A/N: hi! Long time no write but finally I am finally back! Thank you so much for all the sweet comments and for reading this. It means a lot! I'm so glad you are enjoying. Now onward on for the fun.

TW- swearing/slur mention (the word is not finished), Misogyny

Drew was numb. There was no other explanation for it.

It might have been better to feel something. Then she would know she existed. Then she could have mourned properly.

Drew barely remembered the funeral. They had held one for everyone. She vaguely remembered being asked to say anything. Her voice hadn't worked then. She'd just watched as her hand lit the pyre. Her sister had been so small. Her sister had been so still.

Drew didn't remember the rest of the evening.

Her siblings did their best to care for her. They checked on her. They asked her useless questions about her feelings.

She smiled and laughed at their jokes. They knew her laughter was hollow. They gave her space.

All she had left was the simple sketchbook Drew had bought for her sister and the ax that had stolen her life (she couldn't seem to let it go). It was a poor replacement.

Drew hid the sketchbook in her bunk. She didn't need to see the image of her cabin whole and smiling her sister had sketched in the front.

She didn't hurt. She just felt numb.

They had a new sibling. Mitchell was claimed shortly after. Drew wished she had more energy to care as they took his stuff from the Hermes cabin to his new home.

"Drew's still mourning," Drew heard Alina explain to him once. "She's normally really sweet."

"We all lost people though."

Not everything was dull though. Capture the Flag was a new form of terrifying.

Sure, their cabin's reputation for sunbathing and gossiping meant most people left them alone. But apparently, some Ares kid decided it was a good idea to come to them to "protect" them. Normally Silena would deal with it, but she'd gone off with Annabeth in the hopes of asking Charlie Beckendorf out to the July Fourth fireworks. To be clear, they'd all agreed it was fine. A new sibling notwithstanding, their cabin was in dire need of something good happening. Drew had hoped some responsibility would snap her out of her funk.

Her siblings were busy gossiping and doing midday touch-ups when the Ares camper appeared behind them. He casually grabbed Drew's shoulder.

"Evening ladies," he sneered clearly ignoring Terry and Michelle (Chad was still getting used to his leg brace and had been allowed to sit out) "How's it go-"

Drew froze and then her instincts took over. She grabbed his arm and flipped him over her shoulder.

He flew.

He crashed on the other side of the river.

Oops, she'd put in more strength than she'd meant to.

"What?" he yelped. "I was trying to help."

There was a ridiculously loud taxi whistle.

"Solace! We're supposed to be hiding."

"Oops!"

"You bi-"

That comment was cut off by a volley of well-placed arrows.

"Hey, cursing is way out of line, no matter how painful the rejection," an Apollo camper reprimanded.

"You alright with us just like capturing your ally like this?" The demigod Drew assumed was Solace asked.

Drew snorted and gave him a thumbs up.

"Sweet," a young, fresh-faced demigod with blonde hair and blue eyes (like most of his siblings) dropped from his tree. His head counselor (wasn't it now Michael Yew?) dropped behind him. There were still half a dozen Apollo campers in the trees.

Drew gave a salute.

"Clarisse will have words about this—"

"That you got beaten by a single Aphrodite girl?" Terry hooted. "I sure hope she will."

Drew felt warm. Her siblings were safe. She'd protected them. They were safe.

"What would the odds that you won't tell your teammates we're here?" Michael asked.

The entire Aphrodite cabin let out a chorus of laughs. Drew joined in.

They'd spotted the entire cabin thirty minutes prior in their approach and passed it on to the Athena messenger who dropped by. Being known for gossiping and makeup was a good excuse for the telling rises and falls in their pitches that marked whether they saw a demigod approaching (not that they wouldn't have gossiped either way. It was a great way to stay on top of rumors and their siblings' lives). It also led to their opponents being far less cautious though either way, Alina, Bria, and Georgina were excellent at catching flashes of fabric in trees no matter how well camouflaged.

Michael Yew blushed. "Will Solace, if we lose, I will blame it on your whistle."

Will gave a bright smile. "I'm not sorry. That was so cool! If that's what we really lose over… it was worth it."

There was something about him that reminded him of her sister. Maybe it was the way he seemed so earnest. The way he'd made her feel like finally, she'd done some good.

Drew's smile was still earnest when Silena jogged back to them, color on her cheeks, to let them know they'd both won, and she'd finally gotten a date.

It was the perfect day. Drew almost felt normal. Her siblings were happy and safe. That would have to do for now.

A/N: Thank you so much for reading! As always thoughts and comments are always welcome.