Chapter 12

Percy POV

I can honestly say I have no idea how I got to bed last night. When I woke up I realized Zoe and Phoebe were sleeping next to me and I smiled slightly at my sisters who no doubt had taken care of me last night. Looking around the memories came back to me, I managed to take a deep breath and prevent another attack. Hands only shaking slightly I pulled myself up into a sitting position. Ms.O'Leary was laying down next to me on the floor with her favorite black blanket draped over her massive shoulders.

I wonder who's on breakfast duty here? Do we have to help? My thoughts tumbled on in my half awake dazed state. I glance over at Artemis, mom. Startled, I jump slightly in the bed, jostling my sisters, making them groan and shift. I placed a hand over my heart as though to prevent it from beating out of my chest, relaxing when I realized it was only Apollo who was cuddling her.

Smirking to myself I slowly reached into my bag, one of my sisters had gotten me a camera that surprisingly didn't attract monsters and I snapped a picture or two before putting it away, useful blackmail. I look out the window, a dark sky beginning to turn grey was struggling to wake up itself. I came to the quick connection with my sleep lagged brain that it was, MUCH too early to be up.

Groaning quietly I knew I wouldn't be able to fall back asleep. My quiet groan must have woken her because suddenly Ms.O'Leary was up and in my face looking at me concernedly. I smiled and stroked her head, the fur softer than my own hunter's coat. Deciding I could always use a walk I got up and changed and then slinked out with Ms.O'Leary leaving a note to my mom and sisters telling them I had gone to explore and not to worry because I had Ms.O'Leary.

As we walked out into the cool morning air there was a thin fog over the Camp. Deciding to just walk in a random direction I soon came across what appeared to be a large hearth in the center of the lawn in the middle of the cabins, there was, I noticed belatedly, someone already there, tending the fire. I walked cautiously closer to her, it was clearly a woman, with long black hair done in a braid down her back, she seemed to radiate a sense of home and motherly kindness, so much so that she reminded me of my mom, not Artemis, the other one my real mother.

Her soft blue eyes and kind smiles. I clench my eyes shut and take a deep breath, my mother is dead, this can't be her. Opening my eyes I notice the woman had turned towards me, her brown eyes had an eerie yet gentle glow to them, almost as if there were a fire ablaze within them. She cocked her head to the side slightly, and then smiled. Unable to restrain myself in her presence I smiled back, I watch as she walks closer to me, causing Ms.O'Leary to growl a warning. I blink at her, and the lady blinks at her.

"Ah, I suppose I should introduce myself first, hm? Percy." I turn back to the lady and can feel my brows furrow, how does she know my name? Looking closer at her I notice she's wearing a simple and modest cloak and as I look closer her eyes did seem to have a fire in them, literally. Putting the pieces together, I came to the my final conclusion, and I hoped I was right else I might be blasted for mistaking her for another goddess.

"Hestia?" She smiled and nodded at me. Sighing in relief I put my hand on Ms.O'Leary's side and whispered to her that it was ok and Hestia meant us no harm. Instantly she relaxed and flopped on the ground settling down for what she apparently thought would be a long conversation.

"I am glad you can see me Percy, so few notice me." she smiled indulgently, like a mother that chastised her children for doing something they were going to do again and she felt obligated to chastise them again but held no anger at them for it.

"How- How do you know me? I-If you don't mind me asking that is..." She shook her head slowly and took a minute before she answered,

"You were young when we first met, I believe it was at a cabin on the shores of a lake, you were such an excited toddler. I had popped in as I do randomly to check on the mortals, and imagine my surprise when a little thing like you could see me, your mother too, she smiled and welcomed me asking if I would like to join you for dinner, I refused as I had plans, but it was... nice to be noticed, and welcomed so easily. I have never forgotten either of you, I am... So sorry for your loss." She said sadly.

I was so amazed that I couldn't even answer her at first, mom could see Hestia? I had already met Hestia? She's sorry for my loss? I managed to murmur out a thank you before I walked away dazed once more. Ms.O'Leary was by my side once more guiding me through the cabins and off toward what looked like a cafeteria, leave it to Ms.O'Leary to find food, snorting quietly we walked through the abandoned area, the sky still a rather dark grey. Each table had a number on it I noticed. Were we made to sit at special tables?

That seemed sad, shouldn't family all sit at one table? That's what mom tells me anyways. Looking around I realize I don't see any kind of kitchen, which was strange, how did they cook their food? While I contemplated the food and it's possibility of being only things you didn't have to cook, aka mostly berries, fruits and vegetables, Ms.O'Leary seemed more inclined to actually find the jarred me out of my thoughts, turning around I found Ms.O'Leary looking sheepish with a table on her head, she had somehow managed to get it stuck, looking closer I found that it was table number 3.

Sighing I walked over to her and helped her get it off, it took much longer than I would like to admit to get it off of her, in fact the sky was mostly a pale blue and the sun was already starting it's daily crawl across the sky. It took me a moment to realize this meant Apollo SHOULD be in his chariot... Emphasis on should. Shrugging I turned to walk out of the cafeteria place and ran right into someone.

Artemis POV

Fear.

That is how I awoke. It thrilled through my veins like a waterfall down a mountainside. Immediately I looked to where Percy was laid to sleep, and I felt my heart freeze in my chest. For he was not there, and I, his mother, had not noticed someone take him in the night. But before I could become completely worked up Zoe came to me and handed me a note she found on his bed. It said:

Dear Mom, Uncle, and sisters,

Don't worry, I'm with Ms.O'Leary and have left to explore the camp. I'm sorry if I scared anyone but I woke up really early and could not fall back asleep.

Love, Percy

I felt my heart rate slow and my breathing even, how silly of me to think that I would not have noticed someone taking my son right beneath my nose. I released a panicky sort of half laugh, like someone not quite sure if they should continue to panic or to relax and think. Straightening my clothes I turned to my girls, and with the authoritative voice of a goddess I said,

"Get ready for the day quickly, we must find him before some stupid camper does." They all nodded in agreement and scurried off to get ready, and I knew it would take only minutes before they were. Strapping my bow and quiver to my back I walked to the door, I did not notice when Apollo had left, sometime before I awoke I suppose.

Frowning I realize he should have noticed Percy leave, or at least have noticed he was gone when he got up as well... The idiot probably wanted to see me panic. The big super-heated air headed jerk. Sighing I walked toward the door, the sky was a pale blue still mixed with the feathering of grey, the campers shouldn't be getting up for another half hour at least. This eased some of the tension in me but I still wanted him found, and fast.

Annabeth POV

I woke up early, I wanted to get a head start on exploring the camp, I felt bad leaving without Luke and Thalia but, I REALLY wanted to explore on my own. Besides, wasn't it supposed to be safe here? I started walking towards the large marble building in the distance, it's contouring calling to me, telling me to come and touch it, see the ways it bent and intersected with the other columns.

This happens to me a lot, I usually don't question it, seeing as it always tends to lead me to magnificent structures. As I neared it I heard a loud crash, deciding it safer to sneak and peek rather than barging in I walked in behind it and hid behind a column, peering around it carefully. There he was, the boy who was traveling with Lady Artemis. His dark hair wind blown and slightly curly, he was wearing a sea blue with black and silver trimmed coat with a bow and quiver strapped to his back and a black sword at his side.

I wanted to approach him but I was too scared what with his giant shadow dog, did that thing even QUALIFY as a dog? I watched as he tried to free his giant dog from a table, which was, amusing to say the least. Finally when it was free I resolved myself to speak to him, slipping from my hiding space I approached him, however I must have been too quiet because when he turned around he bumped right into me.

"Oh!" I yelped, instantly there was a knife at my throat and a large shadow dog growling behind me. My eyes widened in terror, his eyes were as wild and stormy as the sea and just as untame, and his face had hardened into a mask of resolve, he is going to slit my throat and feed me to his- his hell hound! However as quickly as it came, it was gone.

His face slackened and his knives were gone, his dog beckoned and together they backed away from me, his eyes still stormy green but a faint blush of embarrassment had burned his cheeks.

"I'm sorry." He whispered, looking ashamed. I could do nothing but stare, my short life had flashed before my eyes, only six haunted years. Finally I managed to gather my wits.

"Who are you?" I asked. I watched as he stiffens and glares at the floor.

"Why does it matter?" He asked, his voice still just above a whisper.

"Because I would like to know the names of all that saved my life. Is that so wrong?" He glanced up at me sharply, a war of emotions in his eyes. But finally he whispered,

"Percy." and then he disappeared. I don't mean walked away, but like dissolved in shadows and disappeared. I was stunned silent.

AN:

Ok, Ok I know. I'm really sorry this took so long but! I have an excuse! I JUST got back from camping and I had NO electronics while we were out there so I really couldn't have updated sooner, again I'm sorry. However on the story, YAY Percy and Annabeth have finally met! And how will Percy cope with the rest of his first day at camp? Will he be able to handle it? Or will be crack under the weight of their questions? DUN DUN DUNNNNN :D Who knows? Anyways, all ideas are welcome, and No I have not abandoned this story, I am simply fickle with keeping up with deadlines.

Love you all,

Wolf Mistwood