Forgotten prophecy

Chapter 34

When the Hunters strode into the clearing they were greeted with a very strange phenomenon: gratitude and relief. The campers kept their distance, but they came to greet the Hunters with hope in their eyes. Ryker found it odd that every single one of them were garbed in their battle wear. "Thalia." Chiron greeted her, trotting up to the lieutenant in his full white stallion form clad in armor. "It is so good to see you."

"Chiron, always a pleasure." She answered back with an uncertain smile. She nodded back to the armed and ready campers with a raised eyebrow. "Expecting trouble?"

"Things have been difficult of late." Chiron admitted tiredly. "Monster attacks have been more and more common. Rarely a day goes by in which we are not attacked or one of our campers are taken. You can understand how welcome a sight an ally is in these times. Camp Jupiter is facing similar difficulties. In addition to that no one has heard from the Amazons in days."

One of the hunters ushered Cloe forward with a small push and a reassuring smile and the little girl's eyes widened when she saw Chiron. "Horsie." She said in awe.

"Centaur." Chiron corrected with a smile. He glanced back to Thalia. "A new camper?"

"Bad timing, I know." She said regretfully. "But monsters were going after her already. We took out a hydra that had been stalking her house. I thought it would be safer here."

"Were it only so." Chiron said sadly. His expression changed and he smiled winningly at Cloe. "Tell me, have you ever seen a unicorn?"

Cloe's eyes widened and she shook her head vigorously. One of the campers stepped forward at Chiron's signal and led the little girl away to where Ryker presumed they kept the horned horses. "Were you planning on resting a while?" Chiron asked hopefully. "I'm sure that the campers would feel a little more confident with warriors such as yourselves to assist them."

Pursing her lips, Thalia turned back to regard her Hunters. "I don't see why not." She said finally. She gave a signal to the hunters and they immediately began to set up their tents on the outskirts of the camp. "I assume that there is something you want to talk about?"

"Could I have a word in private?" Chiron asked her.

"Of course." Thalia nodded and looked back to Ryker. "See if you can do something about the monster population around here."

Ryker grinned and melted away into the forest, leaving no sign that he had ever been there. "I see that you have gained some control over him." Chiron allowed. "Though since you are Artemis' Lieutenant it stands to reason. I must say I was surprised to see the blessing of Artemis upon him, especially considering who it is that has been taking campers and his relationship to the hunt."

"Lady Artemis sees something in him I guess." Thalia shrugged. "He's a great fighter, but he's too separated from anyone to get close. Cloe really took to him though."

Chiron gestured back to the Big House and Thalia followed him to the building. "So whose been taken recently?" She asked heavily.

Chiron hesitated and sighed. "Connor Stoll and Gina Weiland in the past couple days."

"Who else?" Thalia asked, certain that the counsellor was hiding something. A pit of dread had begun to coil in her stomach and Thalia felt her pulse begin to race. "Jason! Is Jason okay?!"

The centaur said nothing until they were safely inside the Big House. Once the other campers had been ushered out and the door had been closed did Chiron then turn to look at Thalia with tired eyes. "Jason is missing, though we are not sure if he was taken or if something else befell him." Chiron sighed and crossed his arms, stomping one hoof in annoyance. "He left for Camp Jupiter three days ago. That was the last that anyone saw of him. He usually sends an Iris message when he arrives at Camp Jupiter, just to let us know there were no issues in his transit. We waited a day before contacting him, but the call did not go through. I doubt the Romans are even aware of his absence."