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"They'll get over it," Annabeth said "Clarisse will come to her senses"

I wasn't so sure That didn't sound like the Clarisse I knew

I scanned ot a four Hephaestus got a three and probably should've gotten lower, but with Beckendorf being gone and all, we cut theot a thich was no surprise All cae were shoved into the Heretful, that cabin was always overcrowded

Finally we got to Athena's cabin, which was orderly and clean as usual Books were straightened on the shelves The armor was polished Battle maps and blueprints decorated the walls Only Annabeth's bunk was messy It was covered in papers, and her silver laptop was still running

"Vlacas," Annabethherself an idiot in Greek

Her second-in-command, Malcol else Didn't know if it was safe to move your notes"

That was probably smart Annabeth had a bronze knife that she reserved just for monsters and people who rinned at me "We'll wait outside while you finish inspection" The Athena campers filed out the door while Annabeth cleaned up her bunk

I shuffled uneasily and pretended to go through soainst camp rules for two campers to belike, alone in a cabin

That rule had co And I know soods related on the godly side, and doesn't that odly side of your faods don't have DNA A de soodly parent Like two kids frohter of Aphrodite and a son of Hephaestus? They're not related So it's no proble about this as I watched Annabeth straighten up She closed her laptop, which had been given to her as a gift from the inventor Daedalus last suood info fro?"

"Too much," she said "Daedalus had so ure them all out"

"Yeah," I muttered "That would be fun"

She shuffled her papers--s and a bunch of handwritten notes I knew she wanted to be an architect someday, but I'd learned the hard way not to ask what she orking on She'd start talking about angles and load-bearing joints until lazed over

"You know" She brushed her hair behind her ear, like she does when she's nervous "This whole thing with Beckendorf and Silena It kind ofpeople who are i on little rando those silver owl earrings from her dad, as this brainiac military history professor in San Francisco

"Urn, yeah," I sta cool with your family?"

Okay, really stupid question, but hey, I was nervous

Annabeth looked disappointed, but she nodded

"My dad wanted to take me to Greece this summer," she said wistfully "I've alanted to see--"

"The Parthenon," I reed a smile "Yeah"

"That's okay There'll be other suht?"

As soon as I said it, I realized it was a boneheaded co the end of e of the Gods really did end, the world as we kneould dissolve into chaos Deods would be hunted to extinction There would be no more summers for us

Annabeth stared at her inspection scroll "Three out five," she muttered, "for a sloppy head counselor Coet back to Chiron"

On the way to the Big House, we read the last report, which was handwritten on a maple leaf from a satyr in Canada If possible, the note made me feel even worse

" 'Dear Grover,'" I read aloud " 'Woods outside Toronto attacked by giant evil badger Tried to do as you suggested and summon power of Pan No effect Many naiads' trees destroyed Retreating to Ottawa Please advise Where are you? --Gleeson Hedge, protector'"

Annabeth gri from him? Even with your empathy link?"

I shook my head dejectedly

Ever since last suod Pan had died, our friend Grover had been drifting farther and farther away The Council of Cloven Elders treated him like an outcast, but Grover still traveled all over the East Coast, trying to spread the word about Pan and convince nature spirits to protect their own little bits of the wild He'd only coirlfriend, Juniper

Last I'd heard he was in Central Park organizing the dryads, but nobody had seen or heard froes They never got through I had an e bad happened to him Grover had told ht kill me too But I wasn't sure if that was still true or not

I wondered if he was still in Manhattan Then I thought abouton the city, an ar

"Annabeth" I stopped her by the tetherball court I kneas asking for trouble, but I didn't knoho else to trust Plus, I'd always depended on Annabeth for advice "Listen, I had this dream about, u, even the weird picture of Luke as a child

For a while she didn't say anything Then she rolled up her inspection scroll so tight she ripped it "What do you want ist I know If you were Kronos planning this ould you do next?"

"I'd use Typhon as a distraction Then I'd hit Olyods were in the West"

"Just like in Rachel's picture"

"Percy," she said, her voice tight, "Rachel is just a mortal"

"But what if her dream is true? Those other Titans--they said Olympus would be destroyed in a es And what's with that picture of Luke as a kid--"

"We'll just have to be ready"

"How?" I said "Look at our ca each other And I'et my stupid soul reaped"