CHAPTER FOUR

We Get a New Leader

"Sophia!" I hollered her name and took off from the lawn. I weaved in and out of campers who were both confused by Rachel and by my daughter's scream. I grabbed a young girl by the shoulders, probably spooking her.

"Get a medic to the big house lawn, now!" I told her.

I saw a few Ares campers grabbing spears, heading in the same direction. I cursed, anger beginning to set it. I saw a flash of gold in front of me. I furrowed my brow. That's the same gold flash that seemed to come from Rachel. I reached Cabin Three to see the golden light smash into the door. Sophia sobbed from inside. Archers were standing afar, trying to hit the spirit, but to no avail.

"Daddy! Daddy, help me!"

"I'm right here, Sophie! Everything's okay!" I reassured her. The gold light backed up swiftly and smashed the door again, this time splintering the wooden frame. Whatever this was, it was fast.

"HEY!" I yelled. The light stopped moving and I saw what it was. It was a boar. Around its neck sat a golden mane, shining brightly. I took a step back. I don't know what I had been expecting, but it wasn't that. I had experienced a boar before. But that Boar had been a gift of the wild from the god Pan. It was the Erymanthian Boar, a wild spirit that carried me to an old junkyard. That's a story for another time though. Annabeth and the others caught up, and I heard Blitz yelp in surprise.

"Gullinbursti!"

Hearth began fiddling with a small pouch, producing a few small stones. I had no idea what Gullinbursti meant. Luckily, Blitz continued his story as Ares campers pounded their weapons together, drawing the Boar away.

"Gullinbursti is the Golden Boar. It's the fastest animal alive, faster than even the best horse."

I remembered my friend Hazel. She could control this horse called Arion, who was also supposedly the fastest animal alive. That horse also like to eat gold. If this boar had been friendly it would have been really cool to see them race.

"How do we kill it?" I asked, watching as my fellow demigods were knocked from their feet.

"Well, it's not that hard to kill once you catch it. It's not invincible, as far as I know. The problem is getting your attack in. It simply moves too fast. It's not extremely powerful. Also, I should warn you. Legend says, although not confirmed, that it eats the face and brains of its victims. A rather nasty death."

This story was making me less confident by the second. Blitz worriedly buttoned and unbuttoned his suit.

"Daddy!"

I grit my teeth. Nothing was going to happen to my family.

"Annabeth, can you think of a plan? I'm going to get Sophia to safety."

She nodded absentmindedly, so I knew she had already been thinking of one. I rushed into the cabin to see Sophia huddled on the top bunk, bawling.

"Sophia," I called.

She sat up quickly, gazing at me through puffy eyelids. Blood was present on her left cheek.

"Daddy!"

She tossed herself down, wrapping her arms around my neck. She sniffled.

"I-I was playing in the grass when something knocked me over. Something bit me. But then, an arrow hit it and it ran away. I-I hid in your cabin, but it kept on trying to get in!"

Sophia pointed her a bite mark on her face. I caressed her cheek and nuzzled her nose, comforting her. My blood boiled. Nothing was going to hurt my family and get away with it.

"It's okay, Baby. I've got you. I'm going to keep you safe. Come with me."

She held onto me tightly as I ran back outside. Apollo's archers continued their assault. Annabeth was running towards the Hephaestus Cabin. I surveyed the scene. The Board was continuing to knock campers over. Every so often, it attempted to chew a face off. Fortunately, the Ares cabin thought to wear helmets.

REEEE!

The boar was frustrated. Hearth was placing a stone on the ground, waving his arms over it. Alex suddenly changed into a Grizzly Bear. I had always thought shape shifting was cool. I had another friend, Frank, who had the same ability. The boar ran headfirst into Grizzly Alex and feel on its rump. It blinked, shaking its snout to rid itself of the daze. Magnus swung down with his sword, but missed, when the boar took off again. I heard Magnus yell.

"JACK!"

Jack was the name of his sword. The sword could talk, and attack things on its own. However, it had a downside. As soon as his sword is finished with a fight, and Magnus puts it back up, he becomes weak for a while. I began running back towards the Big House. Without any warning, my feet were taken out from under me. I flipped over, smacking my head into the ground. I covered Sophia and rolled into a kneeling position. Good gods. I was stunned from the impact to my cranium. I felt Sophia's grip tighten around my neck.

"Daddy!"

I saw another golden flash before my vision blurred. I lay on my back. Sophia had tumbled from my grip. My vision returned just in time for me to see a pig snout above me. I quickly covered my face. The boar snapped at me, drawing blood from my arms and hands. I felt a cold sensation and the attack stopped. The boar had been frozen in place in a block of ice.

"Way to go, Hearth! A freezing Rune!" Blitz exclaimed. I pushed the boar away. A rune? Was that the stone Hearth had been messing with? I rushed to Sophia.

"Baby, you okay?"

She blinked back tears.

"Y-yes, Daddy."

CRACK!

The ice split, and the boar was loose again.

"Styx!" I cried, scooping Sophia up yet again. Annabeth retuned with a young camper, carrying a golden net. Yes! It was Hephaestus' net. It had been made to hold gods, so it definitely would hold our piggy friend here.

"Percy, we need to slow it down!"

I turned towards Alex.

"Alex!"

She made eye contact with me.

"Turn into something big again!"

She nodded, her body morphing into the bear again. The boar squealed, going around her this time. I cursed. Sophia continued to whimper in my arms. Annabeth stood ready to throw the net.

"Percy, do something!"

"Oh, gee, I thought I'd just leave and let it kill everyone!" I retorted. "Alex, try something else, it's not falling for the bear again. Hearth, can you freeze it again?"

Blitz answered for him, shaking his head. "It will take a moment, you cannot use the same rune's magic so quickly. There is a sort of a, uh, cool down period."

Naturally. Magic was useful, but sometimes really dumb. Alex grew bigger, transforming herself into an elephant. Man, she and Frank were going to have to meet. Jack continued flying around, stabbing himself at the monster. Alex gave a swipe of her trunk and the boar paused. Annabeth took the chance and pounced, covering the creature in the net.

REEEEEEEE!

The boar struggled to free itself. Its speed was now useless. I sighed a sigh of relief. Annabeth drew her knife and stabbed the beast, ending our current predicament. Silence ensued for a few moments as well all stared at the now empty net. Sophia burst into tears, placing her face on my chest. I saw on the grass, hugging her close.

"Shh, shh, it's okay, Sophie. It's okay. I got you. You're okay! Mommy killed the monster, you're safe now, I promise."

Alex turned back into a human; Jack returned to Magnus. Both collapsed in a heap, their strength gone. Hearth and Blitz tended to their friends. Hearth tugged out another rune. I assumed it was one for healing or energy or something. Annabeth walked over to me. Her eyes also glistened with fresh tears. But I knew Annabeth's tears were for a different reason. She had just lost the one person she knew and trusted for longer than anybody else. Chiron was basically like her father when she was growing up. Annabeth, like most demigods, like me, didn't have the greatest childhood. Chiron had been there for her. Annabeth took Sophia in her arms, and they sobbed together. I chewed my lip and put my arms around them, continuing to assure them everything was okay. Campers gathered around, trying to take in the scene. A few of the newer kids were whispering. They pointed at me

"That's him!"

"So, he did marry Annabeth!"

"He saved the world twice, you know"

"Did you see how they caught the boar?"

I stood. Without Chiron, I wasn't sure who was supposed to lead now.

"Hey, uh, everyone."

I waved my hand in an awkward hello.

"Uh, for those who don't know, I'm Percy Jackson. Uh, I don't know how to say this, so I'm just going to say it. Chiron is. . ." I found myself getting choked up. "Chiron is dead. He was no longer needed as a trainer. Uh," I stammered some more. I heard the dinner bell ring.

"Uh, okay. Everyone, head up to dinner. We'll talk more up there."

Slowly, they trickled towards the pavilion. I gulped, wondering what I was going to say. Annabeth sat back, wiping Sophia's tears away.

"Everything is okay, Sophie. Come on, let's go with Daddy."

She took Sophia's hand. Together, we walked to eat.

I stood where Chiron used to, all eyes on me. Annabeth squeezed my hand to say good luck.

"Today, our Oracle spoke a new prophecy. She said it was the final one. Chiron told us that his time as a trainer of heroes had come to an end. Then, he vanished. Tonight, at campfire, we will vote a new leadership for the camp. We will accept nominations from anyone, but we are asking that only Senior campers be nominated. This is for obvious reasons."

I paused, giving Annabeth a glance. She nodded her approval, encouraging me to continue.

"Let's not worry about the Prophecy now, though. Let's enjoy ourselves. Annabeth and I have missed out on a lot, we'd love to catch up. We'd also like to introduce you to our daughter."

I motioned for Sophia to stand next to me. She did so, keeping her eyes cast down.

"This is Sophia," I announced. There were a few "aww's" and coos from female campers and certain people that had known us for years. Sophia mumbled out a hello before sitting back down. Annabeth gave her a huge smile and an approving squeeze. Sophia blushed.

"Anyway, I continued. Let's eat, and we'll worry about the Prophecy tomorrow."

Despite my best efforts to cheer up the camp, spirits were rather dull for the rest of the night. At the campfire, nobody seemed intent on participating in the sing-a-longs. The time came for voting.

"Alright, nominations?" I asked. There was silence as everyone looked at each other. Finally, one girl in the back stood up.

"My name is Martha La Rue, and I nominate Annabeth Chase Jackson"

I had two major questions: 1. Was this Clarisse's kid? 2. Can she do that?

Annabeth sat up straight, surprise visible on her face.

"M-me? I mean, I'm flattered, but I-I- have a family, and I, uh"

Annabeth didn't lose her words very often. I could see my wife's face growing red, so I stepped in to save her.

"Look, guys, we're very honored that you think of her so highly, but we feel as though you should choose someone who's been here longer."

"She's been here since she was 7! That's longer than anybody else here!" Another camper shouted.

"ANN-A-BETH!" the campers began stomping their feet, shouting her name. Magnus raised his eyebrows, grinning proudly at his cousin.

"Looks like this is settled," he said.

I raised my hands, silencing the crowd.

"Alright, then. Annabeth Jackson has been selected. Are there any objections?"

No one said a word. I turned to face Annabeth, smiling widely. Sophia gazed in awe at her mother.

"Well, then, may I introduce Annabeth Jackson, the new leader of Camp Half-Blood"

I gestured at her, while the crowd roared its approval. I sat down. Even though I had put the Camp's mind at ease, my thoughts lingered on the Great Prophecy.