Hecate's Experiment

Apparently, Rachel, this oracle person, had issued a prophecy while Hope was talking with Draco. And it was for her. Although why it required all the cabin counselors at the big house discussing it was beyond her.
Everyone whom, she did not know, introduced themselves. With a quick shock, Hope realized that she was meeting the seven, and immediately distanced herself from them, along with the counselor for cabin twenty who happened to be her sister. Hope wasn't sure why, but she knew she had to stay away from them.
Chiron stepped forward. "Why don't we start with you, Hope," he said kindly. "Would you mind explaining what just happened?"
Hope nodded quietly, feeling suddenly shy surrounded by all the others. She launched into a quick explanation of Draco and what she'd been told and shown. Ending with a last vision of ashes and finding Pollux's body buried in them.
The others fell quiet. No one was quite sure what to say. After all, Hope was fourteen, and yet she was expected to save the world and defeat and massive black dragon. Sure, everyone in the room had had their fair share of saving the world at a young age, but there was still quite a bit of pressure on Hope.
Chiron looked to Annabeth. "Recite the prophecy please, dear."
Annabeth nodded. "Hidden in the forest of the gods the beast dwells/The dragon plus two shall argue over what one tells/Should Hope be lost entombed in fear/Then the end is nigh and near."
Any and all color in Hope's face vanished. "What was that middle part again?" she whispered quietly.
"The dragon plus two shall argue over what one tells," said Leo, cracking a smile.
Against her will, Hope laughed. "That's not what I meant," she giggled, unable to stop smiling.
Katie smiled kindly at her, placing a hand gently on her back. "For all we know, Hope, it might not mean you as a person," she said. "It might just be talking about the concept of hope."
Hope didn't say anything. She knew just as well as anyone else in the room that Katie was merely trying to cheer her up. If anyone did believe what Katie said, they were probably delusional.
Chiron looked at Hope expectantly. "Do you accept your quest?" he asked.
Hope raised an eyebrow. "Do I honestly have choice?" she asked. The room fell silent. "It's some stupid destiny for me to take this quest. When people try to fight destiny people tend to end up dead. Sorry, but I don't feel like taking a permanent trip to the Underworld anytime soon."
Everyone in the room stared at her for a moment, then Chiron got straight back into business. "Well, who are your two companions then?"
Hope smiled. "I'm not going anywhere with my best friend," she said, grinning at Pollux. "As for the other, I'm not sure." Hope thought for a moment. Lacy was probably the closest to her, besides Pollux, but Hope didn't want to put her through something as horrible as the quest they were about to go on, and the same for Katie. Clarisse was a viable option, but to be honest, Clarisse scared Hope just a bit. Conner and Travis would make the quest fun and interesting, but she could only take one, and she couldn't imagine she was even thinking about separating them. Malcolm was the only other person at Camp she trusted. Plus he wasn't bad with the sword, and his 'wisdom' could be extremely helpful. "Is Malcolm free?" she asked Annabeth finally.
She smiled. "I'll ask him when we're done."
Chiron spoke up. "You can go get him right now, Annabeth, the rest of the discussion is for the questors alone."
Everyone started to leave them room, at which pointed Conner shouted: "Don't get to comfortable you two!" Earning him a book in the face and stunned silence at Hope's accuracy.
"Why can't you be that accurate on the field?" asked Clarisse.
Hope grinned. "The only thing I'm ever able to hit with accuracy is and always has been Connor's face."
Laughter chorus through the room as everyone left, leaving Hope alone with Chiron, Pollux and Mr. D, who ignored them all--including his own son. Hope felt that was a bit rude, but said nothing of it. They waited awkwardly until Malcolm walked in with smile.
"I have to be honest," he said. "I never thought you'd pick me."
Hope didn't say anything. She suddenly began to feel sick to her stomach. She hoped they weren't leaving right then, she didn't think she could take it.
Chiron settled into the wheelchair, feeling rather tired and to feel so--it was getting dark. "There is something I must tell you about the Forest of the Gods," he said sternly. "It's entrance is located deep in the Rocky Mountains, and it is guarded by a rather meddlesome minor goddess."
"Meddlesome?" asked Hope.
Mr. D laughed. "Meddlesome is an understatement," he chortled. "The goddess lives to embarrass people. She's very good at keeping people out of the forest."
"Yes," said Chiron dryly, ignoring the god. "Anyway, once you are inside, ("Assume they get over their embarrassment" from Mr. D) Time will begin to move a tad faster for you. What may seem like a day for us, may in fact be a week for you."
Malcolm wrinkled his nose. "I thought it was usually reversed," he muttered.
Chiron shrugged slightly. "That's the way things are in the forest. You'll be leaving in the morning--Argus will take the three of you to the train station."
"That's nice," muttered Hope. "I'm totally gonna sleep just fine tonight."
Chiron smiled. "You can stay here for the night if you like," he promised her. "As you are unable to sleep in Cabin 20."

As everyone left, leaving Hope alone to curl up under a blanket on the couch to sleep fitfully. "Yeah," she whispered to herself. "Totally going to manage to sleep at all tonight."

Notes

Things are finally starting to well get started---sorry it took so long, but hey, we can't all be perfect! Especially me, seeing as I have the metal maturity of a five year old.

Well you know the drill,
Rate, Comment, Subscribe if you want to see more

--Kim