A/N: I don't own the rights to any of the Percy Jackson series or it's characters. That right gaoes to Rick Riordan. I also don't own the rights to Animorph including it's title.

I am, however, the person who posted 'The Tales of...' series.

This is not a crossover of the Percy Jackson series with the book/tv series Animorph, despite what you might think from the title. I just thought it be a proper name for the ability to turn into animals since that's why the tv/book series 'Animorph' was called that in the first place.

Also, ever since I got my latest Laptop I been stuck using Google Docs and Copy and paste my chapters and for some reason when I save what I paste any formats I made is turn to normal format. I even have to bold the chapter titles, but as I'm sure you noticed sometimes I forget to do that. So anything I normally itallilize like thoughts come out normal text. A/N at the beginning and end of each keep the format changes because I add them without copying and pasting from google doc.

If you haven't read this yet, read:

Animorph Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
Animorph
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters
Animorph Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Titan's Curse

Animorph Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Battle of the Labyrinth
Animorph Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Stolen Chariot
Animorph Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Sword of Hades
Animorph Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Bronze Dragon
Animorph Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Last Olympian
Animorph Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Staff of Hermes
Animorph Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Singer of Apollo


Piper: My Tour of Camp Ends Badly

I soon realized Annabeth's heart wasn't in the tour.

She talked about all this amazing stuff the camp offered-magic archery, pegasus riding, the lava wall, fighting monsters-but she showed no excitement, as if her mind were elsewhere. She pointed out the open air dining pavilion that overlook Long Island Sound. (Yes, Long Island, New York; we'd traveled that far on the chariot.) Annabeth explained how Camp Half-Blood was mostly a summer camp for demigods, but some kids stay here year long. Not only that, but they started welcoming young cyclopes (the one eye campers) as a training program for homeless Cyclopes.

From what I understand, it's to help young cyclops learn to work in forges and fight if they want to before finding their way to the forges of the Cyclops or Cyclops army for Olympus. They don't take in every cyclopes. The cyclopes must first learn to appreciate what they can make with their hands and not what the gods can give them by living in the streets and if they failed to do so before they start attacking demigods, then they are considered rogue and lost cause.

Annabeth told me that even before the program it was believed so many Cyclopes gone rogue because they felt unloved and unwanted by the gods and took it out on demigods as most monsters do when they hold a grudge against a god. But they didn't want to spoil the cyclopes with this opportunity by welcoming them at birth because it goes against why the gods left the cyclopes on the streets in the first place.

Eventually I started wondering who ran the camp, and how they'd known my friends and I belonged here. I wondered if I'll have to stay full-time, or if I'll be any good at the activities. Could you flunk out of monster fighting? A million questions bubbled in my head, but given Annabeth's mood, I decided to keep quiet.

As we climbed a hill at the edge of camp, I turned and got an amazing view of the valley-a big stretch of woods to the northwest, a beautiful beach, the creek, and canoe lake, lush green fields, and the whole layout of the cabins-a bizarre assortment of buildings arranged like a Greek omega, Ω, with a loop of cabins around the central green, and two wings sticking out the bottom on either side. I counted twenty cabins in all. One glowed golden, another silver. One had grass on the roof. Another was bright red with barbed wire trenches. One looked like someone took four quarter size cabins and combine them into one. One cabin was black with fiery green torches out front.

All of it seemed like a different world from the snowy hills and fields outside.

"The valley is protected from mortal eyes," Annabeth said. "As you can see, the weather is controlled, too. Each cabin represents a Greek god-a place for that god's children-demigods and cyclopes-to live."

She looked at me like she was trying to judge how I was handling the news.

"You're saying my mom was a goddess."

Annabeth nodded. "You're taking this awfully calmly."

I couldn't tell her why. I couldn't admit that this just confirmed some weird feelings I had for years, arguments I had with m y father about why there were no photos of Mom in the house, and why Dad would never tell me exactly how or why my mom left us. But mostly, the dream had warned m e this was coming. Soon they will find you, demigod, that voice had rumbled. When they do, follow our directions. Cooperate, and your father might live.

I took a shaky breath. "I guess after this morning, it's a little easier to believe. So who's my mom?"

"We should know soon," Annabeth said. "You're what-fifteen? Gods are supposed to claim you when you're thirteen. That was the deal."

"The deal?"

They made a promise last summer... well, long story... but they promised not to ignore their demigod children anymore, to claim them by the time they turn thirteen. Sometimes it takes a little longer, but you saw how fast Leo was claimed once he got here. Should happen for you soon. Tonight at the campfire, I bet we'll get a sign."

I wondered if I'd have a big flaming hammer over my head, or with my luck, something even more embarrassing. A flaming wombat, maybe. Whoever my mother was, I had no reason to think she'd be proud to claim a kleptomaniac daughter with massive problems. "Why thirteen?"

"The older a demigod gets, the more monsters notice them and try to kill them. 'Round thirteen is usually when it starts.

"And the Cyclopes?" I asked.

"Cyclopes are different because most monsters are actually afraid of them. Only the powerful monsters would dare to mess with even a baby cyclopes. That's partly why there's no rush to send them here," Annabeth explained. "But demigods are different. Most of them aren't even aware of their heritage until they have their first monster attack. That's why we send protectors into the schools to find demigods, to get them to camp before it's too late."

"Like Coach Hedge?"

Annabeth nodded. "He's-he was a satyr: half man, half goat. Satyrs work for the camp, finding demigods, protecting them, bringing them in when the time is right."

I had no trouble believing Coach Hedge was half goat. I seen the guy eat. I never liked the coach much, but I couldn't believe he'd sacrificed himself to save us.

"What happened to him?" I asked. "When he went up into the clouds, did he... is he gone for good?"

"Hard to say." Annabeth's expression was pained. "Storm spirits... difficult to battle. Even our best weapons, Celestial bronze, will pass right through them unless you can catch them by surprise."

"Jason destroyed one by throwing a club at it, " I said. "And he turned another one to dust with his sword."

"He was lucky, then. If you hit a monster just right, you can dissolve them, send their essence back to Tartarus."

"Tartarus?"

"A huge abyss in the Underworld, where the worst monsters come from. Kind of like a bottomless pit of evil. Anyway, once monsters dissolve, it usually takes weeks, even years before they can re-form again. But since this storm spirit Dylan got away-well, I don;t know why he'd keep Hedge alive. Hedge was a protector, though. He knew the risks. Satyrs don't have mortal souls. He'll be reincarnated as a tree or a flower or something."

I tried to imagine Coach Hedge as a clump of very angry pansies. That made me feel even worse.

I gazed at the cabins below, and an uneasy feeling settled over me. Hedge had died to get me here safely. My mom's cabin was down there somewhere, which meant I had brothers and sisters, more people I'd have to betray. Do what we tell you, the voice had said. Or the consequences will be painful. I tucked my hands under my arms, trying to stop them from shaking.

"It'll be okay," Annabeth promised. "You have friends here. We've all been through weird stuff. We know what you're going through."

I doubt that, I thought.

"I've been kicked out of five different schools the past five years," I said. "My dad's running out of places to put me."

"Only five?" Annabeth didn't sound like she was teasing. "Piper, we've all been labeled troublemakers. I ran away from home when I was seven."

"Seriously?"

"Oh, yeah. Most of us are diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactive disorder, or dyslexia, or both-"

"Leo's ADHD," I said.

"Right. It's because we're hardwired for battle. Restless, impulsive-we don't fit in with regular kids. You should hear how much trouble Percy-" Her face darkened. "Anyway, demigods get a bad rep. It's worse when a monster attacks because we often ended up being the ones to blame for what the monster did."

"So Jason Leo and I might be blamed for the skywalk," I said.

"Maybe, but with luck because of those storm spirits, they might think it was a freak storm that did something," Annabeth explained. "But we can get a bad rep long before monsters started noticing us. Like I said, we don't fit in with mortals. How'd you get in trouble?"

Usually when someone asked that question, I started a fight, or changed the subject, or caused some kind of distraction. But for some reason I found myself telling the truth.

"I steal stuff," I said. "Well, not really steal..."

"Is your family poor?"

I laughed bitterly. "Not even. I did it... I don't know why. For attention, I guess. My dad never had time for me unless I got in trouble."

Annabeth nodded. "I can relate. But you said you didn't really steal? What do you mean?"

"Well... nobody ever believes me. The police, teachers-even the people I took stuff from: they're so embarrassed, they'll deny what happened. But the truth is, I don't steal anything. I just ask people for things. And they give me stuff. Even a BMW convertible. I just asked. And the dealer said, 'Sure. Take it.' Later he realized what he'd done, I guess. Then the police came after me."

I waited. I was used to people calling me a liar, but when I looked up, Annabeth just nodded.

"Interesting. If your dad were the god, I'd say you're a child of Hermes, god of thieves. He can be pretty convincing. But your dad is mortal..."

"Very," I agreed.

Annabeth shook her head, apparently mystified. "I don't know, then. It could be a rare blessing from your mother. Many gods have powers they rarely bless onto their children. With luck, your mom will claim you tonight."

I almost hoped it wouldn't happen. If my mom were a goddess, would she know about my dream? Would she know what I had been asked to do? I wondered if Olympian gods ever blasted their kids with lightning for being evil, or grounded them in the Underworld.

Annabeth was studying me. I decided I was going to have to be careful what I said from now on. Annabeth was obviously pretty smart. If anyone could figure out my secret...

"Come on," Annabeth said at last. "There's something else I need to check."

We hiked a little farther until we reached a cave near the top of the hill. Bones and old swords littered the ground. Torches flanked the entrance, which was covered in a velvet curtain embroidered with snakes. It looked like the kind twisted puppet show.

"What's in there?" Piper asked.

Annabeth poked her head inside, then signed, then sighed and closed the curtains. "Nothing, right now. A friend's place. I've been expecting her for a few days, but so far nothing."

"Your friend lives in a cave?"

Annabeth almost managed a smile. "Actually, her family has a luxury condo in Queens, and she goes to a finishing school in Connecticut. But when she's here at camp, yeah, she lives in the cave. She's our oracle, tells the future. I was hoping she could help me-"

"Find Percy," I guessed.

All the energy drained out of Annabeth, like she'd been holding it together for as long as she could. She sat down on a rock, and her expression was full of pain, I felt like a voyeur.

I forced myself to look away. My eyes drifted to the crest of t he hill, where a single pine tree dominated the skyline. Something glittered in its lowest branch-like a fuzzy gold bath mat.

No... not a bath mat. It was a sheep's fleece.

Okay, I thought. Greek camp. They've got a replica of the Golden Fleece.

Then I noticed the base of the tree. At first I thought it was wrapped in a pile of purple cables, but the cables had reptilian scales, clawed feet, and a snakelike head with yellow eyes and smoking nostrils.

"That's-a dragon," I stammered. "That's the actual Golden Fleece?"

Annabeth nodded, but it was clear she wasn't really listening. Her shoulders drooped. She rubbed her face and took a shaky breath. "Sorry. A little tired."

"You look ready to drop," Piper said. "How long have you been searching for your boyfriend?"

"Three days, six hours, and about twelve minutes."

"And you've got no idea what happened to him?"

Annabeth shook her head miserably. "We were so excited because we bot h started winter break early. We met up at camp on Tuesday, figured we had three weeks together. It was going to be great. Then after the campfire, he-he kissed me goodnight, went back to his cabin, and in the morning he was gone. None of his siblings knows what happened to him as they didn't notice anything that night. We searched the whole camp. We contacted his mom. We've tried to reach him every way we know how. Nothing. He doesn't even appear on my shield?"

"Your shield?" I asked.

Annabeth removed her shield showed the reflected surface. At first it show the sky, but when Annabeth pressed her hand on the shield, the image shows Empire State Building.

"Whoa," I said.

"It shows anything and anyone in aerial view as long as natural sunlight or moonlight touches it," Annabeth said. "But auntime I ask for Percy."

The image shimmered and showed clouds covering the shield's reflecting surface.

"I take it that's not normal," I said.

"No, it's not," Annabeth said. "Even if Percy was underground or inside a building the shield should show me the entrance or building as long as it's in clear view from the sky. It's as if something is obscuring the shield from finding him."

I was thinking: Three days ago. The same night I had my dream. "How long were you guys toget her."

"Since August eighteenth," Annabeth said.

"Almost exactly when I met Jason," I said. "But we've only been together for a few weeks."

Annabeth winced. "Piper... about that. Maybe you should sit down."

I knew where this was going. Panic started building inside me, like my lungs were filling with water. "Look, I know Jason thought-he thought he just appeared at our school today. But that's not true. I've known him for four months."

"Piper," Annabeth said sadly. "It's the Mist."

"Missed... what?"

"M-i-s-t. It's a kind of veil separating the mortal world from the magic world. It's the reason why we are often blamed for whatever the Monster does when we're attacked, or overlook this camp. Mortal minds-they can't process strange stuff like gods and monsters, so the Mist bends reality. It makes mortals see things in a way they can understand. Heck even satyrs and cyclopes appeared as your average humans to a mortal.

I swallowed. "No. You said it yourself. I'm not a regular mortal. I'm a demigod."

"Even demigods can be affected. I've seen it lots of times. Monsters infiltrate some place like a school, pass themselves off as human, and everyone thinks they remember that person. They believed he/she always been around. The Mist can change memories, even create memories of things that never happened-"

"But Jason's not a monster," I insisted. "He's a human guy, or demigod, or whatever you want to call him. My memories aren't fake. They're so real. The time we set Coach Hedge's pants on fire. The time Jason and I watched a meteor shower on the dorm roof and I finally got the stupid guy to kiss me..."

I found myself rambling, telling annabeth about my whole semester at Wilderness School. I'd liked Jason from the first week we'd met. He was so nice to her, and so patient, he could even put up with hyperactive Leo and his stupid jokes. He'd accepted me for myself and didn't judge me because of the stupid things I'd done. We'd spent hours talking, looking at the stars, and eventually-finally-holding hands. All that couldn't be fake.

Annabeth pursed her lips. "Piper, your memories are a lot sharper than most. I'll admit that, and I don't know why that is. But if you know him so well-"

"I do!"

"Then where is he from?"

I felt like I'd been hit between the eyes. "He must have told me, but-"

"Did you ever notice his tattoo before today? Has he ever lifted anything that should be too heavy for just him to lift before today? Did he ever tell you anything about his parents, or his friends, or his last school?"

"I-I don't know, but-"

"Piper, what's his last name?"

My mind went blank. I didn't know Jason's last name. How could that be?

I started to cry. I felt like a total fool, but I sat down on the rock next to Annabeth and just fell to pieces. It was too much. Did everything that was good in her stupid, miserable life have to be taken away?

Yes, the dream had told me. Yes, unless you do exactly what we say.

"Hey," Annabeth said. "We'll figure it out. Jason's here now. Who knows? Maybe it'll work out with you guys for real."

Not likely, I thought. Not if the dream had told me the truth. But I couldn't say that.

I brushed a tear from my cheek. "Your brought me up here so no one would see me blubbering, huh?"

Annabeth shrugged. "I figured it would be hard for you. I know what's it's like to lose a boyfriend."

"But I still can't believe... I know we had something. And now it's just gone, like he doesn't even recognize me. If he really did just show up today, then why? How'd he get there? Why can't he remember anything?"

"Good questions," Annabeth said. "Hopefully Chiron can figure that out. But for now, we need to get you settled. You ready to go back down?"

I gazed at the crazy assortment of cabins in the valley. My new home, a family who supposedly understands me-but soon they'd be just another bunch of people I'd disappointed, just another place I'd been kicked out of. You'll betray them for us, the voice had warned. Or you'll lose everything.

I didn't have a choice.

"Yeah," I lied. "I'm ready."

...

On the central green, a group of campers was playing basketball. They were incredible shots. Nothing bounced off the rim. Three-pointers went in automatically.

"Apollo's cabin," Annabeth explained. "Bunch of showoffs with missile weapons-arrows, basketballs."

We walked past a central fire pit where a bronze plaque read: "Hearth of Hestia". Although it was simple, I got the strange feeling it had strong meanings.

"Percy's idea," Annabeth told me. "The plaque I mean. We had the hearth for years, but until last summer not many realized it was meant to honor Lady Hestia: goddess of the Hearth who gave up her seat to Dionysus when he became an Olympian. So Percy had the plaque made so we know why we have a hearth."

I nodded as I understood now. Just because Hestia wasn't an Olympian anymore doesn't mean she should be forgotten.

Near the hearth, two guys were hacking at each other with swords.

"Real blades?" I noted. "Isn't that dangerous?"

"That's sort of the point," Annabeth said. "Uh, sorry. Bad pun. That's my cabin over there. Number Six." She nodded to a gray building with a carved owl over the doorway, I could see bookshelves, weapon displays, and one of those computerized SMART Boardsthey have in classroom. Two girls were drawing a map that looked like a battle diagram.

"Speaking of blades," Annabeth said, "come here."

She led me around the side of the cabin, to a big metal shed that looked like it was meant for gardening tools. Annabeth unlocked it, and inside were not gardening tools, unless you wanted to make war on your tomato plants. The shed was lined with all sorts of weapons-from swords to spears to clubs like Coach Hedge's.

"Every demigod needs a weapon," Annabeth said. "Hephaestus makes the best, but we have a pretty good selection, too. Athena's all about strategy-matching the right weapon to the right weapon to the right person. Let's see..."

I didn't feel much like shopping for deadly objects, but I knew Annabeth was trying to do something nice for me.

Annabeth handed me a massive sword, which I could hardly lift.

"No," we both said at once.

Annabeth rummaged a little farther in the shed and brought out something else.

"A shotgun?" I asked.

"Mossberg 500." Annabeth checked the pump action like it was no big deal. "Don't worry. It doesn't hurt humans. It's modified to shoot Celestial bronze, so it only kills monsters."

"Um, I don't think that's my style," I said.

"Mmm, yeah," Annabeth agreed. "Too flashy."

She put the shotgun back and started poking through a rack of crossbows when something in the corner of the shed caught my eye.

"What is that?" I said. "A knife?"

Annabeth dug it out and blew the dust off the scabbard. It looked like it hadn't seen the light of day in centuries.

"I don't know, Piper," Annabeth sounded uneasy. "I don't think you want this one. Swords are usually better."

"You use a knife." I pointed to the one to Annabeth's belt.

"Yeah, but..." Annabeth shrugged. "Well, take a look if you want."

The sheath was worn black leather bound in bronze. Nothing fancy, nothing flashy. The polished wood handle fit beautifully in my hand. When I unsheathed it, I found a triangular blade eighteen inches long-bronze gleaming like it had been polished yesterday. The edges were deadly sharp. My reflection in the blade caught me by surprise. I looked older, more serious, not as scared as I felt.

"It suits you," Annabeth admitted. "That kind of blade is called a parazonium. It was mostly ceremonial, carried by high-ranking officers in Greek armies. It showed you were a person of power and wealth, but in a fight, it could protect you just fine."

"I like it," I said. "Why didn't you think it was right?"

Annabeth exhaled. "That blade has a long story. Most people would be afraid to claim it. Its first owner... well, things didn't turn out too well for her. Her name was Helen."

I let that sink in. "Wait, you mean the Helen? Helen of Troy?"

Annabeth nodded.

Suddenly I felt like I should be handling the dagger with surgical gloves. "And it's just sitting in your tool shed?"

"We're surrounded by Ancient Greek stuff," Annabeth said. "This isn't a museum. Weapons like that-they're meant to be used. They're our heritage as demigods. That was a wedding present from Menelaus, Helen's first husband. She named the dagger Katoptris."

"Meaning?"

"Mirror," Annabeth said. "Looking glass. Probably because that's the only thing Helen used it for. I don't think it's ever seen battle."

I looked at the blade again. For a moment, my own image stared up at me, but then the reflection changed similar to how Annabeth's shield did. I saw flames, and a grotesque face like something carved from bedrock. I heard the same laughter as in my dream. I saw my dad in chains, lied to a post in front of a roaring bonfire.

I dropped the blade.

"Piper?" Annabeth shouted to the Apollo kids on the court, "Medic! I need some help over here!"

"No, it's-it's okay," Piper managed.

"You sure?"

"Yeah. I just..." I had to control myself. With trembling fingers, I picked up the dagger. "I just got overwhelmed. So much happening today. But... I want to keep the dagger, if that's okay."

Annabeth hesitated. Then she waved off the Apollo kids. "Okay, if you're sure. You turned really pale, there. I thought you were having a seizure or something."

"I'm fine," I promised, though my heart was still racing. "Is there... um, a phone at camp? Can I call my dad?"

Annabeth's gray eyes were almost as unnerving as the dagger blade. She seemed to be calculating a million possibilities, trying to read my thoughts.

"We aren't allowed phones," she said. "Most demigods, if they use a cell phone, it's like sending up a signal, letting monsters know where you are. But... I got one." She slipped it out of her pocket. "Kind of against the rules, but if it can be our secret..."

I took it gratefully, trying not to let my hands shake. I stepped away from Annabeth and turned to face the commons area.

I called my dad's private line, even though I knew what would happen. Voice mail. I'd been trying for three days since the dream. Wilderness School only allowed phone privileges once a day, but I'd called every evening, and gotten nowhere.

Reluctantly, I dialed the other number. My dad's personal assistant answered immediately. "Mr. McLean's office."

"Jane," I said, gritting my teeth. "Where's my dad?"

Jane was silent for a moment, probably wondering if she could get away with hanging up. "Piper, I thought you weren't supposed to call from school."

"Maybe I'm not at school," I said. "Maybe I ran away to live among the woodland creatures."

"Mmm." Jane didn't sound concerned. "Well, I'll tell him you called."

"Where is he?"

"Out."

"You don't know, do you?" I lowered my voice, hoping Annabeth was too nice to eavesdrop. "When are you going to call the police, Jane? He could be in trouble."

"Piper, we are not going to turn this into a media circus. I'm sure he's fine. He does take off occasionally. He always comes back."

"So it's true. You don't know-"

"I have to go, Piper," Jane snapped. "Enjoy school."

The line went dead. I cursed. I walked back to Annabeth and handed her the phone.

"No luck?" Annabeth asked.

I didn't answer. I didn't trust myself not to start crying again.

Annabeth glanced at the phone display and hesitated. "Your last name is McLean? Sorry, it's not my business. But that sounds really familiar."

"Common name."

"Yeah, I guess. What does your dad do?"

"He's got a degree in arts," I said automatically. "He's a Cherokee artist."

My standard response. Not a lie, just not the whole truth. Most people, when they heard that, figured my dad sold Indian souvenirs at a roadside stand on a reservation. Sitting Bull bobble-heads, wampum necklaces, Big Chief tablets-that kind of thing.

"Oh." Annabeth didn't look convinced, but she put the phone away. "You feeling okay? Want to keep going?"

I fastened my new dagger to my belt and promised myself that later, when I was alone, I'd figure out how it worked. "Sure," I said. "I want to see everything."

...

All the cabins were cool, but none of them stuck me as mine. No burning signs-wombats or otherwise-appeared over my head.

Cabin Eight was entirely silver and glowed like moonlight.

"Artemis?" I guessed.

"You know Greek Mythology.

"I did some reading for a project," I said, not adding the fact the project was one my dad was working on. McLean and Greek Mythology combine normally sums up who my dad is.

"Anyway," Annabeth continued. "Artemis is goddess of the moon and hunting. No campers though. Artemis was an eternal maiden, so she doesn't have any kids."

"Oh." That kind of bummed me out. I'd always liked the stories of Artemis, and figured she would make a cool mom."

"Well, there are the Hunters of Artemis," Annabeth amended. "They visit sometimes. They're not the children of Artemis, but they're her handmaidens-this band of immortal teenage girls who adventure together and hunt monsters and stuff."

I perked up. "That sounds cool. They get to be immortal?"

"Unless they die in combat, or break their vows. Did I mention they have to swear off boys? No da ting-ever. For eternit y."

"Oh," I said. "Never mind."

Annabeth laughed. For a moment she looked too happy, and I thought she'd be a cool friend to hang out with in better times.

Forget it, I reminded myself. You're not going to make any friends here. Not once they find out.

We passed the next cabin, Number Ten, which was decorated like a Barbie house with lace curtains, a pink curtains, a pink door, and potted carnations in the window. We walked by the doorway, and the smell of perfume almost made me gag.

"Gah, is that where supermodels go to die?"

Annabeth smirked. "Aphrodite's cabin. Goddess of love. Drew is the head counsellor."

"Figures," I grumbled.

"They're not all bad," Annabeth said. The last head counselor Silena Beauregard was great."

"What happened to her?"

"She has gone to NYU with her boyfriend, Beckendorf: former head of Cabin Nine."

"The cabin Leo was assigned too?" I asked.

"The very same. See once campers finish high school, they can choose to join the real world and go to college or stay here a bit longer to continue training. Some-like Beckendorf-manage to get scholarships thanks to the skills we inherit from our godly parents. Silena decided last summer to join him in going to college."

"I guess she doesn't sound too bad then," I said. "Wanting to leave camp to go to college with her boyfriend I mean. I know I just met her today, but I don't see Drew doing something like that."

Annabeth chuckled. "Trust me, you're not the only one who thinks that of Drew, and she doesn't prove anyone wrong either. Come on, we should keep moving."

We looked at the other cabins, but I just got more depressed. I wondered if I could be daughter of Demeter, the farming goddess. Then again, I killed every plant I ever touched. Athena was cool. Or maybe Hecate, the goddess of magic. But it didn't really matter. Even here, where everyone was supposed to find a lost parent, I knew I would still end up the unwanted kid. I was not looking forward to the campfire tonight.

"We started with twelve cabins for the twelve Olympian gods," Annabeth explained. "Most of the male gods on the left, females on the right-except for Dionysus."

"Because Hestia gave up her seat to him?" I asked.

"Right, since the seat was originally meant for Hestia, Dionysus is on the right with the girls. Then last year, we added a whole bunch of new cabins for the other gods who didn't have thrones on Olympus-Hecate, Hades, Iris-"

"What are the two big ones on the end?" I asked.

Annabeth frowned. "Zeus and Hera. King and Queen of the gods."

I headed that way, and Annabeth followed, though she didn't act very excited. The Zeus cabin reminded me of a bank. It was white marble with big columns out front and polished bronze doors emblazoned with lightning bolts.

Hera's cabin was smaller, but done in the same style, except the doors were carved with peacock feather designs, shimmering in different colors.

Unlike the other cabins, which were all noisy and open and full of activity, the Zeus and Hera cabins looked closed and silent.

"Are they empty?" I asked.

Annabeth nodded. "Zeus went a long time without having any demigod children. Well, mostly Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades, the eldest brothers among the gods-they're called the Big Three. Their kids are really powerful, really dangerous. For the last seventy years or so, the tried to avoid having demigod children. Any children with nature spirits like Cyclopes are allowed, which is why Poseidon's cabin is occupied." Annabeth pointed to the low cabin next to Zeus' Cabin. "But Zeus and Hades aren't as well known for having cyclopes children as Poseidon."

"So they don't have any demigod children?" I asked.

"Not exactly. Sometimes they... um, cheated. I've got a friend Thalia Grace who';s the daughter of Zeus. But she gave up camp like and became a Hunter, as did her second-in-command Bianca di Angelo-who is daughter of Hades. Bianca has a brother, Nico, who sometimes shows up. My boyfriend Percy , he's a son of Poseidon. Except for them, there are n o other demigod children of the Big Three gods. At least, not that we know of and because of it and the Cyclopes, of the big three cabins, Poseidon's is the most active."

I remember reading somewhere that after the Elder Cyclopes majority of Cyclops were sired by Poseidon so I guess it made sense.

"And Hera?" I looked at the peacock-decorated doors. The cabin bothered me, though I wasn't sure why.

"Goddess of marriage." Annabeth's tone was carefully controlled, like she was trying to avoid cursing. "She doesn't have kids with anyone but Zeus unless she created them herself. So, yeah, no demigods. The cabin's just honorary."

"You don't like her," I noticed.

"We have a long history," Annnabeth admitted. "I thought we made peace, but when Percy disappeared... I got this weird dream vision from her."

"Telling you to come get us," I said. "But you thought Percy would be there."

"It's probably better I don't talk about it," Annabeth said. "I've got noth in g good to say about Hera right now."

I looked down at the base of the doors. "So who goes in here? "

"No one. The cabin is just honorary, like I said. No one goes in."

"Someone does." I pointed at a footprint on the dusty threshold. On instinct, I pushed the doors and we swung open easily.

Annabeth stepped back. "Um, Piper, I don't think we should-"

"We're supposed to do dangerous stuff, right?" And I walked inside.

...

Hera's cabin was not someplace I would want to live. It was as cold as a freezer, with a circle of white columns around a central statue of the goddess, ten feet tall, seated on a throne in flowing golden robes. I had always thought of Greek statues as white with blank eyes, but this one was brightly painted so it looked almost human-except huge. Hera's piercing e yes seemed to follow me.

At the goddess' feet, a fire burned in a bronze brazier. I wondered who tended it if the cabin was always empty. A stone hawk sat on Hera's shoulder, and in her hand was a staff topped with a lotus flower. The goddess' hair was done in black plaits. Her face smiled, but the eyes were cold and calculating, as if she were saying: Mother knows best. Now don't cross me or I will have to step on you.

There was nothing else in the cabin-no beds, no furniture, no bathroom, no windows, nothing that anyone could actually use to live. For a goddess of home and marriage, Hera's place reminded me of a tomb.

No, this wasn't my mom. At leas t I was sure of that. I hadn't come in here because I felt a good connection, but because my sense of dread was stronger here. My dream-that horrible ultimatum I'd been handed-had something to do with this cabin.

I froze. We weren't alone. Behind the statue, at a little altar in the back, stood a figure covered in a black shawl. Only her hands were visible, palms up. She seemed to be chanting something like a spell or a prayer.

Annabeth gasped. "Rachel?"

The other girl turned. She dropped her shawl, revealing a mane of curly red hair and a freckled face that didn't go with the seriousness of the cabin or the black shawl at all. She looked about seventeen, a totally normal teen in a green blouse and tattered jeans covered with marker doodles. Despite the cold floor, she was barefoot.

"Hey!" She ran to give Annabeth a hug. "I'm so sorry! I came as fast as I could."

They talked for a few minutes about Annabeth's boyfriend and how there was no news, et cetera, until finally Annabeth remembered me, as I was standing there feeling uncomfortable.

"I'm being rude," Annabeth apologized. "Rachel, this is Piper, one of th e half-bloods we rescued today. Piper, this is Rachel Elizabeth Dare, our oracle."

"The friend who lives in the cave," I guessed.

Rachel grinned. "That's me."

"So you're an oracle?" I asked. " You can tell the future?"

"More like the future mugs me from time to time," Rachel said. "I speak prophecies. The oracle's spirit kind of hijacks me every once in a while and speaks important stuff that doesn't make any sense to anybody. But yeah, the prophecies tells the future."

"Oh," I shifted from foot to foot. "That's cool."

Rachel laughed. "Don't worry. Everybody finds it a little creepy. Even me. But usually I'm harmless."

"You're a demigod?"

"Nope," Rachel said. "Just mortal."

"Oracles are normally mortal maiden females who are immune to the power of the Mist and see things as they are and also gifted with visions of future and past selected by the fates and Apollo to host the original spirit of delphi." Annabeth explained.

"Then what are you..." I waved my hand around the room.

Rachel's smile faded. She glanced at Annabeth, then back at Piper. "Just a hunch. Something about this cabin and Percy's disappearance. They're connected somehow. I learned to follow my hunches, especially the last month, since the gods went silent."

"Went silent?" I asked.

Rachel frowned at Annabeth. "You haven't told her yet?"

"I was getting to that," Annabeth said. "Piper, for the last month... well, it's normal for the gods not to talk to their children very much, but usually we can count on some messages now and then. Some of us can even visit Olympus. I spent practically all semester at the Empire State Building."

"Excuse me?"

"The current entrance to Mount Olympus."

"Oh," I said. "Sure, why not?"

Annabeth was redesigning Olympus after it was damaged in the Titan War," Annabeth explained. "She's an amazing architect. You should see the salad bar-"

"Anyway," Annabeth said, "starting a month ago, Olympus fell silent. The entrance closed, and no one could get in. The cyclopes are still being sent here but instead of coming straight from the streets they are sent to schools with satyrs and demigods are found and brought here. Nobody knows why. It's like the gods were forced to seal themselves off. Even my mom won't answer my prayers, and our camp director, Dionysus, was recalled."

"Your camp director was the god of wine?"

"Yeah, it's a long story. Demigods and Cyclopes still get claimed, but nothing else. Only the cyclopes get messages and from what we're told only where to find a satyr to guide them. Nothing else. Not even a sign the gods are listening. It's like something has happened-something really bad. Then Percy disappeared."

"And Jason showed up on our field trip," I said. "With no memory."

"Who's Jason?" Rachel asked.

"My-" I stopped myself before I could say "boyfriend," but the effort made my chest hurt. "My friend. But Annabeth, you said Hera sent you a dream vision."

"Right," Annabeth said. "The first communication from the god in a month, and it's Hera, the least helpful goddess, and she contacts me, her least favorite demigod/ She tells me I go to the Grand Canyon skywalk and I look for a guy with one shoe. We were expecting you and Leo from contacting Gleeson Hedge, but Jason was with you and he had one shoe. It doesn't make sense."

"Something bad is happening," Rachel agreed. She looked at me, and I felt an overwhelming desire to tell them about my dream, to confess that I knew what was happening-at least part of the story. And the bad stuff was only the beginning.

"Guys," I said. "I-I need to-"

Before I could continue, Rache's body stiffened. Her eyes began to glow with a greenish light, and she grabbed me by the shoulders.

I tried to back away, but Rachel's hands were like steel clamps.

Free me, she said. But it wasn't Rachel's voice. It sounded like an older woman, speaking from somewhere far away, down a long, echoing pipe. Free me, Piper McLean, or the earth shall swallow us. It must be the solstice.

The room began spinning. Annabeth tried to separate Rachel from me, but it was no use. Green smoke enveloped them, and I was no longer sure if I was awake or dreaming. The giant statue of the goddess seemed to rise from its throne. It leaned over me, its eyes boring into me. The statue's mouth opened, its breath like horribly thick perfume. It spoke in the same echoing voice: Our enemies stir. The fiery one is only the first. Bow to his will, and their king shall rise, dooming us all. FREE ME!

My knees buckled and everything went black.