This chapter is unlike my usual style. I'm not sure I like it, but the story will improve...


III

Annabeth

As they drove over the famous bridge, Annabeth noticed at least three things that she would have done differently about the architecture, but it didn't matter. The whole thing was still stunning.

When they reached the secret entrance to Camp Jupiter, Annabeth recognized the two guards who were standing by the door. The car had barely come to a stop when Annabeth threw herself out and beamed at her friends.

"Hazel! Frank!"

Frank seemed to have grown even more since the war with Gaea. Hazel was as small as ever, though her curly hair and attitude made up for the lack of height. The two grinned widely and strode down to greet Annabeth and Percy.

Filled with joy at seeing her friends again, Annabeth was just asking how Camp Jupiter had been during the last few months when she began to feel like something was wrong. Just as she was about to suggest that they get inside, Annabeth heard an inhuman shriek.

"There's a monster," Frank warned. He pointed to the sky, where one winged demon lady was descending towards the four.

Hazel spun around. "Frank, that's a gorgon!"

"Deja vu," Percy muttered. He uncapped riptide. Annabeth drew her drakon-bone sword. After fighting Gaea, gorgons didn't seem like a big deal.

There was something strange about this one, however. As it came in closer, Annabeth saw that it was clutching a white flag.

"It's asking for a peaceful meeting," she realized. Percy looked so surprised it was almost comical, though Annabeth tried not to laugh in a dangerous situation.

"Land, and we will hear you," Hazel called up to the gorgon. It cackled and dove to the ground.

Annabeth lifted her sword, prepared for anything, but she was completely perplexed by what the gorgon said next.

"Gorgonzola!"

After uttering the single word, the creature lifted off and flew into the night.

The four stood in shocked silence for a few seconds before Percy doubled over in laughter.

"Gorgon... zola," he gasped, tears forming in his eyes. "Of all the things..."

After Annabeth, Frank, and Hazel got over their disbelief, they began to laugh too. Percy was hiccoughing by the time Hazel invited them inside the camp. Annabeth laced her fingers through his as they walked through the entrance, and Percy seemed to recover slightly.

Though Annabeth suspected that it was nothing, she definitely thought the gorgon encounter was odd. She had barely been bothered by monsters since the defeat of Gaea, save the disastrous WalMart trip. To have a monster so close to camp made her wonder what was really happening outside of her safe little world. But the gorgon hadn't tried to hurt them. It had only named a type of cheese.

Annabeth shook her head and tried to put the oddity behind her, which was easy, because just then she and Percy were home.