XXVI
HAZEL
Hazel leaned against Piper. She was grateful for her friend, being there for her when Frank was acting so distant. As they sat, she saw a huge red blur fly overhead and raised her head. Frank? she thought, but pushed the thought out of her mind as she saw Thalia, Jason's sister, walking towards them.
"Jason, Frank and Nico are gone," she told Hazel when she reached her. Hazel shot up. "Where?" Piper asked. Thalia raised her hands, indicating she wasn't aware. Piper groaned, a sentiment Hazel shared. "I know," she said to Piper. "I wish I could punch him too sometimes."
Chiron galloped over to the dining pavilion. "Thalia, welcome back. I assume you're here for..." he trailed off, seeing tears in Thalia's eyes. "Yes," she said and leaned against Chiron's flank. "I still can't believe he's dead," she moaned, tears streaming down her face. Chiron nodded sagely, "I know, child. None of us can."
Thalia composed herself. "When do we pay respects?" she asked. "When the Romans and the Amazons get here," Chiron replied. As if on cue, a horn blew, indicating the arrival of the Romans. Hazel got up off her chair and peered over Thalia's head to see whom the Romans had sent. With a shock, she realised none other than Reyna, the other praetor of Camp Jupiter, was walking towards them. Behind her strode Dakota, the Centurion of the Fifth Cohort. Both of them had grim looks on their faces, though Dakota's stained red mouth made his look a bit comic.
Reaching them, Reyna placed a hand on Hazel's shoulder. "Hazel," she said in a broken voice. "I'm so sorry." Hazel nodded and felt tears rush to her eyes as well. She suddenly embraced Reyna, feeling her memories of Camp Jupiter return. "Where are Frank and Jason?" Reyna asked her, pulling away from the embrace. "They've left," Piper said from behind Hazel.
Reyna seemed sorry to not have seen them, and she and Dakota strode away to Half-Blood Hill, where the Roman Army had been encamped not too long ago. Soon, another horn blew, different this time. Hazel recognised the face of the person whom had entered the Camp from the woods. Hylla? Chiron had said that the Amazons were coming, but she didn't realise their queen would be with them. Hylla was alone; none of the other Amazons were with her.
Hylla reached the dining pavilion, walking up to Hazel. "Hazel Levesque," Hylla said, extending her hand. "It's good to see you again." Hazel took her hand and shook it. "I'm sorry to hear about Percy," she said. Hazel nodded in thanks. Those words sounded so empty, so hollow...
Chiron interrupted Hazel's thoughts with the announcement that the 'service' for Percy would be starting soon. Hazel and Piper separated from the rest and walked to the beach slowly. When they got there, the beach was empty, save for a crouching satyr. "Coach Hedge?" Piper wondered aloud.
The satyr turned around. HE was much taller than Coach Hedge, but much slimmer. He had a small, black goatee and a dark complexion. On his head rested a crown of leaves and his eyes were red. "I'm afraid not," the satyr said in a high, reedy voice. "I'm Grover Underwood, head of the Council of Cloven Elders." He turned to the sea. "And Percy Jackson's protector," he finished, sobbing. Hazel felt sad for the poor satyr. They took their jobs as protectors seriously, and even though Percy hadn't had a protector in years, Grover probably felt horrible because of his death.
She placed an arm around his shoulder. "Mr. Underwoo- Grover," she corrected herself. "We'll avenge him. You can be sure of that." Grover just continued sobbing, deaf to what Hazel had said. Soon, the rest of the Camp was assembling on the beach and Grover retreated to the back. Chiron, Thalia, Hylla and Reyna stepped forward, the two sisters having a brief reunion.
"Today, we remember Perseus Jackson," Chiron started, his voice hoarse. "A great demigod, and a hero to all of us." At this, Reyna and Hylla shared a look, though Hazel wasn't sure if she imagined it.
Once Chiron was done extolling all of Percy's virtues, he withdrew and let Reyna speak. Taking a deep breath, she started. "Percy Jackson was a leader to us Romans, rising to the rank of praetor as fast as any we have seen. He was a hero on and off the battlefield, and we Romans shall surely miss him."
Once she was done, Thalia and Hylla stepped forward at the same time. After a brief standoff, Hylla yielded to Thalia. Clearing her throat, she started; "Percy Jackson was my cousin. He was a great demigod, who's only fault was his loyalty. He would go to the ends of the Earth for his friends and family, and I am sorry we couldn't do the same for him. He is the one male the Hunters regard as their own, and the only one who will forever be remembered in our hearts. Farewell, cousin," she finished, her eyes teary again.
Then Hylla came forward and spoke, mirroring what Thalia had said. After she was done, all the campers kneeled silently, Percy in all their minds. After a few moments, the entire Apollo and Ares cabins along with the Hunters of Artemis came forward and fired flaming arrows into the sea, as a token of respect.
Hazel and Piper went back to the dining pavilion, their eyes fresh with tears. As they sat down to dinner, Reyna and Thalia walked over to their table. Just as they were about to sit down, Hazel felt a sudden chill in her spine. She looked around and saw all her friends' faces were contorted in pain as well. Chiron had sunk to the ground, his arms pulling at his hair in agony. A huge roar seemed to fill the camp, and several fires extinguished.
The incident finished as soon as it had begun. "What was that?" a camper shouted fearfully. Several had drawn their swords or nocked arrows. Chiron struggled to his hooves, shaking his head in dismay. "Olympus," he croaked, "has been attacked."