𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔾𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥 𝕎𝕒𝕣||HoO

𝐕𝐈𝐈

MAISIE'S DREAMS didn't make any sense. She mostly saw different images and sounds: a woman sleeping, Hera, a cage made of stone, a ruined house in a forest of redwoods, Lina kneeling over her as she died, Lina screaming, purple flames, Lina asleep with mist surrounding her, Hera warning not to fail. None of it seemed to fit together. 

When she woke up, the sun was just barely peaking above the horizon, which was surprising, because it meant Maisie had slept in. Apollo kids were always up at the exact same time as the sun.

Everyone else was already up, moving around, doing their own thing. Maisie got up, grabbing her old backpack she had been using for quests ever since she was twelve. She grabbed two pairs of jeans, one she shoved in her bag, the other she set on the bed to change into. She put a white t shirt and a tan hoodie into her bag, then changed into her camp shirt and a yellow hoodie. She then grabbed her dagger, and bow and arrows, putting them on top of her clothes so they would be easy to reach. Her backpack wasn't big enough for her bow and quiver to fit all the way inside, so they stuck out of the top of the backpack. Thankfully the Mist usually covered them, so the mortals didn't notice.

"Don't forget this," Will said, handing her a Ziplock bag full of ambrosia and a yellow canteen full of nectar.

Maisie took them and put them under her hoodie. She grabbed her tan cargo jacket from her trunk and put it on over her hoodie, for extra warmth.

Will pulled her into a tight hug. Maisie felt bad for leaving so soon after coming back. Her brother always worried when she went on quests, and now she might be dying again? He was probably terrified.

"Please be careful," he muttered, still hugging her.

"I will," Maisie assured him. "I promise."

"I can't-I can't," Will couldn't finish, but Maisie knew what he meant. I can't loose you again.

Their goodbye was interrupted as the alarm went off. A conch horn blew, and they could hear people screaming, and rushing outside.

Maisie grabbed her bow, and pulled out an arrow as they ran outside, joining the large group of demigods that were gathering in the green, surrounding the giant bronze dragon that had just landed. And sitting on the large bronze death machine was Leo Valdez.

"It's cool!" he yelled. "Don't shoot!"

Maisie and the other archers lowered their bows, but the others kept their spears and swords at the ready. The large group made a wide ring around the metal monsters. Some other demigods hid behind their cabin doors or peeped out the windows. Nobody seemed anxious to get close.

Maisie couldn't blame them. The dragon was huge. It glistened in the morning sun like a living penny sculpture - different shades of copper and bronze - a sixty-foot-long serpent with steel talons and drill-bit teeth and glowing ruby eyes. It had bat-shaped wings twice its length that unfurled like metallic sails, making a sound like coins cascading out of a slot machine every time they flapped.

"It's beautiful," Piper muttered, earning her quiet a few looks from the surrounding demigods.

The dragon reared ins head and shot a column of fire into the sky. Campers scrambled away and hefted their weapons, but Leo slid calmly off the dragon's back. He held up his hands like he was surrendering, except he still had that crazy grin on his face.

"People of Earth, I come in peace!" he shouted. He looked like he'd been rolling around in the campfire. His army coat and his face were smeared with soot. His hands were grease-stain, and he wore a new tool belt around his waist. His  eyes were bloodshot. HIs curly hair was so oily it stuck up in porcupine quills, and he smelled strangely of Tabasco sauce. But he looked absolutely delighted. "Festus is just saying hello!"