DIVINE » l. valdez

leaving a bad yelp review

suddenly nothing is as it was

Despite the blinding winter sun creeping through the blinds of the Apollo cabin, Hina managed to nap until mid-noon. 

The entire camp had felt the ripple effect of their latest loss. Austin and Kayla disappearing together felt like a knife to the back: no one was safe. Even group activities were within the grasps of evil.

Word of their conference in the cave had spread like wildfire. The Victor twins roamed the training grounds with cotton jammed into their ears to tune out the oracular voices. A handful of demigods had scaled the lava wall with binoculars and weapons in hopes of finding the Grove of Dodona. 

Harley had engulfed Hina in a spine crushing hug when she emerged from her cabin. 

"Promise you'll come back," he begged, his bright brown eyes watering as he looked up at her. 

Her lip quivered and she hugged him back. "I swear on the river Styx I'll be back before you know it."

Hina tried not to think about the ever real possibility that she would not come back at all. Before she could voice any concern to Harley was summoned by Chiron to help him and Rachel research the Triumvirate Holdings. They had started the painstakingly long process of calling customer support and Hina hoped she'd be back before they finished waiting on hold.

With her most important goodbye out of the way, Hina made her way to the edge of the woods to meet Apollo and Meg. 

Will and Nico stood waiting for her with Paolo, Malcom and Billie, their faces all grim. 

Before anyone could speak, Will rushed forward to hug Hina. "Bring them back, Lebron," he whispered in her ear, his voice shaking.

Numbly, she nodded. "I will."

As Will stepped back to stand with Nico again, Malcom addressed Hina, "We're counting on you, Ito. You might not want to, but you have to keep him safe."

She wasn't surprised word of her attack on Apollo had made way to the Athena cabin already so Hina nodded a second time. 

"I will, for Camp Half-Blood."

Nico had been studying Hina as her spoke, his arms keeping his dark jacket wrapped close around his torso. His usually blank face held worry. "Are you sure you're ready?"

Hina shifted her weight between her feet, her bronze sword swaying from her belt. The straps of her backpack seemed even heavier than before, crushing her shoulders beneath. 

"I have to be. I don't know how but when I... when I hit Apollo, there was this glow, it was dim... but it was my powers."

Grass rustled from behind Hina and she turned to see Apollo and Meg approaching. 

"Be careful," Will said to Apollo. "And here."

He placed a ukulele in the god's hands, who immediately tried to hand it back. "I can't. I made an oath—"

"Yeah, I know. That was stupid of you. But it's a combat ukulele. You can fight with it if you need to."

Apollo brought the instrument closer to his face and Hina could see its Celestial bronze hull shining in the sun. 

"The work of Hephaestus?"

Will shook his head. "The work of Harley. He wanted you to have it. Just sling it over your back. For me and Harley. It'll make us both feel better."

Nico stepped forward, handing Apollo a square of ambrosia wrapped in cloth. 

"I can't eat this," the god reminded him