Camp ended up being rather enjoyable for the most part.
I spent the mornings with Annabeth going over old myths more than Ancient Greek. It was comfortable and really interesting.
Annabeth was delighted by my interest, most got a bit annoyed when she started info-dumping but I needed to learn as much as possible so I paid close attention to everything she said. And when she ran out of facts she knew she started digging up more myths and stories for me.
We spent hours debating interpretations of the myths and studying the different versions and agreeing that Rome kinda sucked. Lord D had so many myths, and I even learned that Poseidon was older than I thought. One upon a time He was the ruler of the Gods with Demeter as His Queen.
I learned so much about the myths that I'd never known before and started to form my own opinion on things.
OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO
Archery with Khiron was now with the Apollo cabin as well. Khiron thought it was fine since there was only one of me, but… I was a bit uncomfortable.
They'd avoided me before the quest and even though I knew why I couldn't help leaning away from them. My stomach twisted uncomfortably when they talked with me.
They were nice and happy to work with me despite how bad my archery was but… I felt off. I couldn't help feeling betrayed for how they left me like that and I didn't like the feeling. I just wanted things to calm down but I couldn't relax with them.
I didn't want to make a big deal of it, they were being nice now after all, but it was still awkward when Lee offered me advice on shooting the bow. His brown and blue eyes were bright as he corrected my form.
It didn't improve anything but he did try.
I got to know two Apollo kids named Elizabeth and Tobias when they tried to bond with me over failing at archery. They were nearly as bad as me but… I did remember seeing them from before my quest. They'd avoided me just like everyone else.
I didn't bother to change my archery time despite that, I didn't want to start a fight.
Was it bad I was only comfortable with a few cabins?
The Hermes cabin was easier to be around because unlike the Apollo cabin some of them apologized. A boy named Alabaster said sorry for avoiding me after and his sister Aponi said that it wasn't nice of them to do it. A few others said they were glad to see I was okay and they felt bad for leaving me behind like that.
It helped some, I could be around them without feeling so awkward.
It was still hard though.
OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO
Lunch was usually very relaxing. I made my sacrifices to Triton and the others then settled down to eat.
The camp had an interesting system.
Since the Gods went all around the world there were a lot of different cultures here. Everyone here was religiously Hellenic Pagan (that was what it was called to worship the Greek Gods in the modern day), but many still followed the culture of their mortal family. And some people had personal reasons for eating certain foods. The camp handled all the variation by having five menus.
There was the general menu that had a variety of foods including the ones that weren't allowed under the other diets.
There was the Kosher menu, which switched out days for cheeses and meats and used a lot of tofu substitutes.
There was the Halal menu, with no port and all meat cooked in the proper way. It also had a lot of seafood mixed in which I liked a lot.
There was the Vegetarian menu which had no meat products, though fish was available. Apparently whether people counted fish as meat varied by personal beliefs.
Then there was the Vegan menu, with no animal products at all.
According to Grover, who learned it from his momma goat, this was something that Lord D implemented when he came to camp.
I thought it was pretty great. All the menus had different options, and those that needed the menus got first dibs on the food. The rest of us were allowed to take from the other menus got to grab the food after them.
Grover often sat with me at lunch since he wasn't a camper.
We'd talk about the camp, plan outings to the forest, discuss the things the naiads said, and exchange stories about our childhoods.
OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO
Working in the strawberry fields with the Demeter kids was soothing. I would play my ocarina to practice the Siren's Song and try to coax the plants to grow just a little faster.
Today Imani was working beside me. Her dark skin was soaked with sweat from the summer heat (so was mine for that matter). She waved her hand and a trowel dug into the dirt by her.
"That's pretty cool," I said. "I didn't realize you could do that."
She blinked, looking up, "huh?"
"The trowel, you're controlling it?"
She brightened, "Oh yeah! I copied Alexus in figuring it out."
"From Aphrodite?"
"Yep! She can control beauty supplies. She does makeovers for campers if you trade her something, she wants to go into cosmetology."
I perked up, "That's really cool, I can't imagine already knowing what I want to do when I grow up."
Imani laughed, "Yeah that's a mood. I have no idea either. I think I might try to get an scholarship at Apollo's New York Ánthinos Medical School. I'm really good with medicinal plants and there you can learn how to treat illnesses with them-"
"Wait," I interrupted. "Apollo-tao has a medical school?"
"Yeah, He actually has a few," she said as she turned her full focus onto me. "There's like three Ánthinos ones, their focus is more on natural remedies, plants primarily, though one of them doubles as a Panída's, which focuses more on animal-based remedies."
"Oh, I didn't know that."
"Yeah, the Greek community is pretty spread out. The cabin counselor is in charge of teaching… oh…"
I pursed my lips, oh indeed.
"So, uh, where can I learn about… uh, schooling and jobs I guess?"
"Yeah, that's the main… there's other information too…" Her brow was furrowed. "Well uh, I'll talk to Katie. Maybe she can teach you about it. The Demeter cabin mainly focuses on the stuff focused around our mom, or related stuff."
"Related stuff?"
"Like Mr. D runs six-ish psychology schools, but also has some really high-quality wine making companies, and vineyards," she paused, looking up with a soft hum. "Or Apollo's medical programs, or his and Athena's library system… um… there's a bit of a variety? And demigods have created stuff over the years so..."
"That sounds cool! I didn't know the Gods had jobs on land."
Imani perked up, "Are there undersea jobs?"
"I mean… there are lots of merpeople jobs?"
"Ooh, could you do any of them?"
"Um, I'm not sure. I mean, I can think of some of the jobs… I haven't thought about getting them before."
"Oh well, what kind of jobs are there undersea?"
"There are obviously messengers, they're really important. Ink-makers do really well, same with book makers-"
"Why do they do so well?"
"Oh, well," I started. "Ink is hard to make in the sea, it's made from Octopus ink, but that'll dissolve within a few days at the most. Ink-makers have to mix stuff properly and make it functional in water, and book makers have the make the tuiu-"
"What's too-ee-oo?"
I blinked, "Oh yeah, that's like, parchment? Paper? Made of kelp, Um… the closest the undersea has to paper?"
"Do you use that for everything?"
"No, we use Airomo, oh uh, braided kelp strands, for a lot of messages, the braids mean things. And there are the Papote… er, message shells with like, audio messages? There aren't really exact translations sorry."
"No, no, that's fine. Do most mers not know writing and stuff?"
"No we still have Aipone… that's like, basically thin rock slabs? With like, the Ofivi, er… coral pens? Like, made of coral? It's usually in white but you can get dyed ones. And they can still use the tuiu, just with the less permanent ink mostly, more for short notes and stuff."
"Wow," Imani said. "I didn't realize there were so many ways to do writing undersea."
"Yeah, there are a few other methods messengers use, but those are the most common ways."
Imani nodded, "What else is there for undersea jobs?"
"Oh!" I brightened. "There are magic users, they're super cool."
She looked confused, "Magic users? Are those important?"
I nodded eagerly, "there are all kinds of magic users! There's the Vaksta Imote, the Uatevi Imote, the Turhora Imote, the-"
Imani laughed, "I have no idea what any of that means."
I flushed, "oh uh, haha… yeah. Imote uh, basically means magic user? Mage? Something like that. So um, Vaksta is 'purifying' but only in regards to the mage title… ta… anyways, that's purifying magic users. They specialize in purifying magic."
"You use that right? I think Katie mentioned it."
"Yeah, it was the first one I really started to learn. Well, after tevemoa, which is thermomany. The mage title for that is Eatuvi Imote."
She stared blankly.
"Um… controlling water and ice and stuff?"
"Ooooh, yeah okay. So is purifying strong?"
I chewed my lip, "Not really for fighting? More for restoring the sea and fighting pollution. And it can improve your senses but multiple forms of magic can do that, just in different ways. It can also be used for curse breaking."
"Is there a specific section for cursing people?"
I blinked, was there?
"I think you just call them Imoteora, or just magic user… maybe a Piviua Imote?"
"What's a Piviua?"
"It… it's what you call polluted water? So curses basically pollute someone or something so…"
Imani nodded, "So then-" she faltered suddenly looking sheepish.
A huff came from behind me.
I turned around and blinked up at Darius who was hiding a grin.
"You don't seem to be growing plants?"
Imani smiled brightly, "We're growing friendship!"
Darius snorted, "You're supposed to be growing the strawberries."
"Fine, fine," Imani huffed, flicking her wrist with her brow furrowed as the trowel and gardening fork started working in the ground again. "There, continue Percy?"
Darius rolled his eyes, "At least pretend to pick some strawberries, here-" he shoved a basket into my hands "-berry picking."
I laughed, "Okay, I'll pick the berries."
Darius nodded, satisfied, "Good, cause Katie's coming over in just a few minutes and she's very strict about strawberry duty."
We both nodded solemnly, "Yes sir."
He straightened with a pleased look, moving off to an emptier area to get to work himself.
"He'd better not accidentally give the strawberries thorns again," Imani giggled as she picked up the shears. "It's hard to remove them."
I blinked, "He gave the strawberries thorns?"
"He's really good at thorny plants, not so much at berrying plants."
I nodded, settling in to pick berries and talk to Imani about the sea.
Later I'd try to find out more about the land jobs.
OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO
I was glad to not have to sit alone at dinner most days. Grover would join me and we'd talk about our days. He sometimes told me about satyr magic and promised to show me more growing songs.
It was really interesting to hear about how magic varied from people to people.
The sea songs for growing weren't nearly as useful on land, but the songs I learned from the satyrs worked pretty well.
It did mean that I struggled more to practice the Siren's Song on land, but I was getting better.
Dinner was enjoyable though. It had good food, I got blue cherry coke, and I had good company. The only discomfort was the ever-present electric feel of the camp, but that was a discomfort throughout the day.
After dinner we'd have campfire. The Apollo cabin would lead us in sing-alongs, sometimes singing Delphic hymns, sometimes singing modern versions they made, and sometimes singing classic camp songs.
I usually sat with my friends from the Aphrodite and Demeter cabins. I was closest with Imani, Drew, Marinette, and Miranda. We made s'mores and had fun watching the others interact.
I was trying to get to know the others in the cabins but I couldn't quite remember all their names.
I was learning about them bit by bit though, which was good because the camp was basically going to be my summer home from now on.
OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO
I was stretched out in the water at the beach during my free time before dinner. The sun above warmed my skin as Apollo-tao drove His chariot across the sky.
The salt water was soothing and combined with the warmth I could almost drift asleep right there, if not for Alabaster and Aponi sitting next to me in the water asking about sea magic. They were Hekate kids.
It was nice to just relax in the water and chat.
Leilani and Felix (unclaimed kids from the Hermes cabin that had introduced themselves to me) were sitting in the sand near me playing. Luke was supervising everyone from a bit further away.
Alabaster paused to make notes in his book on something I said.
Their magic worked really differently from in the sea.
They used cards for a lot of spells. They were pre-made for the most part and they could just pull them out when they needed to. They also used incantations in the language of (mist) magic called Hegenian. Then there were sigils or just using raw control to manipulate the mist. I didn't understand how it worked when they tried to explain so I didn't think I'd be doing that any time soon.
They both veiled at all times. For them it wasn't for 'miasma' (which was why most of the girls and the doctors veiled) but instead because the veils shielded them from malicious energies and spirits. I hadn't known that.
I asked them why it didn't stop my sensitivity to magic and they said maybe that magic worked differently.
"So then," Alabaster continued his questioning. "If someone did a curse like-" he pulled out a card to show me "-this, how would you remove it?"
I pushed myself up to get a better look at the card.
"Well," I bit my lip as I studied it. "I think that's a layered one, right? With how the symbols are put together…"
"Yeah, it's a layered color changing curse… well it was originally a spell, but I twisted it a bit because it being a curse makes it harder for Khiron to undo."
I nodded, curses had to be undone differently then just cancelling a spell. There were similarities between the two but the nature of them was different.
"Well, I would have to peel up the layers of the spell. I don't have a lot of experience with curse-breaking though, sorry."
Alabaster's eyes gleamed, "We could help you get more practice."
"Wait, really?" I asked shooting up.
"Yeah!" Aponi chirped. "We could help. Alabaster's a lot better at them though."
Alabaster nodded, "Is there a specific curse you're trying to break?"
I thought back to the fish tank with Carl, "Yeah, someone was transformed into an animal. Not sure how though."
"Hmm, sounds like a high-level curse," Aponi mumbled.
"What's this about curses?" Leilani asked as she crouched beside us with a bucket of water.
"Just talking about how to break them," Alabaster said as he flipped through his cards.
Leilani tilted her head, "Should you have your cards in the water?"
"They're laminated."
She shrugged, "Well cool, as long as you don't practice on us."
Alabaster turned innocent eyes to her, "I would never. That's the kind of thing we reserve for the Stoll brothers."
Leilani and Aponi laughed.
"Are you interested in magic?" I asked Leilani.
"Oh no, I'm not a Hekate kid."
I frowned, "But you're unclaimed… er, sorry."
She smiled, tight and stiff, "It's fine, whoever my mom is doesn't feel the need to claim me yet but I think it's great that your dad claimed you. You shouldn't feel bad. I know my mom isn't Hekate though, I'm no good at magic, Alabaster tried to teach me."
"Oh," I chewed my lip. The Gods not claiming their kids was something that bothers me a lot. How could they just ignore their children?
"Do you wanna see our sand castle?" Leilani asked, brightening suddenly.
I nodded, eager to change the focus, "Yeah sure."
We stood up, the others dripping water, and moved out of the waves to get a closer look at the castle on the beach.
"Wow," I mumbled. "That's amazing!"
"Leilani makes the best sandcastles," Felix said distractedly as he balanced some sea glass so that it caught the light.
The sandcastle was four levels, past my knee in height, with carefully designed doors and windows and it even had column designs. There was a moat with a drawbridge over it too.
Leilani bent down and carefully started pouring the water from her bucket in.
"It's fun to make sandcastles. I like the sand."
"That's really cool! I've never seen a sandcastle so… so detailed." I leaned closer to look at the delicate seashell decorations pressed into the sandy walls.
"Thanks," Leilani said, she had a proud smile on her lips. "Maybe I'll make one for you next time."
I grinned, "That would be amazing."
I heard a huff from a boy sitting nearby, shooting us an annoyed look through his brown hair even though he said nothing.
Leilani hummed, "I'm gonna make a tower next time."
She reached for more sand, it almost seemed to move to her aid as she worked, a sense of trickling water-soft sand rubbing lightly against me.
I blinked, huh, maybe…
OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO
Scheduling at camp worked like requirements for school.
We had required activities like Wilderness Survival, Archery, or Arena Work. Then there were optional activities like Arts and Crafts, Canoeing, or Music.
The required activities had to be done a certain number of times a week. Optionals could be done whenever or not at all.
There were games after dinner four nights a week. Freeze tag, Hide and Go Seek Tag, Gauntlet (which was new to me but memorable once I'd played it. I got talked right off the path by a red head kid from the Ares cabin) and of course, Capture the Flag.
Technically the games were optional, but Khiron always got a look of disappointment and then he would spend the whole time lecturing you- sorry talking to you.
Lights out was at eleven pm every night. That just meant you had to be in your cabin though, actual lights out was up to the counselor of the cabin.
On Wednesday (today) I had Ancient Greek with Annabeth first. We mostly just discussed the myths and she'd read passages out so we could pick apart the wording.
After that was forging. Beckendorf usually helped me, I didn't know how to do anything there. It was really cool to watch him work. He had so many muscles and was really strong and could hammer the pieces into shape so quickly… I never actually got much done. Beckendorf was distracting to watch.
Canoeing afterwords was great for cooling off. I spent most of the time chatting with the naiads. One of them, Jazmyne (and spelled that way, she insisted on it) was teaching me basket weaving. Her hair got really flowy underwater and she liked to show off her shell brushes.
Naiad hair was thicker than human hair. It was more… feelers maybe? It took a lot of work to care for it but was really pretty.
Lunch with Grover was drifting away some. We sometimes took the food to the forest to snack and talk. He'd show me around and introduce me to the nymphs, dryads, and other satyrs. I got to see these cool old geysers (they felt of heat and water and boiling), a giant ant hill (metal and acid mixed in my mouth), and Zeus' fist (a rock formation that felt of heat and pressing rock and something… angry).
Arena work with the Hermes cabin was next. I spent that time with Luke and the rest of the Hermes cabin.
Luke was as insistent that I learn to use a sword as Triton had been about me learning a trident. Unfortunately there still wasn't a balanced one and Beckendorf told Luke he had too many projects to try making one now.
I was glad, I didn't really want a sword. I had my trident.
Luke ran me through a lot of drills. He made sure I knew multiple ways of blocking, how to counter-strike, and how to read my opponents moves.
Whenever we tired of swords he'd pull out spears.
It was weird to work with them, Triton didn't want me working with them yet. The balance was completely different from a trident and it threw me off.
Sometimes he'd work with me on knives. He'd show me stances he taught Annabeth and explain some moves to me for me to practice.
It was enjoyable and I liked training with him. He never changed how he treated me and the rest of the cabin was much more willing to apologize for how they'd treated me before than some others.
Running training was after Arena which was exhausting. I tried to move it, it was only me so I could join another cabin, but none of the other times fit my schedule.
The dryads and nymphs worked me hard despite me being tired when I showed up. I was always exhausted and my legs and lungs were aching by the end of the hour.
Thankfully, I had free time after and I always used it to relax in the big… tub? Pool? Waterfall? In my cabin bathroom. I loved that thing. I may have kinda grown into the habit of spending the whole hour in it.
Working in the strawberry fields afterwards kinda defeated the purpose of the bath, but also meant I would just take another after.
The Demeter cabin was usually with me, but Wednesday the time slot I had was shared with the Dionysus cabin instead.
Lord D had a habit of claiming a spot in the strawberry fields near where His kids and I were working.
He'd sit nibbling on fresh strawberries (and growing them back) and talking to Himself about the past.
He told all kinds of stories. Like the time He invaded India, or the time He created wine, or the time He went to France and got so drunk He had a hangover for the entire French revolution. That one was followed up by a lecture on knowing how much alcohol you could handle.
He told us about the time He was at the Gettysburg address too, and told us about the huge party afterwards where He and His wife found a new partner for a few years.
He had a lot of stories and was happy to ramble for the whole two hours His kids and I were there.
I enjoyed those days, it was peaceful. Being around Him could be a bit too much with the curling vines and pins and needles but… He was nice.
And His kids definitely loved the time we spent out there.
OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO
Drew dragged me to the Aphrodite cabin for a family night one time. It was just for those under fifteen apparently cause it was 'the kids bonding time'.
Lacy and a girl who's name I couldn't remember set up snacks.
Lapis (the girl who brushed my hair before) and Aarya (who had the cool seven foot stick weapon) made the food.
It was a big variety, ranging from popcorn and goldfish to bean cakes and mixed nuts to something called Jhalmuri that Aarya made. It smelled really good and she said it was made with rice, mustard oil, green chilies, and fresh onions. There was also Shinghara which she said was best with tea so she made tea too. It was a triangle pastry filled with a spicy potato mix and had a side of ketchup.
Alexus motioned me over to where she and another kid were sitting, her wheelchair by her bed.
"We're doing makeovers and trading gossip!" said the one who's name I didn't know. They had a box of makeup supplies open in front of them.
Alexus nodded, "It's always fun."
"Is it just…" I paused to do a mental count, seeing Mitchell as well. "Just the nine of us then?"
They nodded.
Alexus grinned, "Yep, the older kids get their own time where they talk about other stuff, like how they should set people up, or how to get revenge on the adults, or how to bribe Mr. D for things."
I laughed, "Sounds fun."
Lapis skipped over with a plate of the Shinghara snacks. "Do you want one?"
I nodded, accepting one as I claimed a seat, "Thank you."
She grinned, putting the plate on the table and stretching. "I've been cooking foreeever."
She draped against the bouncing boy (Ty-something), who groaned, "Hey, off, ugh."
He shoved her, but she just clung tighter with a small grin.
"I'm being attacked!" He cried. "Assaulted! Taken prisoner! Alexus- save me!"
Alexus hummed, twisting her fingers and assorted beauty supplies rose up. Oh yeah, Imani copied her ability to do that but with gardening supplies instead.
"Percy, I'm gonna contour your face."
I blinked, "Oh, okay… what's contouring?"
Alexus stilled, turning to stare at me, Lapis and and the boy gaped as well.
"Oh no," Alexus said. "This is a travesty. You don't know what contouring is! You do know what buffing is? Blending? Highlighting? Baking? Overlining? You must know what foiling is!"
I faltered, very lost, "Um…"
"We must fix this right now," Alexus said firmly. "I'm gonna show you with Lapis, Lapis get rid of your makeup I'm redoing it-"
"What's going on?" Drew asked, coming over.
"He doesn't know makeup!" Alexus cried.
"We have a lot of work to do," the Ty-something boy agreed.
Drew gasped, "Oh no. We will fix this gap in your education, don't worry, Percy."
"Thanks?"
And thus, I received a full two-hour makeup tutorial.
I learned what all those terms meant and was ordered to return later so they could teach me to do my own makeup.
They showed me skin tone matching, finding a concealer that matched the tone of my brown skin. It was lighter than the ones that Lapis pointed out matched Alexus and Tyrone's skins, but darker than the ones that matched Lapis, Aarya, and the unknown kid who's name I learned was Halia. She showed me the olive tones that matched Drew and a girl named Emily then compared it to the paler tones that matched lacy and Mitchell.
Then they went into color theory and how to match different eyeshadows, blushes, and lip sticks to the skin tone and concealer.
I got to snack the whole time and the treats were very good. The Shinghara was a bit spicy for me though.
"You'll be able to attract anyone you want by the time we're done imparting our vast makeup knowledge," Lacy said solemnly as she packed up the makeup box.
"Imagine feeling attraction," Emily said, shaking her head. "Can't relate."
Drew laughed, "Yes we know, attraction is strange."
I tilted my head, "What?"
"Emily is aroace," Drew said with a wave of her hand. "She doesn't understand how I think everyone is attractive and I don't understand how she thinks that people are only aesthetically pleasing. Alexus, Lapis, and her are always baffled when I explain that everyone is hot."
"Disaster bi," Mitchell mumbled.
"Crackpot pan," Drew shot back.
"Now, now," Lacy said. "We know, everyone is cute, except guys."
"Guys are the cutest actually," Drew challenged.
I laughed, "What's aroace?"
Drew blinked, "Oh, well, aro means they don't feel romantic attraction, ace means they don't feel like, kissy attraction."
"Ohhh, people like kissing? It looks weird to me."
"Thank you!" Alexus cried. "Everyone is cute, and I want to date them all, but like, kissing? No thanks."
I considered that, "Yeah, that makes sense I guess. People are cute… I never thought about it."
"Well you see, dear nephew," Drew started. "Here in the Aphrodite cabin, the facets of love are our greatest strength."
"I'm not your- oh whatever," I shook my head at her smug grin. "I guess that makes sense."
"Honestly though, imagine knowing yourself at this age," Tyrone said with a shake of his head.
"Mood," Aarya leaned over to high five him.
"Also valid," Lapis chirped. "Anyways, back on subject, Legend of Korra is being released in a year and I'm dying."
"What- that was not a subject we were on!" Emily laughed.
"But it's one we should be on," Lapis declared.
"I'm excited!" Drew said. "Did you hear it's a girl avatar this time? I'm living for it."
"Same," I chimed in. "I'm super excited to see the new waterbending."
"Right, you copy the waterbending from the show," Drew said.
"Yeah, Master Katara is the best teacher."
"Ugh, I wish I could be a bender. So jealous," Alexus groaned.
"I'd be an earthbender," Lapis declared. "Sand-bending."
"I'd be the avatar," Drew smirked. "Or a Kyoshi warrior like Suki."
"Master of all elements, dater of all genders," Mitchell said with a sage nod.
"Fight me," Drew shot back with a grin.
I laughed as we talked, theorizing about the next show, what the avatar would be like, what the conflicts would be.
Lacy is convinced there will be family drama. "She'll probably be part of some important family and have drama there!"
"Maybe her family would be the villain and she'd have to bring them back," Aarya was bouncing in her seat.
"I'm excited to see who she dates, we know all the avatar's got with girls so…"
"Oh my gosh, what if she's not straight!" Lapis had stars in her eyes.
"Okay, okay," Aarya interrupted. "But her powers. Who will her teachers be?"
"Aang's family," I chimed in. "They're the last airbenders right?"
"Ooh," Drew said. "You're right. It has to be them."
"Will that lead to angst?" who I thought was Hal-something mused. "I like the angst."
"You like all the angst," Aarya shook her head.
"I wonder what the animation will be like," Alexus mused. "It should be super cool to see."
"Oh," Emily nodded. "So true."
Drew leaned against me and I relaxed with my friends. The room was warm and comfortable and filled with joy as we theorized about what might happen in the show.
"Most importantly," Drew declared. "We need to get together to watch it all next summer, or at least what's released by then."
I grinned, "Absolutely."
OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO
I really only did the lava wall when Grover or one of my other friends wanted to. Today the Demeter cabin invited me along.
Suki was having a good day so she managed to keep pace with me and Imani as we reached the half-way point. We were side-eyeing the walls in case they decided to crash together.
I stretched, frowning at my camp shirt, it had some lava holes in it.
"Need some aloe?" Imani asked me and Suki.
I checked myself over, but there weren't any burns despite the holes in my shirt. "No I'm good."
"How," Suki muttered, accepting the aloe. "You never get burned on this."
I shrugged, "Just lucky?"
Suki squinted at me, brushing a loose strand straight black hair back. "I dunno, seems strange."
"Maybe you're fireproof!" Imani chirped. "That would be so cool!"
I faltered, "I doubt it, I don't think anyone is fireproof."
"We should test it," Suki declared, a gleam in her dark eyes.
"Let's not."
"Wait no, that would be cool." Imani looked very excited at the thought. "Go walk into the lava!"
"Uh…"
We turned to see another Demeter kid pulling herself onto the ledge.
"What did I just climb into?"
"Percy's fireproof!"
"No, I'm not!" I quickly corrected.
She looked between us, "Riiiight… let's uh, not test that. Mr. D would ground us."
"We'd just have to scrub dishes, Percy's fireproof so we'd be good."
I sent her a pleading look as she shook her head, "No setting Percy on fire. Katie will be annoyed."
They both pouted at that.
"Fine…"
"Why- why'd you pau-pau-pause?" Miranda asked as she reached our ledge.
"They're trying to set Percy on fire." said the Demeter daughter helpfully.
"What!?" Miranda cried.
"Let's just keep going," I pleaded.
The group grumbled, but we continued on.
"Well, maybe if it was a small fire-"
"NO!"
OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO
"And then Elizabeth said that was her book, as if it wasn't in our cabin!" Yewande continued telling me the story.
I'd met Yewande when finishing up canoeing and she'd introduced herself to me. We were walking back to the cabins as we talked.
"Why would she say that?" I asked.
Yewande shrugged, "Probably cause we took it from her. But our mom is the Goddess of wisdom! It should be in our cabin!"
I blinked, "Isn't Apollo the God of knowledge?"
"Not the point," Yewande said, waving her dark hand dismissively as we walked. "It's in our library, ergo it's ours. It's not like they haven't taken books from us either."
I considered, "Did she buy the book?"
"We left a few silver drachmas just in case, it was fine."
I laughed, "I don't think that matters to her."
"Too bad," Yewande insisted. "Malcom and Dylan agree with me, and Dylan is dating Tobias from Elizabeth's cabin, so there."
I snorted.
"Anyways," she pushed open the door to the Athena cabin. "Our library is the best and the Apollo cabin's cannot match up."
I faltered as I followed in, realizing I was interrupting.
"Oh sorry," I took a step back.
The Athena kids had gathered in a loose circle, knitting supplies scattered around them.
"Oh," Annabeth straightened. "Hey, Percy."
"Hi, Annabeth, sorry for intruding."
"No, it's fine, we're doing a knitting day."
Yewande perked up, "Do you wanna join?"
"Oh," I shook my head. "I shouldn't-"
"Poseidon kid's can't knit, don't be ridiculous." Said one girl that I didn't know.
"Mary," hissed Annabeth.
I faltered.
"What?" she asked. "I'm right!"
Annabeth turned to me, suddenly determined. "Come sit here, Percy. I'm gonna teach you how to knit."
I moved over, Yewande huffing as she sat next to one of the boys.
"Okay, here's how you hold the needles, here watch me."
Annabeth showed me carefully how to loop the yarn, how to move the needles, and how to hold them.
"You'll start with a scarf, it's a good beginner craft. Well technically squares would be better but A scarf isn't too complicated and it would be good for you to have something cool at the end."
I nodded solemnly as Annabeth directed me, it was very slow going.
The Athena kids started up idle chatter as they worked, Annabeth occasionally breaking off to point out some sort of error in my form, but overall, they looked comfortable enough.
One boy kept turning to me and opening his mouth, only for half the cabin to cut him off quickly, shooting him warning looks.
I didn't get it, but the chatter was nice. Annabeth went on a thirty-minute tangent about an architecture design she was doing and the architecture that inspired it (gothic ancient Greek style was her goal) and how excited she was to finish the design.
One girl distracted all of us by going over to show us her weaving project.
I'd never seen something so cool! Apparently, she was amazing at weaving, it was only half done but I could already see the intricate image of the phoinix. It was so pretty!
Annabeth corrected my hands again, shooting a smug look at Mary who rolled her eyes.
It was hours working there and I missed my other activities for the day. It would've normally been painful to sit that long, but they kept up interesting chatter and involved me in their conversations some. At the end I had a blue and green scarf. It was a bit rough, a bit lumpy in places, a bit short, but it was a scarf.
Annabeth looked very pleased, "A good first attempt!"
"That's pretty solid," Yewande agreed. "Keep practicing and we'll move you up to something a bit harder, like a pillow."
I beamed, I actually enjoyed doing the scarf, even if Mary was snide, and another girl's smiles seemed really fake and her kind comments reminded me strongly of how you insulted people at the events I've been to. Annabeth was helpful and Yewande was nice.
I had fun.
OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO
Capture the flag had been a lot of fun lately.
The Demeter cabin had been experimenting with some new tricks and for once were being fully active competitors in the game so they could use the opposition as their guinea pigs.
Today I was on their side along with the Dionysus cabin and a few others.
I darted past three Apollo kids that were hanging from some thorny vines (probably Darius' work) and slipped through the trees in the direction of the flag.
I snuck past a kid poking holes in the dirt with the hilt of his sword and mumbling about colorful snakes.
The Dionysus kids were formidable and Castor had been experimenting with driving people mad. Lord D had to be on duty to keep everyone sane.
I ducked behind some trees as three unclaimed kids from the Hermes cabin hurried past.
I frowned, tilting my head to listen for that faint hum of the flags. It was hard to feel past the ever-present electricity but after a moment I noticed it. I continued on in that direction and eventually found myself at some tall trees, the flag hanging far above.
Well, one thing I'd not gotten good at: climbing.
I eyed the tree; all the trees here have dryads… maybe that tree's would be willing to help me out?
I snuck around, careful to avoid the scouts and guards. It was a bit slow going but I made it to the tree.
"Psst," I whispered. "Dryad of the great-" I doubled checked the tree "-tall tree, would you be willing to help me reach the flag?"
A face pulled out of the tree, "That would be cheating, wouldn't it?"
I smiled sheepishly, "It would only be cheating if you handed me the flag, great dryad. The rules say nothing about you helping me up your magnificent tree."
She considered me for a moment, seeming to think.
"Well, I suppose I could help you up. You ever climbed a tree before?"
I shook my head, she grinned.
"Good luck!"
The tree shifted, easy handholds shifting into place, branches moving to better positions.
I climbed up carefully and only almost fell eight times. Once I reached the flag I easily pulled it free, carefully folding it to keep the ridiculously long flag from tripping me up on the way back.
Once that was tucked into my belt I carefully climbed down the tree, the dryad making it much easier than I expected.
Once I was down I carefully started to sneak away, only to run straight into Mark and Sherman from the Ares cabin.
We froze for a split second, before Sherman lunged for me with his metal arm, my hands snapping out to guide water in a shield that saved me from getting punched in the face.
Mark lashed out with his spear, driving it straight at me. I dove to the side, summoning my trident to block Sherman's sword strike.
"Percy!" called a familiar voice. "Duck!"
I didn't have time to look over, just had to hope it was a friend. I ducked.
There was a grunt above me, then the two boys toppled over.
I straightened, peering curiously at them. They'd both gotten nailed in the face with tree branches.
"Go!" Suki rushed over, leaning on her cane as she moved. "You've got the flag, get going."
I nodded, "Thanks!"
I bolted.
Arrows whizzed by me as Apollo kids realized I had their flag and a small boy with tightly curled hair from Ares almost gutted me with his spear (he was good with that thing), but thorny vines batted it aside at the last second, Darius coming through.
I breathed hard, ducking under a lunge from Clarisse as Annabeth leapt at her, then leaping over a log.
A moment later I was at the creek, the water rising to greet me as I willed it to freeze a section. I landed on the piece of ice as the river flowed across and then jumped off just before it reached the other side, hitting the ground and rolling.
The hum of the flag grew stronger for a moment, rubbing salt as the flag shifted to hold Poseidon's symbol.
I breathed hard, blinking as the conch shell sounded out.
"The blue team wins!" Khiron declared grandly.
I grunted, almost falling over as Imani tackled me with a laugh, "Yes!"
"Nice job!" said another Demeter girl as she patted me on the back.
Annabeth shot me a grin as she limped over, Clarisse grumbling beside her until Silena leaned over to kiss her cheek.
"Not bad," Annabeth said, punching me lightly in the arm.
"Thanks," I said, breathing hard. "That was fun."
She laughed, her gray eyes sparkling, "Glad you enjoyed it ink-head."
I rolled my eyes at her new nickname, she'd been running through them lately. Apparently, seaweed brain wasn't good enough for her.
I unfolded the flag, smiling down at Poseidon's trident on it.
Katie and Silena gave me thumbs up and I couldn't help but feel warm. I was glad that I was at camp. It was almost like a second home.
OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO
Triton POV
"You can't send Tuhaka," I snapped. "He's way too strict to be Persi's tutor. They'd never get along. And anyways, I've been doing fine tutoring him so far, there's no need to get him one at all."
Metu sighed, "Triton-"
"Metu." I glared at him.
"You cannot spend the time he needs with him-"
"Well that wouldn't be a problem if he'd had a tutor before would it?"
Metu shot me a chiding look, "I am trying to correct my mistake now, but you aren't making it easy."
I bit back a sharp reply, settling for crossing my arms.
"He needs a tutor, which of these do you like the most?" He added under his breath, "Or dislike the least."
I grumbled but kept reading through the list. I didn't like this, I could handle his education just fine. We didn't need to get him a different tutor.
But Metu was insistent, ugh.
I scanned the names, definitely not Tuhaka, he was universally hated by his students. Maybe Weehe, well, he had a habit of pop quizzes that Persi would hate. Uku and Roha were both good ones, Uku liked to add music to his teachings while Roha prefered giving their students practical examples and hands on learning. Mauga and Maiava… well they were both good, Maiava more so in my opinion, but I didn't think they'd mesh well with Persi.
Ugh, "Why do we have to do this?"
"He needs a tutor for a lot of undersea lessons. Even if you've taught him the basics, he has a lot more to learn."
I rolled my eyes, grumbling under my breath, "Should just get him a magic tutor, that would make his year."
Metu perked up and I had a feeling I just gave him an idea. Oh no.
"So," he asked. "Which tutor?"
I sighed, "Uku or Roha, probably Roha. Or maybe actually Euphemia, she's really good and well informed, though hard to get ahold of. But if Persi is upset at all I'm taking over again."
Metua sighed, "Fine, if Perseus doesn't-"
"Persi."
"If Persi doesn't like it, you can take over his education again."
I smirked, "Good."
"Now then," Metu smirked. "Let's go over possible magic tutors."
I groaned.
OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO
Zeus' POV
I scowled, pacing the bedroom floor as Hera read on the bed.
This was going to be a problem. Poseidon had always been protective of his kids and having only one seemed to only be making it worse.
I knew he cared for his kids, of course he did, but really! It was bigger than one child, it was the fate of the world, the fate of Olympus , at risk here.
Poseidon could not put a single child before the fate of billions of people!
…
Oh who was I kidding, of course he could.
Unless it endangered the sea he would always put his children first.
I ran a hand through my hair.
"And he even expects me to give his kid an apology gift!" I grumbled. "What am I even supposed to get the brat? Poseidon will throw a tantrum if he thinks I'm being cheap about it, and if I don't do it at all he'll never let it go."
Hera groaned, "Just get him a storm in a bottle or something. Honestly, you're interrupting my reading."
"Bottle storms are valuable though," I argued.
"Then do a small one," she rolled her eyes. "Honestly, just give him something and come to bed already."
I paused, well, a small one would be valuable but not too valuable.
I perked up, and they were dangerous. So if he messed around with it it could kill him.
I sighed, I didn't hate the kid. He was respectful and didn't seem malicious, but I couldn't take any chances with the prophecy hanging over our heads.
For the safety of Olympus and the world as a whole, Poseidon's son would have to die.