Split Life Of War DISCONTINUED

21 Tantalus

Chapter 21

                The world went by in a blur outside of the flames, and soon enough I found myself in the campfire of Camp.    Caleb helped me out of the the circle of stones and onto the dirt floor.  We walked towards the big house with Alisa and Alex.  I would miss Jacob over the next three months.  Chiron came out of the big house to meet us.

                "What are you all doing here?"  He looked positively alarmed.

                "Why wouldn't we be here?"  I questioned him.

                "It's not safe for you here Catherine, and Caleb also has a powerful aura already."

                "But camp is the only place safe for us!"

                "Not anymore."

                "What happened, and who is that man in the orange jumpsuit?"

                "Oh, that will be your new camp director."

                "What about you?"

                "I will show you children."  Chiron led up up the hill to Thalia's Tree.  When I saw it, I stopped immediately.  The tree was dying.  Its branches were withered, and its needles brown.  "The tree was poisoned, and the gods blamed me because my father was Kronos.  And now they have sent Tantalus, a spirit from the underworld, to be the new camp director."  We all looked at him in question.  "Tantalus was very close to the gods, wanted the recipe for Ambrosia and Nectar, but the gods declined, and he cooked his kids for the gods' dinner.  Then when he died, his punishment was to stand in a pond with a fruit tree above him, but he cannot eat or drink, ever."  The four demigods nodded.  I frowned.

                "I already miss Jacob."  When I looked at the rest, Alisa and Raven agreed.

                "Who is Jacob?"   Chiron looked very confused.  I bit my lip.

                "Uh...  He's this Demigod and Wizard that we met a Hogwarts."

                "Why didn't he come with you?"

                "Uh... HewaskindabannedfromCampwhenhewasyoungforlisteningtoKronos."

                "He's a Wizard?!?"

                "Uh... Yeah... But we made peace with him, and he is now a spy for Camp."

                "He was the one who is starting to make a monster army."

                "Chiron I-"

                "Cease all contact with him and forget he ever existed."  He turned away, ending the conversation.  My friends looked at me with remorse.  Then I heard the clatter of metal.

                "Cathy!"  I turned to see a full-armored Clarisse barreling towards me.  I braced myself for her to crash into me, but she stopped right at the last second.  "Hey mini.  You are requested for border patrol, and bring one of your friends."  I frowned.

                "I'm not that small, am I?  Caleb, come with me.  Is Annabeth back yet?"  I started twisting my charms for my armor.  We all started walking toward the Hephaestus cabin.

                "Nah, I have no idea when Annabeth will be getting back.  And Chiron told Ms. Jackson that Kelp Head wouldn't be safe here anymore.  How's it going Alex?"  Clarisse was walking next to me.