Last chapter…

My challenge. I had a hard time falling asleep after those news. But eventually I did.

Max and Patrick were talking on the arena of Camp Half-Blood. Max looked as happy as ever. They both turned when they noticed I was there. Patrick winked.

"Thank you", said Max, smiling.

I shrugged, smiling too. Thanks, Persephone, I thought.

That's all I could remember next morning.

Chapter 5- I Am Offered a Tutor

When I opened my eyes, I noticed I was the only one awake in my Cabin. Even Annabeth, who was usually the first one to wake up, was deep in her sleep. I dressed as quietly as I could and headed to the strawberry fields. I needed some time alone.

The sweet smell of the blossoms made me dizzy for a moment. I wondered why I didn't come here more often. It was so beautiful. The plants were already holding red and shiny fruits, ready to be plucked. The white, delicate flowers grew around them, like frames. After a while I sat down, and closed my eyes. But no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't stay still. My heart was racing, and my ADHD wasn't making this easier.

"Time can't pass fast enough, can it?", I asked out loud.

I gave up. I got up and turned, just to find a girl with a shovel not too far behind me. I cocked my head to the side. She was wearing brown shorts and a tank top with the exact shade of red of the strawberries. She looked about my age. Her wheat colored hair was tied up in a messy ponytail, preventing her curls to get in her earthy, warm eyes. She was frowning, and was looking at a pair of small strawberries in a reproving way.

"This just won't do", she muttered, and waved her hand. The fruit grew in front of my eyes, which widened in surprise. The girl smiled, and turned her face to look at me.

"I've been working on each of them separately, but it seems I forgot about these two", she explained, leaning on the shovel.

"Good thing you noticed", I said, still looking at the now huge strawberries.

"We haven't met, have we?", she asked, making me look away. I had seen her before, but I'd never talked to her.

"Not officially, no", I replied.

She smiled. "I'm Megan."

"Danielle", I said, returning the smile.

"Daughter of Athena, right?", she said walking towards me to shake my hand.

I nodded. "And by the looks of it, daughter of Demeter." I looked at my hands. After the handshake, she'd left my hand full of dirt.

"Oh", she noticed short after, "Sorry about that."

"It's okay", I replied, trying to get it off.

"No, please, let me fix it", she said. She waved her hand again, and the dirt disappeared.

"Huh. Useful", I said, still looking at my hands.

She shrugged, then looked at the Cabins, where everybody was still asleep. "How come you're not sleeping?", she asked.

"To tell you the truth, I don't know how I managed to sleep at all", I muttered, sitting down again. She sat down too, and she looked at me, asking a silent question. I sighed and explained my situation.

"So you're getting your challenge today", she said quietly. "Wow. Nervous?"

"It's more like… anxiety", I explained.

"Understandable", she said nodding. "And you've got no clue at all…?"

I cut her off by shaking my head. "None. I only know it must be important, otherwise I'd still dream of Patrick."

"Well, whatever it is, I'm sure you'll do just fine", she said reassuringly. She turned and grabbed a few strawberries. "Here", she offered. "Grab one, they're really good."

"Thanks", I said, while I put the fruit in my mouth. Not too sweet, not too sour. Just perfect. "Hey, how come you're not sleeping?", I asked, taking another strawberry.

"Oh, I come here sometimes to check on the plants", she explained simply. "I think it's the perfect way to start the day, don't you think?"

I smiled, and nodded.

The silence was broken by the voices of the campers, who were on their way for breakfast. I stood up.

"I need to tell my Cabin I'm alive", I said. "You coming?"

"Sure", she said, and she grabbed her shovel, and so we headed to the pavilion.

"Where were you?", Jasmin asked, playing absently with her toast.

I stopped cutting my pancakes to look at her. "How asleep are you? I told you five minutes ago! In the strawberry fields with Megan, of the Demeter Cabin."

Finn, who was sitting on my right, was trying really hard not to laugh. I looked at him.

"What's wrong with her?", I asked, whispering.

"They made up", he said simply.

I turned to face my half sister, beaming. "You did?!"

She smiled, and nodded. In that exact moment, Mr. D. got up.

"Okay brats, the climbing wall's fixed", he said in a bored tone. "Now, out of my sight!"

"Wow, he's extra mean today", I told Drew, who was waiting for me to finish my orange juice.

He nodded. "Yeah, Dad said it might happen, so it's no surprise for me", he explained.

"Oh right. Zeus visited the other day. Is everything okay?", I asked, while we headed to the arena.

"Yeah, he just wanted to see how I was doing", he looked like he was evading the subject.

"Oh", was all I could say.

"Hey, what's with the Hermes guy that stole your locket? Who does that guy think he is?", he asked, throwing his hands in the air.

I laughed, happy that he found something else to talk about. "Don't worry Drew, Paul is now aware that I'll kill him if he tries do steal something like that again."

"If you need any help with that, just ask", he said teasingly, making me laugh again. "You know, now that I think about it, I don't know why the locket's so important. I just figured it was, since you wear it all the time and the whole camp was horrified by the fact that someone had tried to steal it." We sat down leaning on a tree in front of the arena, watching the Ares campers and the Apollo campers train.

I reached for the silver olive blossom. It was true. I'd never told Drew the story behind it. Worst part was, he deserved the long story.

"Fine, I'll tell you." I sighed. This was going to be hard. "Last year I went on this quest to save my father, who had been kidnapped by Hecate. Jasmin and a guy named Patrick came with me, aware that one of them was going to die- according to the Oracle. We were… together, Patrick and me." My voice cracked and I had to take a deep breath so I could continue. "My mother had given me an olive blossom that was able to save its owner. I had to give it to one of them, but I just couldn't choose. But I lost it. In the end Patrick found it, and knowing what it could do, he gave Jasmin the blossom." Another breath. "He died short after, like my dad." Noticing his eyes were going wide, I added, "The Oracle said the quest was lost. That's why he didn't make it. Well, both of them didn't make it." I looked down. "He visited me when we got to camp. And he left me this", I said, pointing at the locket. "It's sort of a… promise. He'll always be with me and I…" I couldn't tell him. I just couldn't!

"… You what? What was your part in the deal?", he encouraged. I shook my head, blushing furiously.

He cocked his head to the side. "Come one, Dan…"

"I have to be open to love", I finished, looking away.

"Oh", he said. I chanced a quick gaze and I saw he was blushing too.

"Yeah, well… That's why I don't take it off. I…", I started, but Drew interrupted me.

"It's okay. You don't need more explanations.", he put a hand on my shoulder.

"Thanks." I managed a smile.

"Thank you for telling me the story", he said quietly, and I shrugged. He gave me a hug, and kissed my forehead. "If I ever said anything…"

My time to interrupt. "You didn't. Don't worry."

"Good", he said, standing up. His face was still red. "Listen, I'm gonna go get my bow. I think I'm not in the mood for swordsmanship today."

I got up as well. "Uh, sure. Maybe tomorrow." I didn't know how to hide the disappointment in my face.

He smiled. "You're on."

I smiled back, and watched him head to his Cabin. I felt like the weight of the sky had been released from my shoulders. Telling him was something that had to be done. I turned and walked to the lake, where my Cabin was. Maybe I could get Annabeth to give me those Greek lessons if she wasn't too busy with Percy again. I remembered the embarrassing meeting, and smiled.

My half sister and I were totally focused on the vocabulary sheet she'd given me when the sound of the conch announcing lunch made us flinch. I exchanged an anxious look with her, and she gave me a small smile, trying to reassure me. I felt the temperature drop 100 degrees, and we made our way to the pavilion.

After offering our share to the gods, we sat at our table. Drew caught my gaze and nodded. I'm sure he'd heard from his father about the challenge. The others started eating, but after one bite of tasteless food, I didn't feel like eating anymore.

Some people might be excited about getting a challenge from their godly parent. And I was excited. But how serious could this be that I had to stop having dreams? Completely focused Persephone had said. That sounded serious enough.

Jazz was suddenly at my side, along with Percy, Annabeth, Drew, Max and to my surprise, Megan. I looked around. Lunch was over. The pavilion was empty. And Chiron was walking toward us. A hand slipped in mine. It was Megan's. She squeezed it, and I got up.

I noticed Chiron was smiling. I took that as a good sign.

"Well my child", he started brightly. "I have great news for you. Your mother asked me to tell you about your challenge, and, if you're ready, I'll do it right now."

I gave my friends a doubtful look. But the look of determination in Drew's face said everything.

I nodded.

"Very well. So, I heard you spoke to Persephone. She told you you wouldn't be dreaming about Patrick anymore, right?", he asked.

"She said I'll need to be completely focused", I quoted.

The centaur nodded. "Exactly. See, you've been given a great opportunity here Dan. But it won't be a challenge. There will be three challenges, three tests to be precise."

I gaped. Three?

"Yes, three", he said answering the silent question. "The first one will be a test of strength. The second one will be a test of intelligence, and in the third test you're going to prove that you can choose the right choice. That is, if you pass the first two tests", he added.

That last sentence didn't help. And what did he mean "to choose the right choice"? I frowned.

"But, Chiron, why am I doing all this tests?", I asked.

"Oh! Didn't I tell you? Your mother. She wants to be your tutor", he said.

First of all, I'd like to thank PowerofWords12 for creating Megan and Paul.

Second, happy new year everybody!

And last but not least- review!