Don't own PJ world
Chiron can't help himself but have a stronger bond with some demigods. Annabeth and Percy were the lucky ones this time, and as usual, he has some photos of them, so he'll have something to remember them.
But they are not the only ones of their generation of whose photos he has- keepen deep inside of one of his beloved boxes, there was an envelope with a few photographs, showing a pair different of demigods growing up.
In the oldest one, it could be seen a nine years old girl with dirty blond hair covering with snow a ten years old boy, who, despite the situation he was, was laughing as if he was having the best day of his life. There was a smirk in her face as well.
Chiron remembers that day very well. It was winter and he had let the snow fell inside the barrier for the last days, as his last hope to cheer up the round-year children that seemed a little down.
He couldn't really remember the reason for the general mood, but the snow seemed to work. Mostly.
He quickly learned that Clarisse, being raised in Phoenix, couldn't put up with winter or cold in general. All the places where she could train unable because of the weather, and her cabin empty, she locked herself, just going out for meals, and always with at least two or three coat on, and more irritable than ever.
It was one of those time the reckless child known as Chris, took snow from the floor and throw it across the pavilion, his training helping him to hit Clarisse's head.
Immediately a snow fight began, the food forgotten in the dishes. Snowballs flying from one table to another, laughter as background, everybody was trying to hit whoever without being hitten themselves.
Except for two children. They fight became a personal one very quickly and, sooner rather than later, the youngest was on top of the other, covering his chest with the cold substance and trying to stuff something inside his clothes as well, screaming for revenge.
He had his old camera with him, since he was using it to get some new photos of the improvements they had made, and he did not hesitate to take a picture of them, when Clarisse seemed to be tired and content herself to spread a little more snow on the laughing child.
When he comes back to the big house, he wrote the names and the date in the back and saved it in the box.
Two years later a new one was added.
It was taken at the night and was quite darken, but two figures could be seen at the beach, one on the top of a rock and the other on the bottom, its arms moving as it was explaining something.
Laughters could be heard perfectly that night.
They accepted the punishment and washed the dishes over the weekend, but Chiron could never get from them what they were doing outside so late at the night.
The third and fourth were taken weeks after the battle of the labyrinth. The battle itself and his broken ankle gave him time to think, and his thoughts something to be nostalgic for, and so he began to take more his camera with him.
That evening they have had the first capture the flag after the battle and he saw a lot of his children went to bed earlier.
But even with just the older ones, the fire was pretty high and more bright that it was on the last days, which allowed Chiron to see a sleepy, recently claimed Chris who was among the children of Ares, probably still not confident enough to sit with his own brothers and sisters, but forced to attend by the girl.
On the photos, his head laid on Clarisse's shoulder, his left hand above her right hand.
Meanwhile, she was talking with one of her brother in the third picture, while in the fourth her own head was laid on his, her eyes closed.
The fifth picture was a year after the Gea war, the summer before they went to college.
He didn't take this one, however, but was one of his favorites- it showed pretty much how they were.
One of the new Hermes' child had taken his beloved camera away and was everywhere taking photos of everyone. She managed to catch Chris having lunch at Ares's table despite being banned, with one arm around Clarisse's waist, like one of the strange displays of affection he or the camp could barely see.
Being the youngest child the 11 cabin had, Chloe was always under watch, even if sometimes they let her get away with it, with the picture as proof: it was pretty obvious that Chris has seen her since he was winkling playful to the camera.
Clarisse anyway, was pointing with a fork, with food still in it, to one of his sister in what seemed to be a typical argument of them, oblivious about what was happening at her back.
For the time the sixth was taken, he got used to taking his camera to capture. They were 23 and 24, staying for the summer and practically adopted one of Clarisse's brother as their protected.
The boy was just six when he comes to the camp, running away from an abusive home.
Not being claimed during the first month, Chris was the first to take care of him, letting him know that his father cared and, no matter how long it would be, he would send a signal.
He started to teach him how to fight, seeing instantly the resemblance between the child and Clarisse's siblings in the process.
After she was told and knowing his story, she started to know him better, and took him under her watch, becoming very protective of him, even after he was reclaimed.
You can still saw a few scars in his legs in the picture, where he is on Clarisse' shoulders, the other team' flag tied around his neck as a cape, his fist on the air and his smile brighter than anything else, his past momentarily forgotten.
Chris was on the background, against a tree, smiling with proud, even when he was wearing a blue helmet, which marked him as the other team.
Chiron can remember how Chris let the kid run by his side with the flag, and how Clarisse put together her plan so he could take it, being evident to everyone's eyes- but the kid's, probably- that they wanted him to remember his first capture as an Ares' child with happiness. It showed him how much they had grown up.
Although they were still a bit childish, sometimes- Clarisse'll never stop fighting over silly things with Percy, and Chris won't stop helping his younger siblings to prank others campist, that was for sure.
And maybe they weren't the half-bloods that were closer to him, but he saw them growing up. He saw them take hard decisions, make mistakes, and rise once again and carry on.
And he doesn't want to forget them.
Merry Christmas!
(or a late happy Hanukkah, I suppose)
And an early Happy new year!