Chapter 1I set down the book I was reading; Eclipse. One of the books in the Warriors series.
I know I'm dyslexic, but I can't help reading these books! I'm always drawn to them, no matter how boring they get. I read them all twice!
They even tell me good advice about herbs in the wilderness. Just a few days ago, I put marigold on Thalia's knee when she got injured in Capture the Flag. I had even mixed catmint with Nico's tea two weeks back, because he had an awful cold. Sometimes it's handy to have books always with you. Annabeth had said. You never know when the knowledge is most wanted.
Of course, I didn't believe her then. I was always training with Riptide, or going down to the sea to swim for a little and talk with my underwater friends.
Now, all I do is read. Read, read, and read. I still couldn't help thinking about when Firestar dies in the last book...
A knock on the door of the cabin startled me. "Come in!" I shouted.
Annabeth leaned against the doorway. She had her golden hair pulled back into a ponytail, but one silky strand got in her face, which was cute...somehow. Her gray eyes were always like they were; stormy. "Hey," She said, casually. "What are you reading?"
I held up my book. She sighed. "Really, Percy? You should get over those books. They've been driving you mad!"
"I can't help it!" I protested, standing back up. "They're amazing! I can't just leave them!"
Annabeth just laughed. "I'm pretty sure there are plenty more big series in the world." She spread her hands. "Anyways, this is not why I came here for. Chiron wants to see us in the Big House."
"What for?" The last time Chiron called me to the Big House was when I accidently made the shower explode in the Aphrodite cabin. They wouldn't forgive me for a week. Then Drew (the former head counselor) decided that they were taking it too far. I don't know why, but they suddenly all forgave me. If I was them, I would just go to the training arena, and slice up a dummy or two.
Annabeth shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe you're in trouble." She teased as she started her way back to the Big House.
I looked back at the book I was holding in my hands. I wanted to finish it so bad...
But, the again, the message from Chiron could be important. I ran after Annabeth.
The Big House meeting room was already crowded. Technically, it's just a normal base room with a ping-pong table that nobody really used. Everyone was gathered around it, yelling and screaming and talking and throwing stuff. Butch from the Iris cabin was filling up Clovis' (from the Hypnos cabin)with water, so it looked like he was drooling. The twin sisters (Zia and Zoey...I think...)from the Athena cabin were slapping the Stoll brothers, probably because they had tried to kiss them again. I watched as Noah from the Hermes cabin threw a crumpled piece of paper at Jaden, a child of Ares. Jaden opened and there were the big letters CALL ME on it.
Go figure.
Chiron entered the room and everyone froze and stopped doing whatever they were doing. Clovis instantly woke up and started spluttering water, while Butch repeatedly hit his back, not taking his eyes off Chiron.
"Well...nice to see we haven't done any real damage." He smiled as if this was a new approval. Of course it was. We would usually end up with a broken wall or a person instantly carried to the infirmary.
"Why did you bring us here, Chiron?" I asked. Chiron just told us to sit down. The Senior Counselors all took a seat, leaving most of the demigods standing. Chiron just stood up because he was half-horse.
"So," He began, beaming, but with silent dread in his eyes. " There is someone here to see you. I hope you understand what is about to happen. It will mean saving another world from another evil." He held up a drachma and recited,
"O, great goddess Hecate, hear me. Please come down to share thy plea."
Instantly, the drachma flew out of Chiron's hands and disappeared. Instantly, a blinding flash came from the corner of the room. A woman stepped out of the shadows. She had dark hair, with violet eyes, a little like Mr. D's, except that hers didn't have a mad glow. She reminded me of Hera, but she looked kinder, friendlier. I know, I should have been suspicious of her, people just don't pop into camp for no reason, but I was curious to see what was going to happen.
"Hello, I am Hecate, goddess of magic, and I need the help of four demigods; Perseus Jackson, Annabeth Chase, Thalia Grace and Nico Di Angelo. I hope that they are all currently here at camp?" She asked.
"Yes, they are." I replied. Thalia got a break from the Huntresses of Artemis and Nico just came back from the Underworld.
Lady Hecate smiled. "I have come to ask for help. You see, a long time ago, when I was a young goddess; a cat helped me fish out my favorite bracelet from the bottom of a pond, where I accidentally dropped it. Grateful to the cat, I reached down to pat it and, being new to my powers, I unknowingly passed on my blessing to the cat."
I suddenly had a suspicion.
Hecate continued: "From then on, the cat and its descendants have always been as intelligent as a human, as well as having a little bit of power. For them, they live in groups called Clans, and they follow a set of laws called the Warrior Code. The cats who have died go to a place called StarClan, where they gain the power of prophecy. Their prophecies aren't as clear as ours, but still pretty good. Cats in Starclan then pass on their knowledge to cats called medicine cats in their dreams.
"However, not all the cats are good. Right now, a certain group called the Dark Forest has taken over the clans. The cats are being forced to fight to the death, where only one cat will survive. I know most people wouldn't care about cats, but they have the same feelings as humans, and it hurts to see them being tortured. So I would like all four of you to go and rebel against the Dark Forest and defeat their leader, a cat called Whiteblood. I will turn all of you into cats, and in return for helping me with this; I will give all of you my blessing. While in the form of a cat, you can still use your powers."
I couldn't believe what she was saying. "WHAT?! You mean the Clans, the…the CATS! Brambleclaw, Squirrelflight, Leafpool, Jayfeather...they're all REAL?"
Everyone was staring at me like I was crazy, but I couldn't help it. I stood up and yelled:
"I accept! I'm going to save these cats, even if it means I have to give away my life! And I don't intend to do this alone!"
I looked at my friends. Annabeth stood up, looking proud of me. Thalia shrugged and jerked Nico awake. They both stood up.
"Okay Hecate," I said, "We accept."
The goddess smiled. "Then I, Hecate, goddess of magic, give you my blessings." We were engulfed in a brilliant, purple light. And then the world turned upside-down and I blacked out.