*sighs* It wasn't as long as an update wait as earlier but I;m still trying to get things up faster. This chapter feels short but it's just the beginning of things. ;)

Enjoy! ^_^

Writerswand

Eternal Complications

Chapter 9

Dreams

I skid to a stop before my half-wet, unconscious best friend. My feet began to sink into the wet mud but I didn't care.
I fell to my knees and pressed two fingers to the side of his neck. A soft, steady pulse beat against my fingers. Good.
Luke knelt down next to me and we turned Percy over in his back. His chest was heaving slightly but his breathing was normal. Apart from the huge, black and blue bump on his head, Percy Jackson would be fine.
Luke held up Percy's head in his hands as he looked at it. "He most likely had a concussion Annabeth, and a serious one at that," he explained.

I winced.
Luke put a hand on my shoulder. "It's a good thing he's a sea kid, because if not he would be dead," Luke said solemnly.
I pulled away from Luke, gripping Percy's right hand, the hand I took hold of as soon as I got down here. "He needs help, we need to get him to the infirmary," I told Luke.
Luke stared at me, puzzled, for a few moments. "We?" he finally asked.
"Yes, we," I answered, annoyed.
Luke stood up and backed away. "You know I can't go to that area of camp, I shouldn't even be here in the first place," he said cautiously, looking around.
"I can't carry Percy by myself!" I snapped.
Luke sighed and bent down, helping me pick up Percy and supporting most of his body weight.
I helped by holding Percy's upper chest and holding his head up seeing as he had no muscle control for the time being.
We stood up and began walking along the riverbank. Luke and I both know camp very well and we know the river leads to a flat land that is not far from the cabins. I really don't want to pass them but it's the fastest way to the infirmary.

It was tiring, but we were almost there. We were just leaving the forest and entering the area with the cabins.
Most people didn't notice us but eventually somebody did and it spread. Soon enough everyone was staring at us as we carried Percy to the infirmary.
Fortuneally anyone that would bother us wasn't around. Finally, we reached the white tent of the infirmary.
I held the tent flap open as Luke carried Percy in.
We walked in to confront the confused face of Chiron. He was about to say something but looked down and saw Percy. Without a word, he helped us set Percy on a bed and situate him all comfy under the blankets.
I stood by the nightstand as Luke stood awkwardly at the end of the bed.
Finally Chiron spoke. "Come Luke, let's leave Annabeth alone for a while,"
Luke looked at me.
"Go," I nodded.
He nodded back as he followed Chiron out of the infirmary.
I pulled up a chair next to Percy's bed and sat down. I stared down at Percy as he lay there, unconscious. I wondered what he was dreaming, if at all.
This reminds me of the first summer Percy came to camp, four years ago, the year I loved, and hated, for messing everything up.
This reminds me of when I sat in the infirmary, tending to Percy when he had gotten injured in the battle with the Minotaur.
It was just different now. I bit my lip. I'm sorry Percy, really, I am, I should have called your home phone, sent a letter, did something when I found Luke. But I didn't, and I'm probably going to get an earful about hiding it for so long.
Ironically enough, Clarisse came storming into the infirmary, brown hair matted with sweat and blood-other people's blood-she must have come directly from a training session. "OK Annabeth! You have some major explaining to do! I was just passing horse man-"she began.
"Chiron," I corrected her.
"Whatever! I saw him talking to that traitor-"she began again.
"Luke," I corrected again.
"Shut up birdbrain! Anyways, the two were talking all secret-like and I didn't like it! How did he even get in through the boundary? That filthy little traitor, he was probably sent to spy on camp. If he got in through the labyrinth…ooh…Tom is going to die…" Clarisse trailed, rant coming to an end. Tom is one of her half brothers.
"Clarisse, calm down, you're going to blow this tent from the ground, it's okay, we have everything taken care of," I reassured her.
"Calm down? Calm down when a traitor has infiltrated camp! And I see that sea wimp is out, what happened, the traitor try to kill him?" Clarisse asked.
I shook my head. "He tripped,"
"Oh sure, Annabeth, whatever you say, do you really expect me to believe-" Clarisse stopped when Chiron entered with Luke.
She ran over to him and grabbed a hold of his shirt in her fist, pulling him to her. "I don't know what you think you're doing traitor, but it's not going to be done here," she spat.
Luke remained silent as she spoke.
"How did you even get in? If you hurt any-"
Chiron interrupted her. "Clarisse put Luke down,"
"Why should I?" She asked; an angry glint in her eye.
"Put him down Clarisse La Rue, put the boy down," Chiron said, firmer.
Clarisse scowled and roughly let Luke go. Luke rubbed his chest where Clarisse had been gripping him.
"Clarisse, you have to understand that we can't jump to conclusions-"Chiron began.
"Yes, but if we spend too much time thinking it'll be too late!" Clarisse said through gritted teeth.
"True, but just you have to-"
Clarisse interrupted him once again. "What? Trust him? Pretend nothing's ever happened? Then we can all go dancing over the rainbow?" Clarisse asked, skeptically.
Chiron sighed.
"That's what I thought, did you really expect me to EVER see him the same again, after the way betrayed camp?" Clarisse asked, storming out of the infirmary. "I don't know about you but I have a camp to protect and a war to prepare for! For all we know we can expect an army outside the boundary tomorrow!" she called from outside.
Chiron sighed. "We better get to the Big House Luke, to get things situated, and Annabeth…" Chiron trailed.
I looked up.
"You come later, I have to talk to you,"
I nodded slowly as they left. – I sighed as I turned back to the sleeping form of Percy.
"Percy…" I trailed, in a soft whisper.
I reached out and stroked his soft, black hair, twirling a short strand around my pale finger.
"When will you wake Percy…?"

Percy still hadn't woken yet, it was dusk.
Grover trotted in, stopping when he reached me. "Chiron would like to see you now…" he trailed.
When I opened my mouth to speak Grover interrupted me: "But don't snap at me! I'm just the messenger!" he cried.
"…I wasn't going to…" I said slowly.
"Oh, well, I'm just going to sit down now," he said as he sat in the chair I previously sat in before I moved to the edge of the bed.
I laughed a little before waving bye and exiting the infirmary.
No one was around, they had to be eating dinner, it was around that time, well, or they were gathering at the campfire, which Chiron would have to go to soon.
I made my way to the Big House and up the porch steps, gently brushing my fingers against the railing as I ascended. I opened the screen door and knocked softly on the thicker, wooden door.
"Come in," Chiron's voice called softly.
I opened the door and walked in, closing the door behind me.
Chiron sat by the table in his mortal form, in the wheelchair.
"Sit," he invited me, smiling.
I sat down slowly in the backless stool, looking around. "Where's Luke?" I asked, curious.
"Getting situated in the Hermes cabin, this is actually just what-"he began.
"Why! Everyone thinks he's a traitor!" I cried, then realizing how I sounded I calmed myself down. "I mean, what will everyone think?"
Chiron nodded sadly. "Luke was once a traitor, it's difficult for some people to let go of that. This is the best thing for now, to get everyone used to the fact that he's here now," Chiron explained.
I nodded slowly. "I understand,"
"Good," Chiron said. "Now on to important matters,"
I closed my eyes and mentally sighed, biting my lip.
"Where did you find Luke Annabeth? Do you know how he got in?" he asked.
"Shouldn't Luke have answered these already?" I asked.
"Irrelevant, answer the previous questions,"
I nodded. "Around the start of off-season I think. He was unconscious, half way in the river, injured and soaking. It's most probable that he got washed up in the ocean and the current pushed him here, the boundaries probably weak underwater, I mean, why wouldn't it?"
Chiron nodded, a little worried about the last part. "What did you two do up until now?"
"Until he was injured I kept him in the…Artemis Cabin,"-Chiron couldn't resist a chuckle-"Yes, I know, but that was the only cabin I was sure would stay empty, I brought food to him and when he was healed he kind of just supported himself and lived in the forest I guess,"
Chiron nodded, a little amused, contradicting the previous worry. But soon he got back to business. "Why didn't you tell us sooner?"
I bit my lip, my head lowered. "I thought I would get in trouble. I thought somebody man have hurt him seeing he's a traitor, but I just had to help him! He's like an older brother to me, but-"
Chiron interrupted me. "Annabeth, dear, I only expected a simple reason why,"
I nodded; relieved he stopped me before I said something I regretted.
Chiron nodded. "You can go now Annabeth, thank you,"
I looked up. "Really? That's all? Because I thought-"I began before Chiron put a hand up to stop me.
"Annabeth it truly is fine," he said.
I nodded and walked to the door. When I opened the door to leave, Chiron spoke.
"Annabeth,"
I stopped.
"Don't ever doubt your choices or views on things or else you're really going to be in trouble," he pretending to scold me.
I smiled and nodded, exiting the Big House.

I made my way back to the infirmary. When I walked in I found Grover asleep in the chair next to Percy's bed.
I sat down softly at the end of the bed and kicked Grover sharply in the shin.
He woke up automatically. "Wha-What? I WASN'T STEALING ENCHILADAS FROM THE SECRET ENCHILADA CABINET MR. D! AND NO! I DO NOT WANT TO MARRY YOU PROMETHESIS! AHH! DON'T EAT ME!" Grover screamed.
Secret enchilada cabinet? "Grover, you're fine, it was a dream, it's me, Annabeth," I said in a soothing face.
Grover's eyes blinked open. "Oh…you didn't hear that did you?"
"Not a word," I lied.
Grover eyed me suspiciously but shrugged. "Looked in a mirror recently?"
I looked around and spotted a small mirror on a nightstand. I looked at my reflection. Oh…my hair was tangled and a mess, it was faded and knotty. There were dark bags under my eyes and they were dull. I sighed but it came out in a yawn.
"You should get some sleep Annabeth," Grover yawned.
I shook my head, curling my legs on top of the end of Percy's bed. "I'm fine,"
Grover shook his head and sighed, not wanting to argue an issue he would end up losing anyways.
I smiled.
.A while later, way after curfew- the harpies are probably out by now- I must have fallen asleep at the end of Percy's bed. I don't really remember. I was exhausted.

It was night, or at least I think it was. The sky was completely covered with dark, thick storm clouds. It was raining; there was thunder in the distance but no lightning. I hover above the raging sea; I hear waves crashing upon the rocky shore in the distance. I spot to small figures in that distance and go spiraling to them.
It's Thaila and a small girl with brown braids, Artemis. I try to get their attention but they don't notice me, they just continue talking.
"We have to go to Camp Half-Blood!" Thaila cried.
"I don't see the need," Artemis said coolly.
"Percy is severely injured and Luke is back!" Thaila argued, starting to get annoyed.
"They are boys Thaila," Artemis said. "And Luke Castellan is a traitor,"
"Percy is one of my best friends and Luke is like my freaking brother!" Thaila screamed, fingers sparking.
"They were boys Thaila,"
"And? Percy is my BEST FRIEND and Luke is like my BROTHER, besides, I can give them both an earful when we get there,"
"You mean you, when you get there,"
Thaila's eyes widened. "You're letting me go?"
"That's hardly my responsibility anymore,"
"What?" Thaila asked confused.
"It's as clear as glass Thaila."
Thaila paused for a moment before it clicked. "Oh, no, you aren't kicking me out of the Hunters are you?"
"Congratulations Thaila, seeing as you joined the day before your sixteenth birthday and it's been a little more than a year since then, that would make you about seventeen and a half,"
Thaila's jaw dropped. "You can't do this!" She cried, the sparks at her fingers growing larger.
"Are you questioning my authority of me as a goddess?" Artemis asked, eyes flashing. She looked as if she may expose he true form, killing Thaila, I wondered if it would kill me as well.
After she spoke thunder clapped. Thaila's eyes looked towards the ground but her jaw was set firm, now electricity was sizzling through her black hair, static.
"Go now before I throw you into the sea Thaila Grace, if you don't you better hope your friend's daddy likes you just as much as you think he does,"
After she spoke a blue-white flash of lightning strikes down where Thaila stood, leaving the spot nothing more than blackened earth.

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