Again, I've got to make this fast... I'll respond to reviews and explain in the next chapter, okay?
We had won the game of capture-the-flag, finally beating the huntresses for the first time in millennia. Now we were around the campfire, enjoying the warm night with friends. I was roasting a marshmallow, watching as Leo feeds the flames with the strange fire from his hands.
But then I noticed something. Despair, sadness, worry and fear, mingling in the air.
"Chiron!" Annabeth shouts, her voice trembling almost as much as her arms.
Percy runs to her, taking the red-headed oracle from her arms and laying the girl gently on the ground. He then returns to Annabeths side, holding her from behind and planting small kisses in her hair to calm her. But the look of worry does not leave her face, nor does the fear leave her eyes. I watch as she slips him a small piece of paper. It looks old and frail, as if it were created eons ago.
He takes the page from her trembling hands. His eyes scan the page quickly, widening as they continue to read.
I could tell instantly that something was wrong.
He whispers something in her ear as tears begin to form in her eyes. He lets go of her, plants a soft kiss on her lips and watches as she races to her cabin, the tears floating freely down her face.
I turn to Nico, Malcolm and the others beside me. The question in my eyes is visible in all of theirs as well.
What's happening?
I feel a hand reach mine, and I grasp it. Nico's long, pale fingers clasp mine, keeping me sane for at least a few moments.
I whisper a soft "thanks" to my brother and receive a soft nod in return. I suppose he's seen this happen before, as he seems completely unscathed by the strange occurrences. But, of course, being new, I have absolutely no idea what happening.
I watch as Percy walks up to Chiron, handing the old centaur the worn parchment. Chiron takes it delicately, pulls his glasses onto his face and reads it silently to himself. I watch his eyes widen, just as Percy's did, as he finishes off the page.
He clears his throat and then addresses the audience.
"Campers, I need all the cabin councillors and vice-councillors to please come in for an important meeting at the Big House," he says formally. I can tell that he's trying to keep his voice steady, trying to stay calm for the rest of us. But I can tell he's worried. "The rest of you, off to bed. We've got another day of activities tomorrow morning."
I follow Nico, Percy, Malcolm, Will, Alisa and the rest of the campers as they head off to the Big House, my hands trembling, wondering if this had anything to do with what Nico had mentioned earlier.