Frank's POV
I did not know what that little bird meant, but judging from Ella's prophecy, I think it was the Mark of Athena. Before I had enough time to think about any of this the painting started to glow. The wave started to shimmer and Percy rose from the ground. He started glowing too. On top of his clothes was battle armor. I am not quite sure how it got there, but it fit him perfectly and had little waves engraved on the metal. Then the lightning bolt glowed. Jason rose from the ground and was given armor as well. It has his symbol on it too. This went on one by one. Leo, Piper, Hazel they all rose. Then the glowing reached the spear with the fire and I started to rise. It was really cool. After that the little bird blinded me. It glowed so bright I thought I was on the sun. Annabeth rose higher than any of us, meaning that she was the leader of the quest.
After that Reyna looked speechless. She dismissed us and fled the Senate House. As I walked back to the cohorts I saw Annabeth and Percy talking. "The Mark of Athena, You know the one on Daedalus's neck. The one he got for murder." She said in a worried tone. "Annie, it will be okay, all we have to do is make sure you don't murder anyone." Percy replied. "Thanks for the advice seaweed brain." "No problem." They walked off towards the ship, I had a feeling we would be meeting the rest of the Greeks soon.
Jason's POV
We packed up our bags and the rest of the Greeks and us headed back on the Argo 11 and set sail for Camp Half Blood. I was excited. Percy came up. "Hey Jason. What's up man?" Percy asked me. He seemed so laid back and modest. I only know like half the things he has done and even that can damage someone's self esteem. "Um, Nothing much. Just thinking about the quest and some other stuff." I said secretly thinking about the Reyna Piper situation. "Girl problems?" He asked. Before I could cover it up I blurted out. "How did you know?" He just smiled that weird, but charming grin. "I am a teenager too. I know about the whole Piper Reyna thing. I have had that problem before man." I almost couldn't believe that Percy and Annabeth had ever had relationship problems before. I mean, it happened to everyone, but Percy seemed like the perfect boyfriend for Annabeth. And the way she talked about him, it just seemed weird. "With Annabeth?" I asked stupidly. Of course it could have been with someone before her, but from what I heard Percy had known Annabeth since he was 12 and defeated the Minotaur. He just nodded. "Oh." I said. "Don't sweat it man. I mean, it will all turn out okay. I am not the best person to ask for advice, unless it is on sword fighting or sailing, but I know how you feel. Just pick whoever you feel understands you and whom you could trust with your life. That's how I picked." He said like it was no big deal. "So, out of curiosity, who was this other girl?" I asked. Percy grinned. "Why don't you go ask the oracle over there, she'll tell you." I looked at the oracle. She seemed like Percy's type. More laid back than Annabeth, not as pretty, she always seemed alone. I felt bad. "Why'd you pick Annabeth?" I asked. "Because she was my first love. I fell in love with her when I was 12 and she is my best friend. Always has been." He replied. It seemed like a good enough reason. "I haven't known Piper that long, but I feel like she can understand me and read my mind. Sometimes the reading my mind part is annoying." Percy laughed. Sometimes girlfriends are annoying. As like on queue Annabeth hollered. "Percy, are you wearing sunscreen?" Percy chuckled. I got to go man, good luck." For a guy who doesn't give very good advice, that was pretty good. I don't doubt his sailing advice either.
I walked over to the where everyone was crowded around. "Here you go Percy." Leo said. I looked at the door. It said Percy Jackson, Captain. Percy opened the door and the whole thing was underwater. I mean they were about eight feet before the swimming pool started covered with lounge chairs. But the bed, T.V., dresser and all the other furniture, was underwater. Percy didn't ever take of his clothes. He jumped right in and laid on the bed. I watched him as he swam around, never coming up for air. Annabeth laughed. "Wait, how long can he hold his breath?" I asked. "As long as he wants. Percy is the son of Poseidon. He can breath under water. He spent three weeks in Poseidon's palace once." Oh, I thought stupidly. Of course he can. I waited for Percy to come up. He did eventually, only because Annabeth was anxious.
Leo called out. "10 minutes until we arrive at Camp Half Blood." Percy was so excited. He kept on asking about camp and stuff. "Did you clean up my cabin, Annabeth?" He asked. "Of course seaweed brain."
Percy's POV
I was really excited. Camp Half Blood is the only place I can call home. My cabin, the beach, all my friends, everything I loved and all my best memories were intertwined in the magical barriers of the old place. As soon as we got close, I hopped of the side. Sure, we were 378 feet in the air, but we were over the sound so I jumped right into the ocean. Behind me I could see Jason's alarmed face. As I landed in the ocean, I felt at home. I swam to the shore at the speed of light.
Thalia was the first one to greet me. "Hey, look what barnacle beard dragged in." "Nice to see you too pine tree face." She just hugged me, some of the hunters behind her gagged. I ran straight to my cabin. As I reached Cabin 3, I was already so happy. The smell of the sea, the fountain, my bed, I could never be happier. As I hopped on my bunk, I saw the Minotaur horn still stood bravely on the shelf. The first monster I ever killed. Memories of that day rushed back in my head. I didn't have much time to think before Annabeth, Piper, Jason, Hazel, Frank and Leo came in. "Hey guys." I said with my hand still on the horn. "Nice photos." Leo said. I looked up to my bunk to see the pictures of Annabeth and me. There were like 300. I looked at the one taped to my bed. It was of Annabeth and me when we were twelve. Her smiling face and my idiotic grin, it was after we came back from our first quest. The next was a picture of Annabeth on my shoulders after we won the chariot race when we were 13. It was quite a collection. There were at least 50 from each year I had known her. "Thanks, I guess I do have a lot." I blushed some more. Jason had his hand on a picture of Luke, Annabeth and I from when we were 12. "Who is this guy?" He asked. I wanted to slam my head against the bunk bed.
Annabeth ran off toward the beach with a river of tears flooding her face. "Bad topic?" I didn't have time to respond. I ran after Annabeth. I found her on the beach staring out at the sound. "Annie, its okay I'm here." She collapsed in my arms still sobbing. My shirt was soaking wet. I didn't care. She began to recover. "I am so sorry. I can't help my self I just am still so fragile. I try to hide my emotions, but I can't." "Annie, I love you and I am here with you now. Focus on that." I kissed her softly. I picked her up and carried her back to her cabin. "I'm fine Perce. Thanks for the lift." I was greeted by some Athena campers and headed back down to where everyone else as having dinner. I ate by myself at the Poseidon table. I thought about tomorrow. Tomorrow I would be leaving to go to Greece. I have to find Nico. Whenever something happens to Nico, I always think of Bianca. How I have to help her and save him. I know he hates it when I try to take care of him, but I think he secretly understands.
