Disclaimer~ Percy Jackson and fellow characters don't belong to me

No Longer Home

On the way back towards the other Hunters, I'm cornered by the other members from the quest, Piper leading the charge. All of them looked sullen and depressed even the naturally energetic Leo was subdued, his hands still for the first time I had met him. They all look at me, worry, sadness, shock, and a multitude of other emotions reflected in their eyes. I stop, looking at them emotionlessly, bag slung over my shoulder.

"Annabeth?" Piper asks, stepping forward a little, Jason hovering beside her worriedly. The Cherokee girl's eyes were bloodshot red and her hair was done in a messy, rushed braid down the side, still the girl looked much better than both Hazel and Frank who had know Percy much longer. Hazel was in shambles, her hair was a frizzy mess it looked like she forgot to brush it. She still had tear tracks down her face, her eyes a bright red and the golden color dulled and she clutched Frank's hand desperately as a lifeline. Frank wasn't looking so great either, he also showed signs of crying and looked like he was trying hard to keep himself together for Hazel's sake. I turn my attention back to Piper urging her on. "Are you sure you're okay?" she asks, I let out a dry laugh, causing her to jump, looking alarmed at my sudden laugh.

"Whoever said I was okay? I am as far from okay as possible Piper, I never claimed to be okay." I tell her truthfully, sick of lying and pretending. She looks shocked, as does everyone else but person I least expected steps forward to comfort me, Jason. The blonde steps forward and wraps me in a hug, totally out of character. I stand in shock for a moment but suddenly the dam inside me breaks and my emotions, tears, and sadness come flooding out in a rush. I let out a pained wail and begin to sob on Jason's shoulder finally letting it sink in, Percy, my Seaweed Brain was really gone. The rest of them swarm around, hugging me from all sides as I finally let it all out, letting out all the grief and anger that I had kept in after my small break down with Thalia and that after the funeral and over my life changing choice to join the Hunters. I finally stop sobbing, my pained wails subsiding into breathless hiccups before fading away completely. I pull away from the others and they step back to give me room, not a single dry eye in sight, even Jason had a few tears in his eyes. "Why?" I ask, my voice dry and cracked after the heart wrenching sobs ravaged my throat.

"What was that?" Hazel asked her voice sounding similarly affected.

"Why did he have to be some damn heroic?" I ask looking to the girl. "Why couldn't he just think of himself for once?" I ask, the tears not quite done with me yet, trailing down my face. But I knew that I would never have changed it, his selflessness to a fault was my of my favorite things about him, as aggravating as it could be sometimes.

"You know that's just how Percy was Annabeth" chimes another voice and I see Grover approach me and the group, Juniper at his left side and Tyson, Mrs. O'Leary, and Ella on his right. Tyson was still crying his eye out, a seemingly never ending flood. Ella was attempting to cheer him up but the red harpy wasn't doing well herself, her feathers had lost their vibrant sheen and she was muttering a lot under her breath. Mrs. O'Leary plodded along with her head down, and paws dragging on the ground. Grover's eyes were red but I could tell my old friend was trying to keep it together, his girlfriend holding tight to his arm, green tears in her eyes.

"I know Grover" I reply softly looking away from the group and to the sea. "I know..." I repeat staring sadly at the water and beach, the waves lapping in a subdued manner at the shore as if in grieving. It was that nightmare I had first thought of in Charleston, of how if we ever somehow broke up the sea, sight or smell, who been miserable. This was ten times worse, there were no second chances here, no slight possibility to get back together and fix it. Tyson hiccups, snapping my attention away from the sea.

"Is Annabeth really going to leave?" he sniffles, his big bloodshot eye trained on me. I felt my heart break even more, though I hadn't thought it possible.

"Yes Tyson, I'm sorry but I just have to get away. Besides you still have Mrs. O'Leary and Ella and Grover to keep you company and I'll still visit." I promise the CYclops giving him a hug. Another pang of sorrow shoots through me and I remember how frightened I had been of Cyclops until Percy came around and made me warm to the big softie before me. He hugs me back, nearly squeezing all the air from my lungs and crushing my rib cage until he finally lets go and I inhale deeply taking in as much air as I could to compensate.

"I can't believe you're really leaving Annabeth..." Grover says, his eyes downcast. Mrs. O'Leary whimpers in agreement coming over to me and nudging me sadly, slobbering all over my hand. I pat her with my slobbery hand and finger my camp necklace with my free hand looking to my feet.

"I can't believe it either" I admit soberly "but I also know I can't stay here" I say, my gaze back to the beach, they all nod in understanding, their gazes following mine. Suddenly there is a clatter of hooves behind me. I spin around and see a big black shape and I go to draw my knife until I recognize Blackjack. He neighs, rearing up on his back hooves at the appearance of Jason's gladiolus, the Roman taking a bit longer to recognize the black pegasus. Jason sheathes his weapon and Blackjack calms down, his hooves still skittering nervously. The winged horse hadn't been the same since our return from the world saving quest and the loss of Percy who had saved the black stallion so long ago. The horse stomps his front right hoof, throwing back his head and shaking his ebony mane.

"What's with him?" Hazel asks, the agitated pegasus flapping his wings like he wanted to tell us something.

"Could Frank turn into a horse and ask him?" Leo asks causing the son of Mars in question to glare.

"Wait, wait thats not a bad idea and Blackjack does seem really upset" Jason agrees. Frank sighs and suddenly he is a tall roan stallion, he and Blackjack begin conversing and soon after Frank is human again looking at me.

"Annabeth the message is to you, the Hunters are leaving in a few minutes and you are to meet them by the pine tree in a few minutes, and sent Blackjack to get you." Frank says relaying the message.

"Oh" I respond lamely, I didn't think I would be leaving my home so soon after 9, nearly 10 years of living here. But it was no longer my home, not without Percy. "Well I guess this goodbye then" I say dumbly, in disbelief. I knew the Hunters were where I belonged now because everything in Camp Half- Blood was a painful reminder of what I had lost. We all hug again, everyone converging on me, Tyson wrapping his arms around the entire group.

"Goodbye Annabeth, be safe" Grover says speaking for the whole group of demigods, monsters, and nature spirits there.

"You to, everyone stay safe" I say the words feeling empty, I was now immortal and they were all strong, vulnerable demigods or monsters. With that lovely thought in mind and a last glance to the sea I jump on to the ebony stallion and wave goodbye to my friends before Blackjack takes off into the sky.

It's been two weeks since I last saw Camp Half Blood. I had been adopted fairly easily into the Hunters, the other girls thankfully not the type to constantly pity me which helped me forget about what I had lost. Besides Thalia I had no contact with my old life, not talking to any of the other campers, Chiron, Grover, even my mother also keeping painful memories to a minimum. In addition life with the hunters wasn't bad, Artemis had assigned me a hunting partner in the form of a small white wolf named Whisper and, due to my new connection with the Goddess, I was able to communicate with the wolf. In addition to my new canine companion Blackjack had refused to return to camp and followed us as we trekked across the continent hunting down stray monsters that were still in excess even after we shut the Doors of Death.

"Hey Annie" A voice says from my left, sitting beside me on log where I was resting. I don't even need to look to know it's Thalia.

"Hi Thalia what's up?" I respond petting Whisper's head which was resting on my lap. The she-wolf had really helped me through my separation from camp and to integrate fully into the group though I was one of the oldest girls, most around the age of 12, many of the girls had technically been on Earth longer than myself due to Artemis's gift of immortality.

"Just wondering how you were holding up since.. you know..." The black haired girl responds, a note of sorrow in her voice.

"I'm fine as I told you every other time you asked" I reply tersely my good mood evaporating. Couldn't the thick headed daughter of Zeus get that I didn't want to talk about it? Whisper raises her head, sensing my distress, and stares in my eyes with her golden ones, warning me to calm down. I sigh, unclenching my fists which had tensed without me noticing.

"Annabeth I can tell it's still bothering you, why can't you just talk to me about it" Thalia tries again, putting her hand on my shoulder.

"There's nothing to talk about Thalia!" I snap coldly, slapping her hand from my shoulder and standing up. Thalia goes to speak again but is interrupted by another voice.

"Thalia, Annabeth!" I spin around to see Artemis, standing in her 12 year old form.

"Lady Artemis!" I exclaim, catching the wild look in her silvery eyes. Something was clearly wrong.

"Both of you prepare to leave, we must make haste"

"Lady Artemis what's the problem?" Thalia asks worridly, also catching on to the odd behavior of our leader. The goddess sighs.

"We need to go to Camp Half-Blood, there has been another fatality"

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~Lakeshine