.
She ever so loved to tease. Mr. D's laughter behind her told her that she was doing a good job of it.
"You're a minx you know that, 'Kaidy?" Pyrrha said as she walked alongside her and chuckled. "That boy's gonna have wet dreams about you tonight, I'll bet a drachma on it."
The brunette just smirked wider.
The next day, having made preparations for their own quest overnight including the tedious task of calling up Baba Yaga to babysit Mina while they were away, Alkaid stood with her mortal family as they watched the larger group of Campers set out on their quest in Argus' delivery truck with Zoë at the wheel.
"I still say letting Zoë drive was a bad idea," Alkaid informed Chiron with a flinty glare. "You do realize she drives like a madwoman."
"She is also the only one in the whole group with any skill at the wheel." The centaur countered. "And they need the advantage that the mobility of the truck will provide them."
"Why didn't I get a truck when I quested for the Master Bolt then?" Percy whined. "It would have come in handy."
"Did any of you know how to drive?" Alkaid asked, her left eyebrow raised skeptically.
"No," the son of Poseidon admitted sheepishly.
"That's why," the sorceress informed him with finality. "A state trooper would have pulled you over in a heartbeat. Mist or no Mist. After this quest I'll teach you in my car."
"Percy," Pyrrha asked jabbing the boy in the side and causing him to jump. "You look exhausted. Did you get a good night's sleep?"
"Blackjack woke me up in the middle of the night." The son of Poseidon sighed, "The Hippocampi found a sea animal needing rescue. So I went and helped it out from the net it got caught in. Couldn't really get back to sleep after that."
"Geez, your Pegasus has the worst timing." Pyrrha grunted with annoyance.
"So do you have any other chores you need doing?" Alkaid teased.
"I don't think so?" Percy said uncertainly while looking to Chiron for confirmation.
"I think your duty to clean the stables can wait till you get back," the centaur said with a grin. "All that dirt isn't going anywhere."
Percy blanched, much to the three adults' amusement.
"I'm just joking with you, Percy." Chiron said after a good laugh and reached into a nearby bush to toss the boy a backpack. "Here, the naiads told me that you never finished packing last night so I asked some of the dryads to do so for you while the others set off."
"Thanks Chiron!" Percy said sincerely, slipping the pack onto his shoulders while Alkaid and Pyrrha followed his lead with their own matching rucksacks. "You're the best."
"Big Sister, you and Pyrrha are really leaving too?" Bianca asked as she walked over seeing them all still standing at the Camp border.
Smiling at her cute little sister, she pecked her forehead, "Yes. Duty calls. Lady Artemis isn't going to save herself after all. Plus, I know Cali like the back of my hand. Who best to keep the others out of trouble?"
"But isn't it dangerous?" Nico asked worriedly. "I mean there's all those monsters out there and everything."
"Don't ya worry, kiddo. I'll keep your Big Sister safe." Pyrrha reassured the di Angelos.
"I will too," Percy said with a confident grin as he drew his sword for emphasis. "Me and Riptide."
Nico looked suitably impressed by the fancy magical sword and the hero who wielded it, but Bianca still looked skeptical.
"Don't worry so much Sister," Alkaid said with a smile as she kneeled down to look the younger daughter of Hades in the eye. "I promise that I'll do everything in my power to come home safe and sound."
"But-"
"That's all I can do, Bianca." The older sister informed her. "Quests are dangerous and I don't want to make a promise I can't keep."
The di Angelo girl wasn't happy with the answer and looked on the verge of a tantrum, but Chiron put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Do not make it harder for you sister, Bianca." The ancient Trainer of Heroes whispered comfortingly. "It is hard enough to follow the call of duty even when all your heart wants is to stay at home with your loved ones. Do not demean your sister's resolve by trying to get her to stay when you know she cannot."
The young girl bit her lip at the wise words. It was an expression Alkaid recognised, having worn it many times in the past. Her sister was struggling with the knowledge that Chiron was correct, while being faced with an unwillingness to accept it. The di Angelo pushed through it though and managed a hesitant nod.
"We should be done by Christmas the latest. So be good for Chiron, alright?" Alkaid asked as she gave Bianca a tight hug. One that was readily returned and that Nico happily jumped into.
"Okay," Bianca said in a shaky whisper. "We'll see you then."
Alkaid just nodded, before with a final wave she grabbed hold of Pyrrha's arm and walked down Half-Blood Hill, Percy following behind them and tears in the corners of her eyes.
Done and done! Thanks to the team of Nameless and Axios as always!
Yes, Alkaid did not play in Capture the Flag. It would just not be fair. Plus, she's staff, not a Camper. So thems the breaks.
And yes, Annabeth is going on the quest so we know how well that's going to go with her feelings for Luke. It was fun to write that scene to mess with her, lolz. Now we aren't bashing Annie, but her issues with Luke do make her falter despite her usual smarts.
Nameless: About the second quest… I honestly don't know why Riordan doesn't do it more often. It's clearly an option since later in the wars, multiple missions/quests are taking place concurrently. So since Apollo, if no other god, was frantic to see his twin rescued, we had him use this approach to push the odds of success in his favor. Last point on this topic, the haiku was auto generated via some website I found through Google so I take no ownership of its quality.
Ha! It was great and so Apollo-like!
So Bianca is worried for her big sis, for obvious reasons. Still, she needs to know the world is harsh and paradise may not last as much as we hope.
Nameless: So some of you might not get why Bianca is so attached to Alkaid. If so, just ask yourself what Alkaid represents to Bianca? Freedom from being the responsible one in the family. This was something that in canon made her make the foolish leap into becoming a Hunter without even knowing what that meant. Here? Well that translates into a deep love for the person who embodies that freedom.
You know what to do! Smash that review button and tell us what you love! No flames and peace off my peeps!