The Start of the Quest: Part II

I was hungry, I was tired, and we hadn't even started the quest yet. It was three in the morning, and I was dead beat. I hadn't gotten a wink of sleep. My eyes were probably shadowed by dark circles. Grrrr.

20:23, February 18, 2010 (UTC)SallyPerson 20:23, February 18, 2010 (UTC)

At six, I surrendered to trying to sleep and got dressed. Some of the campers were already up. Birds chirped, naiads gurgled, trees giggled. One of the daughters of Demeter was watching the sunset. Nature was wide awake.

"You read?" a voice called. "I didn't want to wake you." I turned. It was Audrey.

"You're up already? Wow." I said.

"Yeah, everyone is up already, getting ready and saying good-bye." I felt my cheeks flush. Sheesh, did heroes rise early. You'd think that fighters and strategists like the Camp Half-Blood Campers would enjoy their sleep. Oh, they had those dreams. I guess I understood why they were happy to jump out of bed.

20:23, February 18, 2010 (UTC)SallyPerson 20:23, February 18, 2010 (UTC)

"Ladies," Chiron said. We were in the Big House. I had never been to one of the War Councils, but this felt like one. "Did any of you have any thoughts on what the cauldron in the prophecy could be referring to?" Silence. Monica muttered Greek games under her breath and scrunched up her eyebrows. Maggie also was trying to remember. Amelia crossed her arms. Audrey looked at her feet. Thank goodness I wasn't the only one behind on my Greek Mythology.

Chiron cleared his throat and broke the silence. "I was thinking of Medea's cauldron, a powerful magical object. To find this object would be very difficult. Do you know why? When you drop a gold drachama, what happens?"

"Nothing,"Amelia answered, like 'duh'.

"Precisely," Chiron continued. "Nothing. Some things do not move with Western Civilization."

"Excuse me, Chiron, but wouldn't have a god taken the cauldron? I mean, if they wanted it, why not?"

"Aaah, Daphne, that is an excellent observation. That brings me to my next point. There is one place where gods cannot go. It is a shaft in the middle of the world. Heroes have been sent before my the lord Zeus himself, and not many have returned. The shaft is a place where no mortal, god, or Titan may enter. It is purposefully for the quests of the children of the gods."

"A shaft? What the heck is a shaft?" Amelia asked.

"A tunnel," Chiron answered. "And this particular tunnel leads to Arima, the most dangerous place in the world. It is the home of Echidna, mother of all monsters. It is so deep into the earth, it would make the Underworld look like your backyard. The quest will most likely get you killed." I had never heard Chiron so serious before.

"Well, it sounds like a great place to hide something from the gods."

SallyPerson 14:31, February 19, 2010 (UTC)

Characters:

Monica Tablanco

Natalie/Gemma/Daphne

Amelia Wule

Audrey LaVie