Percy (That morning)
The sunlight blinded me as I awoke, somehow perfectly angled to hit me directly in the face. Cursing Apollo, I rose out of bed, stretching and popping numerous joints, I walked slowly to the balcony that stood facing the lake.
Apollo sure is a dick, I thought to myself as I looked out over the glittering water, but he sure does know how to make a sight.
I slowly made my way to the tall dresser that stood opposite the balcony, blindly grabbing one of my many camp shirts and boardshorts before slipping on a pair of well worn sandals and leaving the building.
As I stepped out into the morning sunlight, I noticed how strangely downcast the camp looked. Everyone was on edge, though they most likely didn't know why they were. It was almost as if the very camp itself was waiting for some terrible tragedy that would befall it.
Trying, and failing, to shrug off the bad feeling in the pit of my stomach, I grabbed the small surfboard leaning up against the side of the Poseidon cabin, and made my way to the lake. Already, the weather had changed from when I had looked outside nearly 5 minutes before. Clouds covered the sunlight and the camp, though clouds rarely ever came close to the perimeter of the camp. This only worsened the feeling.
I stuck the board into the sand before holding my hands out and making a pushing pulling motion with my entire body. Gradually, the water started to follow my movements, slowly building the still water into large waves that any surfer would be ecstatic to see. Quickly, I placed my board in the water before climbing on and paddling my way to the first wave. Bracing myself on the board, I lept up and rode out the waves of the morning.
I only left the lake when the waves completely died down. Once they were past riding level, I merely sat on my board feeling the water flow around my ankles. Once it was done, I slowly paddled my way towards the shore. By now, breakfast would almost be done. With less grace than I would like to admit, I threw my board against the cabin and sprinted up to the pavilion.
Only a few kids were still there, most had already left to train and/or mess around. However, Chiron still sat in his wheelchair, parked directly next to my table. I walked over, filling a plate with numerous breakfast items, including pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, and much more. I stopped quickly, sending my thanks to each of the major three Gods and dropping a pancake and sausage for each in the fire. Then, munching on a piece of bacon, I made my way to where Chiron sat.
"You feel it, don't you?" Chiron asked.
"Yes," I replied, referring to the tension that grew with every passing hour.
"I need you to place guards around the perimeter. Whatever happens, if anything does, we need to be prepared."
"Alright. I will put each Cabin on rotation throughout the day, with some of the smaller cabins combining. Will that be alright?"
"I believe that will be perfect," Chiron smiled tightly at me. "Let us hope this will pass without incident." With his final sentence, he began to wheel himself away.
"Chiron," I called out, "do you think this has anything to do with Grover's latest mission?"
"Oh, most definitely," he said over his shoulder. "I'll tell you as soon as I receive any word from him."
Although many were not happy about it, especially the Ares kids who felt that they should personally lead instead of me, the perimeter was successfully set. My own shift, along with the Hephaestus kids, would begin that evening. Until then, I set off to the duty that had been mine for over three years: training the new campers. Most would be claimed by a parent and taken into their cabin families to be trained that way, but until then it was my duty to make sure they didn't make a fool of themselves.
However today there were only one new camper, a girl named Clarisse. She was only about two years younger than me, 14 to my 16, but she was ferocious. For what she lacked in training, she made up with in pure brute force. She hadn't been claimed yet, but I had no doubts she would be an Ares kid.
"Come on Jackson, don't go easy on me!" she was complaining. I always did go easy on them, it was easier than going full force and scaring them. I loved forming connections with new campers, that way they would always have someone to turn to should they have problems. But this girl, she was different than most people I trained. This girl would never trust me or respect me if I kept going easy on her.
"If you say so, Clarisse," I reply as I take a tougher fighting stance. As soon as she took her stance, which was a little too wide, I lept forward. Bringing the flat edge of my sword I hooked her leg and lay her on the ground. From there I knocked her sword out of her hands, and knelt on her stomach with the edge of my blade at her neck.
Clarisse looked up at me with burning eyes, but they now held a deep respect for me. "Is that good enough for you?" I spoke lowly.
"Teach me," she replied with extreme seriousness.
"That's not my job," I replied, standing up. "Let your head of cabin do that."
"But I want you to teach me!" she complained as I put my armor and weapon away.
"Are you sure?" I ask, backing slowly out of the training yard.
"Positive," she replied.
"Get me cookies, and you've got a deal," I say, running out of the yard and leaving her confused.
"When is Grover due to arrive?" I ask as I lay down on the couch in the main house. Chiron was in his wheelchair holding his head in his hands.
"Three days ago," he muttered.
"What?" I replied, sitting up. "Should we send someone out to get him?"
"No, that's too dangerous. I've just received word from GRover that they are close, but he thinks something is following them."
"I'm going to double patrol. If something is chasing them, we can't let it get into the camp."
"I was thinking the same thing," Chiron said. "And I believe it would be best to inform all of the campers so they understand how serious it is." Chiron stood out of his chair and began moving towards the door.
"Wait, Chiron," I spoke up, "what does Grover think is following them?"
"Cyclopes."
News passed around the camp quickly about the announcement to be made at lunch. All sorts of rumors had already begun to it, from a god appearing, to new cabins, to a new mission. However, neither I nor Chiron did or said anything to dispel the rumors. According to Chiron, they'll find out when the find out.
When lunch did come, all of the Satyrs were sent to watch the border while the kids ate. Once most of their plates ad been cleared, Chiron stood tall. After clearing his throat to get everyone's attention, he began.
"Children, I am afraid I have some bad news for you all," he spoke. "As many of you know, the satyr named Grover has been sent to retrieve new campers. I have received word from him that they are being tracked by a monster. It is a cyclopes, most likely more than one. We need all campers to be ready should it come to a fight. I know that not all of you are fully battle trained, but those who are need to help set up a perimeter. We need to be prepared should anything happen. Any questions you have, Percy will be there." With his final sentence, Chiron simply turned and left the pavilion. Immediately, campers began to talk avidly among themselves. Some were scared, others seemed excited, mainly the Ares kids.
"Guys, calm down!" I shouted. "Those who are helping me with the perimeter need to meet me in the armory as soon as they can." I then left the pavilion as well, jogging to my destination. Once there I grabbed a vest and come gauntlets. I also grabbed a pair of lace up boots and socks I always kept stashed there. Quickly, I kicked off my flip flops and traded them for the boots. I also put on my armor and stood to wait for the others to be ready for orders. By around 2:00 pm, around twenty-five campers had showed up dressed and ready. I expected more to show up later, but as of now he numbers would do well.
I set everyone in groups of two to patrol the area. Those who were already on patrol were sent to quickly eat food, and were told to come back is they were able. Most steadily agreed as soon as the found out what it was they were guarding against.
"Percy, where do I go?" asked the last camper. He was a timid boy who didn't talk to many people, only a year younger than I, named Nico DiAngelo. He had a sister who ran off to join Artemis's hunters, and he had never fully recovered from what he thought of as her abandonment. He was small for his age, and dressed in mostly dark colors, most likely in homage to his father, Hades.
"You'll be with me," I reply. He was actually very off putting to many people, but I don't let things like that bother me. "You ready to fight some monsters?" I ask. "There are a couple cyclopes on their way."
"I'm more ready than you are, Jackson," he says, making me burst out in laughter.
"But serious talk, man, are you ready?" I reply, my face suddenly devoid of all laughter. Nico nodded, and unsheathed his sword. I pulled the bow I had strapped over my shoulder into my hands, knocking an arrow in the process.
"Then let's do this."
A deafening roar smashed its way through the forest, causing both Nico and I to cover our ears. We barely heard the shouts and screams of three kids running through the forest.
"I'll hold them off!" on yelled, seemingly male. Nico and I sprinted through the forest towards the sound. I could hear in the distance more campers fighting other cyclopes that had joined the party. Their battle calls echoed around the dense forest. As the cyclopes and kids all came into view, I pulled an arrow and shot it directly into the cyclopes' chest. The metal tip cut deep, but only wounded the monster, not killing it. However, it did slow the beast, giving me enough time to sprint past the kids and yell to Grover to get them to Chiron. As the two of them ran away, Nico finally caught up to me.
"Come on, death boy, work your magic," I shout, as I race behind the beast continually shooting arrows. All of a sudden the ground quaked beneath my feat, throwing my aim and sending an arrow into the side of the tree. However, numerous skeleton warriors began to rise from the ground, called forth by Nico himself.
"OH yeah, that's what I'm talkin' bout!" I shouted, as the skeletal beings quickly overtook the cyclopes. "Nico!" I called, running over to him, "you are the best!" I threw my arm around his shoulder in celebration, laughing and smiling. Nico even gave a small smile, but otherwise still kept his straight face.
"I told you I would beat you," he replied, shrugging my arm off his shoulder. He was about to say more, when a muffled moan came from a few feet away. There, lying in the underbrush, was a blonde boy, blood and dirt matted in his hair and more beginning to pool around him. Carefully, I lifted him onto my back, trying not to disturb any other wounds he might have.
"Nico, where's the other girl?" I ask quickly. "There was another girl, wasn't there?"
"Yeah," Nico says, only about ten feet away, "she's over here. But something's happening." It was true. As if she had been lying there for weeks, moss and plants were beginning to grow over her. A tree had begun growing from her abdomen where she had been stabbed. Her skin began to turn green, and her fingers melted away into tree roots.
"It's the Gods," I replied, "they're saving her." Suddenly, a bright blue light burst from the growing tree, and raced around the camp, growing as it went.
"Percy, what is that?" Nico asks, slightly frightened.
"It's a barrier of some sort," I mutter. "To keep them out, I assume."
"Or to keep us in," Nico replies.
"Well, only one way to find out," I reply. Taking a deep breath, I walk over to where the barrier had settled, shimmering a light shade of blue.
Guess who's back... back again...
Hey y'all, new chapter. Good news, the third chapter is almost finished so yay :) Expect that some time.