Free Pegasus and the Origins of Olympus by Kate O'Hearn

visit this people’s continent. But I’ve seen warnings in other chambers to stay away.’
    ‘Why?’ Joel asked.
    ‘I’m not sure,’ Emily said. ‘We’d have to read all the details. Maybe those continents are dangerous.’
    ‘ No ,’ Riza corrected aloud, ‘ not dangerous for us. But for some, the inhabitants do not know they have been moved. We must not contaminate them .’
    ‘Riza?’ Paelen said, speaking to her directly.
    ‘ I am here, Paelen. We both are .’
    ‘Can Emily come back please?’ Joel said uncomfortably.
    Emily smiled. ‘Joel, I never left. But Riza wanted to tell us something.’
    ‘This is getting too freaky!’ Joel said. ‘No offence, Riza, but it’s going to take some time to get used to you being in there.’
    ‘ No offence taken, Joel ,’ Emily said with Riza’s voice. ‘ But understand this. I have known you as long as Emily has. We have no secrets between us. I was with you at Area 51 when we kissed .’
    ‘You did what ?’ Paelen shot an accusing look at Joel.
    ‘Hey, that was private,’ Joel said, his face turning red. ‘It was between Emily and me.’
    ‘ And me ,’ Riza said, laughing softly.
    Paelen looked from Emily to Joel. ‘Is there something you two want to tell me?’
    Emily blushed. ‘Not really.’
    ‘Yeah, let’s just keep exploring,’ Joel said gruffly as he stormed out of the chamber.
     
    They were back at camp excitedly discussing their findings when the arch of the Solar Stream came to life. Apollo appeared. They knew something was wrong as soon as they saw him.
    ‘Father is gravely ill and he has asked for Emily. I fear he is dying.’
    ‘What?’ Diana cried and rushed over to her brother. ‘That is impossible! Father only just went back.’
    ‘I know,’ Apollo agreed. ‘It is happening very quickly. Many Olympians are taking ill, including Pluto and Neptune.’
    At the mention of his father, Pegasus reared. He whinnied and threw his head back.
    ‘What’s wrong with them?’ Emily’s father demanded.
    ‘Father will not say. Only that I am to bring Emily home immediately. He said that Olympus is in grave danger. He has ordered those Olympians here to remain here. He does not want you infected.’
    Diana leaned forward and peered closely at her brother’s face. She reached out and touched the hair at his temples. ‘Apollo, your hair is going grey.’
    He nodded. ‘So is everyone’s in Olympus. That, and much worse. We are all ageing rapidly.’ He turned to Emily. ‘We have no time to spare; please hurry.’
    Pegasus protested loudly and reared again.
    ‘No, Pegasus, you must remain here,’ Apollo said. ‘No one is immune to this. It is affecting the older Olympians fastest, but none of us are safe. Father believes Emily, Steve and Joel will be safe to return as Aunt Maureen remains unaffected.’
    ‘I am not staying here,’ Diana insisted, ‘not while Father is ill. You know you cannot stop me, Apollo. So stand aside.’
    Apollo dropped his head, knowing there was no stopping his headstrong sister. ‘Father asked all Olympians to remain here.’
    ‘Then Father is about to be disappointed!’ Diana shot back. She looked at the others in the camp. ‘Those who do not wish to return are welcome to stay here with no judgments made against you. But I for one will not.’
    Chiron shook his head and pawed the ground with a hoof. ‘I will not remain here while Olympus is in danger.’
    No one in the camp followed the orders to stay on Xanadu. One by one, they charged through the portal into the Solar Stream.

10
    Jupiter lay in his bed. His skin was dry and leathery and he was deathly pale. He looked like he had aged a thousand years since Emily had seen him last. His grey beard was white and thin and his eyes were sunken in a face too wrinkled to recognize.
    ‘Father!’ Diana pushed past Emily and ran up to Jupiter’s bed. ‘What has happened to you?’
    The leader of Olympus opened his eyes wearily. They were covered in a