Sorry for taking so long to update. I just wasn't sure if this was the way I wanted Falling Star to go. But it's perfect :)

Disclaimer: Percy Jackson and the Olympians ISN'T mine. But I wish it was.

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I didn't like the way they were eyeing me. Percy had a serious look in his green eyes, and Thalia was busy looking at my arms and legs like she was planning what to amputate first. Nico's eyes were unsure, looking up and around the tent, but never directly at me. Rachel was the only one who met my eyes, but what I saw there didn't reassure me. She was frozen in guilt, leaning back against the center pole like she blamed herself. And she was looking at me in pity.

I refused to look frightened. I glared fiercely at Thalia, tucking my legs up under me as I sat down on Nico's sleeping bag. Aryryn hummed, and I suddenly realized what this was about. They wanted to know about the prophecy. The one they hoped would help find Aryryn, the one the Oracle had recounted to me just yesterday. The one that they had no business sticking their noses into.

Well, I wasn't gonna give in without a fight.

Percy cleared his throat. I rested my eyes on him first, and as I studied the green eyes I knew who he reminded me of. Poseidon, his father.

That meant Thalia was Zeus's daughter. Oops.

"The Oracle told you a prophecy the other day. We need to hear it. Do you remember it?" Percy asked.

I looked at him, almost reluctant to answer. But it was what they wanted to hear. "Yes."

"Will you tell us?"

My gaze flitted around the room, landing on each person. I took a deep breath.

"The prophecy is not for your ears, demigod." An ancient voice interrupted me. I turned my head toward Rachel, astonished to see the Oracle's black eyes looking back at me. "It is only for whom it concerns."

"Are you actually saying Ryley is involved?" Thalia broke in.

"Believe it or not, prophecies have included mortals before, child. Adriane was an excellent example." The Oracle murmured. She winked secretively at me. She was actually going along with me!

"So if you're not going to tell us, then I guess we'll get it from Ryley, won't we?" Thalia turned to look at me. Everyone followed her gaze.

"I'll give you one chance. What is the prophecy?"

The Oracle was looking through me, her lips moving quickly. I couldn't hear the words through the pounding in my head.

"I won't tell you. You can't just stick your nose in other people's business. The prophecy isn't yours." I replied, surprised to find that my head was clear, that my voice was strong. "And no amount of torture will make me say it."

"Is that so?" Thalia said, and I was disgusted to hear the excitement in her voice. I looked over at Percy, but I knew the prophecy was too important for him to have any qualms with Thalia hurting me now. It looked like I was gonna have to stick this one out on my own.

Thalia stepped toward me, and I distinctly heard the Oracle hiss angrily.

"You will pay for this, daughter of Zeus." she said under her breath, and then Rachel woke up. The Oracle had left me to fend for myself with only a wimpy curse for back up. Great.

I could see the electricity gathering around Thalia's finger.

My body relaxed as I sank into a crouch and grasped Aryryn's handle. Rachel was still sleepy, mumbling to herself under her breath. I was glad she wasn't awake enough to see this.

Suddenly someone brushed past me to stand in front of Thalia, blocking my view of her. But she looked angry.

"Nico," Percy gritted his teeth. "What are you doing?"

"This I wannna hear," Thalia growled. I couldn't see her around Nico, but she sounded murderous.

Why would he risk all that to save my neck? Did he know who I really was? I winced at the thought. But I remembered that long look we had shared in the forest. He knew something about me, but it wasn't that.

"I don't have to explain myself to you." Nico snarled right back. There was a creak behind me, and I turned to look. To my surprise, Rachel stepped past me to stand next to Nico, her eyes glaring at the other two demigods.

"Leave Ryley alone. Percy, what happened to you? I thought you protected mortals, but I guess I was wrong." Rachel said, her voice bordering between venomous and icy.

"That prophecy is worth too much! It's either her life or millions of lives!" Percy snapped, and I winced.

If only I could tell them.

Why couldn't I?

"I won't tell you the prophecy," I said slowly, "but I will tell you that it doesn't reference to Aryryn." I shifted on the sleeping bag uncomfortably.

"And what would you know about that?" Thalia said scathingly. Nico turned to look at me, his eyes unreadable.

"Because," I took a deep breath, "I know where it is." Slowly I raised my hand to my back and lifted the sheath's strap off my shoulder. I willed it to reveal itself, and Aryryn faded back into existence, shimmering and glowing. It cast a light of its own, the light dancing around my head.

"That's Aryryn?" Rachel gasped. "It's beautiful!"

She was the only one who looked pleased. Nico's gaze was burning into me so hard that I almost felt like melting. Thalia looked utterly broken, like she didn't understand how she could have been so wrong about me.

Percy I hated the most. He had his hand out, like he was expecting me to give up Aryryn. I glared at him, grasping Aryryn tightly in my hand and holding it close to my heart.

"Give it to me."

"Yeah right."

"You lied to us. This is OUR quest, so Aryryn is OURS." Percy was very close to shouting, and I didn't think he was that far from using his demigod powers on me.

"You don't choose it! It chooses you!" I found myself yelling. "And it chose me! Not some snotty demigod. Me."

"That's impossible…" His eyes were widening, his mouth dropping open to show perfect teeth.

"Aryryn is special," I whispered softly. "It chose me long ago, long before any of you were born. It chose me over the Lord of Time. And once he kills me, he'll take it back and it'll be the end of the world."

"Rylin, no," Rachel whimpered. "Don't."

"Rylin?" Percy said. "You're her." His voice cracked.

"I was born Rylin Becker, and over the years my name hasn't changed much. How do you know who I am?"

"I knew it," Nico murmured, his voice dead quiet. "I saw it in you that day in the forest. You're a demigod." I met his accusing gaze gently, and some feeling stirred in my heart. I forced it down, because I wasn't familiar with it.

"Yes. I'm sorry, Nico. But I couldn't tell anyone. As soon as Kronos knows, he'll come after me." I stood up. I had to leave NOW. "I can't drag you guys into this with me. It's too dangerous."

I also had to ensure that the world would survive after I died. There was only one way to do that, and as much as I hated the idea, it was something that had to be done.

I had to go into the Underworld.

I took a few steps outside, and felt rain soak into my hair. I looked up at the sky, fogged up by clouds streaking their way across the expanse.

"Wait," someone said behind me.

I spun around and saw everyone looking at me, Percy in front.

"We saw your file. But it never said who your parents were." he said, his eyes locked on mine.

"My father was Pan," I breathed. The rain fell harder, spattering all over me, hiding my tears. "Lord of the Wilderness." The water streaked down my face as I turned away, trudging through the mud.

Toward Los Angeles. Toward Hades.

To the Underworld.

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Apologies to you, ausumist. I know you wanted to see Ryley beat the crap out of Thalia. I do too, and it might happen later... *mysterious smile*

Anyways, why don't you click that lovely button down there and REVIEW?