DIVINE LOSER!

I. Dog Days are Over

THE COUNCIL WAS HELD around a Ping-Pong table in the rec room, though Clarisse much preferred the arena as a meeting place. The air of the big house was too warm, inviting and safe. If you were going to plan out a dangerous, death defying quest, you should be doing it in a suiting environment.

Zoë Nightshade, one of the hunters who had been staying at camp the last few days,  started the meeting off on a positive note. "This is pointless. Why must we talk with campers when our goddess is in danger? The Hunters must leave immediately."

"And go where?" Chiron asked.

"West!" One of the other hunters said—Clarisse thought her name was Bianca. She seemed like a newer hunter since her skin didn't glow as intensely as the other hunters, as if they'd been bathing in moonlight. "You heard the prophecy. Seven shall go west to the goddess in chains. We can get seven hunters and go."

"Yes," Zoë agreed. "Artemis is being held hostage! We must find her and free her."

"You're missing something, as usual," Thalia said, an air of superiority about her. "Campers and Hunters combined prevail. We're supposed to do this together."

"No!" Zoë said. "The Hunters do not need thy help."

"Stop talking like that," Clarisse demanded, looking over the knife she was sharpening. "I swear to the gods you're reminding me of my fuckass english essay."

Zoë looked perplexed, swallowing the words. "Is that a new profanity I am not aware of?"

"Moving on," Chiron continued sharply as Mr. D snickered in the background. "Zoë, I fear the prophecy says you do need our help. Campers and Hunters must cooperate."

"Or do they?" Mr. D mused, swirling his Diet Coke under his nose like it had a fine bouquet. "One shall be lost. One shall be left to despair. One shall perish. That sounds rather nasty, doesn't it? What if you fail because you try to cooperate?"

"Mr. D," Chiron sighed, "with all due respect, whose side are you on?"

Dionysus raised his eyebrows. "Sorry, my dear centaur. Just trying to be helpful."

"We're supposed to work together," Thalia said stubbornly. "I don't like it either, Zoë, but you know prophecies. You want to fight against one?"

Zoë grimaced, but Clarisse could tell Thalia had scored a point.

"We must not delay," Chiron warned. "Today is Sunday. This very Friday, December twenty-first, is the winter solstice."

"Oh, joy," Dionysus muttered. "Another dull annual meeting."

Clarisse set down her knife and sharpening stone, leaning forward against the ping pong table. "My dad's position to strike against the titans now isn't a popular one. Artemis is the only one seriously backing him. If she's not present, the gods won't get anything done. That's another year of war preparations down the toilet."

Zoë nodded, then made a face at her own actions—as if she was surprised to find herself agreeing with Clarisse. "I am not entirely familiar with that expression, but if it means that we will have no preparations...I concur with the daughter of Ares."

"Are you both suggesting that the gods have trouble acting together, young lady?" Dionysus asked.

"Yeah."

"Yes, Lord Dionysus."

Mr. D nodded. "Just checking. You're right, of course. Carry on."

"I must agree with Zoë and Clarisse," said Chiron. "Artemis's presence at the winter council is critical. We have only a week to find her. And possibly even more important: to locate the monster she was hunting. Now, we must decide who goes on this quest."