Chapter 13: Things go south. We go west.

[David's Pov]

The emergency council was called immediately.

It was held around a Ping-Pong table in the recreation room. Mr. D (reading a magazine written in ancient Greek) waved his hand and supplied snacks: Cheez Whiz, crackers, and several bottles of red wine.

Sherman instantly reached out for the bottle, but Chiron reminded Mr. D that wine was against his restrictions. Mr. D sighed, and with a snap of his fingers, the wine turned to Diet Coke.

Nobody drank that except for me. I crammed them down my pockets as many as would fit.

Sherman looked at me with disgust.

"Dude, do you have taste buds?"

"I have preferences."

He didn't pressure me, and the meeting began in the most delightful way possible.

"This is pointless."

It was Zoë. She had her arms tightly crossed and had an even crosser expression.

"There is no time for talk. Our goddess needs us. The Hunters must leave immediately."

"And go where?" Chiron asked.

"West!"

Luna answered. I had no idea what she, of all the hunters, was doing here. Her hands were fiddling with some scraps of metal even as she talked. Charles Back-and-dorf (I think) from the Hephaestus cabin was eyeing her closely without a word.

"Five shall go west to the goddess in chains. That is what the prophecy said, right?"

"Correct. I shall gather four other hunters and leave immediately."

"But," Annabeth intercepted, "there was also a line: Only Campers and Hunters combined will prevail. I don't think it'll be wise to leave with just hunters, Zoë."

I thought Zoë would scowl like she always did when she was challenged, but she didn't. She put her hand on her chin as if to consider her words. After a minute or so, Zoë clucked her tongue out of distaste but nodded.

"Very well. I will allow some campers to join. And-" She turned to Annabeth, "-I'd want you to join in on the quest."

"What?"

Annabeth and Percy (for some reason) asked back at the same time. Zoë frowned her usual frown at Percy before turning to Annabeth, softening her expression.

"If I am forced to take a camper, I'd take the one I respect. I admire thou wits and wisdom. The strategy used against us at Capture the Flag was…impressive. I think the hunters would agree as well. Would thee accept?"

Annabeth looked shocked, she took a glance at Percy, bit her lip to consider for a second, before nodding.

"I'll accept."

"Very well. As for the second camper, I do not care; as long as it is not a boy."

Zoë shot a glance at me as if she'd expected me to be disappointed by her limitation. To be truthful, I had no intention to go.

Don't get me wrong; if I had to go, I'd be up to it.

Artemis saved our lives at Westover Hall, and I would never turn my back on a favor. It's just that, there must be a better candidate for a quest to save a goddess in chains than a day-two newbie.

Zoë's eyes scanned over the rest of the campers, but none of them were looking very thrilled to join. Even Sherman wasn't raising a voice. Though I think it was more 'detest against hunters' than 'afraid to go on a quest'.

Chiron stepped-err wheeled up.

"If I may recommend one; I'd suggest you take one of the satyrs."

Zoë instantly wrinkled her nose.

"I will not. Those are foul creatures."

"They are not."

Percy protested, but Zoë ignored him.

"I already said I won't take a boy."

She glanced at me again. Why was she keep doing that?

"Satyrs have keen senses and woodland magic. I'd say those will come in handy for you in your tracking." Chiron said calmly.

"We do not need any help in tracking. Phoebe is better than anyone at the field, and certainly better than any satyr could ever be."

"What if she gets out of condition?"

That came out louder than I thought.

Everyone looked at me. I tried to pretend I was busy sipping my coke, but I don't think anyone bought it.

Zoë was also looking straight at me, and I couldn't help but notice that her expression was a lot softer than before. She just looked mildly angry at me.

"Are you suggesting that I can't take care of my sisters?"

"No." I tried my best to keep my voice from shaking. "I'm saying the quest, it sounds dangerous. There is supposed to be a travail, and someone would be lost. What if you lose your tracker?"

"Phoebe is a strong maiden and a stronger hunter. She will not be lost."

The certainty in her voice surprised me. But her next words surprised me even more.

"However, I do see a point in thy words. I would take a satyr─the one who led us to our cabins."

"You mean Grover."

"Yes, him. He seemed to be the tamest one."

Now, I wasn't sure how I was supposed to feel about Grover being called 'tame' like an animal, but Annabeth looked pretty uncomfortable and Percy surely didn't like it.

Chiron nodded and looked around the ping-pong table again.

"That would make four. If there aren't any more suggestions-"

"I'll go."

Percy raised his hand.

"No."

Zoë instantly shot him down.

"Do not make me repeat myself. I will not travel with a boy."

"What about Grover?" Percy demanded.

"That does not count as a boy. Not technically. That's a satyr."

I think Grover would protest against that statement.

"I have to go." Percy insisted, standing up from his chair. "I need to be on this quest."

"Why? Because of thy friend Annabeth?"

Zoë nudged at Annabeth. Percy gaped his mouth for a second like a goldfish out of the water bowl as they both blushed and looked away from each other. Zoë snorted.

"I will not take a boy on this quest. Especially not one who has a craving for a maiden."

"I don't have craving for Anna-"

"Hush, boy."

Percy clenched his jaw for a second. I couldn't tell if it was from embarrassment or anger. He looked at Chiron as if wanting his support, but Chiron only sighed deeply.

"The quest is for Artemis. And the oracle has responded to Zoë. She should be allowed to approve their companions."

"As such," Zoë smirked.

He had no choice but to sit down.

"If there are no other volunteers from the camp, then I'd leave the 5th slot to the hunters─"

"Before that." Zoë cut in against Chiron. I was about to protest, but then she turned to look straight at me.

"You, boy. You may join."

The whole table gasped, except for Mr. D. He was still concentrating on his magazine.

"Why him!?"
"Why me!?"

Percy and I asked out loud at the same time. I took a glance at him and saw that he was shooting me an apologetic glance, worried if his words might have hurt my feelings or something, which it didn't.

I didn't want to be a part of this quest. If I was allowed, Percy should more than meet the qualification.

Then Sherman spoke up again.

"Sit down, Jackson! You had 2 chances already, even hijacking on our quest on the second one; you sit in a corner for this one and let someone other than you take the spotlight.

Or do you have trouble doing that?"

Percy tried to make a retort, but Zoë completely ignored him. She even ignored Annabeth, who tried to stand up for him and kept her eyes on me.

"Do you accept, or not?"

"Uhh…"

Sherman clapped my back with a reassuring grin.

Chiron was keeping his tongue, standing by his words of Zoë having the right to choose. And Percy…I didn't dare look in his direction. Zoë squinted her eyes ever so slightly at me.

"…I, accept?"

I said in a small voice.

So, like that, I was un-rightfully assigned as the last member on the quest.

[Line Break]

The rest of the meeting was a blur. Before I knew it, I was sent back to my cabin.

I didn't want to celebrate about going on a quest.

My cabin was all pumped up that two of their best (though that was debatable) campers were going on a quest; they went on about this would be the chance to bring Ares more glory than we previously ever had, but that didn't get me pumped at all.

I told them we had to go on the first light of the morning and flopped onto the bed. But I didn't feel like sleeping.

For one, the other kids were still laughing and celebrating, and well, I couldn't erase the feeling that I'd stolen the spot from Percy.

I didn't go with them when Annabeth and Chiron went over to comfort him.

I'm not saying he'd lash out at me, but I saw how he acted when Annabeth was injured by Dr. Thorn. He cared a lot about her and was most definitely not a fan of the idea of her going off on a dangerous journey while he stayed put.

I could understand that feeling very much, and it isn't exactly a pleasant emotion to have inside you.

Instead, I did ask Zoë Nightshade why on earth she wanted me to come along, but she only waved me off like a fly. Luna was also protesting, mostly on the aspect that she wanted to go as well, but Zoë dismissed her by saying "You are too young."

I shut my eyes, just hoping that for once I'd have a better dream.

And of course, I didn't.

You see, by now you must've mostly deduced that I had a very bad childhood. But the idea would also puzzle you at the same time because my ma is one of the best people to live on this planet.

Well, the truth is, when I was 9, she had married another guy; a guy named 'Peter machete'. Yeah, that's a real name, let that sink in.

He was a terrible guy with some terrible friends. One friend of his I remember was a guy named 'Gabe Uglyano' or something, and those two were the worst of their 'group' until machete was kicked out because he cheated on them in a poker game or something.

Ma tried to be a good wife to him, but he never even tried to be a good father-heck, or a good husband for that matter.

When ma got a small amount of fortune inherited from her family, he took the chance and snatched that away from her, ditching her in the process.

The problem was, during taking away her fortune he was legally obligated to take me away as well-henceforth, I was separated from my ma when I was 12.

I never forgot the last day I spent with her; she cried all night, hugging me and whispering that she was sorry that she couldn't protect me, that she was sorry for being too weak…

A lot of depressing stuff like that.

I couldn't even muster up the courage to say that I'll be ok.

But the worst part is yet to come; after machete divorced with ma, he found another woman who was just as terrible of a human being as he was. So, you know, I had a very 'fun' life until…

…ok, to be honest, I don't remember what happened during the 2 years I've spent under machete and his hag of a wife. I'd say it is mostly for the best, but the problem is that I ended up…

…

I ended up...

Ah, god damn it I'll say it; I ended up murdering them.

Yeah, I know. Horrible stuff.

In my defense, that happened while I was getting beaten over the head with a beer bottle, so it was in safe defense.

Mostly. I think. I hope.

As I said, everything was a blurry pile of mess during that time. All I remember was looking down on the body of the machete.

I don't even know why I held off for 2 years…did I have a reason to endure them?

Whatever. The point is, I ran away only to get arrested on the next day, I got sentenced off to Westover Hall.

And on the last day of my one year of stay, all of Camp Half-Blood shenanigans happened in its ancient Greek glory.

I brought this story up because today's nightmare contained the time when I was under machete's custody.

He'd always come back late, drunk, and angry when he lost at gambling, and he'd reach out for a beer bottle whenever he saw me when he was irritated.

You know, for those 'father-son bonding activities.

"You!"

Whack!

"Piece of!"

Whack!

"Useless!"

Whack!

"Shit!"

Yeah, feeling the love in every strike. Even in a dream, it hurt a ton.

After he got his system cleared out, he'd throw a rug on me to clean up and go to the next room where his 'beloved' wife was waiting for him. I had no idea what they did there, nor did I ever bother to care.

All I knew was that I had to endure it.

As much as I hated it, I had to. Because I made a promise.

A promise to protect her.

…

…wait, hold on. Who was 'her'? What 'promise'?

"David..."

A girl-a very blurry looking girl came next to me. Her voice sounded like she was crying, and also it was very young. Maybe 6 years old or so?

She touched my bloody face, all beaten up and swollen, and cried. I wanted to comfort her─none of it was her fault. None at all. But when I told her, she shook her head and kept on sobbing.

"I'm so sorry…"

Then something whacked me across the stomach, which woke me up with a startle.

For a second, a pair of silvery eyes staring down at me made my heart do a jumping jack. Then I realized it was Zoë. She was holding an empty bow in her hand that she must've used to whack me with.

"We are leaving. Come up to the Half-Blood Hill in 10 minutes."

When I arrived, I was not at all pleased to find out only three people were waiting for me. And one of the three wasn't even the quest member, so to say. It was Argus, the dude with 100 eyes. He was the camp's protector.

The other two were Annabeth and Zoë, respectively.

"Where is Grover and…err, our tracker?"

"Phoebe. Those retched Stoll boys have tricked her into wearing a poisoned shirt. She would be covered in hives for weeks."

Zoë looked livid saying that, and I couldn't help but hope that Travis and Connor were both still alive.

I turned to Annabeth, and she answered even before I asked.

"Grover…is not coming."

"Why not?"

Annabeth fiddled with the edge of her invisibility cap.

"He said he heard the voice of Pan. The satyr god of nature.

His lifetime ambition is to find him. And just today, he heard his voice. He is trying to convince Mr. D and the Council of Cloven Elders to let him start on his quest to search for him."

"A Council of what?"

Annabeth frowned. "Never mind. All you need to know is that Grover is not coming."

"And I won't take another satyr. Those foul, lustful creatures."

I wanted to protest against Zoë's hatred of satyrs, but I also really couldn't deny that satyrs had the track record of being along with her explanations of them, apart from some exceptions.

Centaurs too were mostly ravaged creatures except for Chiron, just more reason why he's such an awesome person-err, centaur.

Argus grunted and made some sign languages.

"Yes, Argus. We are leaving with only three." Annabeth said.
"Three is a sacred number anyway. I'd prefer this if it must be like this."

That didn't sound right at all, but I held my tongue.

Zoë gently patted the snout of the baby dragon (I'd assume it was a baby) with a soft expression, gave the Golden Fleece a sideways glance of loathing (I guess the fleece came from a male sheep?) before following Argus down to the van with 'Delphi Strawberry Service' written on it.

I took a last look at the camp. It had been only two days, but I was already starting to feel homesick at the idea of leaving the place. It was, the first friendly place I've been in for 5-6 years. And now I'm leaving it, possibly for my doom.

"You look scared."

Annabeth was waiting in the middle of the hill, looking at me with her grey eyes. She seemed…wise, for a lack of better words. She was too, so I guess that made sense.

"I, am. To be honest."

Annabeth's eyes widened. She seemed to have guessed that I'll never admit that, and I noted that was a very un-Ares thing to do. But I didn't feel like lying about my emotions. Ma always told me not to, anyway.

"You are one of a kind, Lee. Let's go. We can't delay any longer."

"Alright."

I took a last look at the Camp. I had a foreboding feeling that this would be the last time I see it with my own eyes.

I shook off the feeling and followed Annabeth down the hill.

I'm not from America so I don't know if a child murdered their parents due to their abuse, they'd let the child go easily.

And sorry for all the Grover fans out there.

I really wanted to make a space for him to fit in, but that'll mean I have to rewrite 20+ chapters from the scratch, and I'd strictly have to say no for that.