~ ☼ ~

Now you might be thinking: AJ, don't say things like that, you'll jinx it. And normally, I would agree with you, but that day I was so excited to be at Camp that I was willing to be optimistic. But guess what? You were right, and I was wrong. Apparently I had jinxed it.

Camp was different, but not in a good way.

I swear I could feel it the moment we crossed the border on Half-Blood Hill. From up there, you could see everything: the dining hall, the Big House, Long Island sound in the distance. Usually, it was a great view, a view that felt reassuring and hopeful. Today, though, I knew something was wrong. There was nobody picking strawberries casually or running freely. Campers were moving in units, and it looked more like we were a legion preparing for war than anything else.

Because we were, of course. The reminder sent a chill down my spine.

"Well," I said. "Here's to Summer '08, right?"

I looked at Alec, whose face was cloudy. But then he met my eyes and smiled. "Heck yeah. Here's to Summer '08."

That's my boy, I thought.

Together we went down the hill, waving to some people we knew. But though most of them waved back, they all seemed busy or distracted.

Riley, I thought to myself. Just wait for Riley.

Sure enough, my sister was waiting where she promised she would, at the edge of the volleyball court. Nobody was playing, and she was just sitting on the clay, looking like she was trying to write something with the blunt end of a rock. She had an arts-and-crafts heart, and loved working with clay, so this wasn't just her being a weirdo. I think she was just bored.

"Riley Brown," I called out in a deep voice. She twitched in surprise, then turned and saw us. Her mouth opened, and she smiled.

"Hey!" she said, quickly getting up to meet us. She hugged both of us - I didn't notice any awkwardness between her and Alec, thank the gods, but then again they'd known each other a lot longer - then said, "How was the drive?"

"Okay," I said with a shrug. "You know, a drive across the length of Long Island."

"You know, Riles, I asked AJ the exact same thing when she got to my house."

Riley raised an eyebrow. "... how was the drive?"

He nodded, smiling, as if this was proof of something. Perhaps that they were still related - still siblings with similar quirks. But Riley shook her head.

"Alec, that's the obvious thing to say." She patted him on the shoulder. "It's clear the traffic got to you. Let's get you unpacked."

Alec scoffed, looking offended, and I laughed.

Riley led us to the Apollo cabin. To my surprise, no one was there, which meant Alec and I were free to unpack in peace. Riley and I shared a bunk, which she sat on, swinging her legs, while I put my sheets on my bed and Alec hung his flannel up on a hook. Our cabin was a pretty modest cabin, with cedar rafters (Will Solace told me this... what, do you think I'm so educated to be able to name wood types on sight?) and white plaster walls. When I'd first gotten there, I was surprised, but it made sense. Usually, my siblings were so freaking loud that we needed minimalist surroundings or else we'd all have a permanent migraine.

(Then again, maybe that would be good. Maybe then we'd finally shut up!)

"Where is everyone?" Alec asked, after he sat down with a thud on his usual bunk. I thought this was interesting, because I'd wondered if he was still gonna stay here, but I guess that was Chiron's point.

I just hoped nobody said anything.

Riley sighed. "Well, that's what I was gonna tell you guys."

I glanced at Alec, who raised an eyebrow.

"The vibes are, right off the bat, not good this summer." For good measure, she crossed her arms in front of each other and made an X. "Everyone has beef with everyone. Michael's nursing this wound - I guess last summer, in the Battle of the Labyrinth, Clarisse tripped him on purpose, and now he's trying to get her back."

I rolled my eyes. "You have to be kidding."

"Then there's Malcolm's thing with Geoff. They keep arguing about what strategies to use in battle, so the Athena cabin is, like, split in half." She sighed, slumping. "And people think Silena's cheating on Charlie."

Alec and I both gasped. Charlie Beckendorf and Silena Beauregard were two of the most beloved people at camp. He was nice and handsome, she was nice and pretty, and they were a power couple.

"No!" I said.

"Not Silena," Alec said.

"I'm not saying I believe it!" said Riley, holding her hands up defensively. "It's just a rumor."

Well, I hated it. It was the kind of rumor that happened at high school, not at camp. The other two things made more sense for the way we got into fights at camp - it was always over stupid things that usually could be traced back to our godly lineage at the end of the day. I decided to ignore this comment about Silena and Charlie.

"We kind of have a war going on," Alec said. "Is this all really that important?"

"I think they're trying to cope how they can," Riley said. "You know. Like some people cope in healthy ways, and some people cope by starting mini wars they actually have a hope of winning."

Thanks, Riley.

For a moment, I just sat there, feeling hollow. I thought of Lucas and Kiera and Lee. When I thought of it getting worse, suddenly stupid interpersonal drama seemed so much more appealing. My worst fear, other than the end of the world as we know it, was that somebody that was important to all of camp would die next. The thought made me want to cry. I couldn't imagine how we'd all react.

Suddenly, I stood up.

"I'm gonna go get some air."

I heard Alec calling my name, but I ignored him, because if I'd stayed in that cabin a moment longer I would've lost my mind.

I let the door slam behind me, and immediately upon hitting the deck I took off towards the woods. It seemed like the only place I could have any peace.

~ ☼ ~

In the woods, I did indeed feel more peaceful, but only a little bit. I liked the way the sky looked super blue when contrasted with the green trees, plus the sunlight on the pine needles was always very pretty. But I couldn't really go anywhere there was sun without thinking of my father, and thinking of my father just upset me again. I think what I was most selfishly mad about was this: some kids had gotten entire childhoods here, and all I'd gotten was one summer before everything had gone to Hades.

I sat down on a rock, feeling pathetic.

I'd barely taken a seat before suddenly, I heard rustling in the podzol. I winced, reaching for Liakada, which I'd had at my hip since we'd gotten here. But I didn't smell monster, and I didn't feel unsafe, either. In fact, for a moment, I felt very... serene... satisfied... satiated?

Then she stepped out of the tree line, and I nearly fell off the rock.

She looked exactly as I'd last seen her: curly blonde hair, more like golden wheat than anything else, and smooth bronze skin. Her eyes were brown like fresh-tilled soil, and she radiated plenty.
Demeter.

"Lady Demeter," I breathed. Then, quickly, I bowed my head. "It's an honor."

I had last seen Demeter in the National Museum of Natural History, 2 years ago, when she'd fed Riley, Alec, and I and given us help on our quest to find Python. Now, she did not look like she was going to give me help - in fact, when I looked at her again, she looked mad.

I had to control my scream. May you never have the goddess of agriculture mad at you - it's like staring down a live combine harvester.

"AJ Hood," she said, gliding towards me. "You owe me."

"I... owe you?" I repeated.

"I apologize," she said, putting a smile on her face. "I do not mean to worry you. If I seem mad, it's because of the war. You know, it's not fun to think all you love will soon be gone."

I found it hard to believe that a god could love anybody, other than maybe, for her, Persephone. But I didn't say this. I just nodded gratefully, because I was genuinely grateful she wasn't actually mad.

Then I stood, realizing I shouldn't just be sitting there and looking up at her like an idiot.

"I understand," I said, bowing my head again.

Demeter sighed. "You don't have to keep doing that."

So I lifted my head and looked nervously at her.

"This won't take long," she said. "I am missing my sickle, and need a demigod's help. I figured I'd choose you, as I know you're capable. If you find it, your debt will be repaid."

The fearful part of me was happy I was going to have a chance to repay my debt, but the rational part of me was annoyed I even had a debt to pay. I'd thought before that I did owe her, but I was mostly joking.

You have to be kidding me.

"I... see," I said slowly. "Whatever I can do, My Lady."

"My sickle, I believe, has been taken by that horrid Titan Army." She shook her head. "After all - what is my father's weapon, if not a scythe?"

I stared at her. "He doesn't have his own scythe?"

"I'm sure he does," said Demeter, "But it's not just about needing another weapon. You know."

I had this creeping feeling that her sickle wasn't actually missing. On one hand, if that were true, I could appreciate her making me repay her debt on a wild goose chase rather than a quest that actually endangered me. But then she said, "You'll have to confront whatever titan took it."

I didn't know what to say. Hadn't I come out here to get peace? Now the literal goddess of agriculture was telling me to not only track down an object, but confront. A. Titan. Unless this titan was waiting for me on the Manhattan Bridge and I could once again just push them into the East River, I highly doubted I could do this.

But I couldn't say no to Demeter. Like, I genuinely could not. If I did, she might turn me into a box of cereal. If I'd known for sure it would be something good, like Cinnamon Toast Crunch, I would take that risk, but not when I might end up being Raisin Bran.

(Kidding, of course. The real reason was because she might smite me to death.)

"Okay," I said, my voice a squeak. "I'll do what I can."

Demeter smiled serenely, and if she wasn't so intimidating I'd think she was beautiful. "Thank you, AJ. Until we meet again, I wish you luck."

Then she disappeared back into the woods, like a harbinger of confusion and seeds.

I swallowed, sitting there for a long moment. How long, exactly, do I have to do this task? If I had my whole life, I could probably do it. But I had a feeling Demeter wanted the sickle soon, by the time the Titan Army finally attacked. Just another thing on my plate.

I shook my head, then got up to go tell my siblings.

~ ☼ ~