Percy of the Huntsmen

The Eve of Battle

Three Days Later

Much had happened in these last three days. Several Telekhines had used Hephaestus' workshop under Mount St. Helens to reforge Kronos' golden scythe, then they blew it up in order to awaken Typhon. Not the best thing to happen. Currently, the gods were off fighting the nearly unstoppable monster.

Well, all the gods except Poseidon. Oceanus and his armies were keeping him busy enough underwater.

Naturally, this left only the demigods and Huntsmen to defend Olympus against Kronos' massive army of demigods and monsters. Great. Just great.

In spite of all of these events, Percy (of all people) had to attend the counselors' meeting (of all things) in the Big House (of all places). It didn't help the serious mood of war conversation to be sitting at a Ping Pong table, and Adam was on a "precautionary check of weapons stock," also known as the "I don't care about this meeting so I made up a bogus job so I can send my Beta to represent the Huntsmen for me."

"If I can please have your attention," Chiron tapped his hoof on the floor of the rec room. "We have a serious matter to discuss."

"No shit." Percy said, annoyed. "Did you just invite us here to tell us that Kronos is a serious matter?"

Chiron ignored him. "Our Oracle has held a prophesy for many years, and has now seen fit to give it to us."

Percy groaned and slouched in his chair. Thalia, who was sitting next to him, hit him on the shoulder.

Chiron unfolded a scrap of paper. He read:

"A half-blood of the eldest gods

Shall reach sixteen against all odds

And see the world in endless sleep

The hero's soul, cursed blade shall reap

A single choice shall end her days

Olympus to preserve or raze."

"Pfft," Percy said as he sat back up in his chair, "she gave that prophesy out right after World War II. That's all old news."

"We have never heard of this prophet until now. How did you hear it?"

Percy gave him a look. "You lot were all too busy hating on Hades to notice your little Oracle, but we Huntsmen notice everything. It's our job."

"Why wouldn't you share it with us?"

"The last time we tried to contact you regarding profecies, demi-idiots killed one of our Betas. Since the Delphi Massacre, we've had a strict no-contact policy."

"You call it a massacre? I sent four demigods to investigate spying on the Oracle. The survivors claimed it was they who were outnumbered and barely managed to escape with their lives."

"We can argue the fine points of history later. This actually might be bad." Percy surprised himself. He did find something out at this meeting.

"What concerns you?" Chiron asked.

Percy turned to Thalia. "How old were you when you were turned into a tree?"

"I was thirteen."

"So, with the aging difference when you were in tree form, you should turn sixteen this year. When is your birthday?"

"The twenty-second."

"Two days away." Percy's brow furrowed in thought. "This whole thing revolves around a half-blood being sixteen years old, so I'm guessing that's when the attack on Mount Olympus will start. We have to move there and set up our defenses."