Hi. Me again. I wanted to at least get a Piper chapter in before I posted again to GEN. Which will be coming soon-ish.
The war council was falling apart again. To be fair, they usually did every day. This was probably worse.
It started when Malcolm suggested that maybe Percy was gone for good. He didn't want to admit it himself, but it was probably the Athena-Poseidon rivalry coming into play. The Dionysus cabin backed him, along with Nemesis, Hypnos, and surprisingly, Zeus. Piper could tell Jason didn't want to throw in the towel, but it was the same reason as Athena. Parental rivalries.
Piper glanced at her boyfriend, worried about him. She felt like they had been getting farther apart. They didn't spend as much time together as they had in the past. It may have been partly her fault, since she hung out with Leo and Percy a lot. Well, more Leo now.
Chiron attempted to move the discussion on.
"If you believe Perseus is gone for good, you may withdraw from the search. Arguing isn't helping anything and will only serve to drive us apart. Nico, have you felt anything?" The son of Hades shook his head.
"Nothing. He's still alive. Unless he managed to hide himself so well…"
"He's alive," Grover said. "The empathy link may be gone, but I'm close enough to Percy that I'll know if he's dead, probably before Nico does. No offense, Nico." Nico shook his head.
"None taken. You satyrs are better attuned to nature. But, yes, as soon as I feel anything, I will tell you." The council waited for Chiron to move on.
"Thank you, Nico. I believe there's one more thing. Jason?" The blond stood.
"Yeah. I know not all you guys have been kept up-to-date on all of Camp Jupiter's affairs, but Frank Zhang stepped down as preator. He wanted to be closer to Hazel and being preator was interfering. So Reyna asked me if I wanted to step up. I accepted and will be leaving in two days." Piper blinked. Jason was leaving?
"We wish you luck, Jason. Your time at Camp Half-Blood will be remembered. Council adjourned." Chiron said. Campers filed out, chatting. Jason turned to Piper.
"Come on." He strode out the door and Piper jogged to catch up. They walked in silence to Cabin One.
"What's up, Jace?"
"Piper, I've been thinking," Jason said.
I knew it. Piper thought.
"Me too," she said. "You want to end this." Jason looked down and nodded.
"We've been getting distant and our relationship was essentially founded on a lie. As great as you are, I don't think we're meant to be together." He looked up. "I'm sorry."
"I was going to say that," Piper said. "And since you're going to California, you can hang out with my dad more. And also Reyna. She's better for you. You're both leaders. I'm not. Good luck, Jason." She hugged him. Jason returned it and stepped away, packing his things into a suitcase. Sensing she wasn't wanted, Piper left.
She wandered around camp aimlessly before going to her cabin. Her mind was all in a jumble. The biggest thought was, where the Styx was Percy? Of course she cared about him, he was her friend. Probably her best friend. She went down to the beach with a surfboard her dad had bought her. Surfing was one of her favorite things to do. The sea spray, the wind, and smell of the ocean. Half-Blood Beach was one of the best places to surf. Paddling out to just beyond the breaking point of the waves, she sat on the wooden board.
"Piper!" a voice yelled. Piper looked around wildly. Who was that? A shimmer caught her eye. An Iris-message. Frank and Hazel's images, formed from the ocean mist, hovered a few feet away.
"What's up you guys?"
"We think we know where Percy went!" Frank said, excitedly. Piper nearly fell into the ocean.
"Where?!" she asked. There had been no leads on Percy's whereabouts yet.
"Has he ever talked about our quest to Alaska?" Hazel asked.
"Yeah. He told me how big and wild and beautiful it was. He said he would like to live there…" Piper trailed off at the last part. "Hold on, guys. I gotta tell Chiron. I'll call you guys back!" She swiped her hand through the mist and it dissipated. She rode a wave back to the shore and sprinted back to the Big House. Bursting through the door, and scaring the horns and hooves off quite a few satyrs, she ran to Chiron's office.
"Chiron! I have a lead on Percy!" The kindly centaur looked up, surprised. After conversing with Frank and Hazel, he rose from the wheelchair.
"Assemble the camp in the amphitheater. We need to issue a quest."
The camp was all abuzz when Chiron went to the center of the theater. He struck his hooves against the stones and everyone quieted.
"Campers! We are here to address something of grave importance," he began. Connor Stoll jumped up.
"I didn't do it!" Everyone laughed. Even Chiron chuckled.
"It's not about you, Mr. Stoll. Rather, it is about Perseus. Piper, care to explain?" Piper stood before the camp.
"Percy is in Alaska." Half expecting an ear-splitting roar, she was surprised by the dead silence. Will Solace raised his hand.
"He's in the land beyond the gods?" Piper nodded.
"It makes sense. He wanted no contact with anyone. Alaska is pretty damn big and the gods have no influence. It's perfect for a self-imposed exile."
"Are you gonna lead a quest?" Jason asked. Piper turned to her ex.
"As a matter of fact, yes. Yes I am." Hopeful eyes trained on her, begging for a chance to prove themselves and to find the most powerful demigod in history. Piper had already decided on her companions.
"Grover. You know any tracking spells?" The satyr stood.
"Yeah. And like I said, I can sense his death. If that happens." Grover walked down to stand next to her. Piper surveyed the campers before landing on a head of curly hair.
"Leo. We're gonna need Festus for transport and you have fire. That'd be useful in Alaska," she said. Leo grinned and leaped down.
"Anything for my peeps. Aquaman can't hide forever." He lit his hand ablaze and lifted, eliciting a cheer from the camp. Chiron nodded and Rachel stood.
"Miss McLean, you prophecy." Green mist billowed around Piper and Rachel's eyes glowed green.
You shall head north, to the land beyond the gods,
Seek who was lost, where few demigods have trod.
Prepare for failure, though it will not be in vain,
For this is but a warning for far more pain.
The mist retreated and Rachel nearly collapsed. Piper blinked. Prepare for failure? Does that mean the quest would fail? She tried not to think about it, but nodded to Chiron.
"We leave tomorrow."
True to her word, the quest was ready to leave the next day. Festus was gleaming and breathing fire, Grover was being fawned over by a newly pregnant Juniper, and Calypso was fussing over Leo. Piper felt somewhat jealous of her companions. They were in solid relationships, with partners that loved them. Styx, Grover was going to be a dad. Leo had somehow worked his ridiculous charm and Calypso fell for him. Hard. And then he came back to an island no man ever returns to and rescued her from and island she can't be rescued from. How freaking sweet.
"Hey," a voice said. Piper turned. It was Jason.
"Hey," she responded. "What's up?"
"Um, seeing as you're going on this quest and all, I figured you needed something magical. Y'know, Grover has his pipes, Leo is magical all on his own," Piper chuckled at that, getting a brief smirk from Jason. "But you don't have much. So here." He handed her an Imperial Gold nugget. She took it and her hand tingled. Electricity.
"What is it?"
"I had Leo make it for me. He calls it a 'Lighting Grenade'. Tap it once and throw it. As soon as it hits the ground, a lightning bolt comes down. One of the Hecate kids managed to enchant the lighting so it won't harm any friendlies." Piper put it into her backpack.
"Thanks, Sparky. It'll come in handy. Leo seems to attract trouble wherever he goes."
"It's because I'm so hot!" Leo said, walking over. He pulled Jason into a bear hug. "Have fun in New Rome, Shazam. We'll be looking for Percy." Jason smiled.
"Good luck to you guys. May the gods help you." Piper nodded and her and Leo went to Festus, ready to go. Calypso wished them luck and kissed Leo. Grover said goodbye to Juniper and his kid. They mounted Festus and, with a final farewell from the camp as well as a blessing from Chiron, began their quest to find Percy Jackson.
One thing that I should clear up is the time setting. Annabeth's death is the year after the Giant War. So everyone is one year older. Percy leaves three years after. So he's about 22. Piper was 16 in HoO, which makes her about 20. Just clarifying. Also, side note (minor spoiler for ToA), Sally was pregnant with Percy's mortal half-sister. I like this idea, so I'm gonna put it in. Therefore, Estelle Blofis is four. Anywhat, review! -RFA
