Mara's POV:
I couldn't concentrate at all today in our classes, which is especially odd for a child of Athena. It's been 4 days since Mick and I heard the prophecy and we still haven't told anyone. It was driving me mad. I decided to talk to Chiron about it later, during free period.
The day seemed to drag on forever, but it was finally free period. I marched up to The Big House and was about to knock on the door, until I heard a voice in my head. "Not yet my dear, it's not the right time. Patience" I turned around but no one was there. In a blink of an eye I was in my cabin. I might as well listen to the voice in my head, or at least for another day.
Before we started our regular game of capture the flag Chiron made an announcement. "All senior counselors report to the big house after the game." I gave a sigh of relief, hoping it was about the prophecy then headed into the woods.
Nina's POV:
All the campers in camp half blood were against the Hunters of Artemis. At first you'd think that's unfair, since there are only 12 people, but then again they are stronger, faster and more accurate with their aim than an average half-blood. The hunters have won the last 56 game, not this time. I hope. We placed the flag right on top of Zeus' Fist. Fabian and I were guarding it, using our powers to stay hidden. So far there was no sight of the hunters or anyone really. The closest sword or knife clanging I could hear was probably across the creek. There was no action anywhere near by so I sat down and started writhing in the soil 'quaerenti (quest) and oraculum (oracle)'. Those two words kept circling my mind.
Finally, after 5 long minutes, we heard a branch crack. I stood back up and readied the temporary sword I borrowed from the armory. I saw a sliver of well, silver. "A hunter" Fabian and I said simultaneously, witch made me kind of blush. There was only one, it was Wendy? Why would they send a new recruit? Suddenly she was about to grab our flag until we went into full-on battle mode. There were arrows flying everywhere, my sword swinging in the air. Wendy wasn't that bad for a new recruit, some of her arrows were stuck in my armor and one ironically, scraped my heel. She was just about to grab our flag and win the game until we heard a horn signifying the end of the game. Accounting that we still had our flag, we probably won. Unknowingly, I flung my arms around Fabian and gave him a kiss on the cheek, kind of like when he replaced the security tape. I hadn't realized what I just did until Wendy said "Um, don't mean to interrupt anything, but I think we should get back now". I immediately let go and started blushing like crazy. As for Fabian, he just stood there dazed and paralyzed. Me and Wendy stifled laughed then snapped him out of it.
LATER DURING THE MEETING IN THE BIG HOUSE
Chiron was running late and all the senior counselors were going on with their business. Jason and Percy were making a miniature thunderstorm, including rain and lightning. Clarisse was sharpening her electric spear. Annabeth was going over more of her blue prints for Olympus and Thalia was helping her. Will was playing the lyre with Leo fiddling with paper clips and thread beside him. Piper was doodling on a note pad but stopped when she filled up the whole page. Travis was annoying Katie who was playing with the vines that ran around the room along with Pollux. Butch was playing thumb wrestling with himself out of utter boredom. Clovis was snoring away as usual with Patricia drawing on his face with a magic marker, literally magic. I just sat there tapping on the table with my fingers and waited for Chiron. He final came through the doors and the first thing he said was "Everybody settle down, we have a prophecy to discus."
When everybody settled down, which took a while for a bunch of dyslectic and ADHD kids, we started the meeting. "We have received a new prophecy." Chiron announced and as if on cue, Rachel walked in. "For 10 demigods they must leave soon. One is the Sun the other the Night's Moon. Two of the Dark, one of the Wise, but only the Sea and Lightning will hear the cries. Beauty and Blacksmiths will not agree and only a Hunter can set them free. You will think it is over but not for long. I say to my dear heroes, Stay Strong". "What is wrong with Olympus now?" Annabeth pointed out. "Well, that is the problem. There is none" he replied grimly. "Travis, where is Connor by the way?" he added in glaring at Travis. "D-doing um … h-homework" he stuttered. "Moving on, we must find out who the 10 demigods are." Chiron continued obviously not believing Travis' story. "Sea and Lightning are obvious, Percy and Jason. They're the strongest sons of Poseidon and Zeus, the gods of the sea and lightning/skies." Thalia answered. "Could be, Piper please write the names down." He ordered. Piper nodded and used the pack of her paper. "Two of the Dark could mean the only two kids in the Hades cabin. Hades does tend to hide in the shadows. Then one of the wise is a child of Athena" Patricia suggested. "Piper, please add Nina, Nico and Annabeth." Chiron said. "Beauty is a child of Aphrodite and Blacksmiths is Hephaestus. The Hunter is a Hunter of Artemis. So that makes it Piper, Leo and Thalia or those are the most likely people at least." Annabeth suggested. Chiron nodded and said "Piper –"but she had already written it down "I know. I know. I wrote it down already". "That just leaves the sun and moon. The sun is a child of Apollo, probably Will and moon is a hunter, Thalia" Katie tried. "But that only makes 9, genius." Travis teased. "Since when did you learn how to count?" She countered. There were a few "Ohh's" and "burn's" from the others and they started a fight between the two which Chiron had to break apart. "Wait, Rachel what was the exact line again?" I had a hunch. "Um, One is the Sun the other the Night's Moon" she recalled. "I knew it. It says 'night's moon', not just moon. Hecate is the goddess of the night and themoon as well as magic. So it could be Patricia or another child of Hecate" I announced. "Hmm, possibly. That would make it ten. Piper add Wi-"Chiron started. "I know already. I'm writ-"Piper interrupted only to get cut off herself by Will. "Maybe I'm not the best person to go. Fabian has pretty strong powers and somebody has to take care of the cabin and um … you know do other camp stuff." He said trying to get out of going on the quest. "Very well then. Piper-""I know! Sheesh!" she replied annoyed. Chiron dismissed us and left to report to Mr. D who all the candidates for the quest were.
After making our sacrifices and eating dinner we all went to bed. Tomorrow was Saturday and Nico said he would show me how to get to the Underworld and we would make me a proper weapon for me. I wasn't sure how to feel about this. Should I be happy since I might get to meet my dad, possibly my mom and get a new sword? The ones in the armory just didn't feel balanced. Should I be sad because what is there to be happy about in the Underworld, land of the DEAD for crying out loud? I might as well sleep on it. I hadn't noticed how tired I really was and drifted off to sleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.
TOMORROW
(Nina's POV still)
I woke up to the relentless beep of my alarm clock. I hit the snooze button 5 times before I finally got the energy to get up. After my shower I went out to get some breakfast in the dinning pavilion and woke Nico up on the way out. We all did the usual routine. Sacrifice then eat then do your own thing. I walked up to the Athena cabin and knocked on the door. Malcom opened the door and let me in. I wanted to speak to Anabeth since she had gone on the most quests than anybody else in camp. I was really nervous and needed advice. Connors words kept haunting me. "You might not come back". I know I shouldn't believe him but there was a part of me that felt I might not come back. I walked inside and sat next to Annabeth. She was working on her blueprints for Olympus again. "Um, Annabeth. I need advice." She turned to face me and replied. "Yeah. What about? Cause if you're going to ask me if I think Fabian likes you, Drew already asked me that" I felt a bit embarrassed but got enough courage to ask her "It's not about that. It's about the quest. Co- I mean what if somebody told me that quests are really dangerous and I might not come back. Should I believe that person? But I'm just being hypothetical of course". "First of all, I know Connor told you that didn't he? Don't believe him, he can be such a pest sometimes. You'll be perfectly fine … probably. Most come back fine. Plus were going to be 10 demigods, what's the worst that can happen? You know what don't think of the worst that can happen." She said trying to comfort me. It kind of made me feel a bit better, still nervous no doubt.
"Are you ready?" Nico asked. I nodded half heartedly. We started shadow travelling and I have to admit it was pretty cool except for the part when we got to the underworld.. "Shadow travelling … takes a …lot of energy. You … need at l-least 30 min- … minutes to recharge … before you can do it … a-again" Nico explained in between breaths. We were both gasping for air. Somehow, even with my exhaustion I was able to jump up a good 3 feet in the air at first sight of Cerberus. He looked a lot less vicious than the Cerberus you see in books and in Greek myths. Nico rolled him 3 red rubber balls, 1 for each heads I guess. We went into Persephone's garden. "Be careful Nico! I just planted those flowers!" she exclaimed. As soon as she noticed me she started to become less annoyed. "Finally! Hades has a daughter. You can help me later with my garden dear and oh Nico, Hades wanted to say something important to you" We smiled and nodded, although I could feel the tension between Nico and Persephone, then walked into the throne room. "Hey dad!" Nico said waving at um … our dad. "Hi … dad" I said awkwardly. He gave a small smile. "You look just like your mother" he complimented and all I could reply was "thanks". "Anyway, Nico please give Cerberus a walk. He's not the hellhound he used to be anymore. He's starting to have joint problems. Take your sister with you so she can do it next time" he continued. We said bye and walked back to Cerberus. "Great. Walking a 40 ton, pure bred Rottweiler is so much fun" I complained sarcastically. "Hey, don't knock it 'till you try it. It's kind of fun." We walked up to Cerberus who was playing with Mrs. O'Leary, Percy's dog. "You can walk Mrs. O'Leary since she at least went to obedience school" We both laughed and walked both dogs. "You were right, that was fun" I told Nico. After I went in Persephone's garden and helped her with the flowers she was planting. Nico showed me how to make my sword. It was ice cold to the touch, jet black and made out of Stygian Iron. It had 'miles umbra' (shadow knight) engraved in it. Since we still had 10 more minutes before we could shadow travel again Nico suggested that we have the skeleton warriors create me a room in case I wanted to stay here longer or hide here. "Sure" I replied and with a motion of my sword a bunch of skeletons came up from the ground and started construction. By the time we were ready to leave they were almost done. I wished we had stayed there longer because when we came back to camp there was nothing but bad news.