AN 9/12/15: Full closing note at the bottom.
I decided to stay in the Big House while Percy, Annabeth, and Grover left so as to not gain unwanted attention; I hadn't been an official member of the quest anyways, and that's how I wanted it. I didn't want any attention to set me apart from anyone else, it is easier to stay under the radar that way. After the mob that surrounded the trio thinned out I slipped off quietly to the sidelines. The three of them all were given laurel wreaths to wear to a big feast that was being prepared in their honor. I silently dreaded the cleanup for that, but I had to do it even if I didn't like it. I had technically snuck out.
I took some food and ate on the Big House porch during the feast to avoid a lot of attention and after we convened onto the bonfire to burn the shrouds made in the quest's honor. Chiron let me start my two weeks cleanup tomorrow for the sake of participating and I had let out a sigh of relief that I wouldn't be cleaning up the mess the campers made. The Ares cabin especially had food scraps littered by their table and not surprisingly a steak knife sticking out of the wood for whatever reason.
The shrouds were polar opposites: Annabeth's was beautiful while Percy's was a joke. The Ares cabin had made sure it was as disrespectful (especially had it been put to use) and stupid as possible.
It wasn't until after we had burned the shrouds and were having s'mores that Luke noticed I was back. He came up to me as I pulled my marshmallow out of the fire and pulled me aside. My hand twitched when he put his hand on my shoulder to get my attention but I made sure to act normally.
He asked me about where I had disappeared to, and there was a slight undertone in his voice that indicated that he probably already knew, but he asked anyways. I told him some lie about trying to track down Sally and Percy sending me an IM once he got back to the city to tell me he found her. It wasn't a complete lie, the rest of the quest group knew to say that too as we had all decided before leaving the Big House. It's not like he was telling me all his secrets either. I had been partially searching for her too, my main objective had just been to keep them alive. I was going to be assigned more chores for sneaking out of camp but I told him Chiron already had that covered. He looked a little miffed about not giving me extra chores, but after a warning not to wander off again he went back to the fire.
Grover was awarded his searcher's license from the Council of Cloven Elders after they held a meeting upon his arrival back to camp. Dionysus's welcome-home speech was very unenthusiastic, given a war had been stopped, but I didn't bother fussing with it. It's not like I could make him start caring about that type of thing, he was just in his own little world. Cleanup wasn't too bad either, if you didn't count the gross bits of condiments left around the Ares table.
I was still residing in the Hermes cabin while Percy was in cabin three, so when he got a letter from Sally it was sent to him first, but it was also addressed to me. I left my crafts time to read it with him, even though I was really into a clay pot I was making. I totally hadn't been subtly using my powers to work the clay better either.
To say I was happy about the letter was an understatement. Sally had gone through with turning Gabe to stone and got rid of him. She even got some money out of it, some weird art collector had bought it. That night I made sure to send a mental message to my father in my offering about Gabe. I knew he had received it from the slight smell of pomegranates and flicker of the fire I got in response. Nobody really noticed but it was just the sign I needed to know he had gotten my message. At the bottom of the letter Sally even included a bit about a new possible school in the city we could go to. I was glad it was in the city, this way we could remain closer, and this time without Gabe in the picture.
One night after the bonfire I snuck into the Big House to wait for Chiron. We needed to talk about what happened on the quest. We ended up staying up late that night talking about it. We both knew that hadn't been the last we would see of Kronos and we were both on edge. After this quest, what Atropos showed me scared me even more. It just proved that that was not the last time Kronos would be involved in something.
I didn't tell him my suspicions about Luke though, something was holding me back. I did tell him that the voice I had heard in my dreams was familiar from someone in camp though. I hadn't wanted Chiron to worry as much, the guy had enough things to worry about as it was, even if I trusted him to act like normal around Luke. I didn't want to risk anything. I had enough of an excuse to watch him, him being my cabin leader, but if Luke was the traitor, he would already be on the lookout. I made sure to pick up a spare knife to replace the steel one I had given to Bianca from the armory shortly after returning also, along with a replacement sword I used around camp.
I tried asking him about Nick but I was met with no set answer. He kept annoyingly avoiding the topic with a wary look on his face. Anytime after that when I tried to ask him he just kept avoiding it.
As the Fourth of July celebration grew closer I found myself eagerly awaiting the show. I hadn't seen the show in years, and with the progressions the Hephaestus cabin would have made in that time, the show would be even more spectacular. I used to love watching it with Nick when we were in camp for the event. It used to be a time when we could just forget about all our worries and just watch the lights in the sky.
I sat with Percy and Annabeth on a picnic blanket by the water on the night of the show. Things had been a bit awkward between Percy and I at times, but we still did our best to make everything seem like normal. Being told the person you grew up with had lived another life was bound to bring up some uneasy moments.
Annabeth had just been explaining the show to Percy when Grover approached us.
"I'm off, I just came to say.. well, you know."
I felt a bit sad about him leaving on his search, I had grown close to my new furry friend ever since we met at Yancy. He was closer to Percy, of course, but I still liked to think of him as a good friend. Heck, he was one of four people that knew the truth about me. Annabeth gave him a hug and I gave him a one-armed one. I also made sure to whisper in his ear: "If you need me, I will be there as fast as I can shadow travel there. I am just an I-M away. Stay safe Grover."
He nodded but I knew he probably wouldn't want a daughter of the Lord of the Dead to help him on his search for the god of the Wild, i.e. living things. Satyrs were supposed to do it on their own really too, but I would still try to help him if he got stuck in a tough situation.
"So where are you going first?" Percy asked.
"It's kind of a secret." Grover said and Percy's face took on a slight red tint. I knew satyrs weren't supposed to disclose stuff like that so I hadn't bothered asking.
"We understand. You got enough tin cans for the trip?" Annabeth asked him, straightening the reed pipes that hung around his neck.
"Yeah."
"Glad you remembered to bring your reed pipes."
"Jeez, Annabeth," he grumbled. "You're like an old mama goat." He wasn't really annoyed though, just teasing. He gripped his walking stick and slung his backpack over his shoulder, looking like a satyr on a mission.
"Our little Grover is growing up." I teased, mock putting my hands over my heart.
"I'm over thirty!" Grover protested and I smiled. There was a pause in the conversation, the only sound coming from the campers voices drifting over to our spot.
"Well, wish me luck."
Annabeth gave him another big hug and he clapped Percy on the shoulder while giving me a smile and nod, then he headed back through the dunes.
Just as he was climbing the closest dune the fireworks started exploding offshore. Images of old stories started filling the darkening sky, even some modern ones.
"Hey, Grover." I heard Percy call as I watched the sky in amazement. The show had gotten ten-times better than when I had last seen it. "Wherever you go-I hope they make good enchiladas."
After a few moments Annabeth said, "We'll see him again."
And I really hoped so too, but there was a bad track record for satyrs in his position coming back alive, if at all.
As July came and went, I felt the tension growing. I was sure something was about to happen, my dreams were reassurance enough. I kept seeing conversations between Kronos and his servant talking about tying off loose ends. The one line of the prophecy, "You shall be betrayed by one who calls you a friend." - that still felt incomplete. Ares had never been a friend, so he couldn't have been the one the line spoke of.
On the last night of session this year's bead was announced. At the campfire, the senior counselors awarded the beads. I got a new leather necklace with a pitch black bead that held a sea-green trident at its center.
"The choice was unanimous," Luke announced to the crowd of demigods. "This bead commemorates the first Son of the Sea God at this camp, and the quest he undertook into the darkest part of the Underworld to stop a war!" Technically not the first, but in this generation yeah. I sure hope a war was stopped though.
The entire camp stood and cheered, even the Ares cabin. Annabeth's siblings guided her to the front so she could share in the applause Percy was receiving. She sent me a meaningful look, almost like 'this is for you too'. I smiled back and clapped louder. They looked like they were on the top of the world.
The next morning I found a letter beside my pillow from Dionysus that informed us about our choice for the year. He insisted on calling me Alice Copper, but I didn't really care as long as he didn't call me Ally. That was reserved for a select few people.
I spent my time after wakeup packing my stuff. I didn't have much but I still took the time to pack it all away neatly. The campgrounds were mostly empty, everybody still occupied by packing or getting ready for final inspection. I was jumpier than usual, Connor Stoll knocking over a bedside table causing me to actually jump and reach for my knife. For a child of Hermes, he was pretty clumsy at times.
After I finished with myself I helped some of the other kids in the Hermes cabin move their stuff around. I had grown to know a decent number of them, at least by name and general demeanor. Once my stuff was on the porch of the Big House, new celestial bronze sword included just in case for the school year (I wasn't too keen on lugging that around, it just got in the way, and I didn't want the traitor to know I was expecting something), I wandered the camp grounds. A while into it, as I was sitting under a tree at the edge of the cabins area observing, I got a sudden flash of pain in my head. Then a deep voice said "Go to him." I almost mentally retorted that the pain bit wasn't necessary, but then I smelled a faint ocean breeze. Percy. Any thoughts of answering flew out of my head as I ran to where I last vaguely remembered seeing Percy; the arena. I passed a boy coming up from the forges. Beckendorf. I remembered the name from earlier in the summer.
"Beckendorf! Have you seen Percy anywhere?" I asked his towering figure as I ran up to him.
"Um, I think I saws him and Luke go into the woods. Probably going to kill some last-minute monsters. Why?"
"Thanks!" I ran off in the direction of the woods and I found myself automatically following the trail the creek carved. The ominous feeling kept growing as I leaped over logs and weaved through branches and foliage. You knew something would happen! It's the last day, if he was going to act it would be now, you stupid person! I heard a voice faintly off to my right and I quickly slowed my pace, quieting my steps as to not give away my presence. As I came closer the voices became clearer.
"You're being used, Luke. You and Ares both. Don't listen to Kronos."
"I'm being used?" Luke said, his voice taking a shrill tone. "Look at yourself. What has your dad ever done for you? Kronos will rise. You've only delayed his plans. He will cast the Olympians into Tartarus and drive humanity back into their caves. All except the strongest- the ones who serve him."
I took in the scene within seconds. Luke. Sword. Scorpion. Percy. I burst into the clearing.
"Luke! Stop!" Luke's head snapped to me, sending me a mad look, but I forged on. "Do you really think Kronos will be a better ruler than the Olympians? Have you heard what happened in the Golden Age? Humans were mere entertainment, even more-so than with the gods. Don't do this, call off the bug."
"Well, look who it is. Allison Cooper, Unclaimed. I would expect you of all people to understand where I'm coming from." He approached me, his sword-which I now realized was somehow a mix of celestial bronze and steel-in hand casually. I subtly edged my knife out of its hidden sheathe, ready to grab. I might have the element of surprise with the knife hidden. I was glad I hadn't brought my sword, it would have taken it out of the equation the minute he saw it.
"Kronos told me a bit about you, he thinks you can still be an asset to us, but I don't see it. You don't have any powers, you aren't amazing with a sword , you just ran away when the going got tough, making up some lame excuse about finding Percy's mom. He told me you are apparently from the past, done in by a son of Zeus." He had a malicious smirk as he said that and I ground my teeth. "Kronos said you were growing too strong, he saw what could become the future, but you just seem like a little weak Unclaimed kid. Heck, you probably don't even know who your parent could be. No, I would expect you to want to change things too, not just sit around on the sidelines and be forgotten like the rest, to live in the shadow of someone like Percy. I was going to try to get you to join our cause, but you are too close to the enemy, for now."
"Listen here, kid." I growled. "Just use your brain and think about it. Kronos is using you. He is no better than the gods. What will you accomplish by getting rid of Percy? You know that will just alert everyone to what you're doing, I'll sure as hell make sure of that. If you think I will join your cause- ever - then you are as blind as Kronos. Did he not inform his loyal servant all about me? Or did he skimp on the details, because you know what happened to the last person in your position? Threatening someone I care about? Oh, you had better wish I was some useless unclaimed kid. The last person, that son of Zeus- you know, the son of the King of the Gods? He died, Luke. Painfully. Do not make the same mistake." I felt the shadows starting to inch toward me but I forced them back. If Luke didn't know that I was a child of Hades then I didn't want to take that advantage away. Apparently Kronos hadn't seen fit to inform him about that little detail, so he didn't need to know about all my powers until necessary.
Luke had the gall to laugh. "Right, well feel free to tell them, let them all know. It will just bring more people to flock to the cause if you do. And from my perspective, Ally, you're the kid here." He looked back to Percy. "As for now though, this is goodbye, Percy. A new Golden Age is coming. You won't be a part of it." He made to slash with his sword and I whipped out my knife and launched it at him. It managed to catch him in his shoulder, digging into it and causing him to yell as he disappeared in a ripple of darkness. The scorpion had lunged. Percy uncapped his sword and cut it in half midair, but it was too late. His palm already had a huge welt on it from when he swatted it, oozing and smoking.
"Damn it! Percy, we need to get to Chiron, right now! Come on, we need to go!" I ran to him and gabbed his arm, heart still racing from the run over and the tense situation. Percy reached into the water from the creek and tried to feebly heal himself but this type of venom apparently couldn't be healed with water alone.
"Pit scorpion, sixty seconds..." I heard him mutter.
"Sixty seconds, what do you mean sixty seconds? Is that how long it takes to effect you?" He nodded slightly, his eyes unfocused. Change of plans.
"Okay, Percy. You are going to be okay. I will get you to the Big House, just hang in there and brace yourself." He nodded vaguely again but I could tell the venom was already tearing violently through his system. I wrapped my arms around him and pooled all my energy together to get us both to the Big House through the shadows. I felt a slight rush and I pulled the shadow of a nearby bush to us and it engulfed us. I felt my energy draining, but not as badly as it had on the night of the Minotaur attack. I focused in on the Big House and we landed on the back porch.
"CHIRON!" I shouted, stumbling from the sudden loss of energy and Percy's now dead weight. He was bad, the venom was strong and he was green, turning grey at this point. I felt his life aura weakening as he slumped even further, passing out entirely. I felt panic start to take over once I felt the jump in his aura.
"CHI-" I started to shout, even louder now.
"Yes, Allison? What-" He asked as he came out the back door and onto the porch but stopped short when he saw the scene.
"Venom, pit scorpion, Kronos, Luke." I rushed out, black spots dancing in my vision and the world feeling like it was spinning. A look of fearful comprehension came over Chiron's face as Annabeth rushed out from the same door.
"Annabeth, take Allison and give her nectar." He then rose from his wheelchair, scooped Percy up from my grasp, and ran off with him to the infirmary.
"Allison, what happened? What's wrong with Percy?" Annabeth asked. I caught myself on the railing, my vision going black for a moment and I felt Annabeth grab my arm to steady me.
"Shadow traveled with Percy, need nectar." I told her out of breath. She helped me into the Big House and laid me down on the couch. My stomach was twisting into knots from the big power use. Annabeth ran to the kitchen and I heard her take out a glass and fill it. I screwed my eyes shut to stop the spinning but I still felt it. Annabeth hurried back into the room. I was barely staying awake when she put the straw into my mouth. I started to drink but had to push it aside to gag for a moment. My stomach hadn't felt like this in ages. I forced myself to take a long drink from the glass though despite my turbulent stomach and I started to feel more alert, the edge being taken off. The world stopped spinning and my vision cleared slowly. After almost half a glass Annabeth pulled it away. I had started getting warm so it was a good idea for her to stop me.
"Better? What happened? Come on, are you able to get up? We need to go to Chiron to see if Percy is okay." I felt immensely tired but I made myself stand. I took a moment to get steadied then nodded to Annabeth.
"Will explain soon." She nodded and we rushed out of the Big House and ran to the infirmary.
We burst inside to see Chiron working on Percy. He was gathering different medicines and herbs as Percy's hand lay in a small contraption, draining the welt on his hand by the look of it.
"Chiron, will he be okay?" I asked as we quickly made our way over to them.
"I believe so, I have stabilized him. Now it is just a matter of expelling the venom from his system." He said as he went to grab something from anther pouch. I sat down on the bed next to Percy's and closed my eyes for a moment. I didn't want to think about the slight awkwardness between Chiron and I either ever since he persisted to avoid my questions.
"Allison, what happened to him?" Annabeth asked nervously, cutting looks between me and Percy.
"We were in the woods, a pit scorpion got him." Was all I said for the time being. I was too busy trying to keep my head up to explain further. Chiron already knew the important stuff.
"Allison, sleep. You've drained yourself." I heard Chiron say. I felt the pull on my mind to sleep but I wanted to stay awake to see if Percy would be okay. His life aura was a bit stronger now, but still weaker than I would like. I was glad I was able to stay awake this long in the first place. It was almost like when my father had lent me energy to travel back up to the beach where Ares was, he uncorked a kind of cap on my energy reserves and powers. Like they had been suppressed.
"Allison, do as Chiron says. I will wake you up if anything changes. Promise." Annabeth told me as she sat down on the end of the bed.
"Fine, but wake me up immediately." I relented and rested my head against the wall. It took only moments to fall asleep.
"Allison, he's waking up! Get up." I felt Annabeth shaking me. I groggily turned to face her and sat up more, blinking to clear my eyes. We were in a different place now. Somehow, while I was asleep, we moved to a bedroom in the Big House. Annabeth was sitting on the edge of Percy's bed next to him and was holding a glass of nectar. After seeing I was awake her other hand picked up a damp washcloth and went to dab his forehead. Chiron was in his wheelchair at the end of the bed. I absently went to put my knife away, used to having it out by this point if I was woken up, but then I remembered it had left with Luke. I felt my mouth twitch into a smile, I hoped that hurt.
As Percy opened his eyes he took in the scene. "Here we are again."
"You idiot," Annabeth said, but her voice was filled with relief. "If it weren't for Chiron's healing.."
"Now, now," Chiron said from his spot. "Percy's constitution deserves some of the credit. How are you feeling?" Chiron looked slightly drained and a bit paler than usual.
"Like my insides have been frozen, the microwaved."
"Apt, considering that was pit scorpion venom. Now you two must tell us, if you can, exactly what happened." He looked between us.
"Hey, I came late to the party." Was all I said and Percy sent me a look, muttering something about how that was totally not a party. Between sips of nectar he told us up until I came in, then I took it from there, considering he was out of it by the end. Some of the things Percy told us Luke said though were very troubling. Then a thought struck me, this was just the beginning. This whole quest just felt like a kicking off point for worse to come.
"I can't believe that Luke.." Annabeth's voice faltered and her expression turned angry and sad. "Yes, yes I can believe it. May the gods curse him. He was never the same after his quest."
"I suspected that he could have been Kronos's insider ever since the Underworld and the run-in with the pit, but this just confirms it." I said.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Annabeth asked, looking a little miffed.
"Would you have believed me? He planted those shoes on the quest to drag whoever wore them into Tartarus with the bolt once we got close."
"I guess you're right, but I'm still not happy about this."
"This must be reported to Olympus," Chiron murmured. "I will go at once."
"Poseidon already knows, he was the one that told me to find Percy. Either way, Luke won't be doing anything for a bit with that knife I put in his shoulder." I muttered. Annabeth looked at me wide eyed. "Hey! He was trying to kill Percy. I just so happened to have a knife with me, and I have decent aim. He was ticking me off, too."
"It doesn't matter, he will heal himself. I can't just sit here!" Percy said angrily, trying to sit up more.
Chiron shook his head. "No, Percy. The gods-"
"Won't even talk about Kronos." He snapped, and I agreed, but he was not in any condition to run out and hunt Luke down. "Zeus declared the matter closed!"
"Percy, this isn't the time for that. You aren't ready." I told him.
"And you are?"
"Well, I am better suited for it than you right now, frankly."
"Percy, I know this is hard. But you must not rush out for vengeance. As Allison said, you are not ready."
Percy looked ready to protest, but then backed down. "Chiron.. the prophecy from the Oracle.. it was about Kronos, wasn't it? Was I in it? Annabeth, Allison?" This sparked my interest. Chiron had only mentioned that there was a prophecy of some type to me before the quest started. I don't know how something like that could slip my mind, but it did. I made a mental note to ask him about it.
Chiron glanced nervously at the ceiling. "Percy, this is not the place-"
"You've been ordered not to talk to me about it, haven't you?" And the plot thickens.
Chiron's eyes were sympathetic yet sad. "You will be a great hero, child. I will do my best to prepare you. But if I'm right about the path ahead of you, both of you.." He added with a glance at me.
Thunder boomed, rattling the windows.
"All right!" Chiron shouted and I jumped. It was unusual for him to shout. "Fine!" He sighed in frustration. "The gods have their reasons, Percy. Knowing too much about your future if never a good thing."
"Chiron, with all due respect, he's right. We can't just sit back and do nothing." I told him.
"We will not sit back," he promised. "But you must be careful. Kronos wants you to come unraveled. He wants your life disrupted, your thoughts clouded with fear and anger. Don't give him what he wants. Train patiently. Your time will come."
"Assuming I live that long." Percy muttered.
"Chiron, he would honestly have to try harder to get me, and I will keep him from getting to Percy."
"Be that as it may," he said as he put a hand on Percy's ankle. "You'll have to trust me. You will live. But first you must decide your path for the coming year. I cannot tell you the right choice.." But I could tell he wanted Percy and I to stay, yet he was refraining himself from outright saying so. Wherever Percy went, I would too. "But you must decide whether to stay at Camp Half-Blood year-round, or return to the mortal world for seventh grade and be a summer camper. Think on that. When I get back from Olympus, you must tell me your decisions. I will be back as soon as I can," Chiron promised. "Argus will watch over you."
He then looked to Annabeth. "Oh, and, my dear.. whenever you're ready, they're here.."
"Who's here?" Percy asked but neither answered. Chiron rolled himself out of the room and out of the Big House. Annabeth was studying the ice in Percy's drink as we sat in silence for a few moments.
"What's wrong?" Percy finally asked.
"Nothing." She set his glass on the table. "I.. just took your advice on something. You.. um.. need anything?"
"Yeah. Help me get up. I want to go outside."
"Percy, that isn't a good idea." But he slid his legs out of bed anyway. I jumped to catch him as did Annabeth on his other side before he could fall. He looked almost ready to throw up.
"I told you." Annabeth said.
"I'm fine." He insisted. He managed a step forward, then another. He was still leaning heavily on us. Argus followed us outside but kept his distance.
By the time we reached the porch Percy's face was beaded with sweat. He looked even more ready to throw up than before, but we made it to the railing. It was dusk now and the camp looked deserted. The cabins were dark and the volleyball put unusually silent. No campers were in sight. The light danced off the surface of the water beyond the strawberry fields and woods.
"What are you going to do?"
"I don't know." He said as I held my tongue. I knew it would be best to stay here and train more, he had just started this after all. But knowing him he would want to be out there with everyone else. He mentioned his hunch about what Chiron's preference was, but he didn't really want that.
"What are you thinking, Ally?" He asked, tuning to me.
"I'm fine with either. I'll just go wherever you go."
Annabeth pursed her lips once he mentioned leaving her alone here, then said quietly, "I'm going home for the year, Percy."
"You mean to your dad's?"
She pointed to the crest of the hill, and next to the tree at the very edge of the camp boarders stood a family. Two little boys, one woman, and a tall man with blonde hair that caught the late light. They were waiting for her, the man holding the backpack Annabeth had gotten at Waterland. So this is what she meant.
Not long after we got back from the quest Annabeth had come up to me and asked what my take was on giving people second chances. I told her to go with her gut, but I didn't know she was talking about her father.
"I wrote him a letter when we got back," She explained. "Just like you suggested. I told him.. I was sorry. I'd come home for the school year if he still wanted me. He wrote back immediately. We decided.. we'd give it another try."
"That took guts, Annabeth. I'm proud of you." I told her, clapping her on the shoulder as Percy nodded.
She pursed her lips though. "You won't try anything stupid during the school year, will you? At least.. not without sending me an Iris-message? Allison, will you make sure of that?"
I nodded while Percy smiled. "I won't go looking for trouble. I usually don't have to."
"Isn't that the truth." I said under my breath.
"What was that, Ally?" Percy asked.
"Nothing."
Annabeth rolled her eyes, but then her face turned serious. "When I get back next summer, we'll hunt down Luke. We'll ask for a quest, but if we don't get approval, we'll sneak off and do it anyway. Agreed?"
"Sounds like a plan worthy of Athena." Percy said and I smiled. It sounded just like some of the stuff Nick and I used to pull. It still surprises me to this day that Chiron never put us under cabin arrest.
She held out her hand and Percy shook it.
"Take care, Seaweed Brain. Keep your eyes open."
"You too, wise girl."
"Aw, you two are so cute." I teased, earning a whack. Annabeth rolled her eyes again, her face slightly red, but gave me a hug. "Stay safe, will you? Keep him safe too." She said in my ear and passed me a drachma. "Message me sometime." I nodded and she stepped away. We watched her walk up the hill to join her family. She gave her father an awkward hug and looked back at the valley one last time. She touched Thalia's pine tree, then allowed herself to be lead over the hill and into the mortal world.
After a minute or so Percy spoke, half to himself. "The sea does not like to be restrained."
"What?"
"Just something my father said. I think I made my decision. I want to go home." I nodded.
"That's what I thought you would do. I'm already packed up."
He then asked Argus to help me assist him down to his cabin so he could pack. I grabbed my bag from the porch and we were off.
Sometime later while I laid on his bed as he organized his stuff I had to grin.
"I still can't believe you were bribed by caffeine, dude."
"Shut up."
"The soda wasn't even blue."
I got nailed in the face with a shirt and I smiled even more. Even with all this stuff, Percy was still Percy.
Story Closing Note: First, I want to say sorry for any errors, typos, or things of that nature. It is currently a bit past four in the morning for me as I am posting/writing this. First off I would like to thank you guys for being so awesome and supportive. I won't say names aside from some of you who reviewed recently, but you know who you are, and you truly made this experience so gratifying. To Life is ANIME 22: I am so glad I could provide a story like that for you! The concept to me too is also kinda cool, which is why I wrote about it. But thank you, your comment whenever I look at it always makes me smile. I really appreciate the support. To Paper Kaine: You rock dude, through and through. You have been such a great person to help, read, and bounce some things off of. I can't thank you enough. You were one of the first people to really make me feel like this was so great. Even if I do not mention you by name here, know that I really appreciate what feedback you have given, whether it be a favorite, follow, or review. Now, tying in with Neo gen x's comment-
Information about the next book:
I am still writing it, I have had some bouts of writers block, and I do not wish to start posting if I am not confident I can provide weekly updates that are up to standard. Going along with that though, given how there will be some "break" time between Book 1 and Book 2, I have decided to do something to help that wait time, which I think I will continue. I will occasionally post little bits of writing. They will be almost like one-shots, but they tie into the story. It will be like things that are happening with the characters between the books and their adventures. You may be thinking, oh they will be just "fluff" or "filler" things, but I plan on including some plot developments that set the stage for the next book. I do not currently do not know how often I will be posting these, or the time-spans between their postings, but they will come. I don't want to leave you awesome people stranded.
For the second book though, I will say it will be an adventure in its own right, that's for sure. It will deviate more from the canon plot than I was able to do for "A New Life". If you have any questions or comments, or if you are reading this after this is all posted, feel free to send me a message if you have any questions, or things in that nature. I am always up for reading what you guys have to say. This was a bit of a monster-type chapter, reaching 5,888 without the notes.
In summary: Thank you for being awesome. Getting feedback and posting this has been a great experience, and you guys made it that way. For one last hurrah I would love to know your thoughts on your experience reading and your overall thoughts on the book so I can improve for the future. I hope you have a good start of your school year, and until next time: Stay safe and continue being amazing!