Rachel Elizabeth Dare had a hunch. The hunch told her to go to camp half-blood. She'd tried to shake the idea off many times, but it kept coming back, worse than a nagging itch. Eventually, she'd given in and caught a cab to Long Island. Now, as she stood on Half-blood hill, she could see the problem: half the campers were tangled in vine plants, while the others attempted to fight off the green tendrils with whatever weaponry the could.
The source of the commotion was a nonplussed Mr. D, who ignored Chiron's demands to leave the campers alone.
"Lord Dionysus," Rachel called. "What are you doing?"
"Nothing," the wine god answered. "Some hero thought they'd play around with my pizza delivery, so I need to find out who did it. I'm not letting them go until I get my pizza."
Rachel rolled her eyes, and spotted a pair of campers who weren't being bothered by the grapes at all. She recognized Pollux, but not the dark-haired girl beside him. When the girl's blue eyes met her own, Rachel felt the spirit of Delphi stir within her.
As an Hermes camper confessed, the Oracle walked over to Dionysus' children-for who else could they be?-and shook hands with both of them. She made small talk with Cabin Twelve's counsellor before turning to his half-sister.
"I'm Heather," the girl replied to Rachel's introduction. "Just got to camp. So you're the Oracle of Delphi?"
Rachel told her that yes, she was the host for the power of Delphi. Heather asked about prophecies and the redhead tried her best to explain. As she talked, the young Half-blood watched her with a steely gaze reminiscent of Anabeth.
"So you can't really see individual futures," Heather clarified for herself. Rachel nodded and the Half-blood frowned, disappointed. Rachel could have sworn she saw Heather's eye flick over to Mr. D, but she couldn't be certain.
"Would you please come with me?"
Rachel wasn't sure why, but her hunches were back. This time, she had the urge to take Heather back to the Oracle's cave. Not one to deny the spirit of Delphi twice, Rachel had extended the invitation. Heather accepted and the two walked into the woods as the campers returned to their normal activities-Mr D. appeased by the return of his pizza.
Encountering no one except a few dryads, the mortal and demigod walked side-by-side through the woods until they reached the Oracle's cave. Heather did not show any aversion to the dark, nor the slightly reptilian smell, and Rachel took that for a good sign; many campers who came to seek the Oracle's advice were often unsettled by the cave.
"Do you live here?" Heather asked. "Because I would totally move in."
"I only stay here when I'm at camp for long periods of time. Campers come here when they need to go on a quest, or just want advice."
"So why did you bring me here? You said you can't tell me my future without getting hijacked."
Rachel didn't answer right away, instead pulling a spare piece of paper and pen from her jeans back pocket as she sat down. Smoothing out the crumpled sheet on her knee, removing the pen's cap, the redhead looked at the child of Dionysus.
"I can't tell you everything, but the Spirit of Delphi can give guidance to help you. I'll write down what I'm told."
Heather's eyes widened as Rachel lowered the pen to paper and began to write. When the oracle finished, Heather accepted the paper and bowed slightly at the waist.
"Thank you," she said fervently. Rachel nodded.
"I'm happy to help."
Heather turned and walked straight out of the cave, hardly aware of the other living things around her. Answers were between her fingers.
A/N: I have no clue what I even wrote here. I just started typing and...well it happened. I hope this conveniently makes sense.