MELANCHOLY [1]

SIX

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six
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THE CAMPFIRE WAS PROBABLY Via's favourite part of camp. There were sing-alongs about how their grandmas got dressed for war. What could be better?

Via spotted Leo sitting with Cabin Nine, a group of burly-looking campers, under a steel gray banner emblazoned with a hammer. Jason was nearby in the front, sitting next to Annabeth. Standing in the front of the fire, half a dozen campers with guitars and lyres were jumping around, singing. Everyone started singing alone, making gestures for the pieces of armour and joking around. Piper's face was hilarious. As the energy level got higher, the flames did too, turning from red to orange to gold.

Finally, the song ended with a lot of rowdy applause, Via part of it. Chiron trotted up. He brandished a spear impaled with toasted marshmallows. "Very nice! And a special welcome to our new arrivals. I am Chiron, camp activities director, and I'm happy you have all arrived alive and with most of your limbs attached." Piper choked on her marshmallow at that. "In a moment, I promise we'll get to the s'mores, but first-"

"What about capture the flag?" Somebody yelled. Grumbling broke out among the kids of the Ares cabin.

"Yes," the centaur said. "I know the Ares cabin is anxious to return to the woods for our regular games-"

"And kill people!" one of them shouted. Via rolled her eyes.

"However," Chiron said, "until the dragon is brought under control, that won't be possible. Cabin Nine, anyone to report on that?"

He turned to Leo's group. Leo winked at Piper and shot Via with a finger gun. Nyssa stood uncomfortably. She wore an army jacket just like Leo's, with her hair covered in a red bandanna. "We're working on it."

More grumbling.

"How, Nyssa?" an Ares kid demanded.

"Really hard." The girl replied.

Nyssa sat down to a lot of yelling and complaining which caused the fire to sputter chaotically. Chiron stamped his hoof against the fire stones— bang, bang, bang— and the campers fell silent.

"We will have to be patient," Chiron said. "In the meantime, we have more pressing matters to discuss."

"Percy?" Someone asked. The fire dimmed even further, and Via looked to the ground.

Chiron gestured to Annabeth. She looked at Via, telling her to stand up. She took a deep breath and stood.

"We didn't find Percy," Annabeth announced. Her voice caught a little when she said his name. "He wasn't at the Grand Canyon like we thought." She swallowed and looked away, unable to say more.