CHAPTER 4

Ares walked over to a nearby pillar that had been toppled by the explosion and sat down on it, heavily. So heavily that it cracked when he fell onto it. He sighed, ran a hand through his hair, and then he started to recount the events of the past few days. He started with what most campers already knew, but was all news to Noah, like the great stirring of monsters that had started with the Titans being released into the world again, then the giants. Then he went on to explain about the Mare Nostrum, the ancient name for the Mediterranean, and the ancient home of the Olympians in Greece.

Noah had no idea what was going on, and was even more confused when Chiron called his name. He stepped forwards out of the crowd of demigods until he was standing in front of Chiron and Ares. Ares saw his bow and he raised his eyebrows.

"The Epirus Bow? Nice. Where'd you get that, kid?" Ares asked, looking at him through red sunglasses that appeared to glow slightly.

"Um... I... I just had it. After I got claimed," Noah stammered, hardly able to get the words out.

"He was just claimed by Apollo before you… got here," Chiron said, still warily looking at Noah. "And I don't know why you have that bow. Do you know what it is, Noah?"

Noah shook his head, dreading the answer.

"The Epirus bow was made millennia ago, carved from the Epirus tree on Olympus. It's a very powerful weapon. It will never miss, and its arrows can fly great distances. I think Apollo gave you it for some reason, though I don't know what." Chiron replied, glancing at Ares as he finished. Ares nodded.

"I might know. I'm here for a reason. The Pillars of Hercules have collapsed." Ares declared, looking solemnly at Chiron. He frowned, then his eyes shot wide open, and he stared at Ares.

"Di immortales, you cannot be serious!" Chiron exclaimed, clearly shaken. "What does that mean?"

"It means that Heracles has had enough. He's rebelled against Zeus. When we found out that he was toppling the Pillars, Zeus sent me and a few others to stop him. It didn't work. We fought, and... And he tore Morpheus apart with his bare hands." Ares replied, shaking his head slightly.

Chiron sighed, shaking his head as well. Instead of replying he brought his hand up to his chest, made a 3 fingered claw and pushed it away.

"Where is Selena?" Chiron asked wearily.

Selena was the only Morpheus camper here. The campers started talking between themselves, but Noah couldn't move. He was frozen solid. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Heracles, the most famous Greek demigod, son of Zeus himself, had rebelled against the gods, and even killed one of them? It sounded crazy.

"She's sleeping," shouted a demigod from the back "She said she was tired and went to bed" Chiron sighed, shaking his head sadly, like he knew why.

Chiron and Ares looked at each other, and Ares hesitated before saying,

"We're tracking him at the moment. He's on a plane headed for America. We don't know where yet, but I think it touches down in San Francisco."

Chiron sighed again before declaring,

"There needs to be a quest. Demigods need to go to San Francisco and find out where Heracles is, and why." Then he looked at Noah before continuing, "I think claiming Noah today was a sign from Apollo. Noah, I think you should go on this quest."

Noah was shocked. His first quest and it was a suicide mission. He had to track down a rogue god. What was he supposed to do when he found him? He couldn't fight him; he'd never be a match for Heracles. He'd heard the myths, and apparently they were true. He'd already killed a god, and beat Ares, the god of war. If the god of war couldn't beat him, what could he do?

He sighed, and tightened his grip on the Epirus bow. The Epirus bow, the thought sprang to his head and he started to nod slightly. The campers were shocked that Noah was so resolute – they were all terrified. Then one of them stepped forwards,

"I'll go," Connor Stoll declared, "I'll go with you, Noah." He smiled at this gesture of friendship, and nodded to Connor. Connor winked back at him, and steeled his expression, obviously battling the nerves wreaking havoc inside of him. He appreciated that; his friend was terrified but still prepared to go on a suicide mission with Noah. He suddenly respected Connor a lot more.

"Is there another? A quest usually has 3 members. Are there any among you brave enough to accompany them?" Chiron asked the assembled campers. Some of them shuffled, clearly uncomfortable and nowhere near ready enough to go with them. Some hung their heads, ashamed at their lack of bravery, but a few stood tall, and looked like they were about to answer, but then;

"I'll go." piped a voice from the back of the crowd. Everyone parted and the daughter of Poseidon stepped through, and stood next to Connor.

"Fay. Are you sure?" Chiron asked, and she replied with a firm nod. Noah smiled slightly at this, he'd seen what she could do first-hand. She looked over at him and he nodded, and she smiled back.

"There we have it then. Noah, Connor and Fay will go to San Francisco to find and track Heracles. I'd suggest going to Mount Tam, and pray to Zeus that he isn't headed there. Argus will get the van ready, and you can take that as your transport. Good luck, brave heroes." Chiron finished solemnly, and together with the rest of the campers, they made for the hill. Ares nodded at them, and disappeared in a burst of red flames, possibly going back to Olympus to inform Zeus of the quest.

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