𝒎𝒊𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒍 - 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒚 𝒋𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒙 𝒐𝒄

¸„.-•~*°˜¨ 𝑭𝑰𝑽𝑬 ¨˜ˆ°*~•-.„¸

"Whoa," Nico said as he climbed off 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. Zoe, have you met—" 

"I know Chiron," Zoe said stiffly. "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!" 

Zoe rolled her eyes, but 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 brothers 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 gave Phoenix a hug and kissed her forehead, "I love you Firebird." he hopped back in the bus. "See you later, Thalia," he called. "And, 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. 

Phoenix turned to Nico who was still looking grumpy. She wondered what Bianca had told him. 

"Who's Chiron?" he asked. "I don't have his figurine." 

"Our activities director," Percy said. "He's... well, you'll see."

"If those Hunter girls don't like him," Nico grumbled, "that's good enough for me. Let's go." 

"Hey Nico, where do I know you from?" Phoenix asked.

Nico shrugged, "I don't know. What's your name again?"

"Phoenix," she replied.

"That's a cool name," he replied. "I don't know you though."

"Oh okay, thanks," Phoenix replied. "You just look familiar."

Camp Half-blood was very empty. Just the year-rounders would be there—the ones who didn't have homes to go to, or would get attacked by monsters too much if they left. But there didn't even seem to be many of them, either. Charles Beckendorf from the Hephaestus cabin stayed, so did the Stoll brothers, Travis and Connor, from the Hermes cabin. They were picking the lock on the camp store. A few kids from the Ares cabin were having a snowball fight with the wood nymphs at the edge of the forest. That was about it.

Clarisse was there for a while, but one day she left without telling Phoenix.

The Big House was decorated with strings of red and yellow fireballs that warmed the porch but didn't seem to catch anything on fire. Inside, flames crackled in the hearth. The air smelled like hot chocolate. Mr. D, the camp director, and Chiron were playing a quiet game of cards in the parlor. Chiron's brown beard was shaggier for the winter. His curly hair had grown a little longer. He wore a fuzzy sweater with a hoofprint design on it, and he had a blanket on his lap that almost hid his wheelchair completely. 

He smiled when he saw the children. "Percy! Phoenix! Thalia! Ah, and this must be—" 

"Nico di Angelo," Percy said. "He and his sister are half-bloods." 

Chiron breathed a sigh of relief. "You succeeded, then." 

"Well..." 

His smile melted. "What's wrong? And where is Annabeth and Davey?"