Daughter of Mother Earth

Chapter Fifteen

For thy child that hopes to be claimed
Her mother shall continue to go unnamed
But if the child should refuse the call
She will forever doom us all
-----

Her helpers helped her out of her seat and set her away from the hearth to rest.

All eyes immediately went to Chiron. "It seems that another camper is to go with Jason."

Annabeth spoke up, "But tradition-"

"I am well aware of the tradition, but prophecies overrule that."

"It's Crystal." Leo stood back up.

Crystal head shot up. All eyes immediately went to her. "What?"

"It has to be you! You said it yourself. It's been five years and you still haven't been claimed!" Leo excitedly said.

"Thats true. Percy made the gods promise to claim their kids as soon as they get to camp. I have a feeling you won't be claimed a while more." Chiron nodded.

"It-it can't be me. I'm not made for quests. Th-There has to be someone else who's not claimed." She nervously said, not used to all the attention.

"Come on, Crystal. You're the only kid that isn't claimed." Annabeth replied.

"I can't... I'm sorry." Crystal looked down.

"No," Leo insisted. "The prophecy said, But if the child should refuse the call, she will forever doom us all. Crystal you have to accept the quest! You're going to doom us all! Er, no pressure."

Crystal thought for a moment. What if it is me? I have been wanting to know who I truely am...

She sighed, "Okay. I'm going to regret this, but I'm in."

Chiron nodded. "It is settled. You will leave in the morning. Everyone may leave."

As Crystal was heading back to the Hermes cabin, a hand suddenly clasped her wrist and she was pulled into the woods.

"What the-" Another hand covered her mouth.

Immediately going into defense mode, she stomped on her kidnapper's foot and flipped him over her shoulder.

"Qué diablos! Eso duele, hermosa! It's me, Leo!" It moaned.

"Leo? I'm sorry! I thought you were a monster or something!" She helped him up. "But it serves you right, scaring me."

"Noted," He groaned.

Crystal put a hand on her hip. "Why did you bring me here?"

"I need your help. I heard from Jake about this mysterious dragon in the woods. I was going to fix it, so we can use it for our quest." He started walking deeper into the woods.

"Leo, are you crazy?! That dragon is wild and vicious. One look and it'll kill us!" Crystal walked with him.

"Yes, but there's no other way. We have too."

Crystal groaned. "Fine, I'll help. If we die, I'm going to kill you."

"Fine with me, hermosa." He shrugged.

They walked until they were sure no one at the cabins could see them. It was really dark in the woods and they couldn't really see.

"Hermosa, I'm going to do something, but you can not tell anyone. Okay?" Leo turned to Crystal.

"Okay," Crystal tilted her head, confused.

Leo raised his hand and summoned a small fire. It was giving enough light to see. Leo watched the fire dance along his fingertips, but Crystal could see a little guilt in his eyes. She decided to not say anything about it.

"Cool." She said.

"You think it's cool? It's not weird?" Leo asked, astonished.

Crystal snorted, "Leo, have you meet anyone at this camp? We are all weird. You're just a little more special."

He smiled in gratitude. "Thanks."

They continued walking until they saw a really large trap. It was a huge crater in a clearing. Inside it was a metal vat, a little bigger than a hot tub. It was filled with bubbling dark liquid.

Crystal sniffed the air, "Is that Tabasco sauce and... motor oil?"

Leo nodded and moved closer to study it. Crystal felt something hard under her feet, so she bent down and brushed through the dirt and leaves.

"Hey, Leo. I think there's net wiring lining the crater. It looks like bronze." She straightened back up.

Leo moved closer and put his foot on the nearest trigger.

"Leo, no!" Crystal blurted out.

"Sh! It's made for something way heavier. Like, really heavy." He replied.

"Is there an off switch?" Crystal asked.

He shook his head, "I don't think so."

As he continued looking, Crystal stayed back. After a few moments, she heard it. A deep rumbling you can feel through your whole body. A sound only a dragon could make.