The campers cheered but their joy was short felt. The oracle walked into the clearing. They stared as the mummified body creaked its way in front of them, ancient and wary, "I am the spirit of Delphi. Speaker of the prophecies of Phoebus Apollo, slayer of the mighty python", the oracle turned to Zoe Nightshade, "approach, seeker and ask"
Zoe swallowed still shaking from the cold, "what must I do to save my goddess?"
The oracle's mouth opened and green mist poured out. The image of a mountain was faintly visible, a girl standing at its barren peak. It was Artemis, wrapped in chains. She was kneeling, her hands up as if she was holding something, something big and impossibly heavy, so heavy that even a goddess like her was in pain from holding it, "six shall go west to the goddess in chains
Unless the prince of games is one of them, two lives shall be lost
One lost in the land without rain
One perishes by a parents hand
The bane of Olympus shows the trail
Hunters and campers evenly together shall prevail
The titans curse two shall withstand
Pain shared between sea and winter"
A prophecy, one which spoke of peril and losses that could be avoided.
A heavy silence followed, the kind which pressed against the ears. The green mist thinned, curling back into the oracle's hollow mouth and the image of Artemis shattered like glass, leaving only the wind whispering through the trees. No one cheered this time.
Zoe staggered back a step, her face pale as moonlight. 'Six shall go west'. She knew already the weight of these words, knew that being named in a prophecy was never solely an honor but a prison sentence written in riddles. Her fists curled into fists at her side.
"Two lives", someone whispered, no one asked who.
The oracle's empty gaze swept over the clearing once more, as if measuring them, judging which of them were already half dead, much like herself, "the words have been spoken, the path is set", then its body stiffened and, with a sound like snapping twigs, it fell into itself, inert once more. Some campers took it to themselves to bring the mummy back into the big house's attic.
Chiron moved to Zoe and placed a hand on her shoulder, "prophecies are fickle. We will need time to decode them. We wouldn't want-"
Zoe lifted her head to stare the centaur into the eyes, hazel met silver, "lady Artemis suffers now. Every moment we wait, the burden grows heavier for her", she turned to the campers, then to the hunters who stood rigid, a few still covered in ice, "the prophecy was clear, three hunters and three campers. As the lieutenant of the hunters, I will go. I shall take Bianca and Theodora with me and the campers… I don't quite know who the prince of games is but it clearly says that we need sea and Winter, so that would be you two", she pointed at Percy and Alex, "and a third must be found-"
As if listening to the conversation, the white mark burned, as if it was excited.
"I mean", one of the campers said, "those three are the strongest campers currently in camp"
"Says who?!" An Ares camper asked.
"Come on, you don't actually think you are in the same league as them, do you?" Conner Stoll asked, "you have seen what those three can do! Thalia and Percy are big three kids and Alex? He is just absurdly talented"
A few campers bristled at that but no one really argued. The clearing was littered with the aftermath of the battle, scorched grass, melting ice and the distinct smell of ozone and it was hard to boast when you were standing right next to living proof of what true power looks like.
Thalia crossed her arms, "if this will lead us to Annabeth, I will not refuse the call"
Percy opened his mouth, then closed it again. Like the stormy sea, his mind was churning uneasily. He glanced at Zoe, at the hunters standing as though they were carved from moonshine, "prince of games sounds… bad. I don't even like board games but if it means rescuing wise girl, then I'm in"
Alex had been quiet through all of it. He stood a little apart from the others, armor dusted in frost that even now hadn't melted. When Zoe pointed him out, his pale eyes flickered up, "sea and winter", he said softly a thin curl of mist escaping his mouth as he looked towards Percy, "figures"
"So", Percy said, forcing a crooked grin that didn't quite stick, "six heroes, westward doom, parental homicide- pretty normal quest package really"
No one laughed.
"Then it is decided", Zoe inclined her head.
"Well", drawled a familiar voice, "this is exciting"
All heads snapped around.
Dionysus stood beneath the pine trees, leopard print shirt bright against the gloom. He looked entertained in the way that a cat was interested in looking at mice scurrying around, "quests, prophecies, dramatic pointing. I step away from one battle and suddenly its epic poetry night"
"What did you hear?" Asked Chiron, voice weary, maybe thinking the god had something meaningful to add.
"Oh I heard enough", Dionysus' eyes flickered -just for a moment- to the white mark hidden under Alex's armor, his smile sharpened, "especially the part about the prince of games. I recall there being a king of games but never a prince"
Chiron looked worried at the campers and hunters, "you six, come with me and mr D. We have a quest to plan and share a few… discoveries", he looked at all of them but his eyes stuck at Alex for just a moment longer than the others. The quest members followed the god and centaur to the big house. The doors were shut behind them and a heavy sigh escaped Chiron's lips, "Alexander, if you would?"