Chapter 9: Percy

Author's note: I know I left you on a serious cliff hanger, but you'll have to live through it another chapter... SORRY! (Muahahahahah... sorry...)

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I woke up, just like almost every morning, from a nightmare. I was on the streets of New York, when a small dog ran across my path. It was really cute. It was all furry and fuzzy, but I couldn't really distinguish the breed. Must be a mutt I told myself looking at the pup. Suddenly, the dog ran across the busy street, and I ran out, going to save it, and right as a car was just about to run the pup over... It turned into a rat.

Then, I suddenly smelled gas, then had to run before I heard an explosion behind me. I felt a burning sensation on my leg, but that dream didn't matter. That would never happen.

I sit up, pushing the covers aside, and sitting up on the bed. I took a look around. My Minotaur horn hung on the wall where its always been, same with the coral, and seeing fountain. I stood up, ready to seize the day.

I pulled some new clothes on, remembering last night. The new girl, Kora, looked nothing like her street self after Piper and Annabeth cleaned her up a bit. She looks familiar, but...

I couldn't seem to shake the thought. What if?

I guess I can go with Annabeth to train her with the basics for tonight's game. I take a look at my schedule, and head to breakfast. On the way there, I stop to look at the scenery around me. Since I basically live here, I don't always see the beautiful things around me. Like the dew on the vines that grow up the side of the Demeter cabin, or the nice glow that seems to radiate off of the Apollo cabin. Hestia is sitting at the hearth, in the form of a little girl. I remember my encounter with her when I was shadow traveling with Nico that one time. I decide to stop by and speak with her, because she herself had said that I hadn't visited her on the first, second, or any of the other days of camp, so so might as well do it now.

I walked over to the girl in the white dress. "Hello Hestia," I said from behind her.

She slowly turned around. "Son of Poseidon, why are you speaking to me when you are deprived of breakfast?"

Ouch.

"Um, I wanted to talk to you," Hestia nodded as if she were expecting this," Uh, about, um-"

"The new girl? Koralee is her name? Ahh yes, I know about her," She held up her hand, which had a ball of fire in her hand.

There was a small figure in the flames, a girl, running from a burning cabin into the cold. How fire could show that it was cold, I have no idea. The girl stared at the burning house until it was just smoking ash. She headed back inside the carnage, and it seemed as if she found something. She fell to the ground on her knees, ash-snow falling from the sky, and she prayed. I could tell she was praying because her hands were folded, and I could tell she was saying special words. They weren't in English, and I couldn't understand them.

"That must be Kora, but what happened?" I asked, confused.

"Keep watching."

I leaned back in to the flaming ball. This scene, it showed the same girl, older now, but just the same height, and looked like she was starving. She was running from something behind her. All around her, the fire showed trees and bushes, leaves on the ground, and the girl's hair flowing behind her. Suddenly, a large figure burst from a thicket behind her. Several figures. I immediately knew they were monsters, and wondered how this kid was going to fend them off on her own without help. The girl glanced behind her for a split second, saw the monsters gaining, and added a burst of speed, really fast like a Hermes kid.

Then, at the edge of the fiery image, I saw a second young girl. I immediately recognized her as the nine-year-old Hestia. Hestia encouraged Kora, then led her into a cave, where the monsters, which I could see clearly as cyclopes now, the more barbarian-like versions of my half-brother,Tyson, stopped in their tracks when they couldn't see Kora anymore. They searched for a while, but couldn't find the hidden cave. They left with what looked like disappointment on their faces.

That was when Hestia closed her palm, extinguishing the flame. "Huh." I said.

Then, from the bathrooms, I heard, "Percy!"