Child of Earth

16

I sat up in the willow wishing my newly found family member would return but she didn't.

The moon was setting behind the mountains and I was sitting in the grey light of dawn.

In these mountains it made it hard to tell when it was early morning or night because the sun didn't pop up until 8:00am where-as for everyone west of us would have the sun at 7:00.

The morning was cold but I didn't mind, Awnnie (who snuggled inside of my crossed legs) was keeping me warm along with Nathan's jacket which I used like a blanket over my chest and arms.

My shoes were still below me because to climb a tree like this without risk of breaking your neck you needed bare feet and a lot of skill.

I was thinking over Peramia's news and how little time we had to solve this colossus problem.

Today was July 19th and we had until August 1st to succeed in three quests. I started thinking of the pairs for the quest.

I decided that I would be a good person to handle Death because he was my brother and Harry and I should not work together.

Krystal and Martin couldn't be on my quest but I think my team would be: Nick, Ebony, Nathan and I because Actrovia wasn't related to Death at all and hadn't done anything wrong to him so Nathan was good, Nick was Death's son, I was his sister and Ebony was only distantly related to him and a very strong person.

For the 'Pain Mission' it should be Martin, Dakota, Holly and Harry because Dakota was his daughter, Martin was his nephew and his dad had helped destroy the palace so he couldn't see Yani, Holly would also be killed if she saw Yani and Harry because he was Pain's half-brother.

Lastly the 'Palace Mission' should have Georgia, Sarah, Krystal and Ron because all of them were on good terms with Yani.

I had finally decided on this list just as the sun's rays reached over top of the mountain and it began to rise like a helium balloon in super slow motion.

I convinced Awnnie to get up and then I jumped out of the tree. It wasn't very high off the ground but I did I roll to avoid hurting my now injured body.

I came up on my knees and I walked steadily for the castle.

My hands were freezing so I shoved them into my armpits and I tucked my head into my chest so my neck stayed warm.

I arrived at the castle at about 8:20 and I realised that no-one was up yet.

I walked into the corridor where the Councillors and staff slept and I saw that each door had a name plate on it. I walked down the hall until I was standing between two doors.

One said Hazel and the other said Clare.

I wanted to be able to ask Hazel for help like when I was younger but it seemed that Clare had more trust in me.

I stood pondering for a minute before I heard a bed squeak as someone got out of it.

The noise came from Hazel's room.

That decided it, I was going to ask Hazel. I knocked on her door and stood back with my hands behind my back.

I started rocking on my heels and clicking my tongue quietly (a habit of mine) before the door opened and I saw Hazel with a dressing gown and fuzzy slippers on.

"Oh Thalia I didn't know you had gotten out of the infirmary, Martin wants a word with you by the way."

She yawned and stretched her arms far behind her.

"So what do you need?"

"Can I come in?" I asked "It's a long story and I think it's better to be sitting down when you hear it."

"Uh sure..." Hazel said standing to one side "Come on in."

Hazel's room was almost identical to mine but it had more personal touches like band posters on the walls, choice coloured curtains, little potted plants along the window sill and a large wooden rocking chair facing the window. Hazel sat in the rocking chair so I sat on her bed.

"Ok here goes..."

I told her everything I remembered since waking up last night.

The jacket, the owl, the forest, the willow tree area and of course the Goddess and her warning.

By the time I had finished the sun was completely above the mountains.

"Alright we need to cancel the activities today and have a quest meeting in the meeting room."

Soon everyone was in the meeting room most people still had aprons on from cooking class and some had gloves on from gardening.

Each person was sitting down except for Hazel, Clare and Lloyd who were standing in front of the TV.

"Okay..." said Hazel.

"We need to organise quests, and everyone's gotta go or we won't make it.

I understand all of you are only thirteen and have only been trained for a few days but we have no choice.

The Gods are at the brink of war and we need to stop that from happening. Thalia can tell us the three quests and who needs to go on them?"

All faces turned to me as I stood up and explained what had happened last night.

"-Okay so the list is this," I said pointing to each person as I assigned them a quest.

"To stop Volminus AKA Pain we'll need; Martin, Holly, Dakota and Harry.

For saving our counsellor by stopping Ovoinrae (Water) and Yani (Air) from fighting we'll need; Sarah, Ron, Georgia and Krystal.

Lastly to stop Tomeinus (Death), Nick, Nathan, Ebony and I will have to infiltrate the underworld, stop death from killing billions, leave the underworld relatively unscathed and then we can all figure out a way for the Gods to tell us this massive secret without offending anyone. "

I clapped my hands together.

"Piece of cake."