Chapter 7: Stumped and Missing Dinner

He was officially stumped. Literally, he was sitting on a stump! How sad is that?

"I need to figure out how I'm supposed to get along with them, but how can I do that if I can't even find my way back?"

Percy sat in thought for a few moments, then added, "And I probably should stop talking to myself, too..."

"Got that right." said a voice from the underbrush nearby.

"I don't suppose you can help with that, hmm?" Percy asked sarcastically.

A wood nymph melted from the tree in front of him and said, "You never know, Perseus. I would have thought you of all people would know not to underestimate anyone, or did that go with your memory, if the rumors are to be believed?"

With a small laugh, Percy admitted, "It's probably my mood. Sorry, if I stepped on anyone's roots you know."
The nymph seemed amused and answered, "Of course, how could I not accept your apology?"

This served to simply confuse him, amusing the nymph even more. "What do you mean?" he asked curiously.

Seeming to realize something, the sprite put a hand to her mouth and gasped. "The rumors are true... You have no memories, do you?"

"I have some, it's just they like to manifest themselves as random things that don't make sense and voices in my head."

Seeing he wasn't holding her teasing against her, she commented sincerely. "That must be awful, what do you plan on doing?"

"As of the moment, getting back to the military camp is about as far ahead as I'm planning."

"Well, why didn't you say so! Follow me, I'll show you. Dinner's going to be starting soon and I'm expected to show my respects to Lupa for housing me in the woods anyways."

That's when the wayward hero realized many of the other nymphs in the surrounding trees were heading out through the trees, presumably towards the Academy.

"Oh. Yeah, lead on... umm... what's your name? You already know I'm Percy."

The nymph just giggled and introduced herself. "I'm Holly. You know, holly tree? Yeah, I'm newer, so I guess I simply can sympathize more with the whole 'military regime' thing. I'm only a tree nymph, and I'm expected to be exactly on time!"

Percy pulled a face and replied, "Yikes, I'm the newbie, so I guess it's probably just as bad for you, right?"

"Not quite, apparently I'm the only one of us two that has any memory prior to today."

Percy conceded the point with laughter, and they, talking amiably, walked into the woods- the opposite way Percy had been facing.


Pacing back and forth, Reyna was almost ready to admit defeat. She knew that getting Percy on their side, especially after his oh, so warm welcome, would be a challenge, but to not even be able to find him! It was ridiculous! But did he care? Probably not.

Fuming, the frustrated girl stomped half-way to the dining pavilion. Realizing what her fellow soldiers would see, she quickly gathered herself.

"Focus, Reyna. Focus! Lupa said you had to befriend him, not be his best friend within the hour! Now, be a good role model, and be responsible!"

"You also should talk to someone about your problems instead of bottling them up, like always."

Without even sparing a glance to see the newcomer's identity, Reyna replied. "Ha, ha. Very funny, Maddy. Even funnier than the last time you did it."

Smiling mischievously, Maddy smiled and said, "Why, thank you. I know I'm hilarious, but it's nice to get confirmation. Now, who is this person you're supposed to befriend? It wouldn't happen to be the son of Poseidon we brought here earlier, now would it?"

"You know it should be Neptune not Poseidon, Mads."

Stopping, Maddy looked Reyna in the eyes and only stated, "We both know it's Poseidon, don't we Rey."

Looking at her younger friend, Reyna found herself confronted with Minerva's rarest gift- the grey eyes that, in their purest form, seemed to pierce a person's soul. Their very essence.

Sighing, Reyna only gave a slight nod- enough confirmation to please her friend, but vague enough to soothe her conscience. Knowing that by now it'd be a lost cause, she dragged her brilliant friend over to the armory.

"Yes, that boy is Percy Jackson. And he is a son of Poseidon. According to Lupa, they didn't just take Jason, they took Jason from here and Percy from wherever Greek demi-gods are... we... 'exchanged leaders' according to her...but..." Reyna hesitantly trailed off, unsure of how Maddy might see what she wanted to say,

"He just doesn't seem the type?"

"Yes! Exactly, he may have beat me, but that doesn't say much. I despise using a sword- you know that, my friends know that, but he fights me once, and suddenly he can tell that I'm an archer or knife-wielder. Who does that? Not even Bobby is that good, and Percy's the son of the sea god! For gods sakes, if he weren't clueless I'd probably seriously consider dating him!"

Smirking at her friend's outburst, Maddy raised an eye-brow. "You're just upset that he's so like Jason, but so not that you're feeling like a bad friend for ever comparing the two, am I right?"

Laughing a little, Reyna asked, "You too, huh?"

"Oh, yeah. Minute he woke up. It's just... he isn't the smartest or the strongest but he's willing and ready and... seems to be the kind of person who'll surprise you, just you wait. I dunno. I'm generally a pretty good judge of people's character, but Percy Jackson is still an enigma. Perhaps he's one of those people we're not really meant to understand?"

Shaking her head, Reyna just said, "I haven't a clue, Maddy, but let's just go to dinner. He'll probably find his way back here eventually, and, if he doesn't, well, he obviously isn't as good as everyone claims."

Maddy agreed with a smile, and they walked off to dinner just as the chimes rang.