The camp looked so different with the snow. It was beautiful. The cabins had little balls of fire hanging to give off some light. A fire flickered in the attic window.

"Whoa. Is that a climbing wall?" Nico asked while getting off the bus.

"Yeah," Percy nodded.

"Why is there lava pouring out of it?"

"A little challenge," I explained.

"Come on. We'll introduce you to Chiron. Zoe have you met-"

"I know Chiron. Tell him we will be at Cabin Eight. Hunters follow me," Zoe ordered.

"I can show you the way!" Grover volunteered.

"We know the way,"

"Oh really it's no trouble-" then Grvoer started talking about all this random stuff I didn't care about so I just tuned him out. Zoe just sighed and followed him knowing she couldn't escape him. The Hunters shouldered their backpacks and started walking. As Bianca was leaving she leaned down to Nico's ear and whispered something to him. She looked at him waiting for an answer but he just scowled and turned away.

"Take care sweet hearts!" Apollo called after the Hunters. Then Apollo winked at Percy. "Watch out for those prophecies Percy. Take care. Clair keep using that bow of yours. Especially the one you made that one time," Then he turned to Thalia. "Later Thalia! And, uh, be good!" then he took off. We looked away again. Nico was still looking grumpy.

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

"He's the activities director. You'll see," I said. He looked at me.

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

***

The camp was so empty. I only saw Beckendorf at the forge, the Stolls picking the lock at the camp store and a few Ares kids having an epic snowball fight with the wood nymphs. That was about it. When we reached the Big House it was Mr. D and Chiron playing a quiet game of cards. Chiron was in his magical wheelchair that hid his centaur self. And Mr. D was in a cheetah print warm up suit and purple running shoes. Chiron lit up when he saw us.

"Percy! Claira! Thalia! Ah and this must be-"

"Nico di Angelo. He and his sister are half-bloods," I said, patting Nico's shoulder. Chiron sighed with relief.

"Good. You have succeeded then,"

"Well-"

"What's wrong? And where is Annabeth?" Chiron's smile was wiped off his face.

"Oh no. Not another one lost," Mr. D said in a bored voice. I tried not to get angry. So I just balled my fists and hid them behind my back.

"What do you mean? Who else is lost?" Thalia asked. But before anyone could answer Grover burst into the room. He had a red mark on his cheek that reminded me of the many times I slapped Percy and a black eye.

"The Hunters are all moved in!" he announced.

"The Hunters? I see we have much to talk about," Chiron frowned. He glanced at Nico. "Grover maybe you should take our new camper and show him the orientation film,"

"But...oh, right. Yes sir," Grover nodded. Grover took Nico out of the room. Then Chiron turned his attention to all three of us.

"Right. Tell me the whole story," Once we were finished Chiron turned to Mr. D. "We should launch a search for Annabeth immediately,"

"I'll go," Thalia, Percy and I said at the same time.

"Certainly not!" All three of us started complaining but he held his hand up for us to stop.

"From what you have told me," Mr. D said, "we have broken even on this escapade. We have, ah, regrettably lost Annie Bell-"

"Annabeth," Percy snapped.

"Yes, yes. And you procured a small annoying boy to replace her. So I see no point risking further half-bloods on a ridiculous rescue. The possibility is very great that this Annie girl is dead," Mr.D was making it very difficult for any of us to keep our anger in. Chiron suggested that Annabeth could be alive. 

"She would try to buy time. Even pretend to cooperate with her captors,"

"That's right," Thalia agreed. "Luke would want her alive,"

"In which case I'm afraid she will have to be smart enough to escape on her own," Mr. D sighed. Percy stood up.

"Percy," I warned him. But of course he didn't listen. 

"You're glad to lose another camper. You'd be happy if all of us disappeared!" he yelled.

"You have a point?" Mr. D yawned. 

"Yeah. Just because you were sent here as a punishment doesn't mean you have to be a lazy jerk! This is your civilization, too. Maybe you could try helping out a little!" Percy ranted. It was silent for a few moments. Only the crackle of the fire was heard. I was staring at Percy in shock. Then Mr. D opened his mouth, probably about to say a curse word that would blast Percy to ashes, when Nico burst into the room followed by Grover.

"So cool!" he yelled then looked at Chiron. "You're... you're a centaur!" he exclaimed. Then he looked at Mr. D. "And you're the wine dude!" Mr. D tore his eyes away from Percy and looked at Nico.

"The wine dude?"

"Dionysus right? Oh wow! I have your figurine!"

"My figurine,"

"In my game, Mythomagic. And a holofoil card, too! And even though you've only got like five hundred attack points and everybody thinks you're the lamest god card, I totally think your powers are sweet!" Nico said with a huge smile on his face.

"Ah... well that's ... gratifying," Mr. D was so confused I had to hide a laugh.

"Percy. You, Thalia and Claira go down to the cabins. Inform the campers that we will be having a Capture the Flag game tomorrow,"

"Capture the Flag? But we don't have enough-"

"It's a tradition whenever the Hunters visit," Chiron said. "Run along now," he said jerking his head toward Mr. D who was staring at Nico as he explained all the defense points of all the gods.

"Oh right," Thalia nodded.

"Come on Percy," I grabbed his arm and dragged him out of the Big House before Mr. D could try and kill him.

***

I walked out with the other two. I heard shouting at the basketball court. An Ares kid and a Hunter were having an arguement. The Ares guy had his hand on his sword hilt and the Hunter looked like she was about to exchange the basketball for a bow and arrow any second.

"I'll break that up. You two start going around camp and announcing the Capture the Flag game for tomorrow," Thalia said. I nodded and started to go off. But I didn't go to announce the game. I went straight to the Poseidon Cabin. I needed the calm down. I was angry and sad and worried and confused. I snapped my fingers and my plaid backpack appeared in front of me. I learned that I could summon my backpack anywhere not just on my back. That can come in real handy. I knelt and took out my bow and quiver and set it on my bunk. I studied my bow as I sat down. Apollo mentioned my hand-carved bow before he left. I carved intricate swirl designs in the wood when I made it. Some Apollo kids were amazed at my work. The wood was so dark it was almost black. It was nothing special. The only thing special about the bow was the girl who was always using it. Then the door opened and Percy walked in.

"Hey," I greeted him as I set my bow down.

"Hi," I heard a weird noise come from his side of the cabin. I looked behind me and realized it was the wristwatch shield. It was battered because of Dr. Thorn.

"Tyson's shield?" I asked sitting up. Percy nodded. Then I heard a strange sound. A gurgling sound coming from the end of the cabin. I turned my head to see a fountain. I stood up and walked toward it. Percy was right behind me. It was a salt water spring with a fish spewing hot water making mist steam like a sauna. We approached the fountain. There was no note or anything but this could only be a gift from Poseidon himself. I smiled and looked down at the water.

"Thanks Dad," Percy and I said. The water rippled. I closely and could see drachmas at the bottom of the basin. I reached in a got a drachma.

"Who should we call?" I looked at Percy.

"I'll let you choose," he smirked.

"Well don't be upset if I call someone you didn't particularly want to see," I flipped the coin into the rainbow the mist was making.

"Iris O goddess of the rainbow please accept my offering," the drachma dissolved. "Show me Tyson. At the forges of the Cyclopses," I said. I looked at Percy and he nodded. The rainbow shimmered and it showed the back of a very familiar Cyclops brother. 

"Tyson!" Percy yelled. He didn't react considering the fact there was a lot of hammering on metal.

"Tyson!" We yelled together. He turned and he gave us a crooked smile.

"Percy! Claira!" We asked him how the job was. He showed us a red hot sword blade that he just finished. Percy asked him about Dad.

"Daddy is busy. Worried about the war," Tyson frowned. He told us about the 'bad boat'.

"The Princess Andromeda?" I asked.

"Yes. They make it hard to find. Protect it from Daddy's storms. Otherwise he would smash it." 

"Smashing it would be good," Percy nodded. Then Tyson perked up.

"Annabeth! Is she there?" he asked.

"Oh... well..." Percy faltered.

"She's not here right now," I saved him. Both of us knew that Tyson thought she was the coolest thing since peanut butter(he loved peanut butter). So it would make him cry so much if we told him she was missing.

"Tell her hello! Hello to Annabeth!" he grinned.

"We'll do that," I said trying not to cry.

"And Percy, Claira do not worry about bad boat! It is going away!"

"What do you mean?" Percy asked.

"Panama Canal! Very far away!" Tyson said. I frowned and looked at Percy. He shrugged. Why in Hades would Luke sail his demon ship through Central America? Then there was a yell in the background making Tyson flinch. Got to get back to work! Boss will get mad! Good luck Brother! Sister!" Then he disappeared leaving both of us alone with another problem at hand. That night at dinner we didn't talk much. The pavilion was barely half full. I saw Nico and the Stolls at the Hermes table. The Stolls were tyring to convince Nico that poker was a way better game than Mythomagic. I hoped Nico would stick to his own game. The Artemis table was definitely the most energetic table. The Hunters had a great time acting like one big happy family. Bianca was learning how to arm wrestle from the girl from the basketball court. She seemed to be having fun. Chiron gave a toast to the gods and welcomed the Hunters. Not many campers seemed happy. But they perked up at the mention of the Capture the Flag game tomorrow.

***

Oh my gods! I'm so sorry for not updating lately. School and homework have been piling up and of course teachers love to give you winter break homework. Ugh. Again guys I am so sorry. But I hope you like this chapter. And I managed to reach my word count on NaNoWriMo! Woohoo! And I read the Blood of Olympus. So sad to end it. But then there's Magnus Chase to look forward to! Norse Mythology! Can't wait! And as always thanks for reading!