Chapter Text
Drew was too old to be following ghost trails.
“Everyone remain calm! Will send out search-”
But she also knew this wasn’t a ghost, or a monster. The Dead can’t leave the underworld, and monsters can’t get into camp. No, she knows who this is. Except that is also unthinkable. The thing that is leading her through the woods, a trail of petals that disappear behind her. A faint sent of chocolate and flowers fluffing up Drew’s nose.
“Mr. Chiron! Two of my fellow camp members are missing someone must have takin them, please-”
Abby never expected to be claimed during all this chaos, with the Cabin 11 still rioting almost nobody noticed it happened. If Silena hadn’t saw her trying to rub the magical peachy blush color off her face. It's been a week since then and she hasn’t been setting in well.
‘Coo~’ The dove ahead of her called, causing her to giggle as she followed it deeper into the woods.
“We’ll search out in teams of five, each head counselor will select their members for the search. The rest will stay behind, those who stay behind stay in your cabins. I’ll consult the satyrs. Be careful.”
The moment Drew and Abby saw each other in the clearing they both saw something else behind each other. Mirroring each other they looked behind the other, both saw a goddess standing behind there sibling.
“Mom?” They spoke together but in different tones. Abby in wonder. Drew in horror.
Both of their visions going dark in unison as gentle hands gripped the back of their necks like one would scruff a kitten.
“You’ve found an ally and then started causing immediate problems sister. Tsk tsk” Hera teased warmly as she looked between two Aphrodite's, both clutching a child.
“We gave you an opening to grab Hermes son.” The weaker one said cradling the sleeping young girl in her arms. Practically purring.
“Ive been told by my mirror twin,” A giggle sounded “The gods tend to not take the kidnapping of her children seriously.” Only her lovers had helped her in the past to recover or learn what had happened to them. It is rarely a fruitful endeavor. An old type of wrath ripped into her while taking in her child’s face.
Never again she vowed.
A snarl escaped Hera at the news. Aghast at the very thought of abandoning their children or grandchildren to some unknown fate. That is cruel, unnatural and disturbing. Any doubts she had before was wiped away at the news, but still she was curious.
“What of Hermes son, or even the other grandchild guarding him?” She asked with dread. Not the dread of getting caught but the dread of the children's disappearance not getting any attention by the gods of this world.
“Dionysus will notice and he will send message to Olympus, but I know it will be ignored, just like Hermes was. As for Apollo I don't think he’ll notice if he’s own leg went missing at this point of time. He’s buried in all those domains. Dionysus will inform him.”
The news brings out a distressed coo from Hera she starts to run her claws in the feather on her head in a self-soothing motion. Drawling the weaker Aphrodite's focus instantly, such naked concern on Hera’s face felt unnatural to her.
“Go now and grab them. I’ll bring these children back and come back to regroup.” Dove-dite reassured her sister. An extra set of arms creeped out of her back readjusting the older girl in her arms, gently gathering the younger girl from her counterpart.
“You’re not coming with us?” Hera questioned her arms twitching as if to grab this weaker version of her sister and spirit her away as well.
“I still need to be here as not to tip off anyone too early. My godly children will come with me when the time comes, but my lovers... well.” She sighed fondly.
Hera nodding before disappearing, the whispers of her essence trial off to cabin 7. By the time everyone gets back that trail will be long gone. We got lucky this time, but Athena will be on the case soon.
“You’re so sure your godly children will come with you gorgeous. What inspires such confidence?” Dove-dite purred in curiosity. The way she cradles the children, her children brings a fond warmth to her chest. The care and the love she holds them with, it's even more beautiful than her seduction.
“I claim their children, whenever they take after me. Ares does the same with our more warlike godly ones.” No wonder this little dove feels so different from her sister.
“I’ll see you soon.” And with that the other her and her children disappeared. A familiar pain takes her again, a hollow missing piece craved from her chest. My children are gone, out of my reach. Wait for me.
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“MR. D! Lee and Luke, they are gone! We can’t find them, oh gods!” Will came crashing into the Head Cabin desperately. Micheal was still searching for the cabin 10 kids.
A trail of younger Apollo kids trailing inside behind him. Thank chaos Hermes brats are stuck in there cabins right now or they would have gone nuclear.
“Who come into the cabin? Any other demigods out and about?” He’s groaned. They are no longer in camp his essence claimed chained as they were, untrustworthy his mind reminds him. With his full power there is a lot more confidence in his abilities but with the restriction it had to tell with is speaking to him. Madness will tell the sky is orange mid-day, it will also give him subtle lies as well. Your kids are dying.
How human these restrictions make him. A mentally unsound one but still very human.
“No one did. They were behind the privacy screen one second and the next they just-” Will was unconsolable after that. Sobs ripped out of him. The other kids drawling him back into their little huddle agreeing with his statement.
“Dad?” One of his sons who is behind him questioned uncertainly. He’s next the madness answers back.
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“No, no, no, no? Something’s missing, what's missing? Hollow why, something's hollow? I’m in pain? Why does my chest hurt, something is gone? A domain, is that's what missing? Why does it hurt though, if a domain went missing?”
Apollo, get to the camp now.
Not now, the meeting is tonight. I can’t I-
I'll call Athena meeting now. Get Here.
...What's wrong?
Prophecy has broken through the sea of domains, broken down to the barest of whispers. Fighting against whoever is trying to strangle it, and the turning of tides that threaten to bury it.
You will not like the answer. It calls.
Demigods are going missing. Two Aphrodite’s kids, Luke, and one of yours.
Prophecy was right. I don’t like it. A whin escaped him as he called to the other gods Athena had mentioned.
Meeting now. Camp half blood. Something has happened.
Let them panic.