"Are you sure you know who you're choosing?" Anais asked, raising her eyebrows at Arabella's unsual sense of preperation.
"Yes, Nai. You said whoever is choose is right, right? I have my six." Anais' eyes darted over to meet Chiron's for a split second, before returning to the dark haired girl.
"Yes. Remind me who's coming? You, Cass, Percy, Piper..." she trailed off.
"Charlie, and uh, Leo," Arabella muttered, avoiding her "called it" look. "I just think he could be helpful," she defended. "He has fire powers for fucks sake, is that not helpful?"
"Sure, Sure," she teased. "Go talk to them, and pack your clothes and things. Chiron and I will pack the essentials." She shared a knowing look with the centaur as Arabella nodded, turning on her heel and jogging over to Piper, who was sharpening her dagger.
" 'while nature's daughter walks alone.' You heard who she's taking- who else could it be? I mean- i know she's not exactly 'nature's daughter'- but like... grapes? Dionysus is the god of those, right? I'm just-" Chiron shook his head, cutting off Anais.
" 'Tortured dance comes tantalisingly close, while nature's daughter walks alone. The best of them shall suffer the most, the changed six shall return home.' Honestly, i'm more worried about the 'tortured dance', and 'the best of them' suffering the most." He sighed, a long, loud sound, unsurprising for a half-horse. His gaze trailed over to the group of six in the distance, talking merrily, unaware of the sinister words deciding their fates. He prayed to the Gods that Percy, the most experienced one of them all, would keep them as safe as possible. Sure, Arabella was incredible with her knives, but she lacked the self preservation skills that would keep her safe. That being said, Percy wasn't much better- Annabeth was the one to call, but for reasons unknown to him, she hadn't been picked to come.
"At least she's got a good selection of people. Leo, as she said, has his fire, and Piper and Cass will be able to get them anywhere- her charmspeak, and Cassie's thievery skills? Unstoppable. Im not sure about Charlie- maybe he's like a good luck charm, being the son of Nike?" Anais guessed. Chiron mutely nodded in agreement.
Hours later, the six stood by Thalia's pine, a large group of their friends surrounding them. Annabeth was fussing over Percy, Piper was deep in conversation with Leila and Anais, as Arabella was saying her goodbyes to her friends Rory and Estrella.
"Do you have to go? Camp's going to be so boring without your parties," Rory whined.
"Cas and Pollux will throw parties, i'm sure. Come on, this is my quest! Of course I have to go," she responded.
Estrella sighed. "Can I borrow your makeup table while you're gone? The lighting in your room is so much better than mine," she groaned.
Arabella nodded, a small smile painting her face as she hugged her friends goodbye. The six of them walked down to the bottom of the hill, where Argus sat, parked in his new minivan. The group shared a look when they saw the battered vehicle the hundred-eyed man had been bragging about all week - he took pride in his modes of transport. Arabella took one last look at camp as she climbed into the van, unknown to her, the last look she'd ever take with all six of them by her side.
