Everyone was still in dismay about Leo. It had been a few months since The Seven had returned to Camp Half Blood after the end of the war with Gaea. Mostly everyone had gotten over Leo-except for Jason and Nico. Most nights around the campfire consisted of Nico's face buried within Will's shirt, his silky dark hair was a curtain over any emotions he showed on his face. Even the warmth and comfort of Will's arms wouldn't comfort him. However, Annabeth suspected it wasn't just Leo he was upset about.
Jason was still in denial, he couldn't-wouldn't believe his best friend was gone. He considered that this was how Reyna felt when he had just disappeared from her life, just like that. The campfire they all sat around with the cloaked stars above them barely grasped 2 feet, in a gray translucent wisp, simmering out into the night air, the incense of loss.
Percy sat cross-legged on the beach with Annabeth's head resting on his shoulder. Her pillowy blonde hair tickled his face, lightly rubbing off the smell of lemons on his neck. As Percy's gaze shifted from the gentle, lapping waves to the braziers on the hill, his thoughts went back to Leo. He watched as the tiny embers floated through the night air, their light dissolving. The smell of a fireplace blew across the beach, wrapping itself through Percy's hair, trapping his thoughts about Leo within his mind. We winced, and turned his head away, returning to his previous thoughts.
Annabeth's eyes darted across the water, looking and observing the shapes the moon's reflection created. Then, her eyes focused on a dark shape, floating, unmoving towards the shore, carried on a wave into the shallows. She stood up, her face contorting to a startled, yet curious face and started slowly pacing towards the floating object. Once Annabeth had left his shoulder, Percy snapped out of his daze and rushed over to her, noticing the object of her curiosity. They cautiously got closer, until Percy realized what it was, and rushed over towards the floating body in the water.
"Percy?" Annabeth's voice quivered. "Should I go get- "
"Now." Percy said firmly. And with that, Annabeth ran up the hill to the campfire to get Chiron and Jason.
Percy picked the person up, their long hair suspended in the water like strands of seaweed. Her face was facing Percy, but in the dim light, he couldn't make out her features. He scooped her body up, with one arm around her back and the other one holding her under the knees. Her eyes were closed, and sealed with long, dark lashes. She seemed to be wearing a black surf rashguard and black spandex that dried almost instantly when Percy picked her up. He noticed her small hand swining over her side, and he noticed the edge of her sleeve was, burned? Before Percy could examine her sleeve, Annabeth, Chiron and Jason were striding towards Percy as he reached the crest of the hill. Right as Annabeth came within ten feet of him. The girl's eyes shot open, and Percy almost dropped her.
Looking up at him, were sea green eyes that matched his own.