Child of Artemis

Chapter 7

When she woke up, Avalon headed to the big house to check on Nova. Will was there, scratching his head. "I have no idea how this happened," he was telling Chiron. "There's no way he can heal that fast," Chiron looked up and saw Avalon.

"Is he okay?" she asked. "Yeah, he magically healed, I have no idea how though. Even I can't do that, at least without knocking myself out for a week, and my dad is the god of healing."

"Chiron?" A girl came down the stairs, rubbing her eyes. "I--" She stopped, looking at Avalon. "I had a dream. The same dream. About her," she said, pointing at Avalon. "Avalon, this is Rachel, she's the Oracle," Chiron gestured at the girl.

Rachel continued staring at Avalon. Eventually, her green eyes glowed bright, like greek fire. Green smoke billowed out of her mouth. Then she spoke.

Four shall start in Athens and find what they seek

What they find may not be Greek

Strength will lead the way

To where cunning will stay

When loyalty is in strife

Devotion may sacrifice the magic of life

There was a moment of silence in which Will and Chiron stared at Rachel. Then Rachel collapsed to the floor.

 Will rushed over and checked her pulse. Then he picked her up and lay her down on a nearby bed.

"That was a prophecy," Will breathed. "Get a piece of paper, write it down," Chiron told him. Will rushed away to get a pen and paper. When he returned, Chiron announced, "Let's gather the senior council,"

Mr. D, Chiron, Argus, a satyr named Grover, and the heads of the cabins gathered in the rec room of the big house with Rachel, who had woken up, and Avalon, since Rachel said she was important.

Some of the members grabbed a plate and indulged in the various snacks in the middle of the ping-pong table. "We have gathered here to discuss the prophecy that Rachel has issued," Chiron spoke.

Mr. D said in a lazy drawl, "Do I have to do this? I was in the middle of something." All the counselors glared at him.

Rachel recited the prophecy again for them, and they sat back in their chairs thinking about it. "Well, it says there are four people," Annabeth ventured. "They are strength, cunning, loyalty, and devotion."

Rachel pulled out a piece of paper and scribbled down the words. "And someone will die," she added. She wrote that down too. "Somewhere along the way, they're going to ditch cunning," Clarisse spoke up.

"And they start in Athens," Annabeth finished. Avalon noticed the son of Zeus she had beaten in capture the flag staring at her. She returned the gaze until he looked down at his plate of Chex Mix.

Mr. D snapped his fingers, and a wood nymph brought him a plate of breakfast and a goblet of some drink. The counselors stared at the food. It was time for breakfast, and the other campers were eating happily in the dining pavilion.

Mr. D sighed and put down his fork. Snapping his fingers again, he motioned for a group of wood nymphs to bring them food.

Annabeth looked up from a mouthful of canadian bacon. "We still have to find out who strength, cunning, devotion, and loyalty are," When she said that, Avalon remembered where she had seen the son of Zeus.

He had been in her dream, the one she had almost every night since before she had met Aurora, the one that showed her the story of her birth. She also knew why he had recognized the dagger.