Warriors of Wisdom

Chapter Twenty-One

It was dinner time at Camp Half Blood. Everyone was having a good time, until they saw us and the Hunters step through the portal. Chiron trotted toward us.

"Our heroes have returned!" Chiron announced. Everyone cheered. Chiron looked at the group we had, until he realized that there was someone that should have been with us. Everyone else was starting to notice this, too. "Where is Asher?"

I looked at my friends, hoping that they would explain. I was afraid that if I did, I'd break down sobbing in front of the whole camp.

Luckily, Hayden stepped up to the job of explaining. "Well, it's a long story..."

"To the campfire!" Chiron yelled. All of the campers got up and headed toward Hestia's Hearth and took a seat. We all took turns recounting our entire quest. When we got to the part where Asher died, Hayden took on this part. When he finished, everyone gasped. Some of the girls started to break down in tears, including my sister Jordan. Zach and Sean had to comfort her.

Chiron looked very upset. Then he spoke again. "We shall hold a last minute funeral for the child. Veronica, could you please oversee the burial rights?" Veronica agreed to this.

About an hour later, everyone was seated in the arena, including the Hunters of Artemis. They set a fire in the arena for us to burn Asher's shroud. When everyone was quiet, we started the funeral. Jordan, Zach, Sean and I held his shroud. It was gray with a picture of an owl stitched on it. Chiron beckoned us to bring it to the fire. We walked toward the flames and set the shroud in it. Everyone watched as it burned. Chiron let us say a few words in his honor. I was first.

"I-" My voice faltered, but I continued. "I never knew Asher for a long time. I mean, all that happened was that he pretended to go to my mortal school, brought me to Camp Half Blood, and then disappeared. But I will never forget him. Asher is the reason I am here right now, able to be safe from the treacherous monsters that roam outside of these borders. He was very intelligent, and he would do anything-" I looked at my siblings. "-for his family." Jordan started to tear up again, and the boys nodded at me. They said their own last words to him, but my mind was a blur for the rest of the night.

It wasn't until we were heading back toward our cabins when I remembered something. I found Amelie heading toward the Artemis cabin.

"Amelie!" I yelled. She turned around and saw me.

"Hey," she said. "Anything you need?"

We stopped in front of the cabin. "Actually I have a question."

"Bring it on me."

"How did you escape the bus station? We saw the empousai and we thought you died-"

Amelie almost laughed. "Pfft! You really think I would die at the feet of a few weak empousai? Of course I survived. Pulled a few tricks and escaped the bus station just fine. I assembled the rest of the Hunters and we went to L.A. to help you and Cecilia." She yawned. "Well, I hope that's all you had to say. I'm tired. Good night. Oh, and don't forget Cecilia's offer." At first I didn't know what she was saying until I remembered Cecilia offering me to join the Hunters. I turned around and sauntered back to Cabin 6.

It wasn't until the next day when we got praised for our quest. Not like I was expecting praise, but we got it. The Hunters had left already. I was eating breakfast at the Athena table, until Hayden and Alex came over.

"Hey," Hayden greeted. "We've got some business to take care of." He showed me the jar of the green spirit, and I knew what we had to do. I got up and followed them toward Chiron at the head table. "Chiron," Hayden said. "We have something for you." Hayden gave the jar to Chiron. He picked it up and examined it.