The Heroes of Olympus, #1
The Lost Hero
by Rick Riordan
Contents
III PIPER
Overview
Piper, Jason, and Leo are flown by Annabeth and Butch toward Camp Half-Blood but are attacked by storm spirits and crash into the camp’s lake. Campers rescue them, revealing the camp’s demigod world. Leo is claimed by Hephaestus, while Jason’s SPQR tattoo raises alarms, and he is taken to Chiron as Percy’s disappearance still troubles the camp.
Summary
In the chariot with Annabeth and Butch, Piper wrestles with dread and Jason’s amnesia as they flee storm spirits. Annabeth explains demigods and Camp Half-Blood, identifying herself as Athena’s daughter and Butch as Iris’s son. More storm spirits approach as stallions, the chariot’s wheel catches fire, and Butch drives them into a desperate sprint.
They flash across the country to a coastal valley—Camp Half-Blood—where the chariot fails and they plunge into the lake. Naiads haul Piper ashore while campers rescue the pegasi and dry the newcomers. Will confronts Annabeth about the wreck and asks after Percy, whose continued absence worries the camp.
Drew arrives, sizing up the newcomers and clashing with Piper. Annabeth orders a welcoming tour and hopes the gods will claim the arrivals by night. As Piper demands an explanation of “claimed,” a fiery hammer appears above Leo’s head, marking him. Annabeth identifies it as Vulcan—Hephaestus—claiming Leo.
Annabeth sends Will to guide Leo to Cabin Nine. She then studies Jason, noticing a tattoo on his forearm: SPQR beneath an eagle over tally marks, seemingly burned in. The mark unsettles the campers. With no memory of its origin, Jason is sent directly to Chiron. Drew escorts him toward the Big House as Annabeth prepares to tour Piper and discuss what’s happening.
Who Appears
- PiperViewpoint character; anxious about a prophetic dream and Jason’s amnesia; arrives at Camp Half-Blood after a crash.
- JasonAmnesiac; helps explain demigods; has an SPQR tattoo that alarms campers; sent to Chiron.
- AnnabethLeads the rescue; explains camp and claiming; worried about missing Percy; directs next steps for the newcomers.
- LeoJokes through danger; is claimed by Hephaestus via a fiery hammer; sent to Cabin Nine with Will.
- ButchCharioteer and son of Iris; pilots the pegasi team; helps with the crash landing and recovery.
- WillArcher and chariot owner; questions Percy’s status; guides Leo to Cabin Nine.
- DrewGlamorous, hostile camper; belittles Piper; escorts Jason to Chiron at Annabeth’s request.
- NaiadsLake spirits who rescue Piper and toss the wrecked chariot ashore.