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Rory loved Camp Half-Blood in the winter.
Frost covered the chariot track and the strawberry fields. The cabins were decorated with tiny flickering lights — made of little balls of real fire. More lights glowed in the woods, and a fire flickered in the attic window of the Big House, where the Oracle dwelt.
"Whoa," Nico said as he clambered out of the bus. "Is that a climbing wall?"
"Yeah," Percy said.
"Why is there lava pouring down it?"
"Little extra challenge. Come on. I'll introduce you to Chiron. Zoë, have you met—"
"I know Chiron," Zoë said stiffly. She addressed Rory, "Tell him we will be in Cabin Eight. Hunters, follow me."
"I'll show you the way," Grover offered.
"We know the way."
"Oh, really, it's no trouble. It's easy to get lost here, if you don't—" he tripped over a canoe and came up still talking, "—like my old daddy goat used to say! Come on!"
Zoë rolled her eyes, but she must have figured there was no getting rid of Grover. The Hunters shouldered their packs and their bows and headed off toward the cabins.
As Bianca di Angelo was leaving, she leaned over and whispered something in her brother's ear. She looked at him for an answer, but Nico just scowled and turned away.
"Take care, sweethearts!" Apollo called after the Hunters. He winked at Percy. "Watch out for those prophecies, Percy. I'll see you soon."
"What do you mean?"
Instead of answering, he hopped back in the bus. "Later, girls," he called. "Good to finally meet you, Aurora Leigh! And Thalia, uh, be good!"
He gave her a wicked smile, as if he knew something she didn't. Then he closed the doors and revved the engine. Rory turned away as the sun chariot took off in a blast of heat. When she looked back, the lake was steaming. A red convertible soared over the woods, glowing brighter and climbing higher until it disappeared in a ray of sunlight.
Nico was still looking grumpy. "Who's Chiron?" he asked. "I don't have his figurine."
"If those Hunter girls don't like him," Nico grumbled, "that's good enough for me. Let's go."
They walked around the camp, which was mostly empty this time of year — most half-bloods only trained during the summer. Just the year-rounders would be here — the ones who didn't have homes to go to, or would get attacked by monsters too much if they left (both of which applied to Rory). But there didn't even seem to be many of them, either.
