Neutral pov
Piper spotted Jason in the front by Tori and Annabeth. Leo was nearby, sitting with a bunch of burly-looking camper under a steel gray banner emblazoned with a hammer. Standing in front of the fire, half-dozen campers with guitars and strange, old fashioned harps--lyres?--were jumping around, leading a song about pieces of armor, something about their grandma got dressed for war. Everyone was singing with them and making gestures for the pieces of armor and joking around. It was quite possibly the weirdest thing Piper had ever seen--one of those campfire songs that would've been embarrassing in the daylight; but in the dark, with everybody participating, it was kind of corny and fun. As the energy level got higher, the flames did too, turning from red to orange to gold.
Tori looked over at Leo. He was joking around with his other siblings, the Hephaestus campers, and she smiled. Ever since she looked at him on the school bus, she was falling more and more for him every second. The thing was she had no clue how much she was falling for him. Leo looked at her and locked they eyes. He smirked at her. She rolled her eyes and looked away, blushing a little. But inside, she was smiling.
Finally the song ended with a rowdy applause. Chiron trotted up. "Very nice! A special welcome to our new arrivals. I am Chiron, camp activities director, and I'm happy you have arrived here alive and with most of your limbs attached. In a moment I promise we'll get to the s'mores, but first--"
"What about capture the flag?" somebody yelled. Grubling broke out among some kids in armor, sitting under a red flag with the emblem of a boar's head.
"Yes," the centaur said. "I know the Ares cabin is anxious to return to the woods for a regular games."
"And kill people!" another shouted.
"However until the dragon is brought under control, that won't be possible. Cabin Nine, anything to report on that?"
He turned to Leo's group. Leo winked at Tori and shot her a finger gun. The girl next to him stood uncomfortably. She wore an army green jacket a lot like Leo's, with her hair covered in a red bandanna. "We're working on it."
More grumbling.
"How, Nyssa?" an Ares kid demanded.
"Really hard," the girl said.
Nyssa sat down and a lot of yelling and complaining, which caused the fire to sputter chaotically. Chiron stamped his hoof against the fire pit stones--bang, bang, bang--and the campers fell silent.
"We will have to be patient," Chiron said. "In the meantime, we have more pressing matters to discuss."
"Percy?" someone asked. Tori felt like she had been hit in the head with a brick and lowered her head into her hand rubbed her forehead.
"You okay, Water girl?" Jason asked.
"Absolutly wonderful." She answer sarcastically. "I feel like I'm going to die from the pain in my head."
Jason put her arm around her and pull Tori into his side.
Chiron gestured to Annabeth. She took a deep breath and stood.
"I didn't find Percy," she announced. Her voice caught when she said his name. "He wasn't at the Grand Canyon like I thought. But we are not giving up. We've got teams everywhere Grover, Tyson, Nico, the Hunters of Artemis--everyone's out looking. We will find him. But Chiron is talking about something different. A new quest."
"It's the Great Prophecy, isn't it?" a girl called out.
Everyone turned to the voice that had come from a group in the back, sitting under a rose-colored banner with a dove emblem. They'd been chatting among themselves and not paying much attention until their leader stood up: Drew.
Everyone else looked surprised. Apparently Drew didn't address the crowd that often.
"Drew?" Annabeth said. "What do you mean?"
"Well, come on." Drew spread her hands like the truth was obvious. "Olympus is closed. Percy's disappeared. Hera sends you a vision and you come back with four new demigods in one day. I mean, something weird is going on. The Great Prophecy has started, right?"
Piper whispered to Rachel, "What is she talking about--the Great Prophecy?"
Then Piper realized that everyone was looking at Rachel, too.
"Well?" Drew called down. "You're the Oracle, Has it started or not?"
Rachel's eyes looked scary in the firelight, but she stepped forward calmly and addressed the camp.
"Yes," she said. "The Great Prophecy has begun."
Pandemonium broke out.
Piper caught Jason's eye. He mouthed, You all right? She managed a weak smile, but then looked away. It was too painful seeing him and not being with him.
When the talking finally subsided, Rachel took another step toward the audience, and fifty-plus demigods leaned away from her, as if one skinny redheaded mortal was more intimidating than all of them put together.
"For those of you who have not heard it," Rachel said, "the Great Prophecy was my first prediction. It arrived in August. It goes like this:
"Eight half-bloods shall answer the call,
To storm or fire the world must fall--"
Jason and Tori shot their feet. Their eyes looked wild, like they'd just been taser. Even Rachel seemed to be caught off guard. "J-Jason, T-Tori?" she said. "What's--"
"Ut cum spiritu postrema sacramentum dejuremus," they said in union. "Et hostes ornamenta addent ad ianuam necem."
An uneasy silence fell on the group.
"You just... finished the prophey," Rachel stammered. "--An oath to keep with a final breath/And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death. How did you--"
"We know those lines." Jason winced and put his hands to his head a rubbed his temples and Tori twisted her ring. "I don't how, but we know that prophecy."
"In Latin, no less" Drew called out. "Handsome and smart."
There was some giggling from the Aphrodite cabin. But it didn't do anything to break the tension. The campfire was burning a chaotic, nervous shade of green.
Jason and Tori sat down, looking embarrassed, but Annabeth put a hand on each of their shoulders and muttered something reassuring.
Rachel Dare still looked a little shaken. She glanced back at Chiron for guidance, but the centaur stood grim and silent, as if he were watch a play he couldn't interrupt--a tragedy that ended with a lot of people dead onstage.
"Well," Rachel said, trying to regain her composure. "So, yeah, that's the Great Prophecy. We hoped it might not happen for years, but I fear it starting now. I can't give you proof. It's just a feeling And like Drew said, some weird stuff is happening. The eight demigods, whoever they are, have not been gathered yet. I get the feeling some are here tonight. Some are not here."
The campers began to stir and mutter, looking at each other nervously, until a drowsy voice in the crowd called out, "I'm here! Oh...were you calling roll?"
"Go back to sleep, Clovis," someone yelled, and a lot of people laughed.
"Anyway," Rachel continued, "we don't know what the Great Prophecy mean. We don't know what the challenge the demigods will face, but since the first Great Prophecy predicted the Titan War, we can guess that the second Great Prophecy will predict something that bad."
"Or worse." Chiron murmured.
Maybe he didn't mean everyone to overhear, but they did. The campfire immediately turned to a dark purple.
"What we do know," Rachel said, "is that the first phase has begun. A major problem has arisen, and we need a quest to solve it. Hera, the queen of the gods, has been taken."
Shocked silence. The fifty demigods started talking at once.
Chiron pounded his hoof again, but Rachel still had to wait to get their attention.
She told them about the incident on the Grand Canyon skywalk--how Gleason Hedge had sacrificed himself when the storm spirits attacked, and the spirits had warned it was only the beginning. They apparently served some great mistress who would destroy all demigods. Then Rachel told them about Piper passing out in Hera's cabin. Finally Rachel told them about Jason and Tori's vision in the living room of the Big House. The message Hera had delivered there was only so similar that Piper got a chill. The only difference: Hera had warned Piper not to betray her: Bow to his will, and their king shall rise, dooming us all.
"Jason, Victoria," Rachel said. "Um...do you remember you last names?"
They looked self-conscious, but they shook their heads.
"We'll just call you Jason, then. And, Tori or Victoria?" Rachel asked Tori.
"Tori."
"It's clear Hera herself has issued you a quest."
Rachel paused, as if giving Jason Tori a chance to protest their destiny. Everyone's eye were on them; there was so much pressure. Yet they both looked brave and determined. They look at each other and had a silent conversation.
Jason: T, are you sure about this? This quest sounds really dangerous.
Tori: Yeah. And? What are you saying?
Jason: I'm saying we can get killed.
Tori: Then be careful and we won't get killed.
Jason: You are not going to give in to not going on this quest, aren't you.
Tori: Nope. I suggest we take the quest and end this mental conversation because I think people are starting to stare.
"We agree." Tori said smiling.
"You must save Hera to prevent a great evil," Rachel continued. "Some sort of king from rising. For reasons we don't understand yet, it must happen by the winter solstice, only four days from now."
"That's the council day of the gods." Annabeth said. "If the gods don't already know Hera's gone, they will definitely notice her absence by them. They'll probably break out fighting, accusing each other of taking her. That's what they usually do."
"The winter solstice," Chiron spoke up, "is also a time of great darkness. The gods gather that day, as mortals always have, because there is strength in numbers. The solstice is a day when evil magic is strong. Ancient magic, older than the gods. It is a day when things... stir."
The way said it, stirring sounded absolutely sinister--like it should be a first degree felony, not something you did to cookie dough.
"Okay," Annabeth said, glaring at the centaur. "That you, Captain Sunshine. Whatever's going on, I agree with Rachel. Jason and Tori have been chosen to lead this quest, so--"
"Why haven't they been claimed?" somebody yelled from the Ares cabin. "If they're so important--"
"They have been claimed." Chiron announced. "Long ago. Jason, Victoria, give them a demonstration."
At first, Jason and Tori didn't understand. They stepped forward nervously. Tori glanced Leo, and he nodded encouragingly. He mimicked pulling off a necklace.
Tori reached up to my neck and pulled off her necklace and Jason flipped his gold coin into the air. In her hand, Tori's necklace had become a silver sword and Jason was holding a lance--a rod of gold about seven feet long, with a spear tip at one end.
The other demigods gasped. Rachel and Annabeth stepped back to avoid the point, which was as sharp as an ice pick.
"Wasn't that..." Annabeth hesitated. "I thought you," she was looking at Jason, "had a sword, and Tori, I thought you had a bow."
"Um, it came up tails, I think," Jason said. "Same coin, long-range weapon form."
"Dude, I want one!" yelled somebody from the Ares cabin. "Better than Clarisse's spear, Lamer!" one of his brothers agreed.
"Electric." Jason murmured like it was a good idea. "Back away."
Annabeth and Rachel got the message. Jason raised his javelin, and thunder broke open the sky. Lightning arced down through the golden spear point and hit the campfire with the force of an artillery shell.
When the smoke cleared, the entire camp sat frozen in shock, half blind, covered in ashes, staring at the place where the fire had been. Cinders rained down everywhere. A burning log had impaled itself a few inches from the sleeping kid Clovis, who hadn't even stirred.
Jason lower his lance. "Uh....sorry."
Chiron brushed some burning coals out of his bread. "A little overkill, perhaps, but you've made your point. And I believe we know who your father is."
"Jupiter," Jason said. "I mean Zeus. Lord of the sky."
Then all eyes went on Tori.
She felt a tug in her stomach and some water came out lake went everybody's heads. She dispersed it into a bunch of tiny drops. Everyone was in awe, except for Drew. Tori "accidentally" hit Drew with about gallon of water.
"Neptune." she said. "I mean Poseidon. Lord of the sea."
Pandemonium broke out. Again.
Everyone started to talk and ask questions. But the only things Tori heard was, "Percy's sister"and"Great Prophecy".
Chiron grimaced as if his worst fears have been confirmed.
Annabeth raised her arms and silenced the campers.
"Hold it!" she said. "How can he be the son of Zeus and she be the daughter to Poseidon? The Big Three...their pact not to have mortal kids...how could we not have known about them sooner?"
Chiron didn't answer, but Tori was getting the feeling that he knew. And the truth was not good.
"The important thing," Rachel said, "is Tori and Jason are here now. The have a quest to fulfill, which means they will need their own prophecy."
She closed her eyes and swoon. Two campers rushed forward and caught her. A third ran to the side of the amphitheater and grabbed a bronze three-legged stool, like they'd been trained for this duty. The eased Rachel onto the stool in front of the ruined hearth. Without the fire, the night was dark, but the green mist started swirling at Rachel's feet. When she opened her eyes, they were glowing. Emerald smoke issued from mouth. The voice that came out raspy and ancient--the sound a snake would make if it could talk:
"Child of lightning and child of the sea, beware the earth,
The giants' revenge the eight shall birth,
The forge and dove shall break the cage,
And death unleashed through Hera's rage."
On the last word, Rachel collapsed, but her helpers were waiting to catch her. They carried her away from the hearth and laid her in the corner to rest.
"Is that normal?" Piper asked. Then she realized she had spoken into the silence, and everyone looked at her. "I mean...does she spew green smoke a lot?"
"Gods, you're so dense!" Drew sneered. "She just issued a prophecy--Jason's prophecy to save Hera! Why don't you just--"
"Drew," Annabeth snapped. "Piper asked a fair question. Something about that prophecy definitely isn't normal.If breaking Hera's cage unleashes her rage and causes a bunch of death...why would we free her? I might be a trap, or--or maybe Hera will turn on her rescuers. She's never been kind to heroes."
Jason rose. "Tori and I don't have much choice. Hera took our memories. We need them back. Besides, we can't not help the queen of the heavens if she's in trouble."
A girl from the Hephaestus cabin stood up--Nyssa, the one with the red bandanna. "Maybe. But you should listen to Annabeth. Hera can be vengeful. She threw her own son--our dad--down a mountain just because he was ugly."
"Real ugly," snickered someone from Aphrodite.
"Shut up!" Nyssa growled. "Anyway, we've also got to think--why beware of the earth? And what's the giants revenge? What are we dealing with here that's powerful enough to kidnap the queen of the heavens?"
No one answered, but Piper noticed Annabeth and Chiron having a silent exchange. It went something like:
Annabeth: The giants' revenge...no it can't be.
Chiron: Don't speak of it here. Don't scare them.
Annabeth: You're kidding me! We can't be that unlucky.
Chiron: Later, child. If you told them everything, they would be to scared to proceed.
Annabeth took a deep breath. "It's Jason and Tori's quest," she announced, "so it's Jason and Tori's choice. Obviously he's the child of lightning and she's the child of the sea. According to tradition, you may choose any two companions."
Someone from the Hermes cabin yelled, "Well, you, obviously, Annabeth. You've got the most experience."
"No, Travis," Annabeth said. "First off, I'm not helping Hera. Every time I've tried, she's deceived me, or it's come to bite me later. Forget it. No way. Secondly, I'm leaving first thing in the morning to find Percy."
"It's connect," Piper blurted out. "You know that's true, don't you? This whole business with you boyfriend's disappearance--it's all connected."
"How?" Drew demanded. "If your so smart, how?"
Piper tried to form an answer, but she couldn't.
Annabeth saved her. "You may be right Piper. If this is connected, I'll find it from the other end--by searching for Percy. As I said, I'm not about to rush off the rescue Hera, even if her disappearance sets the rest of the Olympians fighting again. But there's another reason I can't go. The prophecy says otherwise."
"It says who we pick," Jason agreed. "The forge and dove shall break the cage. The forge is a symbol of Vul-Hephaestus."
Under the Cabin Nine banner, Nyssa's shoulders slumped, like she'd just been given a heavy anvil to carry. "If you have to beware the earth," she said, "you should avoid traveling overland. You'll need air transport. The flying chariot's broken," Nyssa continued, "and the pegasi, we're using them to search for Percy. But maybe Hephaestus can help figure out something else to help. With Jake incapacitated, I'm senior camper. I can volunteer for the quest."
She didn't sound enthusiastic.
Then Leo stood up. He'd been so quiet.
"It's me," he said.
His cabin mates stirred. Several tried to pull him back to his seat, but Leo resisted.
"No, it's me. I know it is. I've got an idea for the transportation problem. Let me try. I can fix this!"
Jason and Tori studied him. Then they smiled. "We started this together, Leo. Seems only right you come along. You find us a ride, you're in." Tori said.
"Yes!" Leo pumped his fist.
"It'll be dangerous," Nyssa warned him. "Hardship, monsters, terrible suffering. Possibly none of you will come back alive."
"Oh." Suddenly Leo didn't look so excited. Then he remembered everyone was watching. "I mean...Oh, cool! Suffering? I love suffering! Let's do this."
Annabeth nodded. "Then you only need to choose the third quest member. The dove--"
"Oh absolutely!" Drew was on her feet and flashing a smile at Jason a smile. "The dove is Aphrodite. Everybody knows that. I am totally yours."
Piper stepped forward. "No."
Drew rolled her eyes. "Oh, please, Dumpster girl. Back off."
"I had the vision of Hera; not you. I have to do this."
"Anyone can have a vision," Drew said. "You were just at the right place at the right time." She turned to Jason and Tori. "Look, fighting is all fine I suppose. And people who build things..." She looked at Leo in distain. "Well, I suppose someone needs to get there hands dirty. But you will need charm on your side. I can be very persuasive. I could help a lot."
The campers started murmuring about how Drew was pretty persuasive. Drew was winning them over.
Even Chiron was scratch his bread, like how Drew's participation suddenly made sense to him.
"Well...." Annabeth said. "Given the wording of the prophecy--"
"No!" Piper's own voice sounded strange in her ears--more insistent, richer tone. "I'm supposed to go."
Then the weirdest thing happened. Everyone started nodding, muttering that hmm, Piper's pit of view made sense too. Drew looked around, incredulous. Even some of her own campers were nodding.
"Get over it!" Drew snapped at the crowd. "What can Piper do?"
Piper tried to respond but her confidence started to wane.
"Well," Drew said smugly, "I guess that settles it."
Suddenly there was a collective gasp. Everyone stared at Piper like she'd just exploded. She wondered what she'd done wrong. Then she realized there was a reddish glow around her.
"What?" she demanded.
She looked above her, but there was no burning symbol like the one that appeared over Leo. Then she looked down and yelped.
She was now adorned on a white sleeveless gown that went down to her ankles, with a V-neck so low it was totally embarrassing. Delicate gold armbands circled her biceps. An intricate necklace of amber, coral, and gold flowers glittered one her chest and her hair...
"Oh god," she said. "What's happened?"
A stunned Annabeth pointed at Piper's dagger, which was now oiled and gleaming, hanging at her side on a golden cord.
Piper didn't want to draw. She was afraid of what she would see. But her curiosity won out. She unsheathed Katoptris and stared at her reflection in the polished metal blade. Her hair was perfect: lush and long and chocolate brown, braided with gold ribbon down one side so it fell across her shoulder. She even wore makeup, better than Piper would ever know how to do herself--subtle touches that made her lips cherry red and brought out all the different colors in her eyes.
She was...she was...
"Beautiful," Jason exclaimed. "Piper, you...you're a knockout."
Under different circumstances, that would've been the happiest moment off her life. But now everyone was staring at her like a freak. Drew's face was full of horror and revulsion. "No!" she cried. "Not possible!"
"This isn't me," Piper protested. "I--don't understand."
Chiron the centaur folded his front legs and bowed to her, and all the camper followed his example.
"Hail, Piper McLean," Chiron announced gravely, as if he were speaking at her funeral. "Daughter of Aphrodite, lady of the doves, goddess of love."