Two long hours of tracking later, we finally saw a baby jaguar. "It's so cute!" I whispered, but Atlanta clamped her hand over my mouth. The mother jaguar was standing over her child. She had normal eyes. The child didn't. I sighed. I glanced over at Klaus, who was making hand signs. The other girls moved into position. Three… Two… One… There was a shout, followed by another. The jaguar mother snapped her head around so she was facing away from me. The baby stopped playing and dove between the mother's legs. The mother sprung to attack, and I swooped in and grabbed the child without her knowing. It didn't take long for her to notice, though, because the child in my arms was making the loudest, most miserable screams I have ever heard.
"You were amazing out there," Said Atlanta as we settled into the dinner table after I had thoroughly washed my hands.
"Thanks!" I said genuinely. I really liked it here.
"Tomorrow you will just do normal martial arts training." She said.
"And what of the next day?" I asked. She became stiff. "Oh, right…" I said. I looked for a way to change the subject. "Do you know where Orion is? I haven't seen him since we've gotten here!"
"Oh, him. You man-friend is fine. I had to do a lot of convincing to let him live, though. Men aren't very well-liked here." She explained.
"So where is he?"
"He's in the dungeon."
"The dungeon?! You put him in the dungeon? Why? He never did anything!" I exclaimed.
"He is a man, Zenia. Men belong in the dungeon." She said.
"That's the most sexist thing I ever heard." I said. Atlanta laughed.
"You'll come to your senses. Anyway, you are going to have a huge day tomorrow, so you should get some rest. Do you want me to come with you?" She asked.
"No, I'm good. Good night!" I said. She wished me good night and Philana and I walked back to our room.
"How could they keep him in a dungeon?" I asked.
These people aren't very accepting of men. You're lucky they let him live. She explained.
"That's disgusting!"
It's life.
I sighed. "I'm so glad I'm not immortal."
Philana shifted uneasily. Why's that?
"I don't want to be like an Amazon: always searching for love that will just die after a few years." I felt sad for Atlanta.
Philana paused. I think you need to get to sleep.
I couldn't really resist. I was really tired after the day of hunting. As soon as my eyes were closed I was out.
I woke up late the next morning. I guessed it was around ten in the morning. I yawned and stretched to find that I had a beautiful, bug-free breakfast laid out for me. I ate it all hungrily.
You were hungry. Philana commented.
"Today's a big day." I replied. The day I would risk my life to save the world.
Well, you had better go see Klaus and Atlanta. They want a private audience with you and me. She said. She led me outside to a secluded hut in the forest.
"Come in," Said Klaus, "We have been expecting you." It reminded me of when I first came to Camp Half-Blood. I forced a smile, and Atlanta gave me a sympathetic look.
"We have reviewed the material and found some good news," Atlanta said, "You will be able to take something in with you."
"What? What can I take?" I pressed.
"You can take any gift from your mother, and that's all. Did your mother give you any gifts?" Klaus asked.
"Yes! She did! She gave me this charm bracelet and this ring. The bracelet turns into a pair of knives, and the ring… Well, I don't know what the ring does, but Hestia gave it to me all the same." I said, excited.
Klaus and Atlanta started whispering to each other. After some time, Atlanta looked at me.
"You will take your ring with you into the lair of the fox." She stated flatly.
"What? It doesn't do anything! Why?" I asked.
"You don't know what it does. It could do a lot." Klaus said.
"Yeah, but it could do absolutely nothing." I said.
"Hestia will not let you down. You will take your ring." Klaus said sternly.
"But…" I started, but Klaus cut me off.
"It also says no weapons, which means no bracelet." She said. I huffed, but was secretly thankful that at least I got to take some piece of home with me.
I spent the rest of the day sitting with Atlanta and Philana and writing a very long letter to my family. Atlanta promised that, should I not return, she would ensure it makes it to my parents. I also made her swear to take Orion back to Camp Half Blood. I could tell that she was trying not to break down in front of me. Daphne came after a few hours to warn us of dinner.
"You go to dinner. I have to go get something done." Atlanta stated. I was about to ask what, but she had already scurried out.
I ate dinner in silence. Afterwards, I was stripped of my clothes and decorated fully in war paint. I gave my bracelet to Daphne for safekeeping. "If I don't make it back, give those to my real mother." I instructed. She nodded.
We took an hour-long hike to the river, where everyone formed a line on the banks. I stood next to Klaus, but Atlanta was nowhere to be seen. Daphne put her hand on my shoulder. "Good luck, kid." She said. Then everyone raised their hands to the water and began chanting in a low, even tone. The ground trembled and the river started to ripple. The ripples turned into waves, and there was soon a whirlpool. It grew larger and larger until the hole in the middle was large enough to swallow a person. A path of dry land erupted from the river, leading into the hole. I stepped on it to find it sturdy, and then took another step. The water didn't seem to disturb my war paint. I kept walking slowly until I reached the hole. I looked into the darkness, closed my eyes, and jumped.