[1] 𝐼𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑢𝑠 - 𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑦 𝐽𝑎𝑐𝑘𝑠𝑜𝑛

1.04

-

CAMP HALF-BLOOD in winter was beautiful.

Frost covered the chariot track and the strawberry fields. The cabins were decorated with tiny flickering lights, like Christmas lights, except they seemed to be balls of real fire. More lights glowed in the woods, and weirdest of all, a fire flickered in the attic window of the Big House, where the Oracle dwelt, imprisoned in an old mummified body.

"Whoa," Nico said as Katniss helped him climb off the bus. "Is that a climbing wall?"

"Yup," Cass said.

"Why is there lava pouring down it?"

"Little extra challenge," Percy said. "Come on. I'll introduce you to Chiron. Zoë, have you met—"

"I know Chiron," Zoë said stiffly. "Tell him we will be in Cabin Eight. Hunters, follow me."

"I'll show you the way," Grover offered.

"We know the way."

"Oh, really, it's no trouble. It's easy to get lost here, if you don't"—he tripped over a canoe and came up still talking—"like my old daddy goat used to say! Come on!"

Zoë rolled her eyes, exchanging looks with Katniss, but she seemed to realize there was no getting rid of Grover. The Hunters shouldered their packs and their bows and headed off toward the cabins. As Bianca was leaving, she leaned over and whispered something in her brother's ear. She looked at him for an answer, but Nico just scowled and turned away.

"Take care, sweethearts!" Apollo called after the Hunters. He winked at Percy and Katniss. "Watch out for those prophecies, Percy. I'll see you soon. I have a feeling Dite's gonna want to talk with you too, look out."

"What do you mean?" Percy asked.

"Of course she will," Katniss muttered.

Apollo hopped back in the bus. "Later, Thalia," he called. "And, uh, be good!"

He gave her a wicked smile, as if he knew something she didn't. Then he closed the doors and revved the engine. Katniss turned aside as the sun chariot took off in a blast of heat. When she looked back, the lake was steaming. A red Maserati soared over the woods, glowing brighter and climbing higher until it disappeared in a ray of sunlight.

Nico was still looking grumpy and he leaned into Cassiopeia, who ruffled his hair.

"Who's Chiron?" he asked. "I don't have his figurine."

"Our activities director," Cassiopeia explained.

"If those Hunter girls don't like him," Nico grumbled, "that's good enough for me. Let's go."

-

Camp was empty. Just the year-rounders were there—the ones who didn't have homes to go to, or would get attacked by monsters too much if they left. But there didn't even seem to be many of them, either.