Hello! EOM here with the fourth chapter for your reading pleasure. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own PJO.

Chapter 4:

A crowd of maybe two hundred kids, counting myself and Holly, stood before the porch of a large, sky-blue farmhouse. On the porch itself sat three men: A kindly old man in a wheelchair, an apathetic alcoholic, and a guy who was, for some reason, chasing a doughnut across a paper plate with his hand.

"If everyone would kindly listen, please!" The man in the wheelchair raised his hands and any chattering quickly died down. "I have an important announcement to make. Thalia's Tree...Has been poisoned." The chattering quickly turned into a roaring as the kids clamored with questions and other comments. Wheelchair Guy cleared his throat again. "As of yet, we have been unable to identify the poison. But Mr D has managed to choose a suspect. Myself." The roaring turned to outrage as the apathetic guy propped his head on his hand and glared at us all. His eyes rested on me for a moment before his glare continued on its merry way. "Since we cannot find a cure without finding a poison, I will use my time in suspension from camp to ask my brethren to help us." He nodded to himself before bracing his arms on the armrests of his chair and pushing up. Slowly, he rose and what looked like legs became the body of a white stallion, with Wheelchair Guy's torso where the head would normally be.

"That's Chiron." Holly whispered in my ear and I nodded, awestruck.

"Well," Mr D stood and rolled his eyes as Guy #3 also stood, maneuvering his paper plate to try and catch his fleeing doughnut. (Not to mention his dignity.) "Now that Chiron's dramatic little monologue is over, we shall all return to our various camp activities. And, unfortunately, I'l see you little snot-nosed brats at dinner." The crowd proceeded to melt away. Holly and I were also about to leave when Mr D's voice rang out once again. "Harvey! Come here! And bring your little friend with you."

"Who is he talking to?" Holly sighed and scrubbed a hand down her face.

"Us. Come on, we don't want to make Mr D mad." We walked up to the porch where Mr D and Dude Numero Tres sat, considering Chiron had walked (Or was it trotted?) back into the house. "Yes, My Lord?" She curtsied and I wondered if I had to do the same.

"What's your name, brat?" He asked me and I crossed my arms defensively, feeling like this guy was more interested in me than he normally would be.

"Sarah Jones, sir."

"I like that 'sir' stuff." Guy #3 appeared behind Holly and I suddenly and I had to hammer down the urge to dropkick him. "Keep that up and you're the first snot-nosed kid here I might actually like."

"The 'sir' was for Mr. D." Guy #3 frowns.

"Fine, then." He turned and I could practically hear his pout. "I guess I'm just to be ignored forever, then?"

"That's currently my plan, yes." I snapped at him and listened to the sounds of Holly struggling to muffle her giggles.

Ïf you two children are done, we have important matters to attend to." Mr. D glared at both of us and Guy #3 sat back down mutely while I went to stand next to Holly. "There are currently a group of demigods setting out on a quest to find the Golden Fleece. It has been assigned to a daughter of Ares named Clarisse. But there is another prophecy." He snapped his fingers and a satyr (I recognized the goat legs from my Naiad teachers.) ran up, placing a roll of parchment in Mr. D's hand before hurrying off again. Mr. D cleared his throat and unrolled the parchment before reading:

"To defeat the terrible bearer of dreams,

And understand those who are not as they seem,

You cannot sleep for two days and nights,

Unless you wish to bring about your plight."

Mr. D rolled the parchment up and tossed it over his shoulder, where it dissolved into a bunch of grapevine leaves. "Well?"

"So...That didn't give us any directions to where the guy is. And bearer of dreams? Little creepy." I held my thumb and forefinger close together to show how creepy I thought it was, which was actually a fair amount, considering prophecies probably aren't supposed top be creepy at all. Mr. D looked unimpressed and leaned his head on his hand.

"You two get out of my sight. I'll let you sleep tonight before sending you on your merry way tomorrow." He waved his hand and Holly curtsied again, which I took as my cue to leave.

"So..." I eyed the group of cabins with my hands laced behind my head before my gaze shifted to the forest, which seemed more welcoming, if we're being honest here. "Wanna pitch a pup tent and sleep in the forest?" Holly sighed, sounding relieved.

"You are officially my new favorite person."

"Well, I am pretty awesome." We both laughed, while I silently wondered what this 'quest' would bring.

Another chapter done! I am sorry that this took so long, but homework interfered with my writing time and I was just tired. Plus, the prophecy writing bit was hard. I don't see how Rick Riordan does it.

Anyway! Please, remember to do the three R's: Read this chapter, Review this chapter, and Repeat the process with the next one!

Signing off, as always,

EOM