Ephemeral

Hera's Not So Useful Information

The Lost Hero

I was sleeping as peacefully as one could with a missing brother in Cabin 3. My mouth was wide open, my hair a tangled mess, and half of my bed covers falling onto the floor. The fountain in the cabin brought the mellow smell of sea salt and an ocean breeze, lulling my further into a dreamless sleep (one I hadn't had in ages). I had just came back from a long trip searching all of New York looking for Percy with the Stoll brothers and I was beyond exhausted.

I couldn't even face Sally and Paul to bring them the news that I still haven't found Percy in these past three days. The thought alone brought a sharp pain in my heart that my brother was still missing.

There was a loud slam from the entrance of my cabin, causing me to stir. I could see some light through my eyelids and a frown grew on my lips. I just wanted to sleep. A muffled voice was urging me to wake up, but all they received was my palm to their face. An all too familiar voice grumbled curses at me in Ancient Greek.

"Nevah! Wake the Hades up!" Annabeth roughly shook my shoulders. "I had a dream."

"Dream later, sleep..." I barely let out, a yawn cutting me off.

"It's about Percy." Annabeth softly told me.

"What?" I sat up quickly, looking at her with wide eyes. My heart started to beat rapidly in my chest. "Is he okay? Do you know where he is?"

"I don't know much, Hera sent it to me," Annabeth scowled and crossed her arms, " but she said to look for a guy with one shoe at the Grand Canyon."

"Then let's go." I swung my feet onto the ground, almost tripping over my backpack.

"Get dressed and wipe that trail of drool off your face. I'll tell Chiron. Meet me at the stables?" Annabeth had a soft smile at the mention of drool.

"I don't drool." I scoffed, wiping my hand against my chin. When a patch of wet drool met my hand, I pulled a face. Annabeth chuckled and rolled her eyes. "This is a one time thing."

"Sure." Annabeth hummed, walking out of the cabin.

"I don't drool!" I continued to defend myself, grasping my shirt to wipe more of the drool off of my face.

"See you in fifteen. By the way, we're picking up some demigods today, too. Gleeson Hedge reported two demigods from that same area." Annabeth closed the door behind her.

Still in denial that I didn't drool, I started to get ready. Pulling new clothes in and brushing my teeth, I made sure to do my routine quicker than usual. Not bothering to brush my hair to save time, I pulled it up into a high ponytail. I knew I was going to regret that later.

I grabbed my shield and stapled it to my back. I looked back at my bed and debated if I should make it. My foot tapped anxiously at the thought of wasting time and flicked my wrist at the messy bed. Closing the door behind me, I jogged towards the stables. Chiron, Annabeth, Will, and Butch were talking amongst themselves.

"You're going, right?" Clarisse asked me, shoving by campers to get closer.

"You bet I am." I gave her a determined nod.

"You sure you will be able to handle it? You just came back from a long trip late last night." Clarisse perked a brow.

"I'll manage. I need to be there to find my brother."

"Good luck." Clarisse gave my shoulder a squeeze and a curt nod.

"Keep the camp from going into chaos. I know Connor and Travis missed causing trouble here." I gave her a smirk, knowing some of their plans already.