Leo

"I remember that he used to-" She cut into her own sentence with a bitter sound (something between a laugh and a sob). "–When he used to sit by the water and he'd stare at the stars. For hours and hours he'd just sit there and he'd never tell me what he was staring at for so long." Katie Gardner's eyes were now teary but she still continued. "Picked up the habit after his third quest, always seemed so lost and sad when he was doing it."

Her own eyes then wandered up to the star-spangled sky, as if from miles and miles away he was keeping his habit and looking at the same ones.

Some of Percy's friends (and Leo, you can't forget Leo) were crowded around on the Big House porch reminiscing about the camp's legend. Leo doesn't know how this whole thing started or how they got here or how he himself even ended up here, but he felt like he was intruding on something personal. He felt like he was watching a funeral but not attending, but he couldn't help but stay and learn about his soon to be quest member.

Thalia put on a small, sad smile. "Zoë." She said like it was an explanation to Percy's fascination with the night sky. "Lady Artemis made her a constellation after she died. That was on his third quest." She, too, gazed up at the stars, her distant smile still in place.

Leo coughed awkwardly, but no one took notice, they were all too busy looking up.

"It doesn't feel right without him here." Chris Rodriguez complained after the comfortable (awkward to Leo) silence. "I mean sure I haven't known him as long as you all have, but there's something missing, something big. Nobody smiles, the Stolls aren't even making jokes anymore, and–and I miss him! He helped me out when I was unsure where my loyalties were lying and it's not right without Percy here! He was the first one to trust me and he still does but I feel like I let him down when he disappeared. Camp isn't right, Drew is mean now, the ocean is always gray, and is the sun duller or is it just me!?"

Leo, undeniably shocked, stared at his half brother. Chris had never looked weighted, but now that that confession was off his chest he seemed to be lifted of a heavy burden.

Clarisse clamped a supposedly comforting arm around his shoulders. "S'kay, Chris."

Lacey looked choked up at their moment.

"No," Travis Stoll muttered. "No, it feels strange without him to me too. Oh, and sorry 'bout the not-joking thing, but me and Connor here haven't been feelin' up to it lately."

Chris made a sort of grunt in reply.

Leo backed away from the group, now feeling more like an intruder than ever.

He tried to keep the sight before him stored in his memories; Thalia getting wide-eyed from stargazing for so long, Chris leaning for comfort on the supportive-looking Clarisse, Lacey looking awestruck at the loving sight before her (she still had that twinge of sadness on her face, though), Malcolm looking longingly at the horizon, like if he willed it hard it enough Percy would appear there, Travis's eyes darting around uncertainly, and Mitchell tight-lipped with a white-knuckled hold on his own hands.

The night was cold but Leo felt extra chilly with the thought of the missing stranger.

On his way to his cabin, occurred to him that it was strange that Annabeth was not present at the little gathering, but then he heard muffled sobs coming from the Poseidon cabin.

Oh, that's why.

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Rachel

The campfire was low, representing the mood of the campers.

Even if Rachel didn't know about the fire's magic she could say that the disappointing height and the small amount of heat it gave off was the effect of the angst plaguing the air.

"Huh." Jason mused as he and Piper approached and saw the dying fire and the small amount of campers attending. He gave the girl next to him a questing glance. Piper shrugged.

Rachel managed a smile for his and Piper's sake.

"Hey, guys!" She sounded upbeat, good, her façade was working (she couldn't help but think of how Percy would see through it instantly)."How is everyone? And where's Leo?"

Piper answered. "Um, good, but where is everybody? Isn't campfire every night? Oh, and Leo walked off with Chris and some others to the Big House."

"Yeah, campfire is every night but not a lot people showed." She made a point of frowning, acting as though she just noticed. She didn't mention that Percy's mother stopped by, sobbing and stumbling, all the while snuffing out almost everyone's bud of happiness."Anyways, Imma go to bed, see ya guys later!" Rachel waved to the pair and they waved back at her retreating silouhette.

. . .

When she reached her cave, she collapsed on her bed with a big sigh. She nearly even cried.

She was glad that Percy had a parent that cared for him (unlike her) but seeing his usually dignified mother sobbing loudly ("Where is my son!? What have they done with him now? Where is my son? Tell me, Chiron, please, please tell me!") and stumbling with a grim Chiron in tow really depleted hers and many others already fallen spirits.

Percy may not be the safest or the most careful demigod out there but she and the others had to hope he wouldn't sacrifice himself or get killed.

Right?

Meh, I've done better. Review whatcha want and now accepting flames.