Percy's P.O.V

Rachel was finally back.

The group of campers crowded around the Big House was the proof. I pushed my way through the crowd, determined to see Rachel first.

She had been gone for almost 6 months, every one of ours friends were excited to finally see Rachel again.

Finally reaching the deck of the Big House, I climbed the porch, quickly. Even though the campers were crowded around it, nobody had bothered to go inside. The deck where Chiron and Mr. D hung out was empty.

The whole camp was preparing to meet their oracle again.

I wonder what Rachel had been doing, while she was on her little "expedition". Usually, even though the campers left on their quests, most of the campers iris messaged every once in a while. Sometimes to ask Chiron or somebody else for advice, sometimes just to see familiar faces.

But for some weird reasons I didn't know, Rachel hadn't contacted camp for the six months she had been gone.

Some of my friends: Annabeth, Nico, Thalia and I had even though about going on quest to see Rachel and if she was alright, but obviously, Mr. D had vetoed the idea. His exact words were,

"Peter Johnson, I can't let you and you stupid friends go on this quest. Not because I particularly care for your safety or anything like that, but because Chiron does. If it were up to me, I would turn you into grapes."

But now there was no reason to be turned into grapes, or to leave camp. I walked into the rec room. I was a little surprised when I saw that all my friends were already there.

Annabeth smiled when I walked in and I automatically made my way to where she was sitting.

Nico, Thalia and Grover were all standing and talking to Chiron, who looked slightly tense. Piper, Jason, Leo, Katie Gardner, and the Stoll brothers were also there. I sat next to Annabeth and grabbed her hand.

"Where's Rachel?" I asked, scanning the room for her familiar face. I couldn't see her fiery red hair anywhere. Annabeth, who had been smiling, now bit her lip.

Her gray eyes were stormy.

"Percy…" she mumbled. Chiron cleared his throat loudly. Everyone's attention was on Chiron now.

"It has come to my attention that you are all awaiting the arrival of our oracle, Rachel Dare." My friends all nodded. I stood up.

"Chiron, is Rachel here or not?" I asked, questioningly. Chiron looked at me and sighed.

"Young demigod, our oracle had arrived, but . . ." Thalia stood up, glaring at Chiron.

"Percy, Rachel is here, but apparently, she doesn't want to see us." The whole time she was talking, I could hear the sarcasm dripping from her voice. I felt confused and turned back to Chiron.

"Where is she?" I demanded. Chiron looked tense.

"Ms. Dare has asked to be left alone at the moment, Percy. Try to understand she feels overwhelmed." Chiron looked in my eyes and I saw them pleading me to leave.

There was something going on.

Thalia snorted.

"Overwhelmed by what? Her friends?" My friends stayed quiet.

I felt someone grab my hand.

Annabeth.

"Percy, I think we should give Rachel some time." she said softly. I could feel the tension in the room, almost physically.

"Okay. Sure." I said, finally. Chiron nodded at us and exited the room. Leo sighed dramatically.

"Phew! There goes the elephant of the room. Or should I say the centaur!" Piper shot him a glare. Thalia walked out of the rec room without another word. Leo got up and followed after her, but not before he winked at us.

"Ladies man gonna make his move." I grinned.

Leo's crush on Thalia was obviously getting bigger. The door closed, but not before I heard a thud and Leo's voice.

"Oww!" The tension was gone and we grinned at each other.

"I hope Rachel shows up at the campfire." said Piper. Katie spoke up.

"She will. I mean, she probably feels weird being gone for so long and now suddenly, things are probably different." My friends nodded.

I smiled at Katie.

"You're one wise demigod." I said. She winked at me.

"Just call me Yoda, young grasshopper." Travis snorted in the corner.

"Star Wars nerd, alert!" Katie glared at him.

It was so obvious they liked each other.

Katie walked out next, who had a cabin to check on. Nico left next, claiming he had something to do. The Stoll brothers left the rooms, right after wards. Soon there was just me and Annabeth.

"Want to go for a walk, seaweed brain?" she asked, holding my hand. I smiled and we left the rec room.

We walked past the campers and headed to the forest.

"You want to go the beach?" she guessed. I nodded. Cutting through the woods was the quickest route. Just before we reached the clearing in front of the beach, Annabeth stopped abruptly.

"Why did —" she quickly covered my mouth with her hand.

"Shhh!" she whispered urgently. I followed Annabeth, as she led me into towards the clearing.

We walked slowly and finally I saw what Annabeth had seen.

Rachel.

It was around seven now, and the sun was low in the sky. Rachel was standing by the water, her back to us. But her red hair was unmistakable.

She wore a long white dress. Rachel never wore dresses, so that's one of the reasons I didn't call out to her right away. The other reason was Annabeth's hand clamped over my mouth.

"She singing." whispered Annabeth into my ear. Against the loud waves, you could barely hear Rachel's voice. But it was her voice.

Suddenly as if she heard us, Rachel spun around. Annabeth's instincts were faster than mine, she managed to duck and pull me down, too.

"Let's go, seaweed brain!" she called as she turned around. I nodded. Annabeth turned and walked back to camp but I stayed for a minute longer.

Because I swear Rachel's eyes were green.

But when she had turned around, I swear they weren't.

In fact they were definitely not green.

They were just a bit golden.