𝐥𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐥𝐮𝐜𝐤! ʰᵉʳᵒᵉˢ ᵒᶠ ᵒˡʸᵐᵖᵘˢ

𝟎𝟏

BERENICE SIGHED, STARING—up at the chariot containing Annabeth, Butch, and the new demigods. Seeing that they wouldn't be able to make it into the lake, she started internally debating over the merits of trying to bless them with victory (and possibly then causing them to land in the lake but also possibly resulting in them having "victory" and crashing into the campers. Berenice was never sure what kind of "victory" she would be allowed to give). Deciding that she would probably be fine, she decided to go through with it.

Luckily (really, Berenice should have trusted in her luck—she was abnormally lucky, after all), they landed in the lake, safely, and were pulled out by the nereids. Unfortunately, the victory did not extend to the chariot, which was basically destroyed.

"Sorry, Will. Mom probably thought victory for the chariot would be 'achieving a glorious death,' as she would say.  Annabeth, I think we can safely say that you owe me one."

"Alright, then. Berenice, thanks. I really do owe you for that. Will, I'm sorry. I'll get the chariot fixed, I promise."

Will scowled at the chariot, then sized up the new demigods. "These are the ones? Way older than thirteen. Why haven't they been claimed already?"

"Maybe they were claimed, but not at camp?" Berenice spoke at the same time as one of the new campers, a boy who looked sort of like an elf.

"Claimed?"

"Any sign of Percy?" Will asked before anyone could answer the previous question.

"No," Annabeth admitted.

Everyone started gossiping. Berenice was not excluded.

"Holly, Laurel," she started, "who do you think their godly parents are?"

The two aforementioned people immediately started throwing out suggestions—anyone from Athena to Hecate was suggested.

Drew Tanaka, the Aphrodite counselor at that time, stepped forward rather suddenly. "Well, I hope they're worth the trouble."

The elf-like one snorted. "Gee, thanks. What are we, your new pets?"

"No kidding," the blond one said. "How about some answers before you start judging us —like, what is this place, why are we here, how long do we have to stay?"

"Jason, I promise we'll answer your questions," Annabeth said. "And Drew," Annabeth frowned at her. "All demigods are worth saving. But, I'll admit, the trip didn't accomplish what I hoped."

"Hey," the new girl said, "we didn't ask to be brought here."

Drew sniffed. "And nobody wants you, hon. Does your hair always look like a dead badger?"

The new girl stepped forward, but Annabeth said, "Piper, stop."

Piper did.

"We need to make our new arrivals feel welcome," Annabeth said, with another pointed look at Drew. "We'll assign them each a guide, give them a tour of camp. Hopefully by the campfire tonight, they'll be claimed."

"Would somebody tell me what claimed means?" Piper asked.

Suddenly, there was a collective gasp and the campers backed away.