𝒎𝒊𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒍 - 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒚 𝒋𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒙 𝒐𝒄

‧⁺˚*･༓𝑺𝑬𝑽𝑬𝑵༓･*˚⁺‧

The next morning, Chiron moved Percy to cabin three.

He was absolutely miserable. At meals, he would sit by himself and just stare off at his old table or sometimes at Phoenix, wishing he could have someone to sit with.

One day, Phoenix was practicing archery with Harlow when she noticed Percy and Grover heading to the big house. She felt like it was important so she ran to catch up with them when a hand grabbed her arm.

"Hold on," A voice whispered. Phoenix quickly recognized it as Annabeth's. "Something big is going to happen."

Phoenix nodded at the invisible person clutching her wrist.

The two snuck up to the window and saw Chiron and Mr. D.

"You should go in and just tell me what they say. I can wait out here," Phoenix told Annabeth.

"Okay," Annabeth whispered and she snuck in as the door opened for Percy and Grover.

Phoenix continued to watch from the window. When she saw Percy walk upstairs she knew what was happening.

Percy was given a quest.

The door flew open and Annabeth ran out and pulled off her hat so she was visible to Phoenix.

"He's got a quest!" She exclaimed.

"That's great!" Phoenix smiled. "Is he going to pick you?"

"I'm going to volunteer," She nodded proudly. "He should pick you too."

"I don't know, he might pick Grover."

Annabeth shrugged and glanced back into the room as the stairs creaked.

"He's coming back," Annabeth smiled and she pulled Phoenix into the room.

"Hello Miss Gomez," Chiron nodded. "Are you going to volunteer also?"

"Um- maybe," She stuttered.

"Well?" Chiron asked Percy as he walked into the room.

Phoenix studied his face. He looked confused, sad, and mad at the same time. He also refused to make eye contact with her.

Percy slumped into a chair at the pinochle table. "She said I would retrieve what was stolen." 

Grover sat forward in his chair, chewing excitedly on the remains of a Diet Coke can."That's great!" 

"What did the Oracle say exactly?" Chiron pressed. "This is important." 

"She...she said I would go west and face a god who had turned. I would retrieve what was stolen and see it safely returned." 

"I knew it," Grover said. 

Chiron didn't look satisfied. "Anything else?" 

Percy paused for a moment, "No," He finally said. "That's about it." 

Now Phoenix was confused. Her dad was quite literally the god of Oracles and the words Percy said were not enough.

Chiron nodded slowly. "Very well, Percy. But know this: the Oracle's words often have double meanings. Don't dwell on them too much. The truth is not always clear until events come to pass." 

"Okay," Percy said, anxious to change topics. "So where do I go? Who's this god in the west?" 

"Ah, think, Percy," Chiron said. "If Zeus and Poseidon weaken each other in a war, who stands to gain?" 

"Somebody else who wants to take over?" Percy guessed. 

"Yes, quite. Someone who harbors a grudge, who has been unhappy with his lot since the world was divided eons ago, whose kingdom would grow powerful with the deaths of millions. Someone who hates his brothers for forcing him into an oath to have no more children, an oath that both of them have now broken."