Page 92 of The Wild Zone

Spending so much time with the Wild Omada—with everyone at camp, honestly—had shown me that in different moments, I could have different comforts. If I wanted to feel protected, I wanted Zuri with the big-sister vibes. If I wanted to feel heard, I wanted Harper, who could empathize with a giant worm. And if I wanted to feel noble, I wanted Benny and his moral compass by my side.

It worked that way in other aspects of my life too. When I wanted to embrace my Korean ancestors, I could go with rice tea. When I wanted to embrace my modern family, I could go with orange soda. In the same way that not being around a friend didn’t mean I’d lost touch with them, not “being Korean” for a moment didn’t mean I’d lost touch with my heritage. I could come back to both whenever I wanted.

And what did that even mean, to “be Korean”? That I had to dress a certain way? Watch certain shows? Eat certain things?

No.

There were no rules to having Korean blood. If that were the case, everyone would act exactly the same. And how dull would that be?

There was no shame in not having enough Korean blood either. I got to be half Korean, but I also got to be half something else, and that was special too. I was proud to be a blend of my mom and my dad…even if neither one of them was perfect.

So I sipped my rice tea and enjoyed the chatter from the Greek demigods seated around me.

At the other end of the table, Clarisse did her best to ignore me, but we’d talked in private earlier. I’d filled her in on finding Grant’s shoe, as well as the monster that had chased us out of the Wild Zone. I didn’t mention how I’d singlehandedly felled a tree, and she didn’t ask how we’d managed to escape.

“Well, things should be improving soon,” she’d told me. “Argus is supposed to make a big announcement at breakfast.”

Now I jiggled my leg impatiently, waiting for Argus’s speech. I hoped to spot the centaur Chiron, or the elusive Mr. D, newly released from their professional development, but the only figures I saw moving through the crowd were the usual nymphs bearing platters of waffles, fruit, and breakfast tacos. At the Apollo table, Will Solace cheered. Apparently, breakfast tacos were a big deal where he was from.

“If you tell me we’re having chips and queso with lunch, I’ll die and go to Elysium,” he said around a mouthful of egg and flour tortilla.

I ate hurriedly in hopes it would speed up everyone’s breakfast so we could move on to Argus’s announcements. I needed to believe Chiron was coming back. I had a few choice things to tell that guy, and a few questions that only he could answer. I kept trying to catch Argus’s eyes—any of them—to get a hint what kind of mood he was in, but he studiously ignored me.

Once the meal service had died down and there was less scraping of forks against plates, the conch horn blew. Argus rose at the head table. My heart beat so loud, I could feel it in my ears.

He scanned the crowd. When he finally met my eyes, he beamed as if to say You’re going to LOVE this!

“I have some exciting news to share,” he began. “Now I know we’ve had a challenging start to our fall session. It hasn’t been easy without our fearless leaders, Chiron and Mr. D! And I’m aware of certain concerns and rumors….”

The campers muttered among themselves. Apparently, Silas and Grant had not been forgotten.

Argus held up his hand for silence. “So, after several conversations with campers and staff, I reached out—er, up to Mount Olympus about lending us some help. Just to ease everyone’s minds!”

I smiled and wriggled in my seat. This was it. I wondered if Chiron would rise from the floor on a hidden platform, surrounded by smoke and lasers.

“I’m sorry to say that Chiron and Mr. D are still indisposed…” Argus continued.

My heart sank. What?

“But I’m pleased to report that the gods were more than willing to send us assistance. In the form of an Olympian, no less.” Argus smiled cryptically. “One who’s never been to Camp Half-Blood.”

I sat up taller. Okay…perhaps this wasn’t so bad. Zeus would work. A couple of lightning bolts into the Wild Zone, and we could probably get everything sorted out.

And, yes, maybe my first thought should have been my dad, but I was so used to him not showing up, I couldn’t even wrap my mind around the idea of him being around 24-7.

All around me, campers were whispering excitedly and exchanging theories: Gotta be Hermes. Gotta be Apollo.

Argus whistled through his teeth, and everyone quieted. “Starting tomorrow evening, our temporary camp director will be…Aphrodite!” He gestured toward the kids at table ten, who squealed and cried like they were at a K-pop concert.

The only exception was Harper.

He slumped in his seat. It wasn’t until one of his siblings patted him on the back and shouted something in his ear that he sat up a little and forced a smile.

I wondered what kind of relationship Harper must have with his mom to bring on such a bummer reaction.

Then I thought about what having Aphrodite at camp would mean.

She wasn’t Zeus, so I doubted she would be blowing up any troublesome monsters. I’d learned not to underestimate her children here at camp, but all the stories I’d heard about the goddess herself made her seem incredibly self-centered. Honestly, I could imagine her not even caring that Silas and Grant were missing.