A/N I'm not going to line, the amazing reviews and alerts where the only reason I was still thinking about this story. But the inspiration, my muse, if you will, was Mark of Athena. I got home this weekend and bought it and read it in 6 hours. It's completely health, stop judging. The point is: I'm going to continue. Some things have changed. I've written and actually plot out, not just ideas in my head (so now it won't be 99% fluffy, mostly because I suck at it). So yeah plot and info checks (oh the beauty of the internet: three tabs open dedicated to PJ wiki, map, google is checking my spelling/facts) and Greek mythology even the books haven't gotten to yet (it's really not that impressive, I'm building up unnecessary suspense). To close, please read, respond (I read it I swear, I just suck), advice (please), and most importantly enjoy.
I'd gotten used to everyone knowing me at camp. For awhile after the Battle of Manhattan, I got awed looks, younger campers would be too intimidated to come near me, even some of my friends started to acted a little different, like that didn't know how to act around me anymore after I defeated Cronus. But time and the Stoll brothers fixed that (literally I went from awe-worthy hero to the butt of every prank for months). Now the most special treatment I get is that everyone says hi to me. Literally. I don't know most of their names, which isn't very nice since I teach most of them sword fighting class, but well, ask Annabeth, I suck at names. She has to explain almost every monster/god/myth to me, occasionally multiple times. So, yeah more greetings I'm used and I even enjoy them. But today I'll wanted was to find Chiron as quickly as possible.
He wasn't in his normal seat when I looked around after sacrifices part of my delicious pancakes and sausage. I guess I had just missed him. I looked around to the Athena table to make eye contact with Malcolm. I want to ask if we should talk to him together. Because he was her next of kin or whatever, I'm sure he had more than I did. But everyone at the Athena table was huddled close whispering; Malcolm didn't even look up.
I looked around at all the other tables and they seemed just as curious as I was. Even the satyrs and nymphs were gossiping.
"Do you know what that's all about?" I hadn't even noticed Grover until he said down opposite me. He had been so busy lately one of the reasons I wanted to spend my break at camp was so see him. He had been taking his responsibilities very seriously and I didn't want to distract him, but I missed hanging out with my best friend.
"I'm not sure. I don't really care. Do you know where Chiron went? I really want to talk to him; Annabeth's a little under the weather and I was hoping-"
"Annabeth's sick!?" Grover interrupted, jumping to his feet and getting everyone's attention. Everyone was silent for five seconds before it broke into pandemonium. Grover looked at me goatishly.
"Yeah." I saw Will Solace approach the Athena table. "What's the big deal?"
I didn't get a reply, because Connor started shouting at Malcolm. "You have legal obligation! We need time to prepare! We should have been given a warning!"
"You! Hephaestus totally calls dibs. Go strum of your lyre!"
"Annabeth has better things to do then—"
Percy could feel himself going from confused to mad. He wasn't exactly sure what was going on, but he didn't like it. He knew whatever they were talking about had to do with Annabeth and frankly the way they were talking reminded him of winter break three years ago, when Annabeth was kidnapped and no one would let him help look for her.
Before he could join in and demand an explanation Chiron reappeared, "Silence children. What is causes all this noise?"
Malcolm, ever the child of Athena, stood calmly and said, "Annabeth's has this little fever."
For a second it looked as though everyone would begin yelling again. But Chiron eyes widened in realization and he looked questioningly at Malcolm, who silently nodded back. Stupid telepathic conversations only children of Athena can do. They were fine when it was Percy and Annabeth, but it was just annoying when she did it with anyone else.
"Cabin leaders, meet in the big house." And with that Chiron turned tail and left.
The Ping-Pong table sat where it always did and everyone filled into their seats muttering at each other. Percy just left out of the loop. Annabeth being sick didn't equal a war council in his mind. An intervention to make her rest, but this was a little much. He couldn't understand why they were treating Annabeth like a toy in a kindergarten playground.
Chiron stood at the head and addressed everyone. "As you all now know, Annabeth has caught a cold. According to Malcolm it is nothing serious and-"
"Now we can decide how to divide the time evenly," Jake cut in. "Apollo gets first to access how she is. Then we can heal her."
"Excuse you! I have a contact saying Annabeth would test our prototype self-drawn chariots. It's only fair we go first."
"Pegasus poop!" the Stoll brothers protested. "Annabeth had most fun helping us last time!"
"Fun is irrelevant. We are her siblings she'll stay with us!" Ok, that seemed logical. Percy could see where we was coming from; family takes care of you when your sick, like Percy's mom always did for him.
"Why? So you can put her to work for hours? Everyone can agree that she should try a new herbal tea. It will cure her and any side effects can be worked out before it hits the market," Katie argued. At that Percy glared at Malcolm.
"Hello? Annabeth is coming back to Aphrodite cabin and we'll final fix whatever she thinks she's doing with her hair." What was wrong with Annabeth's hair? It looked more than fine to Percy.
"Ares is prepared to agree to a truce under conditions, but only at Annabeth's discretion." That shut everyone up.
What was going on?
"Percy, when Annabeth gets sick, she gets a little- she gets into a lot of trouble. Everyone takes turns- well; I wouldn't call it babysitting- taking care of her." Percy hadn't realized he said it aloud.
"That's fine. Just cancel the sword tournament and I'll stay with her and give her some ambrosia, if it's that big of a deal."
"Percy, ambrosia doesn't help with pathogens; it's for physical injuries. It isn't something to worry about. This is a semiannual event."
"If it's no big deal, why is everyone acting like it's a Second Battle of Manhattan?" Everyone exchanged looks. Percy grit his teeth. He didn't like being out of the loop and it was worse because he considered himself something of an Annabeth expert and here everyone was in on some secret Annabeth custody schedule. "She's not like dangerous, when she's sick is she? "
Malcolm looked insulted. "No, of course not. It's just like a told you last night she asks a little differently. "
"Different how?" Ok, so maybe he was snarling, but seriously who could blame him? His girlfriend had multiple personality disorder no one bothered to tell him about.
Chiron saw this and stepped in, "She's less reserved, less mature, more, um-"
"Fun!" Travis explained. Before Percy could insist that Annabeth was fun, he continued, "She plans the most amazing pranks."
"And lets us dress her up!" Drew gushed.
"She agreed to be our test subject."
"Last time she helped us build rockets and test them."
Everyone was talking at once again. Percy's head was beginning to spin. Annabeth had another personality that was apparently everyone's best friend. To be honest it made Percy feel self-conscious. If Health Annabeth was his best friend, who was she to him now? He turned to Clarisse, "So, then what do you do to her?" It was the only one that didn't make sense. Apollo, heal; Hephaestus, build; Aphrodite, Barbie doll; Hermes, prank master. Anything Ares wanted with Annabeth couldn't be good for her health.
At first all she did was glare, but then everyone else noticed and turned to watch. Clarisse narrowed her eyes at Percy as if to say I get you back for this. "We have an agreement. " Percy nodded his head to say and? "She is our strategist for Capture the Flag against the rest of the camp."
"Clarisse, Annabeth is ill. It's hardly safe for her to play," Chiron tried to reason.
"Exactly why Annabeth will still in her cabin where she will recover before Thanksgiving without gallivanting around camp."
"I agree with Malcolm. All of her responsibilities will be divvied out and construction will be postponed until further notice. Everyone else can make a formal request for "borrow" Annabeth. Agreed?" Expect he didn't mean it as a question. Katie and Drew seemed put out, but Jake was handing Connor a few drachmas. Chiron turned to Percy, "Now there is no reason to cancel. You better hurry I believe the first bout starts in fifteen minutes."
Percy wanted to argue, but he buried. Maybe blowing off some steam would be a good idea.
Two hours later Percy had taken the lead and was currently reffing the final between Hermes and Ares. Both sides were getting intense and Percy decided he was more helpful on the other side the arena. The finalist from Hermes was a third year Jenny, who reminded Percy of pixie, tiny with hair almost as short as his. On the Ares side was Duncan, who looked like a mastiff than a fourteen year old. It was a classic brawn versus agility. Duncan currently had the upper hand, literally forcing Jenny to the ground, their swords locked between them. But Percy new from experience: don't underestimate the little girl with the dagger. It'll come back and bite you in the butt.
Suddenly the ground began to shake, followed shortly by the sound of crashing and wood splintering. The cabin councilors started to lead the audience and fighters out of the arena like a fire drill, but a painful shoot of adrenalin through Percy's blood told him, he needed to get to the crash.
He capped Riptide and followed the smoke cloud. He crossed the creek completely dry and zeroed in on the crowd surrounding the volleyball court.
Percy pushed is way through the crowd and looked at the wreckage. Tangled in the neck was a red and white parachute and across the sand were scraps of metal bent and chard; there was even a small fire burn on a miniature Christmas tree. What really caught Percy's attention was the blonde hair sticking out of the blue motorcycle helmet on the body trying to untangle itself from the strings attached to the parachute.
"Annabeth!"