A/N: Yes, I am writing again! I am so awesome! Not really! But I think my head has gotten big with all your flattering reviews! This shall be more Percabethish! I hope! Um… What else can I put here? Oh, yeah, I wrote the beginning in French class, so I hope it's good!
Quote: Learn from yesterday. Live for today. Hope for tomorrow.
Song: The circle of life- Disney's The Lion King
Dis: Do you really need me to tell you the obvious? Yes? Fine… I DON'T OWN PJO
Annabeth POV
The beach. Calm, peaceful, yet full of rage and life. And sorrow. Standing ankle deep in the salty water, waves lapping at your legs, all that passes through your mind is peace. Peace, love, and happiness. It was late morning, and I was the only one there. No campers swimming, or tanning. No couples (Thank the gods) were here either. I closed my eyes, and sighed. This was my moment to be a totally different Annabeth than the others knew. I could be peaceful, childish and serene. I opened my eyes and turned around. No one was there. I let out a yell, and ran to the pier. Running at full throttle, I kicked of my shoes and pulled off my hoodie. As I reached the end of the dock, I whooped again, and did a very graceful cannonball into the sea.
"Having fun?" A male voice sounded behind me. I looked up to see Percy jogging up to the pier. I smiled, and ducked back under. When I surfaced by the end of the dock, I looked up to see Percy leaning over the edge, grinning at me. I splashed some water at him, getting his face wet. He blinked the salt out of his eyes, and turned instantly dry. Then he pulled off his shirt, and jumped in, splashing water all over me. After he didn't surface for a few minutes, I got out. Obviously he wasn't coming back anytime soon. Pulling myself out of the water, I shook my hair out.
"Seaweed brain?" I asked the water. No reply. I called out again. Suddenly, something grabbed my ankle. I yelped, and fell back in. I broke the surface. Percy was treading water and laughing his head off. I cursed him, and tackled him. The only problem when wrestling a son of Poseidon in the ocean? He can breathe. I can't.
He had me in a wrestling hold, and formed a bubble around us. I gasped for breath, and flicked him in the head. He laughed.
"Oh, come on," He said, "You should know better! I AM the son of the god of the sea."
"Shut up," I said, gritting my teeth, "You deserve it. Anyways, it was fun. Like old times, eh?"
"Good ole times, good ole times." Percy had put on an awful English accent. I rolled my eyes and poked the unbreakable bubble. He shook his head, and lifted the bubble up. When it hit the air, it burst. It caught me by surprise, and I choked on some really disgusting salty water. Percy caught me, and patted my back. Well, more like whacked me extremely hard on the back. I recovered, and we swam back to the shore. I noticed he was still wrapped around me. I coughed, and he quickly released me. I nodded my thanks, and walked onto the sand. I remembered my extra clothing on the pier, and ran over to it. I pulled my hoodie back on, and tied my shoelaces together. I slung them around my neck, and walked towards camp.
"Hey! Wait up!" Percy was running to catch up, but tripped over a root (or his own two feet, both are extremely likely), and made a very non-manly noise. I snorted, and kept on walking. For a moment, I felt twelve again, leaving Percy behind cause he was such an idiot. I could hear him calling out to me to stop, but I didn't stop. The cabins were in sight, and I just noticed the wet clothing clinging tightly to me. The brisk winter wind wasn't helping. Why did I go swimming again? Oh yeah, because I'm insane.
"Finally!" I heard Percy yell from behind me.
"What?" I said, probably making him crap his pants with my glare.
"I caught up with the fastest person in the whole camp! Don't I get a reward?"
"Depends."
"On what?"
"Whether or not you dry me off."
He stepped forward and placed a hand on my arm. The water ran off my body and clothes, forming a small puddle on the ground.
"Thanks," I said, and smiled at him. His shoulders dropped and his face morphed into an expression I recognized from a year ago. "So, what do you want for your reward?"
"Oh, another hug?" He grinned, and I frowned. Not funny. He backed up and raised his hands in defeat. I tried to turn back around, but couldn't and just smiled.
"Fine, Seaweed brain. One, friendly, hug. I do have a boyfriend, you know." He smiled and stepped forwards, and I pulled him into my arms. He put one hand on my hair, the other around my back. I patted him once or twice, then let go and went to my cabin. Just as I was about to open the door, Connor (or was it Travis?) ran up to me.
"Quest meeting now. We need all the head counselors." I nodded, and redirected myself towards the Big House. I walked up the steps and through the door. I took a right, and opened the first door. Most of the cabin leaders were seated around the table already, looking bored and impatient. I nodded to my friends, not breaking the silence. What could this be about?
Thalia POV
When I heard a knock on my cabin door, I was about to zap who ever it was that had bothered my recuperation process. But I was merciful today, and instead decided to answer the door.
"Nico," I groaned, "What the freaking Hades are you doing in my cabin?"
My beautifully wonderful non interrupting cousin just laughed, and stepped into my cabin. I was too tired to beat him up, so I just let it pass.
"Why are you in such a good mood?" I asked my emotastic cousin.
"No reason. And I have a favour to ask you." He whistled, and flashed a hopeful glance my way.
"Ugh. What is it?"
"Jace. She needs someone to stay with her, and I need to train. Can you? She asked specifically for you." He looked at me with a pleading look. Who knew he could do the cute, lost puppy look?
"Me? Be a nurse? To your love?" I rolled my eyes, "Nuh uh. Nurse Thalia doesn't have much of a ring to it. And aren't I kind of scary?"
"Not to her. And she is most certainly NOT my love! Gods, you're so annoying!" He stormed out the door. I was left alone with my thoughts. Should I go? Yeah, probably.
I went out the door, and started trudging through the snow. Campers were having snowball fights, and some Athena campers were building these really neat snow forts. I wanted to join them, but remembered my job. I found the first step of the porch in the deep snow. I walked up, a small skip in my step. It wasn't like Nico to ask for favours that helped others. So I figured this girl must be something special to him. On the way to the injury wing, I saw Chiron and Mr. D playing pinochle. They were arguing about something, and I decided not to interrupt. I kept on walking down the long hallway, but stopped when I saw a door with a name sign that said Grover Underwood-Satyr- Condition: Damaged arm, two broken ribs, one twisted ankle and a broken nose. Also various scratches made from what seem like thorns. I couldn't help but laugh- had Katie done all that? Still laughing, I continued down the hall. At the end of the hall was a door that said: Jace Nakamura- Demigod- Condition- Slashed shoulder, most likely with poison. In weak condition. Do not excite. I yawned, and entered.
"Hello?" A groggy voice called out from the bed. I looked over at her, and I couldn't help but gasp. Her shoulder was a greenish colour, and she was pale. Her eyes were red, and her face covered in scratches. She looked really tired, and pretty confused. Then her eyes lit up with recognition.
"Hey. My cousin asked me to come and watch you. You alright?" I put on a concerned face, tying to seem sympathetic. I doubt I did a good job, because she rolled her eyes and tried to turn over on her side. As she moved, she yelled in pain, and clutched her bad shoulder. I went over to her side and poured some nectar from a canteen on the end of her bed, onto her shoulder. She relaxed her hand on her shoulder, and sighed.
"Thanks," She said, "It hurts, you know? So, how's Nico?"
I laughed, "Oh, you're worried about my darling cousin are you? He's fine, but worried sick about you." So, were they perfect for each other? Hades yeah. Already worrying about each other. It reminded me of Annabeth and Percy. They still won't admit to it, but I know they still like each other. They are in denial. Again. Even if I'm a huntress, I can still know what love is. And all these lovesick teenagers were driving me MAD!!
"H-he is? Oh, um, cool. So, what's being a hunter of Artemis like?" She was blushing, and looked fairly embarrassed that she asked that question. The one about Nico. Not the one about being a hunter.
"Well, if you ask Percy, he'll say that it's a giant girls slumber party. And he's half right. It's a huge campout, and we have wolves and hawks for pets. We hunt monsters, and serve Lady Artemis. One time, there was this huge hydra, like, ten times the size of Chiron. And it was standing in this lake, and it kept on putting out the fire, right? So then we had to lasso it, and then my lieutenant grabbed a huge stick and set it on fire, and she ran this huge circle around it, and it made the best bonfire ever. We all got really sick off of marshmallows, and couldn't move camp for a week. And this oth-"
Jace held up a hand, and closed her eyes. She was smiling, and put her finger to her lips, telling me to shut up. I smiled sheepishly. Even though this girl was much younger than me in years lived, she gave out an aura that made you think she had seen it all. She looked peaceful, and I didn't want to disturb her, but I wanted to know bout her past. Blame my ADHD. It's just annoying.
"So," I said, rousing her from her peaceful state, "What's your story?"
"Well," She began, "When I was around five or six, my brother ran away. I followed, and found him battling some strange monster. He was only ten, and he killed it quickly. Confused, I ran up to him. He grabbed me, and we ran, and ran, and ran. I didn't understand it. Now I know. We lived on the run for two years. Then one day, he went into a rage. He blamed me for being his problem, the reason he had such a bad life. I was seven at the time. Ethan, h-he slashed my eye." She gestured at her left eye, and I realized the white scar that ran down from her eyebrow, all the way down to the back of her jawbone. I nodded, signaling for her to continue.
"I fell unconscious. I awoke in a sheltered area, a piece of paper in my hand. I tried my best to read it, but I had never been to school. I got a job cleaning cars, making around ten to fifteen dollars a day. I used this to mainly buy food, and when needed, clothing. I went to a local church where they had school for homeless children. I was the youngest, only nine. Most of the kids had a foster home, or lived in a shelter. I wandered the streets of Ottawa. Oh, yeah, by the way, I'm Canadian. Well, anyways, when I could read, I took out the note. It had faded, but I had kept it in the best condition possible. It said 'Find me at Camp Half-Blood'. I was eleven. Then, by some amazing luck, I met this satyr. His name was Lewis. He told where it was, and left me. While I was talking to him, my mother claimed me. So after that, I always prayed to her. I figured she was Ethan's mom too. I always sacrificed food to her, but all I ever got was my two knives. She never helped after that. I made my way over. It was always cold in Ottawa, but as I neared here, it got slightly warmer in the winters. I didn't have any money, and begged off of people I passed on the street. Every day, there was at least one person who would give me any, but in a week, it only added up to five or six dollars. I would go through trashcans, anything that could contain food. I traveled cross-country for two and a half years, until I finally found it. Camp. I made it across the border, and demanded for Ethan. They told me he was dead. It was my fault. I could've stopped him from running. I could've sto-" At that, she began crying, and went into regret mode. I was shocked.
This girl had lived on the streets for seven years, five of them on her own. She was only thirteen, but had lived through enough pain to fill anyone else's life. Percy always complained about how his life sucked, but he had a home, a family, and a hero's life. He may have lost friends, but always had people caring for him. Jace had never had a real family, or a real life or people who cared for her. I wondered about how many pairs of shoes she had owned. Yes, I know it's random. Shut up. It's my POV. I voice my thoughts here, and you do in reviews. It's how the world works. Why am I talking as if someone's reading my mind? Go away, or I'll zap you.
"Thalia?" Nico's voice sounded from behind me. He ran over to Jace, and put a hand on hers. He glared at me, and motioned at her. I put my hand on his shoulder, and led him away.
"Have you heard her story?" I asked him, my face deadly serious. He shook his head, and I recounted her tale to him. His faced morphed from different expressions at each bit. Disgust. Sorrow. Anguish. Fear. Pity. Sympathy.
"Wow," He said after I was done, "She lived through all of that?"
"Yeah. And Percy thought his life was tough."
"I'll talk to her later. But we have a meeting to attend to. And we need her."
We walked back into the room, and Nico helped Jace get off the bed. She wrapped her good arm around his shoulders, and leaned heavily on him. He supported her, and we eventually made it to the meeting room. Annabeth was sitting there, and I noticed the look on her face. She looked like she had spent a good hour around Percy, because she always got that giddy look on her face. Nico helped Jace into a chair, and sat down beside her. I found my place beside Percy. He had the same look on his face as Annabeth. Stupid lovesick teenagers. Chiron wheeled into the room, and surveyed us with an ominous look.
"We need two people for the quest."
A/N: Weeeeeeelll?? How was it? I put a lot of thought into Jace's past, so it had better be good! Not much action, but Percabeth as I promised. By the way, I am Canadian, so don't say 'It isn't always cold in Ottawa', because I know it isn't, I live there. So chill. Hahaha, get it? Chill? Cold? Yeah? Um… sorry, bad joke.
