Unlikely Heroes

Chapter 65: Here We Go Again

I laid the girl down on a soft surface when I reached Chiron. Her two fellow Hunters stayed with her to watch over her. They thanked me for carrying her, and congratulated me for winning. Zoe could learn something of her fellow Hunters. Maybe Zoe is too attached to Artemis. Artemis is a good and great Goddess. I believe that, but her mind remains in the past concerning her beliefs about maidenhood and what going astray means. After helping the Hunters, I went to Thalia and Percy, who are celebrating together with the other campers.

Thalia turns to me with a wide grin. "Our glorious leader returns! I would have done a better job, of course, but, eh, your plan wasn't too shabby," she says while giving me a bear hug. "Glad you approve. Hunters can't brag about their streak now!"

"Got that right! We showed them what we're made off!" Thalia says with a hearty laugh. Several Hunters were complaining and rolling their eyes at our enthusiasm, but at the moment I could not care.

"Well done everyone. Congratulations on winning. It has been... a very long time since Camp Half-Blood won. I'm proud of you," he says to us with a smile that contains clear pride in us.

"Thanks... Chiron..." I say before I frown and watch in horror at what I see walking towards us. "By all the Gods..." I mutter out, shocked. Chiron follows my gaze and equally looks with shock at the Oracle coming our way.

"Impossible... She never left the attic. Never," he says with a voice that contains a nervous tremor, but also worry. If the Oracle comes to us instead of we to her, something terrible will be said. A piercing and soul-searching voice fills our heads as the cold gaze of the Oracle looks over the group. Several campers clutch their head in discomfort.

"I am the Spirit of Delphi. Speaker of Prophecies of Phoebus Apollo, Slayer of the mighty Python," the cold sharp gaze goes to the leader of the Hunters, Zoe Nightshade. "Approach, Seeker, and ask," the Oracle says.

Zoe takes a shaky breath and swallows for good measure. Even I would be uncomfortable, even if I was as old as Zoe. She takes a step forward and speak to the corpse.

"What must I do to help my Goddess."

The mouth of the corpse slowly opens as green mist comes out of it. A barren mountain top was seen. At the top of this mountain was a girl chained and forced to keep something away from her. Her posture was as if she was defending herself from danger. It must be Artemis. Soon the voice starts speaking again and the prophecy follows.

Five shall go west to the Goddess in chains.

The bane of Olympus shows the trail.

Campers and Hunter combined prevail.

The Titan's Curse must one withstand.

One shall be struck down by a parent's hand and feel death's embrace.

And one shall rise to become a leader.

The voice stops, and the corpse sat down on a rock, unmoving. Green mist that swirls around soon retracts back into the corpse through the mouth. All present were deeply worried by what has been said.

—

The corpse was put back into the attic, as it wasn't going to do so by itself. As the Hunters lost, two of them were tasked to bring it back. I heard them complaining about how the corpse reeks and feels. It doesn't surprise me, the corpse is gross.

All the leaders of the cabins and Zoe sat with Chiron and Dionysus to discuss it. Mainly due to the gravity of the situation was the meeting called, and because Hunters and Campers must work together. The meeting was held around the ping pong table. With a wave of his hand, the table filled with snacks and drinks by Dionysus. There even were some bottles of wine.