(the real chapter 10 this time XD  )

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The camp, as if breaking from a trance, suddenly starts screaming louder than ever. Kalia is the only one who looks calm, watching Jason with feigned interest. I'd bet my life that he was the one she saw in her vision.

Annabeth raises her arms in the air, trying to regain control. "Hold it! How can he be the son of Zeus? The Big Three ... their pact not to have mortal kids ... how could we not have known about him sooner?"

Nobody says a word after that, considering Annabeth's statement.

"The important thing," Rachel suddenly says, "is that Jason's here now. He has a quest to fulfill, which means he will need his own prophecy."

The camp seems to hold its breath, knowing what's coming. Redhead closes her eyes and sways on the spot. As if practiced, two kids run forward to catch her, while another goes and grabs a stool. Together they ease her onto it, and Rachel stays upright by herself.

Jay taps my hand. "Don't freak out."

"Why would I---" My sentence is cut off in a muffled yelp, as green mist is starting to gather around Rachel's feet. Rachel suddenly opens her eyes, and they're glowing a neon green. She opens her mouth, and more green mist pours out, this time accompanied by a voice that I will never be able to get out of my head. Something that reminds me weirdly of a snake, with hissing and rasping.

"Child of lightning, beware the earth. The giants' revenge the seven shall birth. The forge and dove shall break the cage, and death unleash through Hera's rage."

The second the last word is past her lips, Rachel slumps forward. Her two helpers, again as if rehearsed, dart forward and catch her, moving her over to the side to relax.

"Is that normal?" A strangled voice asks behind me. I turn to see Piper, her eyes wide. She seems to realize everyone is now watching her, and she clears her throat. "I mean... does she spew green smoke a lot?"

"Gods, you're dense!" Drew snaps. "She just issued a prophecy—Jason's prophecy to save Hera! Why don't you just—"

"Drew," Annabeth interrupts. "Piper asked a fair question. Something about that prophecy definitely isn't normal. If breaking Hera's cage unleashes her rage and causes a bunch of death ... why would we free her? It might be a trap, or—or maybe Hera will turn on her rescuers. She's never been kind to heroes."

Jason rose. "I don't have much choice. Hera took my memory. I need it back. Besides, we can't just not help the queen of the heavens if she's in trouble."

Nyssa, the one who seems to represent Hephaestus Cabin, stands again. ""Maybe. But you should listen to Annabeth. Hera can be vengeful. She threw her own son—our dad—down a mountain just because he was ugly."

"Real ugly," Drew snickers to Audrey, whose lip curls in disgust, and she scoots away from Drew.

"Shut up!" Nyssa growls at Drew. "Anyway, we've also got to think—why beware the earth? And what's the giants' revenge? What are we dealing with here that's powerful enough to kidnap the queen of the heavens?"

Nobody answers.

Annabeth finally inhales calmly. "It's Jason's quest," she says, "so it's Jason's choice. Obviously, he's the child of lightning. According to tradition, he may choose any two companions."

Jay scoffs. "Well, you, obviously, Annabeth. You've got the most experience."

"No, Jay." Annabeth shakes her head. "First off, I'm not helping Hera. Every time I've tried, she's deceived me, or it's come back to bite me later. Forget it. No way. Secondly, I'm leaving first thing in the morning to find Percy."

"It's connected," Piper suddenly blurts out. "You know that's true, don't you? This whole business, your boyfriend's disappearance—it's all connected."

"How?" Drew demands, glaring at her. "If you're so smart, how?"

Piper's mouth opens and closes a few times, but she doesn't answer. Grimacing at myself, I remind my mind why I used to run. To get away from situations, from bullies like this.

Luckily, Annabeth swoops in. "You may be right, Piper. If this is connected, I'll find out from the other end—by searching for Percy. As I said, I'm not about to rush off to rescue Hera, even if her disappearance sets the rest of the Olympians fighting again. But there's another reason I can't go. The prophecy says otherwise."

"It says who I pick," Jason agrees. "The forge and dove shall break the cage. The forge is the symbol of Vul—Hephaestus."

Nyssa's shoulders drop, her face falling. "If you have to beware the earth," she eventually says, "you should avoid traveling overland. You'll need air transport. The flying chariot's broken. And the pegasi, we're using them to search for Percy. But maybe Hephaestus cabin can help figure out something else to help. With Jake incapacitated, I'm senior camper. I can volunteer for the quest."

Everyone kind of starts to nod, but then another Hephestuas camper stands. He's kind of a weird-looking kid, with curly brown hair and a face that looks born to smile. His ears are kind of pointed, reminding me of a mythical creature.

"It's me." He says.

His cabin all flinches, trying to pull him back down, but he fights his way back up top, shouting, "No, it's me. I know it is. I've got an idea for the transportation problem. Let me try. I can fix this!"

Jason considers him. For a moment, I'm positive this kid is insane, but then Jason smiles. "We started this together, Leo. Seems only right you come along. You find us a ride, you're in."

"Yes!" Leo pumps his fist into the air.

"It'll be dangerous," Nyssa warns him, steel in her voice. "Hardship, monsters, terrible suffering. Possibly none of you will come back alive."

"Oh." Suddenly Leo doesn't look so enthusiastic. Then he seems to realize he's still being watched, and he perks up. "I mean ... Oh, cool! Suffering? I love suffering! Let's do this."

Annabeth sighs. "Then, Jason, you only need to choose the third quest member. The dove—"

"Oh, absolutely!" Drew is on her feet in an instant, beaming at Jason. "The dove is Aphrodite. Everybody knows that. I am totally yours."

"No."

Everyone's heads swivel around, finally settling on a near-shaking, angry Piper.

Drew rolled her eyes. "Oh, please, Dumpster girl. Back off."

"I had the vision of Hera; not you. I have to do this." Piper insists.

"Anyone can have a vision," Drew snaps. "You were just at the right place at the right time." She turns to Jason, smiling bashfully. "Look, fighting is all fine, I suppose. And people who build things ..." She looked at Leo in disdain. "Well, I suppose someone has to get their hands dirty. But you need charm on your side. I can be very persuasive. I could help a lot."

I don't know what it is, but something about her voice changes in that monologue. It becomes richer, silkier, washing over me in a wave that makes my mind tilt toward Drew's favor. I find myself nodding along with the other campers.

"Well ..." Annabeth says hesitantly. "Given the wording of the prophecy—"

"No!" Piper's voice breaks through Drew's spell over the campers. "I'm supposed to go." She insists.

To my ultimate surprise, even some campers on Drew's cabin seating start nodding. Endora looks curiously at Piper, while Drew looks like she wants to murder Piper.

"Get over it!" Drew snaps at the crowd, waving her arms around. "What can Piper do?"

I shake my head, pulling myself out of whatever that was. Looking back at Piper, I see her mouth is open, but nothing is coming out. She closes it uncertainly.

"Well." Drew sounds undeniably smug now. "I guess that settles it."

Suddenly, a flash of light blinds us all for a second. When it clears, Piper is glowing. Everyone stares openly at her, because where she was strikingly pretty before, she demands your attention now. Her hair is evenly cut, glossy, pulled back in a braid, with perfect makeup and a gorgeous dress that can't be warm in this weather.

"What?" Piper demands. We probably all look insane. She looks down at herself, her eyes widening. "Oh, god." Piper whimpers. "What's happened?"

Annabeth doesn't say a word, just points to Piper's dagger. After a moment of hesitation, Piper draws it. Her look of horror when she looks at her reflection reminds me of a scary movie.

"Beautiful," Jason says, like he's in a trance. "Piper, you ... you're a knockout."

"NO!" Drew suddenly screeches. "Not possible!"

"This isn't me," Piper protests, looking around in dismay. "I—don't understand."

Chiron folds his front legs and bowed to her, and all the campers follow his example. All except for Drew. Jay has to tug me down, because I'm still so shocked. Does this actually happen? People's clothes just disappear?

"Hail, Piper McLean," Chiron announced gravely. "Daughter of Aphrodite, lady of the doves, goddess of love."

So that's claiming. 

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Wattpad did that "giving-me'advice'-" thingie today... and I'm a level Five Writer! Apparently. It made me really happy to see that, because writing is what I love doing most.