Disclaimer: Basically same that I said last chapter. I found the name Chione from an archive of Greek names. Chione meant "Snow Queen" so I assumed she wasn't in any myths. Whoops. Thanks to Gummy Bear with Attitude for clueing me in on this!
She was back at Camp Half-Blood. The mess hall was warm and noisy with the usual dinner chaos.
Her plate was filled to the brim with a huge steak and colorful vegetables. After sacrificing a cooked brocoli, she dug into her food.
"Annabeth!"
Annabeth looked up from her plate to see Chiron appearing out of the crowd.
"Glad to see you back!" He said, waved to her, and passed by.
Annabeth looked confused at his retreating figure. Back? She was always here.
"Annabeth!"
Thalia came walking toward the table. Forgetting about Chiron, Annabeth smiled at her usual punk costume.
"Where you been? We've missed you!" Thalia punched Annabeth on the shoulder playfully, then continued on before Annabeth could open her mouth to say anything.
Annabeth's eyebrows furrowed. She had never left.
"Annabeth!"
Silena of the Aphrodite cabin came through the crowd, flipped her hair and spoke to Annabeth.
"Capture the flag's sucked without you. The Ares cabin has won every time. I mean, Aphrodite's cabin has actually had to start playing! We're all happy your back."
Annabeth stared, dumbstruck. Silena flashed a little perky smile, and then strutted toward her own table. Annabeth watched her, wide eyed.
Throughout the rest of dinner, figures from all cabins, even Ares, came to Annabeth to tell her how glad they were that she had returned. Then they would leave before Annabeth could start to protest that she had never left the valley.
Finally, when Annabeth was just taking the very last bites of her steak, a very familiar figure came toward her.
"Annabeth!"
Again forgetting about her confusion, she saw Luke parting the crowd. His handsome face glowing. Annabeth grinned, totally forgetting any self-conciousness.
"Luke!" Annabeth cut in before he could say anything, all suspicions forgotten. "What are you doing here?"
He sat down, making Annabeth's hand knock against her goblet. Luke caught it just before it could fall. Annabeth felt her face turn bright red. Luke put the goblet back, out of easy reach of Annabeth.
"To see you of course. I heard you came back!"
Annabeth stopped smiling. Looking serious, she spoke to Luke, making her voice put meaning into her words.
"Luke... I was never gone. All night everyone's been telling me that I've been away, but I haven't."
Luke stared at her, then let out a blood curdling scream. He got up from the table and started screaming louder.
Everyone who hadn't already left the mess hall turned their heads to look at Annabeth and Luke.
"Luke!"
Annabeth practically leapt over the table to the other side, sending goblets and silverware crashing to the floor. Luke kept screaming and began to writhe while standing, like he was having a seizure.
"Luke!" Annabeth cried. It was all that she could make out. "Luke!"
Campers and counselors began rushing toward them, but no one came to close. A ring of people surrounded the two.
Annabeth attempted to grab onto Luke, but he threw her off. Annabeth tried again, but Luke's flailing arms slapped her away.
Annabeth looked at the other campers, but no one came to help her. In a desperate move, Annabeth seized a goblet from the table and splashed it's contents on Luke.
The water hit him straight in the face, and he calmed instantly. He turned to stare directly at Annabeth. His eyes had grown tired and dark circles had appeared.
He closed his eyes, and began to morph. He grew shorter, just a little shorter than Annabeth, his face grew younger looking, and his hair grew darker.
Darker, except a small grey streak.
He had morphed to Percy Jackson.
Annabeth's eyes shot open. She was breathing hard, and her heart hurt as it pumped like crazy. Warm sweat beaded her face, and her pillow and blond hair were cold and wet.
She sat up. She was lying on the dirt under a tree. Chione beside her was sleeping, propped up against the trunk. An owl, the symbol of Athena, flew up above them.
It had all been a dream.
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