Finally a chapter on time :P but here it is, the quest is finally starting up! Thank you for all of those reviews, keep it up!
Chase Keldheart
The hunters and the demigods made for a strange group in the diner. It was late at night, and there was only a few other people sitting down.
"Thank you for taking care of the Aloadae. You think they would learn their lesson from the first time, but they were not known for their intelligence," Kalliope said with a small smile.
"Why couldn't Artemis defeat them herself?" Chase asked.
Kalliope sent him a death glare, and another hunter responded. She had curled honey blonde hair and silver eyes, looking around 15 years old which would make her second in age only to Kalliope. She had soft features, and Chase would have never guessed she would have chosen to be a hunter. "Lady Artemis is busy dealing with other problems; she doesn't have the power to deal with everything that comes her way." She said, a little kinder than Kalliope. Chase caught himself staring at her, but when she looked his way he quickly averted his eyes.
"Thank you Bryanna," Kalliope said approvingly. "We will only take three of you to see Lady Artemis though."
Chase turned to see what Will would say. Clearing his throat their leader started to talk, "I will send Cleo, Tara, and Chase," he seemed confident in his choice.
Chase was shocked at his name being chosen. "Wait what? Uh… why me?" He asked confused. It made sense to choose the two girls, with it being Artemis and all.
"This can be you chance to prove yourself," William whispered back. Chase nodded; a surge of pride went through him. He was chosen for this important mission.
Kalliope was obviously mad at the choice of a boy but honored Will's decision.
"You three shall come with Bryanna, Elise, and myself; the rest shall wait with the remaining by huntresses. We won't be gone long," she said standing up along with Bryanna, and a giant girl who had the physique of a wrestler. Chase, Cleo, and Tara followed them out of the diner.
"So where are we going?" Chase asked, being ignored by Elise and Kalliope. Bryanna gave Chase a sympathetic smile, showing perfect teeth, and making her look even prettier.
Chase mumbled to himself about the huntresses, and ended up walking in the back by himself. Tara was talking to Kalliope, and Cleo to Bryanna. He was able to hear Cleo and Bryanna's conversation.
"You just joined? Pardon my asking, but why?" Cleo asked Bryanna genuinely confused.
"I had no godly parents, but my grandmother was Venus so I always had godly ties, but I felt powerless when the titans attacked Camp Jupiter. Even though the camp stood, I knew I would be a better help here..." Bryanna explained.
"I bet Venus didn't like that," Cleo said with a smile.
Bryanna laughed, and Chase noted how it sounded like tinkling bells, but it seemed a little forced at the same time like she was hiding something... "No, she tried so hard to talk me out of it."
Chase zoned out, and they walked for a little longer until they got to a small store made from wooden beams. Its name was in gold on the top saying, "Golden Stag Hunting Store," next to a picture of a golden deer.
A dozen huntresses guarded the entrance, and Chase recognized one. She was one of the most famous huntresses ever, the one and only Thalia Grace.
"Hey guys, how's the camp?" she asked with a worried look, as if she knew the answer.
"They attacked and their army was too powerful, we have a new settlement in New Jersey though," Tara explained grimly.
Thalia nodded, "well, let's go see Artemis," she said holding the door open. Chase was shocked to see all sorts of Gods and Goddesses in the store. Artemis and Apollo were both the easiest to recognize, since the others appeared to be minor gods.
"Apollo and Artemis were assigned in watching over the minor gods. Zeus realized how important they were to the victory," Thalia explained.
Apollo turned to the group that walked in and put on a warm smile, "wassup guys, welcome to the party," he said.
Artemis on the other hand, didn't greet with as warm a welcome. She had actually been arguing with who looked like Hecate. The goddess said a few more harsh words before turning to Chase and the others.
"Hello," she greeted, with an uncharacteristic seriousness to her 14 year-old appearance. Artemis looked around the busy room before turning to the rest again, "why don't we go to the other room to talk," Artemis said, walking through a door.
Chase, Tara, and Cleo followed her in and sat down in three small wooden chairs. It looked like a generic office, except instead of the usual black leather rolling chair there was a giant silver throne and two hulking hunting dogs growling in the corner. It seemed as though they were only looking at Chase, making him even more uncomfortable.
Artemis strode to the throne and sat down. "You are here for the weapon right?" Artemis asked, she obviously already knew the answer.
"Yes ma'am," Cleo responded awkwardly. He wasn't quite sure how to talk to his intimidating goddess either.
"I'm not one much for the dramatic flair of riddles like my brother, so I will just tell you. It is in the center of the Boreal Forests of Canada, guarded by the mother of all monsters," she said, with a look of sympathy to the demigods.
"The mother of all monsters is that like Gaea, not wait, Echidna," Chase said, thinking out loud.
Artemis glared at Chase, "yes, echidna is a nuisance that I have been unable to get rid of, so instead she was locked up to guard the weapon of power."
"I hope I'm not pushing it, but why are there so many gods here?" Tara inquired. She was obviously a much better candidate in talking to divine beings, since she looked as confident as ever.
"As you know Morpheus, Hypnos, and Nemesis are all gone, their essence scattered so thin they can never come back, and now Iris has disappeared. Zeus has assigned me and my brother to help the rest of the minor gods, they are the foundation of Olympus," Artemis explained.
Bryanna peeked into the room, "excuse me, but they must be going," she said timidly.
Artemis nodded, "of course. I wish you all the best of luck."
"Thank you," Cleo said with a small smile.
"Wait, Cleo, I would like to talk to you," Artemis said right before she walked out. Cleo nodded shocked and stayed behind as Chase and Tara followed Bryanna out of the building.
Once they were outside Bryanna turned to them, "here, use this whenever you need the help of the huntresses," Bryanna said with a smile, holding out a thin silver whistle to Chase.
"Oh, uh thanks," Chase said a little flustered as he took the whistle from Bryanna.
"Bye and good luck. Kalliope will take you all back," Bryanna said with a warm smile before walking back into the building, and Cleo walked out, looking down shyly.
"Okay, let's go," Kalliope said bored, slinging her bow over her shoulder.
They walked back to the diner in silence, which isn't unusual for Cleo and Tara. Chase wasn't really sure why they didn't like each other, but he wasn't the one to know all the gossip at camp.
Walking into the diner almost everyone was asleep, save for the huntresses, and Will and Alec who were talking to each other. He had almost forgotten it was 1 a.m.
"Goodbye," Kalliope said before her and the rest of the huntresses walked out.
Will waved bye and yawned, "Okay guys, so where to?" he asked.
"Ottawa, Canada," Tara said, her eyelids obviously getting heavy.
"Let's go get a place to stay, I don't think they want us sleeping on the tables," Chase said with a grin.
Zia Reed
"Another crate of nectar is missing," Anissa groaned, looking over the checklist in her hand.
"How much does that make now?" Zia asked, as if she didn't already know the answer.
"Two boxes of nectar, and three of ambrosia. Luckily we still have enough for a year, but if it keeps dwindling like this we may be in trouble," Anissa said.
"Would you mind doing a quick double check of the supplies? I have to go meet Chiron and Quinn," Zia said, halfway out of the door.
"Sure thing," Anissa said, turning to look through the boxes.
Zia walked out of the supplies building. It was made from wooden logs, like everything in the new camp, and it was made in less than a day. Thanks to the Hephaestus and Athena cabin in less than a week 20 cabins, a dining pavilion, kitchen, armory, training arena, and war room were made. It even made Zia a little more sympathetic for their cause in all the effort they put into this.
After the ten left on the quest Chiron didn't even notice Keira's real lineage, her mist manipulation probably helped a lot, and Quinn had become more hostile to Zia, Nick, and Keira. She could imagine why though. He knew of all of them, and yet he didn't say anything in the fear that his parentage would be revealed in the process.
Zia walked into the War Room. Its interior had a long oak table with enough chairs to seat 25, and it was barren other than that except for a few maps on the wall and a vending machine in the corner. Inside was Quinn, Chiron, and Riley, her hair now a teal blue.
"What has happened?" Zia asked formally, noticing concentration on everyone's faces.
"Riley has seemed to have spoken the rest of the prophecy," Chiron informed slightly exasperatedly.
Zia raised an eyebrow, "the rest? How are we going to tell the group? We've tried Iris messaging but it didn't work."
"Quinn is fully healed and has volunteered to go tell them in person. Right now this is our best and only choice right now," Chiron explained. "Riley, would you mind telling Zia the prophecy?" Chiron asked.
Riley nodded, "Okie dokes."
"By parents hand they shall be betrayed,
Splitting the two who can wield the Titan blade.
The fate of one shall fall to fire,
Those who thought to be loyal will be uncovered a liar.
The clandestine gods must lastly be found,
else Olympus shall fall to the ground,"
The whole prophecy chilled Zia to the bones. The fourth line especially affected her, reasons completely just.
"Any other visions on where to find them all?" Zia asked Riley.
Riley looked really perplexed, "ever since I saw those words everything has just gotten more and more confusing, I've been seeing snowstorms and a curved sword, and ugh, it's way too much."
"So will I have to go to Montana? They'll be long gone by the time I get there," Quinn pointed out.
"When you get there Artemis can offer help, she should be able to know where they will be," Zia offered. She had already told Tethys about the news of where Artemis is, so she will probably be gone by the time Quinn would get there anyway.
"I'll tell you if anything pops up," Riley said hopefully.
"One last thing I have held off on telling everyone," Chiron announced with a grim expression. "I have been ordered to help Zeus and leave the camp."
"What?!" Riley said shocked. "How would you leaving help?"
"Some of the tribes of centaurs are being persuaded to join Tethys, and Zeus wants me to go and speak to them all, ration with them."
"But do you think that will make a difference?" Quinn asked concerned.
Chiron just looked around the table stoically. "Not as much as he hopes it would," he responded. "I will tell the whole camp at dinner. Meeting adjourned, go ahead and get ready for your job Quinn. Leave first thing tomorrow morning," Chiron said trotting out with Riley following him.
"I could buy you a plane ticket if you'd like," Zia offered. Nick had been the one that messed with the ropes and causing the beam to fall, but Zia was at just as much fault. She was surprised with herself all the same though. She actually felt bad about what happened.
Quinn sighed, "sure I guess. But, even if I won't be here I'll make sure people will be watching you so don't try anything funny," he said before walking out.
Zia ended the day with the plans for a construction of a more elaborate training arena and dinner, falling asleep to a dreamless night which is a blessing for a demigod… well demi-titan.
When she woke the next day she met Chase at the entrance to the base, handing him a ticket she bought in the rush of last night.
"Here," she said handing it to him.
He looked genuinely confused, "why are you helping me with this?" he asked.
"I don't know, I feel sorry for… your misfortunes," Zia responded nonchalantly.
Quinn nodded and took the ticket, "sure, thanks, I guess. Well, I'll be off," he said picking up his duffel bag. Argus drove over in a small Honda since the van was taken. Zia waved as Quinn drove off, his chances of actually succeeding seemed very slim.