Percy Jackson and the Lost Parcel
Some time in camp half-blood had passed since Talia's resurrection with the Golden Fleece, and a certain amount of peace had fallen over them. Even if the prophecy was true, the Golden Fleece was under their control, far from the clutches of Cronus and the evils at his command. Little did they know, this was something that made their camp far less safe to inhabit, a fact that was lost on everyone except Percy. After dueling with Luke twice, he had learned to never underestimate the resolve of their enemies and the demi-titans. Days turned to weeks; weeks to months, then Chiron himself noticed a severe decline in enrollment, and a dwindling number of students returning from their vacations, and he counseled with Mr. D. "What could it mean? It's been thousands of years since the Gods have spawned so little offspring." "Perhaps word of the quest for the Golden Fleece has spread, and they feel safe at home. That's not such a bad thing you know." "Indeed …" Chiron said with a twinge of instability in his voice, "but the safest place for them is here, regardless of that fact." Dionysus attempted to pour himself yet another glass of wine, to no avail. "Maybe you could ask Zeus, and while you're at it, ask him to forgive me. Again." Chiron chuckled, tilted his head towards Olympus and stroked his lengthening beard. "Perhaps we won't have to …" The words fell from his lips with concern and awe. Something was moving across the sky, leaving streaks of black smoke in its wake. It was barreling over the lake straight towards camp-half blood with no signs of slowing. It approached the barrier and passed through it without hesitation, growing ever nearer to the ground. Campers began to notice its presence and the alarm was sounded. With a thunderous thud, and puffs of ash, the object made first contact with the ground in the middle of camp, and then continued to roll and skip off the ground toward Big House. Percy vigilantly retrieved his pen, his cursed blade from his pocket, ready for anything. He and Annabeth emerged from their cabins in unison, and made haste toward Big House as well. But that's when they noticed something strange. From where the object made first contact and all toward Big House lay hundreds of tiny parcels. Annabeth collected one, and examined it, then her eyes widened. "This can't be." Percy ran to her side with earnestness, placing a hand on the small of her back and looking over her shoulder at the package in her hands. Percy used most any excuse he could to touch Annabeth since she had died in front of him. "What…" "This package is from Zeus." Annabeth turned to look at Percy, their faces; their lips were a mere inch from each other, her round eyes gazed into his for a moment, suspending time. Percy was first to break their stare, directing it to the sender address on the package he held in his hand "… Mine too…" "We have to get to Big House." Percy shook his head in affirmation and the two made haste towards the camps administration building. Just steps outside the stone walls, they were joined by Clarisse and Grover, and what they saw was most unexpected. Coughing and singed by fire, Hermes the god of speed, was being helped to his feet by Mr. D and Chiron. Hermes placed his hands on his knees, in an attempt to catch his breath; a mostly full bag of parcels lay at his feet. "I really liked this suit" He muttered. Mr. D reached in the bag, retrieving a package, and opening it, after which he looked more confused than he had moments ago. "Why would Zeus send is this?" Still out of breath, Hermes tipped the package to see inside, "You have GOT TO BE KIDDING ME, rubble? I BURNED MY FAVORITE SUIT DELIVERING RUBBLE?!" Hermes was now shouting at the heavens in frustration. Clarisse scooped a package off the ground and opened it to the objections of her three friends. Upon revealing its contents, Clarisse yelped and dropped the package to the ground, drawing the attention of everyone. Even Hermes turned to look at her. "Who is that?" Hermes inquired of the two deities in charge. "Clarisse La Rue" Said Chiron with folded arms, "Half-blood daughter of…" Hermes interrupted "Aries, the god of war. Clarisse, come here, and bring that package with while you're at it." Clarisse retrieved the package from the ground and exchanged highly concerned looks with all the campers in sight. Slowly and with great caution she approached the clearly aggravated god. "Let's have a look." Clarisse outstretched her arms, and Hermes reached inside. "Now that IS weird." Hermes retrieved the piece of rubble from the box, but it was no ordinary piece of rock. Half jagged and half sculpted; half of a nose, the corner of a set of lips and one eye. This piece of rubble seemed to depict half of a face. A light roar had started amongst the campers, and to bring order despite his own confusion, Mr. D began to bark orders to the even more confused campers, "Alright kids, nothing, err well not much to see here. Search the grounds and bring all the packages you find here to Big House. Clarisse, you're dismissed." "Not so fast, I have a message for Ms. La Rue" touted Hermes. Clarisse planted an index finger in her chest, "Me, you have a message for me." "Yes, from your father. He says you're grounded." "WHAT?!" "Shouted Clarrise. "He said you would act like this, yes you are indeed grounded, and no questing for you until … whatever this is" Hermes gestured to the bag of packages" is figured out. And I did have a package addressed to you, buuuut, I dropped it." "YOU dropped it?" Inquired Clarisse, Dionysus and Chiron in unison and bewilderment. Hermes voice changed from its soft human form to booming godliness, "Look, I barely survived this delivery and I AM A GOD! The furies, Harpies and all matter of dark creatures tried to stop me. Losing one package and only one package is a victory." Hermes could see fear had been instilled in them and his message had been received, and returned the softness to his voice. "The package, however, must be retrieved. It is a part of this delivery. Good news is I know where I dropped it. It's at the bottom of Blue Marsh lake. Bad news is Scylla is guarding it. And she's not the only one, I just recognized the tentacles."