Falling. Again. Without Emerald. Without the panicked shouts of Percy, Grover, and Annabeth. Just silence. Then a voice. But this time, it didn't sound as evil. More like...commanding. Authorative. I could come up with more synonyms, but I really don't feel like it.

Free me. Free me, Amber Castellan, or we will all die. The world will collapse, leaving only earth. Free me before the solstice. Free...

Amber woke up with a start. She realized she had been sleeping with her glasses on.

What time is it? She asked her glasses. They told her it was 8:30, meaning the campfire had just started. She'd also missed supper. Amber jumped out of bed and grabbed her sky-blue-and-white messenger bag and rummaged through it. She grabbed a container full of pineapple out of it and started eating the pineapple. Then she noticed the note on the post of her bunk.

Im So glad yuRe bak! we mSed Yu sIs!  ♥                                                                                                                         -Julia.

Amber smiled to herself. Julia was her seven-year-old half-sister. She the first demigod Amber had taken to camp herself over the past few months. Julia was definitely her favourite sister(yes, as co-counselor she shouldn't have favourites, but whatever). Amber took the Post-it off her bunk and stuck it in her pocket for safekeeping. At that point, Emerald decided she'd stop pretending to be asleep.

I love Julia so much. She's so precious, Emerald told Amber, as if Amber didn't already know that.

I know, right?

By the way, unless you want to miss the campfire, you better hurry.

Amber walked over to a closet and grabbed an orange Camp Half-Blood t-shirt. She quickly changed into that, and, with a moment of hesitation, grabbed a gray cardigan the same colour as her eyes. She put it on, threw her old green sweatshirt into her bag, which would magically clean the item of clothing within a few days, and put her bag around her shoulder. Then she grabbed a brush, quickly undid her braid, brushed her dirty blonde hair (Amber had no idea why Leo called he Goldilocks; her hair was much darker and not that curly), and decided to wear it down for the rest of the night. She checked her reflection in the mirror on the door as she opened it. Everything was normal. Dark gray eyes, curly hair, a scar running from her right eyebrow to directly under her left eye, a few freckles. Everything checked out. She stepped out of the cabin and almost ran into someone.

"Amber! I was 'bout to come get you!" Amber was immediately enveloped in Julia's tight hug. "We missed you so, so, SO much! Did you get my note? It was hard to write, but I think I did okay!" Julia gave her a toothy grin, and Amber noticed her smile was slightly different.

"Jules! Did you lose a tooth?"

"Yep! I'm such a big girl, my baby teeth don't want me no more," Julia confirmed, making Amber laugh. Then Julia looked at Emerald. "Missed you, too!"

How I wish Julia could be one of the children who can understand me, Emerald told Amber. But nooo, it had to be Conner instead.

"Emerald missed you a lot," Amber informed Julia. "We should head to the campfire now."

"Oh, yeah! I forgot 'bout that! Let's go!" Julia's soft, dark-skinned hand found Amber's pale, rough one. They walked in the direction of the camp, with Julia chattering about the most random subjects and Amber occasionally nodding or smiling.

When they got to the campfire, Amber heard the end of a song.

"But Granny forgot to put her breastplate on!" Then the applause came. Amber smiled to herself. She let Julia lead her over to the Hermes area, where Connor, Cecil, and Charlie were sitting. They all stood up, embraced her in a big group hug, then took her back with them to the log they were sitting on. Amber was in such a good mood, she even let Connor put an arm around her shoulders, something Emerald did not seem happy about.

Get your arm AWAY from me, Stoll, she hissed.

Oh, c'mon, we all know you love me, Em. Connor grinned mischievously.

You do realize I am poisonous.

You do realize I don't give a fuck.

CONNOR! Amber scowled at him.

Like you've never sworn before, Emerald told her calmly.

I knew you loved me, Em.

That's not what I--I didn't--oh hey, there's Nico. At that, Amber turned her head in the direction of the Hades banner and smiled at her friend. He gave a half-smile back.

Huh. I didn't know he could smile, Connor remarked.

Connor I swear to Zeus if you do not stop-- Amber started.

Okay, okay, I get it, chill. But seriously, he hasn't smiled in-- 

Connor was interrupted as Chiron walked over to the fire. He brandished a spear impaled with toasted marshmallows.

"Very nice," he said. "And a special welcome to our new arrivals. I am Chiron, camp activities director, and I'm happy you all have arrived here alive and with most of your limbs attached. In a moment, I promise we'll get to the s'mores,"

Yeah, I bet he can't wait for those. Connor gestured at the marshmallow-impaled spear.

"but first--"

"What about capture the flag?" Charlie yelled, and Amber jumped slightly, causing Connor to move closer to her protectively and frown at Charlie. Grumbling broke out among the Ares children.

"Yes," Chiron said. "I know the Ares cabin is anxious to return to the woods for our regular games."

"And kill people!" Damien shouted.

Is he joking? I never can tell, Emerald remarked. Amber scanned him with her glasses.

Nope, he isn't, she reported.

"However," the centaur continued, "until the dragon is brought under control, that won't be possible. Cabin Nine, anything to report on that?"

He and most of the campers turned to the Hephaestus group. Amber caught Leo's eye and he shot her with a finger gun. The girl next to him stood uncomfortably. She wore an army jacket that resembled Leo's, with her hair covered in a red bandana.

"We're working on it."

What's her name? Nyra? Nike? Amber asked, looking at the girl.

Nyssa. She came here a few months after... Connor trailed off as someone asked how Nyssa was working on it.

"Really hard," she replied. Amber felt sorry for her. Nyssa sat down to a lot of yelling and complaining, which caused the fire to sputter chaotically. Chiron stamped his hoof against the fiery pit stones, making Amber jump again. The campers fell silent.

"We'll have to be patient," he said. "In the meantime, we have more pressing matters to discuss."

"Percy?" someone asked. Amber frowned. Her and Percy weren't best friends or anything, but they were definitely closer than some people. And he was her best friend's boyfriend. She watched as the fire dimmed and Chiron gestured to Annabeth. Amber tried to give her an encouraging smile, but failed miserably. Her friend took a deep breath and stood.

"I didn't find Percy," she announced. "He wasn't at the Grand Canyon like I thought. But we're not giving up. We've got teams everywhere. Grover, Tyson, Nico--at this, she gestured towards the son of Hades, who now looked like he wanted to be anywhere but there--the Hunters of Artemis--everyone's out looking. We will find him. Chiron's talking about something different. A new quest." Amber's breath caught in her throat as she remembered her last quest. Connor's arm tensed, meaning he was thinking about that, too.

"It's the Great Prophecy, isn't it?" a girl from the Aprodite cabin called out.

"Drew?" Annabeth said. So that was her name. "What do you mean?"

"Well, come on." Drew spread her hands like the truth was obvious. "Olympus is closed. Percy's disappeared. Hera sends you a vision and you come back with three new demigods in one day."

They were going to come here today either way, Emerald grumbled.

Hera? Was she the one in my dream?

What dream? Connor asked.

"I mean, something weird is going on," Drew continued. "The Great Prophecy has started, right?" Everybody looked at Rachel.

"Well?" Drew called down. "You're the oracle. Has it started or not?" Rachel stepped forward and addressed the camp.

"Yes," she said. "The Great Prophecy has begun."

Shit, Amber thought.

So you do swear, Connor commented.

About 30 different people started talking at once.

It's so...loud, Amber thought, wincing.

Mhm, Emerald agreed.

When the talking finally subsided, Rachel took another step toward the audience, and 7/8 of the demigods leaned away from her.

"For those of you who have not heard it," Rachel said, "The Great Prophecy was my first prediction. It arrived in August. It goes like this:

"Eight half-bloods shall answer the call.

To storm or fire the world must fall.

All alone in the field of hell.

Will she assist or will she rebel--"

Jason shot to his feet. His eyes looked wild, like he'd just been tasered.

Even Rachel seemed caught off guard.

He recognizes it, Amber observed. She told her glasses to record whatever happened next.

"Jason?" Rachel said. "What's--"

"Ut cum spiritu postrema sacramentum dejuremus," he chanted. "Et hostes ornamenta addent ad ianuam necem."

An uneasy silence settled the group.

What, Connor started.

The Hades, Emerald continued.

Was that, Connor finished.

He just chanted the rest of the prophecy in Latin, Amber informed them, her glasses having translated it for her.

Maybe he used to be in a cult, Connor suggested.

Oooh. A boy with PTA from escaping a cult ending up with a girl with PTSD. Perfect, Emerald remarked.

All we need is a ship name, Connor agreed.

I hate you both, Amber decided.

"You just...finished the prophecy." Rachel stammered. "--An oath to keep with a final breath/And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death. How did you--"

"I know those lines." Jason winced and put his hands to his temples. Amber wished she could help him. "I don't know how, but  do."

"In Latin, no less," Drew called out. "Handsome and smart." Amber found herself almost frowning, although for why, she had no idea.

Jason sat back down, looking embarrassed. Amber sent him a reassuring smile and Annabeth put a hand on his shoulder and muttered something to him.

Rachel still looked a little shaken. She glanced at Chiron for guidance, but the centaur stood grim snd silent. Her glasses told her he wanted to help, but couldn't, for some reason.

"Well," Rachel said, trying to regain her composure. "So, yeah, that's the Great Prophecy. We hoped it might not happen for years, but I fear it's starting now. I can't give you proof. It's just a feeling. And like Drew said, some weird stuff is happening. The eight demigods, whoever they are, have not been gathered yet. I get the feeling some are here tonight. Some aren't."

The campers began to stir and mutter. Amber glanced at Connor nervously, then over at Julia, who looked scared. She leaned towards her.

"How about you go back to the cabin, Julia? It's your bedtime, anyway," she said quietly. Julia nodded, got off the log, and walked back to Cabin Eleven.

"I'm here! Oh...were you calling roll?" a drowsy voice asked.

"Go back to sleep, Clovis," someone said, and a few people laughed.

"Anyway," Rachel continued, "we don't know what the Great Prophecy means. We don't know what challenge the demigods will face, but since the first Great Prophecy predicted the Titan War, we can guess the second Great Prophecy will predict something at least that bad."

"Or worse," Amber muttered. She didn't mean for everybody to hear, but they did. The campfire immediately turned dark purple.

Great job, Amber, Emerald told her sarcastically.

"What we do know," Rachel said, "is that the first phase has begun. A major problem has arisen, and we need a quest to solve it. Hera, the queen of the gods, has been taken." 

Shocked silence. Then 40 demigods started talking at once.

Yep. The thing in my dream was definitely Hera.

Chiron pounded his hoof again, but Rachel still had to wait before she could get their attention back. She looked at Amber, and Amber stood up. She told them about the incident on the Grand Canyon skywalk--how Gleeson had sacrificed himself when the storm spirits attacked, and the spirits had warned it was only the beginning (Jason told her about what she missed when they were in the chariot). They apparently served some great mistress who would destroy all demigods.

Amber sat down, and Rachel told them about Piper passing out in Hera's cabin. Finally Rachel told them about Jason's vision in the living room of the Big House, and Amber told them about her dream.

"Jason," Rachel said. "Um...do you remember your last name?"

Grace, Amber wanted to shout out. Or at least tell Emerald and Connor. But the gods would definitely be mad at her for that.

Jason looked self-conscious, but he shook his head.

"We'll just call you Jason, then," Rachel said. "It's clear that Hera herself has issued you a quest." Rachel paused, as if giving Jason a chance to protest his destiny. Amber wouldn't blame him if he did. But he set his jaw and nodded.

"I agree."

"You must save Hera to prevent a great evil," Rachel continued. "Some sort of king from rising." Amber went through all the kings in Greek mythology in her head. A few of them, namely Porphyrion, fit. She really hoped it wasn't Porphyrion, though. "For reasons we don't yet understand," Rachel said, "it must happen by the winter solstice, only four days from now."

Amber stopped herself from shuddering. The last quest she was on also had a deadline for a solstice, although that one had been the summer solstice, not the winter one.

"That's the council day of the gods," Annabeth said. "If the gods don't already know Hera's gone, they'll definitely notice her absence by then. They'll probably break out fighting, accusing each other of taking her. That's what they usually do."

"The winter solstice," Chiron spoke up, "is also a day when evil magic is strong. Ancient magic, older than the gods. It is a day when things... stir." The way he said it, stirring sounded absolutely sinister.

"Okay," Annabeth said, glaring at the centaur. "Thank you, Captain Sunshine. Whatever's been going on, I agree with Rachel. Jason has been chosen to lead this quest, so--"

"Why hasn't he been claimed?" somebody from the Ares cabin yelle. "If he's so important--"

"He has been claimed," Chiron announced. Amber raised an eyebrow. "Long ago. Jason, give them a demonstration" At first, Jason didn't seem to understand. He glanced at Amber, and she nodded encouragingly. He reached into his pocket. His coin flashed in the air, and when he caught it in his hand, he was holding a lance--a rod of gold about seven feet long, with a spear tip at one end.

That's sick, Conner commented.

The other demigods gasped. Rachel and Annabeth stepped back to avoid the point.

"Wasn't that..." Annabeth hesitated. "I thought you had a sword."

"Um, it came up tails, I think," Jason said. "Same coin, long-range weapon form."

Interesting, Amber thought.

"Dude, I want one!" yelled somebody from the Ares cabin.

 "Better than Clarisse's electric spear, Lamer!" one of his brothers agreed.

"Awesome," Charlie said.

"Electric," Jason murmured. "Back away." Annabeth, Rachel, Amber, and Connor got the message. Jason raised his javelin, and thunder broke open the sky, making Amber flinch and almost grab a throwing knife from her bag. Every hair on her arms stood straight up. Lightning arced down through the golden spear point and hit the campfire. 

Show off, Emerald hissed.

When the smoke cleared, and the ringing in Amber's ears subsided, the entire camp stood frozen in shock, half blind (except Amber because her glasses were awesome and magical), covered in ashes, staring at the place where the fire had been.

Jason lowered his lance. "Um...sorry."

Chiron brushed some burning coals out of his beard. He grimaced.

"A little overkill, perhaps, but you've made your point. And I believe we know who your father is."

"Jupiter," Jason said. "I mean Zeus. Lord of the Sky." Everything broke into chaos, with dozens of people asking questions until Anna raised her arms.

"Hold it!" she said. "How can he be the son of Zeus? The Big Three...their pact not to have mortal kids...how could we not have known about him sooner?"

Chiron didn't answer, but Amber could tell he knew. And the truth was not good.

"The important thing is," Rachel said, "is that Jason's here now. He has a quest to fulfill, which means he will need his own prophecy." She closed her eyes and swooned. Two campers rushed forward and caught her. Charlie ran to the side of the amphitheater and grabbed a bronze three-legged stool. Amber remembered Charlie complaining about training for this. She bet they were glad they did, now. They eased Rachel onto the stool in front of the ruined hearth. Without the fire, the night was dark (although Amber could easily see in the dark, thanks to her glasses), but green mist started swirling around Rachel's feet. When she opened her eyes, they were glowing. Green smoke issued from her mouth. The voice that came out was raspy and ancient--a sound not unlike Emerald's voice:

"Child of lightning, beware the earth.

The giants' revenge the eight shall birth.

Child of travels, beware the past,

For you have much more pain to attract.

Forge and dove shall break the cage,

And death unleash, through Hera's rage."

Shit, Emerald hissed.

Julia and Emerald>>>

Oh and btw, Charlie is non-binary.