After hitting the showers, everyone gathers for supper. The momentary happiness I'd had an hour ago has faded, replaced with a buzz of nerves in my stomach. Nobody is eating, although the pizza tonight smells heavenly. We sacrificed our food yet again, and the most common names I hear tonight are Jason, Piper, Leo, and Hera. Even the Stoll twins seem to be in a less-than-goofy mood. Drew is still glaring at Endora and I alternately, but she's not speaking up.

I'm going to be honest. I don't fully understand why all of this is such a big deal. Can the gods really not have a Council without Hera? Couldn't someone just stand in? Hestia is supposed to be pretty peaceful, isn't she? But whatever. The mood of the rest of the campers is getting to me, making me just as nervous as the rest of them. Big whoop.

I poke my fork into a grape, then let the juice dribble uselessly onto my pizza.

Someone in the Athena table sighs, long and hard. I'm with you, buddy. Someone please just tell us if the world is going to end already!

Maybe I shouldn't have jinxed it.

Because the moment I think that, there's a sudden CRACK in the air, and Piper, Jason, and Leo all appear, standing on top of the Aphrodite table. Everyone in the dining pavilion stands up in surprise, staring at them. The three teenagers look a little green, and disheveled, torn clothes (that aren't the ones they left in, all super stylish and nice) but Leo quickly clutches his stomach, staggering off of the table and puking into a sacrificial brazier.

Yuck. Probably not something the gods want to smell.

Chiron canters forward, looking shocked. "Jason? What—How—?"

Nobody says a word, but then Piper offers a casual smile. "Hi. We're back."