XVI - Camp Half-Blood

"Perseus is that you?" Chiron asked if unsure I was even in front of him.

"Yeah you old horse, It's me," I replied fondly.

"How long has it been?"

"A long time."

Chiron looked as if he was going to protest my statement until I shot him a sharp look. He nodded in understanding.

I walked forward and leaned down so Chiron could hug me while still being in his wheelchair. He then noticed Nico.

Chiron breathed a sigh of relief. "You succeeded, then."

"Well…yes," Alex said.

"Nico, meet Chiron, trainer of heroes, and Dionysus, God of wine. They run camp halfblood," Thalia said.

"Woah you're the wine dude, I have your figurine."

Dionysus looked as if he was going to smite somebody but chose to wave them off instead.

"Alright. Off you go. Activities start tomorrow."

I looked at Dionysus and Chiron. Dionysus was lazily sitting, with his legs on top of the table. I noticed the way Dionysus acted, as if he owned the campers.

"What do you think you're still doing here, Tinkerlia and Axel. Go away! Shoo off!"

Chiron looked at them apologetically "I wish to speak with Perseus, Thalia could you show Nico around."

The two campers muttered insults under their breaths at the god of wine and left. "Come on Nico," Thalia said.

After they had left I glared at the wine god. "I prefer Baucis."

Dionysus looked at me with shock in his eyes and started to change but managed to get ahold of himself. "Don't say that name," he said, wincing.

"I am purely stating a fact, you are a slobbish, lazy, child with a drinking problem who does not deserve a place on the council whereas Baucis…" I said the roman name slowly, and Dionysus winced as he fought with his form again, "Is a true god who is actually significant and respected as an immortal."

"Stop saying that name. I am a god and you will show me respect." Dionysus hissed, "How do you know these things you're just a half-blood?"

"I am much more than a half-blood, god of wine." I allowed my aura to glow a little. "Now leave us. I wish to speak with Chiron."

"I will not let you…" Dionysus started.

"I call on Bau…" I interrupted threateningly.

"FINE! You win." Dionysus yelled, "Just stop calling on my roman form." He left muttering.

Chiron laughed. "That was masterfully done, Perseus, I have never seen someone handle Dionysus that well."

I grinned "Well I have picked up much over the years."

"Why don't you tell me about your adventure over some tea," Chiron said with a soft smile

We walked toward the kitchen as I began my tale.

I spent an hour telling him most of what had happened, Including that I could be the hero of the great prophecy. When I had finished Chiron started laughing. "You have had quite the life old friend."

I nodded solemnly.

"But in other matters," the centaur continued, "Nico is a child of Hades then."

I nodded. "And so is his sister Bianca, however, she had opted to join the hunters."

"And how did young Nico take it?" Chiron asked.

"It appears he did not take it well. He seems very fond of his sister and from the way he has acted I believe he thinks she is leaving him behind."

Chiron nodded sadly. "And the Ophiotaurus has returned? You are sure?"

"I am positive of it, Chiron, as is Artemis. However, I fear she may be walking into a trap."

"How so?" Chiron asked worriedly.

"The General has escaped his prison. I believe he may try and trick Artemis into taking his place. Also, I believe there is a prophecy that will be given soon."

"How do you know?"

"Oh, just something Apollo said before he left. Oh, and I have shared my fears with him as well."

Chiron nodded. "I fear you are right."

Chiron filled me in on what had taken place in the last years as well.

Just then, Grover trotted into the room, grinning like crazy. He had a black eye and red lines on his face that looked like a slap mark. "The Hunters are all moved in!" Behind him, Nico, Alex, and Thalia followed.

"Ah the Hunters, Hmm I see we have much to talk about." He glanced at Nico. "Grover, perhaps you should take our young friend to the den and show him our orientation film."

"But… Oh, right. Yes, sir."

"Orientation film?" Nico asked. "Is it G or PG? 'Cause Bianca is kinda strict—"

"It's PG-13," Grover said.

"Cool!" Nico happily followed him out of the room.

"Now," Chiron said to Thalia and Alex, "perhaps you two should sit down and tell us the whole story."

When they were finished Chiron sighed. "I fear more than ever that you are right Perseus." Chiron shook his head. "Well that is a matter for later Thalia," Chiron said, "you and Alex go down to the cabins. Inform the campers we'll be playing capture the flag tomorrow evening."

"Capture the flag?" She asked. "But we don't have enough—"

"It is a tradition," Chiron said. "A friendly match, whenever the Hunters visit."

"Yeah," Thalia muttered. "I bet it's really friendly."

"Run along now," Chiron told them.

"Oh, right," Thalia said. "Come on, Alex.".

Over at the basketball court, a few of the Hunters were shooting hoops. One of them was arguing with a guy from the Ares cabin. The Ares kid had his hand on his sword and the Hunter girl looked like she was going to exchange her basketball for a bow and arrow any second.

"I'll break that up," Thalia said. "You circulate around the cabins. Tell everybody about capture the flag tomorrow."

"All right. You should be team captain," he said suddenly.

"No, no," she said. "You've been at camp longer. You do it," she said surprised.

"We can, uh… co-captain or something."

She looked about as comfortable with that as he felt, but she nodded.

As she headed for the court, he said something that greatly surprised her, "Hey, Thalia."

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry about what happened at Westover. I should've waited for you guys. And I'm sorry about saying well you know...".

She blinked, not believing her ears.

"S' okay, Alex. I probably would've done the same thing."

She walked towards the basketball court, thinking about what had happened. 'Wow!' She thought. 'Alex must have gone crazy. How come he's not as arrogant anymore?'

Perseus slept in Hermes' cabin after making sure none of his stuff would be stolen and woke up early the next morning and had decided to go train. He had decided to only use his powers over souls otherwise it would draw too much attention to him. He was using his original dagger made for him by his father and was practicing his soul form. His soul form was taught to him by master Futsunushi. Basically, it was a kind of dance with a weapon that while could be used in a fight was more of a way to clear your mind and free up your soul.

He took off his shirt. He began to train, his whole body moving with his weapon as he slashed and stabbed in rhythm. Perseus could always see souls that hadn't made it to the underworld and sadly this camp had many. But as he moved the souls began to swirl around him creating what would be an almost specter-like glow surrounding the demigod to anyone who was looking in.

Perseus began to see memories of times past, of those he had lost and those he had gained throughout the centuries. He let them wash over him the pain, the joy, and one single tear rolled down his face.

The souls moved to the rhythm and felt themselves begin to heal. One after another the souls began to dissipate and return back to where they had been before. Until the glow disappeared around the demigod and the dance was over.

Perseus looked up and noticed he had amassed a small audience. Most of the female campers looked at him in awe but were also blushing at his body. Even some of the hunters couldn't help but be in awe of this boy. The male campers looked at him with awe and jealousy.

Suddenly they all started applauding. Perseus simply stood there until he met the eyes of one of the hunters, Phoebe. She had clear recognition in her eyes.

That evening Perseus sat in a tree branch as he overlooked the capture the flag game below. He watched a little awed at the way the hunters outmaneuvered and out-skilled the campers despite their large disadvantage in numbers. Perseus knew they were great warriors but the lack of challenge from the campers was somewhat humorous.

Even with Thalia and Alex's apparent truce, they were no match for the hunters.

He watched the camper's flag from his perch as he waited to see which huntress would be one to reach it. Perseus saw a flash of silver and caught sight of the huntress he had been certain would be the one to reach the flag. Perseus had chosen not to participate in the game because while technically he could be considered a camper, he would rather just watch from up above in a large tree.

He still loved sitting up in the canopy of a forest as it reminded him of a time in my life where he had had the most freedom even if it was so long ago.

Right as Zoë grabbed the flag a kid from three kids from Ares cabin showed up. They stopped in front of her and smirked, "Well now, look what we've found here fellas. The little huntress is all alone." One said mockingly.

Zoë narrowed her eyes, "Thee are no match for me boy." she sneered.

They glared murderously, "Looks like this little girl needs to learn some respect." another said as he circled behind Zoë as the other two demigods approached her slowly.

Zoë tucked the flag into her belt and pulled out two hunting knives but she knew she was in trouble.

Before she could move a dark flash darted across her field of vision and when it was gone the two of the three boys were unconscious on the ground. She quickly lashed out with her bow knocking out the other one. She scanned the area and thought she saw a black hooded figure sitting in a tree two her left but when she blinked it was gone.

She shrugged a little annoyed before sprinting off towards the boundary line just in time to cross the line before Thalia, winning the game for the hunters for the fifty-seventh time in a row.

Just as the hunters gathered together at the boundary line to celebrate their victory, the forest was enveloped in silence save for a few terrified gasps. The mummified body of a woman slowly staggered her way towards the huntresses as everyone looked on in shock.

This is impossible," Chiron said incredulously. "It… she has never left the attic. Never."

The creak of the mummified corpse adhered to Chiron's statement in more ways than one.

The invisible pressure increased as the mummy turned, creaking from its neck as flakes of skin fell to the ground. The sounds ceased when the glowing green eyes settled on Zoë, the eerie dead but somehow living eyes.

I am the spirit of Delphi, the voice said, the mouth moved and cracked but no sound actually came out of it. Speaker of the prophecies of Phoebus Apollo, slayer of the mighty Python. Green smoke began to pour from its mouth as it rasped,

"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"

Zoë's face turned pale white as the oracle collapsed onto the ground, looking like it couldn't possibly have walked itself out to the forest. Chiron cantered over to Zoë, his own face looking pale after the oracle's words.

"We will have a meeting in the big house in fifteen minutes with the cabin leaders to discuss the prophecy." He said grimly.

Zoë nodded numbly as she thought about her mistress being captured and what the lines of the prophecy meant and how she had a sinking feeling the last line referred to her.

Perseus still in his tree stood unmoving as if Medusa had turned him to stone.

Quiet! Quiet!" Chiron shouted as the leaders from each cabin along with Zoë and a couple of hunters sat around the ping pong table. Finally, Chiron had invited Perseus who stood at the back.

"The prophecy was quite clear with its words. The quest is Zoë's and she will obviously lead it." Chiron stated to the gathered demigods.

"The hunters are more than capable of finding our lady, there is not much to discuss." A hunter named Atalanta stated bluntly after Chiron spoke.

Chiron shook his head, "The prophecy stated the quest must be a combination of hunters and campers. I highly doubt any of you would want to fail this mission because you refused to listen to the words of the oracle."

Atalanta was about to retort when Zoë cut her off, "Enough Atalanta, Chiron is right." Zoë stood. "I shall go, of course, and I will take Phoebe. She is our best tracker."

"The girl who likes to hit people on the head?" Travis Stoll from Hermes cabin asked cautiously.

Zoë nodded.

"The one who put the arrows in my helmet?" His twin Connor Stoll added.

"Yes," Zoë 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?"

Annabeth thought that the Stoll Brothers seemed suspicious but Zoë did not seem to as she took the shirt.

Chiron nodded "Who will you take from the campers."

"Annabeth and Thalia if they are willing," Zoë responded

Chiron looked over at two said demigods to find a surprised look on their faces but they both recovered quickly and nodded their consent.

"That makes four, who will you take as the fifth member of the quest?" Chiron asked.

Zoë looked thoughtful but was interrupted before she could speak.

"I will go," Alex stated.

Zoë snorted, "I think not, boy."

Alex's eyes narrowed, "I have led every quest since I came to camp. I rescued Zeus' master bolt and the Golden Fleece. You will need me on this quest."

Clarrise spoke up angrily, "I led the quest for the golden fleece, not you Alex!"

Zoë's eyes narrowed, "No, I don't," Zoë said responding to Alex's outburst. I will take Bianca, she will gain experience from this quest.

Chiron looked ready to protest but decided against it.

Chiron stomped his hoof to draw everyone's attention, "The quest was issued to Zoë and her companions are hers and hers alone to choose. The quest is set and will leave at first light."

Alex slammed his fists into the ping pong and stormed out of the room.

Zoë smirked at the boy's anger before she led her hunters out of the big house.

Zoë found the rest of the hunters outside of the big house including Phoebe and filled them in.

"Zoë may I speak with you privately,'' said Phoebe.

Zoë nodded.

The rest of the hunters went back to their cabin while Phoebe and Zoë began to walk towards the lake.

They walked in silence until Phoebe spoke, "I remember him too."

"Who?" Zoë asked, confused.

"You know who. I saw the look you had when he first lowered his hood."

"You speak the truth. But how doth thy know him?"

"He… saved me, Brought me to the hunt.

Zoë looked at her with shock "Why are you telling me this?"

"We both know what might happen at the end of this quest Zoë, I believe he can help."

"I… Do not think that is a good idea."

"Why?"

"I do not believe he would want to," Zoë answered.

At Phoebe's perplexed look Zoë continued, "It's a long story."

A.N: Sorry it's been a while. I've been swamped and I've been dealing with a lot. I'm not going to promise to update regularly because that would be lying but I would like to update more often. I'm pretty close to finishing the Titans curse part of this story and have outlined a lot of what will happen in the next book. The next book will be fun. Since I've written a lot I hope to post more. This is the first glimpse we have at Zoë and Perseus's relationship. Tell me what you think.

See you next time.

Thanks to those who have stuck with this story.

- LIGHTNINGWOLF18