Two Steps Behind

Seven

Two months earlier

-Brandon's POV-

I sat on my bunk in cabin seven, fiddling with my bowstring. I waited patiently for something, anything to happen. I was currently the sole occupant of the Apollo cabin in the off season, since Will was almost always in the Hades cabin with Nico. I was really happy for them, but the bright walls didn't help prevent the loneliness I felt.

Most of the campers were gone, the only ones who remained in camp were the year rounders. There used to be more of them, but after the second demigod civil war, most decided that they wanted to see their families instead.

Eventually I left the cabin and walked to the archery ranges, knowing full well that they would be empty. When I arrived, I was pleasantly surprised to see that I wasn't alone. There were a few kids from the Hermes cabin, along with Will and Nico. Will appeared to be trying to teach Nico how to properly use a bow, while the Hermes kids were all practicing archery like your average middle school kids, all with the wrong posture and never hitting within the red rings on the target.

I decided to show them how it was done. I strung one of the practice bows with my lucky string and took aim at a central unoccupied target. Chaining three shots back-to-back, I hit a bullseye with two, and hit a robin hood on the third. Perks of being an Apollo kid, you get to show off your archery skills.

Will smirked, "Maybe you can teach this grumpy little ball of darkness a thing or two."

"I told you not to call me that." Nico retorted, "Also I'm doing perfectly fine, thank you."

"No you're not! You have been here for an hour and haven't landed a single arrow!"

I laughed. "I'm not getting involved in this."

Nico shot me a look that I read as 'save me' before Will went back to critiquing his stance.

I continued to shoot arrows at the target, making it into a glorified pincushion. When I finally walked up to retrieve my arrows and change the target, Nico had actually landed three arrows on his target. I smiled, finishing with my target and continuing to practice.

After a while, when I was about to change the target for the tenth time, the sound of a horn echoed over the hills. The Hermes kids, all almost in sync, dropped their bows and ran towards the dining pavilion, leaving me, Will, and Nico to clean up their mess. I unstrung and stored all of the bows while Nico helped Will change and cover the targets.

Seeing Will reminded me of something I had seen earlier. An owl had dropped off a letter at the Apollo cabin yesterday, which was strange. Only two people would deliver a letter by owl, and I doubted that it was Annabeth.

"Will, before you head off to dinner, a letter was dropped off for you at the Apollo cabin."

He glanced over at me, "A letter? From whom?"

"I Dunno, but it was delivered by an owl."

The three of us exchanged glances, all knowing where this might be going. Then the three of us quickly made our way to cabin seven.

The cabin glowed as always, its golden exterior bending light in a way that would only fit Apollo. I led them inside, snatching the worn letter off of the vacant bed that used to be Will's. The envelope was yellowed and seemed to have gone through a storm. The name 'Will Solace' was written in strange print, not like what you would expect to come from a goddess. There were even still visible talon marks from where the owl had carried it.

Will took the letter, examining it. "You sure this isn't from Annabeth? This isn't the handwriting of a goddess, much less the goddess of wisdom."

"Like I told you, It was delivered by an owl. If Annabeth sent you something, it would have been through Hermes, not an owl" I responded.

He carefully opened the letter and surprise flashed across his face. He narrowed his eyes as he read. Nico read over his shoulder, his own face showing surprise then confusion.

"What is it?" I asked. Will looked up, almost as if he had forgotten I was even there.

"A letter from Alyx," He responded, "Delivered by an owl."

"You mean that girl you always talk about? The one from Iowa?"

Will nodded and looked at the envelope. He then grabbed what looked to be a feather from within. It was long like a tail feather, colored crimson red with intermittent fiery oranges and yellows.

"It's warm." Will said, Nico also agreed. I touched the feather, and they were right, the feather seemed to produce a radiant heat. I could almost bet that it glowed too, but we didn't test it. Instead, Will pocketed the note and the feather and we went to dinner.

I sat at the Apollo table, and I wasn't alone. Will and Nico had decided to join me. When Chiron announced the meal's start, we stood. I scraped half of my brisket and a quarter of my desert into the flames, simply thanking my father for watching over me.

Only a day later, the camp was empty. Earlier in the morning, the Hermes kids had all left, leaving a grand total of three campers, two of whom had received a prophecy and were getting ready to leave. Will only told me this five minutes before they were to leave.

"I'm sorry for the short notice" Will said, his voice soft.

"But quests are taken by three, you only have two."

"Nico doesn't want to risk more lives, so it will just be the two of us"

I shook my head. "If it is that dangerous, then neither of you should be going!"

"We will be okay; Nico is being picky. Besides, we need somebody here in case a half-blood comes into camp. I don't really want a half-blood here alone with Mr. D and Chiron, might wind up with them going insane."

"Fair," I agreed. "Where will your quest be taking you?"

Will paused for a moment, as if saying it would make the quest real. His hand reached into his pocket and retrieved the feather.

"Could you look after this for me?" He seemed to be avoiding the question I had posed.

"I guess," I took the feather, its warmth again surprising me. "But you will be coming back, I believe in you two. So long as you stick together and keep your spirits high, you will come back alive."

"Will! Let's go! We need to catch our cab!" Nico called from the side of half-blood hill. Will turned and ran up towards Nico with his bags. I waved them goodbye, hoping that they would survive their quest.

I hoped I would survive being the only half-blood here at camp. For the first time in my life, I was truly alone.