I'm beginning to hate prophecies

The good thing about going back to camp: no more freaky mummy like oracle to rasp out the lines of prophecies. The bad aspect: my date with Annabeth is cancelled. Ah well, I guess we had to expect that. But camp was the same as usual, with the usual greeting from Mr D, which was something like: "Perry Johansson, still alive?", a very warm greeting from Chiron and a hug from Rachel (Annabeth wasn't too happy about this). Camp seemed livelier than usual and basically, I loved it… except I had to act annoyed in front of Annabeth because of our interrupted date. Anyway, Tyson came back too, nearly crushing me to death. I was happy to see my baby brother, and there seemed to be way more campers than the last time I visited. Heaps of people were lining up, waiting for the previous group to finish with the climbing wall, the mess hall was bursting with demigods, the armoury was louder than usual, satyrs chased dryads, the cabin building was completed and I felt like I'd just stepped into a small Greek town. There were definitely a lot more than three hundred half bloods. I felt good, I felt proud. This was where I belonged and that wannabe evil genius Kronos was somewhere far, far away. I breathed in the sweet scent of strawberry.

"You look like you're enjoying yourself already," said Annabeth, snorting.

"Well, it is camp," I replied simply.

"Yeah… I guess it's good to be back," she said grudgingly and looked at me.

I blushed. Okay, I thought I'd left behind the annoying blushing thing. Did she have to have this affect on me? It was kinda getting irritating.

I grunted something really intelligible like: "Ughn."

We continued towards the Big House where Chiron was waiting for us. He trotted forward and placed a hand on my shoulder. He shook my hand.

"My, Percy! You have grown quite a bit!" And with a sort of mischievous smile he added, "And taller than Annabeth, I see."

"Yeah, finally," I said, grinning.

Annabeth smiled. "And it took him five years."

"Hey! Give my bones some credit," I said indignantly.

"Whatever, you're still the same Seaweed Brain."

Chiron cleared his throat. "Anyway, I called you two because there have been some disturbing reports from the satyrs. Come in and I will explain."

We followed him in and sat on the proffered chairs.

Chiron regarded us gravely. "Now, after the death of Pan, there have been a number of serious reports that we can longer ignore. We believed that all of the Wild places were gone. However…"

Annabeth and I waited expectantly.

"… there have been sightings of creatures and visions of the Wild."

Next to me, Annabeth sucked in her breath. I was surprised too, but, as usual, Annabeth seemed to grasp something I didn't.

"Now, as I understand," continued Chiron. "You, Annabeth, Grover, Tyson and Miss Dare all witnessed the death of Pan and received his blessing. He passed on the remainder of his spirit to you so you would spread the word. Apart from these reports of the Wild, there have been even more disturbing reports about various places around the world becoming desolate and barren: crops have begun to fail without explanation, tremors occur in the earth and the permafrost is slowly beginning to weaken. The mortals understand this to be the result of 'Global Warming', but we know better. The last Wild place is fading. I think… it is time… for a prophecy."

"Uh…" I began, and Annabeth and Chiron both looked at me. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but, isn't it supposed to fade? If, like, Pan's gone and everything, shouldn't it be natural?"

Annabeth and Chiron exchanged looks. I hate it when they do that.

"Percy, you're right, but since we carry on the spirit of Pan, it shouldn't be fading yet. It's supposed to fade and disappear completely when all hope is lost," Annabeth explained.

"Then doesn't that mean that all hope is lost?" I asked stupidly.

Annabeth didn't even bother to roll her eyes. She looked dead serious. Uh-oh.

"No, there still is. Which means that something has gone wrong."

"Well, duh."

"Just listen Percy. If my theory's correct, something or someone… has stolen the very core of the last Wild place."

Chiron nodded. "Annabeth may be right. I fear it may even be something more." He glanced at Annabeth. She looked troubled.

"What is it?" I asked.

"There might be followers of Kronos involved."

"Not again," I groaned.

"Whatever it is, I doubt very much that it is good. Now let us go get that prophecy from Miss Dare," said Chiron, sighing.

The three of us exited, walking past the volleyball courts and arts and crafts building. We came to the amphitheatre where everyone, all the demigods, had already gathered. Rachel came too. The demigods were all talking in hushed voices, excited about the gathering and wondering what the matter was. Some pointed to me.

"Hey, isn't that the dude who gave Luke the knife in the big war?"

"Yeah, I heard he owned that Hyper- what's- his- face."

"Hyperion."

"Yeah, him."

I tried not to feel too good about this, so I focused my attention on Rachel. Chiron raised a hand and everyone fell silent. A huge fart sounded. Several people giggled.

I sighed. The Stoll brothers again.

"Silence!" Chiron boomed. Woa, the guy could be pretty charismatic when he wanted to.

To Rachel, he nodded. "Oracle, what quest must the heroes embark on this time?"

For a while, nothing happened. Then a shudder racked her frame. Her head lolled on her shoulder and green mist quickly spread through the amphitheatre.

I guessed it was going to be a serious prophecy.

"Five will set out to seek the nest

Two will continue to find the rest

The artist's wife shall aid and rise

The Wanderer's knife in paradise."

Rachel stumbled and Annabeth caught her before she tripped.

A murmur ran through the crowd.

"The nest? What nest?" Someone said.

"Who's the artist?" said Jake Mason.

"And who the heck's the Wanderer?"

Chiron held up his hand again. "We have received a new prophecy!"

"Who will go?"

There was a scramble as everyone started coming down, saying, "I want to go!"

Poor Chiron looked overwhelmed as people mobbed us.

"Hey!" I yelled. Silence followed. Everyone stared at me.

I gulped. I was never any good at public speaking. "Uh… just calm down everyone. The right people will be chosen for this quest and it's up to fate. It has already been decided. So… will everyone just please return to their seats? Thank you."

Amazingly, the demigods did what I told them to.

Chiron nodded at me. "Thank you Percy. Now," he said turning to Rachel again.

"Will you choose the heroes?"

"Me?" asked Rachel, taken aback. "Uh… okay then."

She scanned the crowd. Then her gaze focused on a young half blood with curly black hair and blue eyes.

Rachel pointed at him.

Then she pointed at another: a petite girl with brown hair and grey eyes. A daughter of Athena.

I frowned. The girl looked pretty thin and weak (I mean, no offence to her but it's the truth), and the boy seemed a bit on the timid side. I was having doubts about this quest.

Rachel pointed at me, Annabeth and Tyson.

"Sorry G- Man," I whispered to grover.

He shrugged. "Well, it's time I got used to being a regular camper."

"The only thing I'm happy about is that the prophecy doesn't mention any deaths," I muttered to Annabeth.

She nodded, but seemed a bit zoned out. I waved my hand in front of her face.

"Annabeth?"

Annabeth suddenly turned to me. "We need Mr D."

She might as well have said I need to step on Pegasus poo.

"Huh? What for?"

As if he knew we were talking about him, Mr D looked up from his newspaper. For once he looked grave. Then, noticing that I was watching him, he resumed his old bored expression. If Mr D was interested in this quest, it didn't bode well for our quest.