Long story short, I did stay out of the war. It was hard: on multiple occasions I was tempted to jump in. But I had an oath to keep and my pride and integrity to uphold. Every so often I would communicate with my friends back East via Iris message or the rare phone call. And before signing off, they would always mention how much I was missed and that my cabin was waiting. They needed to stop saying that, because after every call I would cry frustrated and painful tears. Despite my lack of presence in the conflicts ensuing, I refused to let my guard down. Every day I would train: running, lifting weights, sparring with Dad. So when a cyclops attacked from behind a boulder while I was on a hike, I was prepared. I was seething while I diminished it to a pile of ashes. The problem was not so much that it came after me, but that it was on our property. And when Luke Castellan himself knocked on my front door under a white banner, all bets were off. I choked on my own saliva when I saw who was standing on the porch. He had come to convince me to join his cause. Needless to say, I dismissed him, closing the door in his face. Surprisingly, he simply turned and left. No fuss.

Luke had broken his promise so I figured our oath was no longer binding. But I suspected he must be desperate to do such a thing. With the help of an Iris message, Chiron agreed to send a pegasus to get me. My dad was not happy, but made no move to prevent my departure as I packed my bags and told him goodbye. He understood my anger and how important the entire situation was-not only to me, but for Camp Half-Blood and the world. "Stay safe, sweetheart," he whispered into my hair before I climbed on the winged horse's back and launched into the sky.

Pegasus transportation is so much faster for cross-country travel. My feet were touching New York soil before my heartbeat could slow. I was still fuming, however, from the broken oath and the fact that a stupid cyclops had come onto our property. Campers swarmed me, old friends offering hugs and slaps on the back, saying how great it was to see me and how it's about time I returned. The faces in particular I was looking for, however, were not present.

"On a quest," Chiron explained as he walked with me, catching me up to speed on all that had occurred within the past couple years. I had missed much: Annabeth had been kidnapped while they were attempting to retrieve two children of Hades; Thalia was now leader of the Hunters of Artemis; Artemis herself had gone missing, only to have been holding up the sky because the Titan Atlas had been freed (temporarily); Annabeth was currently leading a quest through the Labyrinth and I had missed them by a couple of days. Tensions were high due to expectations of Luke's army to proctor an invasion through an entrance to the Labyrinth obscured at the rock formation referred to as Zeus' Fist. But for now, we would wait.

The next several days were spent in training, reacquainting myself with veterans and meeting new campers. It was surprising-and albeit flattering-that my reputation preceded me; many of the newer arrivals had heard my name floating around, had heard stories. "You're a celebrity," Stephen teased. I rolled my eyes at the comment but enjoyed it nonetheless.

I was sitting down to lunch when a commotion near the treeline caught my attention. Several others turned, pausing mid bite to hear the rumors flying faster than Zeus' lightning bolt. I did not think much of it, knowing somebody would likely fill me in sooner than later. That is, until I saw three arrivals with rather dazed expressions being led to the Big House. Dropping my sandwich I scrambled up, pushing through the growing mass. Chiron met them at the porch, exchanged brief words, then ushered them inside. Ignoring whispers and looks, I hurried inside after, closing the door. All heads turned at my arrival. They looked like they had played a game of tackle football in the mud yet relief sighed from me. Annabeth and I embraced. "You could not have come at a worse time," she squeezed me so tightly it hurt.

"I think you need all the help you can get," I teased. Grover was next, then a gangly-limbed cyclops named Tyson who was introduced as Percy's half-brother.

"Where is Percy?" I questioned. Everyone averted their downcast and misty eyes; Grover sniffled while Tyson let out a wail. Annabeth opened her mouth then closed it, wiped her eyes. Chiron eased her onto the couch, gently prompted her to tell us what happened. She relayed their travels, from saving Briares to the Triple G Ranch. Percy had been spying on telkhines inside Mount Saint Helens, the forge of Hephaestus, when the volcano erupted. They searched but found no trace of him. My breath hitched and I covered my mouth. Not Percy. The last time I had seen him in person was years ago; I had not realized until now that he was one of the people I was most excited about seeing again. Now I would never have the opportunity.

Chiron aged half his lifetime over the course of twenty minutes. His eyes were dark, cheeks more hollow than before, posture sagged. "We'll give him a few days to return on his own; if not, then we will burn his burial shroud." With that he excused himself. Grover muttered something largely incomprehensible that was interpreted as "going to see Juniper". Tyson went somewhere, taking with him the box of tissues. I remained at my spot against the wall, letting everything settle in my muddled brain. At Annabeth's hiccuped sobs I was spurred to life.

"This is my fault!" My attempts at reconciling were in vain. "I was leading the quest. I-" Taking her into my arms I offered my shoulder to cry on. And cry we did.


We waited as long as possible but eventually hope was given up. At the ceremony, Percy's shroud was brought out: a green silk banner stitched with a blue trident. Annabeth attempted to say a few words but when language failed, initiated the burning of the shroud. I expected language to fail her, but Annabeth began speaking a few words-but interrupted herself abruptly with the outburst, "He's right there!" Every head turned to see the black-hair boy standing sheepishly behind everyone. People flocked to the lost hero.

"You stupid boy!" Annabeth slammed her palms against his chest then nearly crushed his ribs in a hug. He turned when I grabbed his arm and grinned. "Long time no see." He was taller and had filled out some, no longer the thin physique of a tweenage boy. His hair still stuck out in every direction and his eyes were intense as ever. But his smile was the same, with one dimple on the right cheek. Next to my ear he muttered, "Glad you're back; I missed you."

"Ditto. Heard you've had some excitement without me." He leaned back to study my face.

"By the way, why are you back?"

"Luke. He broke the pact." I growled. Enough said, Percy nodded.


I waved them off as Percy and Annabeth once again left on their quest, this time to find Rachel Elizabeth Dare, who would be able to lead them through the mist. Annabeth was not pleased to have her company but kept relatively silent about her opinions, yet her features told another tale. Almost as soon as they left, preparations were being put in place for the impending invasion and I threw myself into the thick, offering assistance in any way possible. The next day Chiron called for me, relaying that he wanted me to "Be up there with them, you have been gone long enough." When I frowned he elaborated, "You need to be a leader-the campers look up to you."

"You want me to... take over?"

"No, I want you to spearhead preparations. Work alongside the Athena and Ares campers: they are directing. I want you to report back to me with everything that is happening. And gods know those cabins need a peacekeeper between them," he muttered. So I strategized with the Athena cabin; I prepared campers and equipment with the Ares cabin; I placed tripwires, snares and nets with the Stoll brothers (seeing as how snares are a specialty of ours); I discussed options with Chiron and relayed to him all that was being done. I was the only person he confided in; we both knew despite all the work, it would not be enough. But until Annabeth, Percy, Grover and Tyson returned with information, we would have to make do. I made it a point to make friends with those whom I did not know well; if Chiron wanted me to be a leader, I had to be a leader in all regards.

I was helping an Aphrodite boy move shields and helmets when five pegasi landed in the center of the circle of cabins. None other than my dear friends slid to the ground. Their emotions were a mixture: some upset and frantic, others-particularly Grover- dazed. Chiron met them, exchanged a few words. Annabeth saw me first and her face brightened a bit. Shifting everything to one arm I managed to free myself for an awkward hug as she reached me. Someone cleared their throat and we pulled apart to a waiting Percy. I surprised myself when I dropped my armful and pulled him into a tight hug. In two sentences he told me the basics of what happened and helped me carry the supplies to its destination.


Everyone was in full battle armor, muscles taught. I walked down the rows one more time, inspecting each individual's weapons and shields; looking into each face I committed it to memory, wondered if they would survive. When I returned to Clarisse she offered a curt nod. "It's been nice knowing you." I gave a half-smirk.

"Same to you. If something happens, know you were the one who taught me to spear fight. So thanks." She rolled her eyes but a hint of a smile was present. Catching Percy's eye he gave a thumbs-up. Taking a deep breath I steadied my nerves and made a silent prayer to Hera that I could see Dad again. A tremble shook the ground and Clarisse and I readied our weapons. When the first monsters burst from the ground she yelled "lock shields!". The battle had begun.

I didn't think about what I was doing, just did it. I was a machine. Every once in a while an orange camp T-shirt was visible, but then quickly disappeared in the mass of bodies and weapons and chaos.

"A pretty peaceful afternoon, huh?" Annabeth asked me, stabbing at a hellhound who had pounced.

"Couldn't have thought of a better way to spend it," I answered as I avoided a flaming candle heading for a telekhine. When I looked back, Annabeth was gone.

I was occupied with a dracaena when a camper-I could not recognize who- yelled, "Caitlin behind!" I raised my shield to deflect a demigod's blade. His helmet masked his face and I briefly wondered if he refused to show his face due to shame. It was quite challenging, fending off two at one time, but I managed alright...until they flanked me. Knocking my shield into the kid's face he went down harder than a stack of bricks. Turning my attention to the dracaena was an awful idea, for when I turned, a blinding pain tore through the back of my leg, splicing into every nook of my body. I cried out and fell forward, sticky, warm blood seeping down my pants. This was not going to be how I died. Movement was agony, but I rammed the hilt of my spear as hard as possible in the direction of the demigod. It connected with his helmet and efficiently knocked him out. As the telkinine lunged, a sword spared my life but not that of the dracaena. Percy was standing above me and his face was not encouraging. He dropped to his knees, ripped off a portion of his shirt and gently applied pressure to the wound. The pain was unbearable. I didn't want to look at it, too afraid of what I would see. My leg felt like it was going to fall off. Pulling out every tooth while dancing on burning coals would be less painful. When the bleeding continued at a rapid rate, he tied the strip of cloth around my upper thigh as a tourniquet.

I hated how brittle my voice sounded when I struggled out, "I'm okay, go." Completely ignoring my words, his head snapped around in search of help. Finding none, he grabbed under my arms and began pulling me. It seemed like the worst idea in history, for my leg sliding over the ground was painful, for lack of a better term. I think Juniper and Grover must have come and helped at some point, but shock was beginning to affect my vision and processing. I heard yelling, yet came to the realization that was me. They laid me near Juniper's tree and I yelped more.

"Shhh, don't move," Percy said gently. That was the last thing I remembered.