Camp Hermit-Blood: The Titan's Curse

Zedaph

He heard the quiet flap of wings behind him, and the patter of footsteps. Nico was too invested in the Hunters to notice anything. Zedaph turned around suspiciously, reaching for a sword that wasn't there, but he saw nothing.

He turned his attention back to the Hunters.

"It cannot be cured," Zoë was saying. "Not quickly enough."

"But how did it happen?" The other Hunter, who Zedaph had assumed was Bianca, asked.

"A foolish prank," Zoë growled. "Those Stoll twins from the Hermes cabin. Centaur blood is like acid, and they spread it on the inside of that Artemis Hunting Tour T-Shirt."

"And what about the sixth member? Did you ever decide on one?"

"I regrettably was lost in my fury about what happened to Phoebe. I did not decide. It is down to me, and thee."

"But the other members- the prophecy!"

"There is no time," Zoë decided. "We must leave at first light. We must leave now."

Zedaph glanced at the sky. It was indeed starting to get light.

Zoë was still talking. "-besides, the prophecy said we would lose one."

"In the land without rain," Bianca remembered. "But that can't be here."

"This could be a land without rain," Zoë reasoned, although she sounded unsure. "This camp has magic borders. Not even weather can come in uninvited."

"But-"

Zoë's voice became strained. "Bianca, hear me. I have a sense that we should not pick anyone else, even if we go with only four. They would meet an end worse than Phoebe's. I don't want Chiron choosing campers."

Bianca hesitated. "You should tell Thalia the rest of your dream.

"No. It would not help."

"But your suspicions, about the General-"

"I have thy word not to speak of that," Zoë said sternly, but there were anguished undertones. "Come. Dawn is breaking."

Thr two girls sprinted down the steps. Nico and Zedaph quickly scooted out of their way.

Zoë suddenly stopped to stare at air. Zedaph didn't blame her, staring at air was pretty great. Her eyes narrowed, and she reached for her bow, but Bianca called to her.

And then they both ran out of the pavilion.

Zedaph could almost see Nico's brain gears whirring. The unclaimed demigod slowly got up. Zedaph grabbed his arm before the he could run after his sister and whispered, "Wait."

But two voices said the word.

Zedaph turned his head to the spot Zoë had stared at, the same spot he had heard the footsteps from earlier. He was almost unsurprised to see Percy there.

Nico wasn't, though. He yelped and would have slipped down the icy steps if Zedaph hadn't had a firm grip on his arm. "Where did you come from?!"

"I was here the whole time," Percy said smugly. "Invisible."

Nico's mouth hung open in awe. "Wow. Cool."

"How did you guys know Zoë and Bianca were here?" Percy asked.

"I heard them walk by the Hermes cabin," Nico explained, blushing. "I don't sleep well at camp, and I heard them whispering. So I followed."

"Basically the same with me," Zedaph volunteered. "And now he's thinking about following them on the quest." He looked at Nico for confirmation.

"How did you know that?"

Zedaph chose his words carefully. "Because if it was anyone in the Athena cabin, or any of my other friends who might as well be, I'd be thinking the same thing."

"But you can't," Percy added.

Nico looked defiant. "Because I'm too young."

"Well, that too," Percy said. "But they'll catch you and send you back here. And it'll be too dangerous. There will be more monsters - Remember the manticore? Things like that, and worse. Some of the heroes will die."

Nico's shoulders slumped, and he looked sad.

And then he looked up. "But you guys can go for me."

"What?" Zedaph and Percy said in unison, Percy in genuine confusion, Zedaph in startled shock.

"Percy can turn invisible. And I saw Zedaph drink potions in Capture the Flag. You can go!"

"The Hunters don't like boys," Percy said. "In case you didn't realize, Zedaph and I are both in fact male. If they find out-"

"Don't let them find out," Nico said, getting desperate. "Keep an eye on my sister! You have to. Please?"

"Nico-" Zedaph started.

"Oh, come on. You're planning to go anyway."

Zedaph and Percy exchanged glances, a silent agreement passing between them. Zedaph hadn't really been planning on going for Annabeth, but Percy obviously had. And if there was a chance, Zedaph couldn't pass it up.

"Yeah," Zedaph said.

"We have to find Annabeth," Percy agreed.

"I won't tell on you," Nico assured them. "But... but you have to promise to keep Bianca safe."

"That's a big thing to promise, Nico. On a trip like this, anything can happen," Percy warned.

"Besides," Zedaph said, trying to give a better reason. "She's got Zoë, and Thalia, and Grover-"

"Promise," Nico insisted, almost harshly.

"I'll do my best, I promise that," Percy said, and Zedaph nodded in agreement.

"Get going, then!" Nico said. "Good luck!"

Zedaph and Percy exchanged wide-eyed glances again. They had nothing but the clothes on their backs. No food, no ride, nothing. Why were they doing this?

"Tell Chiron-" Percy started.

"I'll make something up. I'm good at that. Go! Hurry!"

"I don't have invis potions," Zedaph said.

"Go to your cabin. Hurry," Percy said.

Zedaph scrambled to his feet and ran.

He grabbed what he could - his sword, a few potions, and what little remained of his redstone box.

Zedaph left his cabin just as a couple of winged horses landed in front of it. He recognized Blackjack from Luke's ship, and the other one was an ordinary white pegasus from the stable. He gulped. "Pegasi don't really like me-"

"No time," Percy said from his perch on Blackjack. "Get on."

Zedaph awkwardly struggled onto the back of the other pegasus.

"Alright," Percy said. "Let's fly."