Author's note: It's been such a long time since I've last updated, I know, but I was having a little trouble with deciding whose point of view to write for this chapter. I also got caught up with my other fanfic, "Family Ties", and life in general. I'll try really hard this time to update more frequently!
Rachel
It's been a little more than a week since we left Camp Half-Blood, and I think I'm starting to doubt Leo's skills with the Argo II. He says he knows what he's doing, but I can see dismay even in Jason and Piper's eyes.
At lunch today, I sat with Annabeth and Thalia. Both looked stressed. Annabeth's grey eyes were glimmering in fear, and I noticed a bit of shade under Thalia's as she slumped over her platter of food.
"I think we may end up at Camp Jupiter in a matter of days," I told them, trying to break the ice.
"I think I might die of exhaustion. I got absolutely no sleep last night," Thalia groaned tiredly.
"I'm just worried about how our little rendezvous will play out," Annabeth sighed, picking at her salad. "We have no clue what the Romans are like."
"I'm sure things will turn out just fine, Annabeth. I've seen it; it'll be okay."
"We can't be so sure," Thalia warned, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. "Jason's memory of them isn't so stable yet, still. We don't have the full picture."
"Thalia's right, Rachel. Even though you're the Oracle and all, I wouldn't risk assuming anything just yet," Annabeth pointed out.
I wanted to protest, but you couldn't argue with a daughter of Athena, especially when she's tired and stressed. "I suppose so. The future could easily change in the blink of an eye."
Later that afternoon, as I was meditating in my cabin, I heard a knock on the door. "Come in," I said.
"Rachel, we're at Camp Jupiter," came Piper's voice from behind me.
I nodded. "Tell Annabeth I'll be right there," I told her as I stood up and turned to face her.
An expression of panic passed over her face. "Uh… Annabeth… she isn't doing okay, Rachel. She's gone crazy, and I don't know what to do. The Romans are getting impatient; they want to meet our leader," she rambled as I walked beside her down the corridor to Annabeth's cabin.
"Relax, Piper. I can handle this. You go out to the beach and tell them that we'll be right out," I reassured her.
She hesitated for a second, but then complied. I turned back to the door and cautiously opened it.