As soon as Hermione was knocked out, the force binding Annabeth broke. She took a deep, calming breath as she flexed her stiff limbs. She seemed scared, but unhurt. Relied, I pulled her into a tight embrace. 'P-Percy… "She whispered into my ear, her voice trembling. 'I-I don't know w-what happened. T-there was nothing holding me, but I-I couldn't m-move." I could feel her shaking on my shoulder. "It's okay, your fine now" I reassured her, planting a soft kiss on her cheek.
"Uh, guys," said Connor, "I hate to interrupt but I think we have a few pressing matters to deal with before we go on to the warm fuzzy stuff" he said gesturing to the limp figures of Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
"We have to see Chiron" said Annabeth, collecting herself and pulling away.
When we staggered out of the forest, we first saw Chiron in his full horse form, pacing back and forth nervously. When he saw us, his worried face broke out with relief. He trotted over to us and began asking the questions I expected,
"Percy, Annabeth, where were you!? Its hours past the curfew, what were you-"
He stopped short as he noticed Connor and Travis coming out of the forest, supporting the three unconscious bodies.
"We can explain, Chiron!" said Annabeth,
"They appeared in the woods!" I said,
'We were listening to what they were saying"
"Then they attacked and-"
Chiron held up a hand to silence our rambling, and after a moment of studying the teenagers, he turned to us.
"Percy, Annabeth, Travis, take these three to the Big House and locks them on the third floor, be sure to take all of their weapons from them. Connor, call off the search and tell all the cabin councilors to gather in the big house for a meeting. I will meet you there shortly." He trotted off towards the forest, no doubt to see if there were any searchers still in there.
'See you in a bit." Said Connor, dumping the bodies of Ron and Hermione on Annabeth and me. We set off towards the big house.
Fifteen minutes later, when the intruders were safely disarmed and locked away, Travis, Annabeth and I headed down one flight of stairs to the ping pong table where all the councilors had already assembled for a meeting.
As soon as we sat down, all eyes were on Annabeth and me. "Percy, Annabeth," said Chiron, "I think you owe us all an explanation" I took a deep breath in, and began to explain everything.
One detailed story later, everyone was completely quiet around the ping-pong table, processing what they had just been told and staring at the three sticks we had taken from Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Clarisse was the first to speak up,
'Well what are we waiting for, kill those three. They're dangerous and they know about the camp!" she said.
"But from what Percy and Annabeth said, I don't think they meant any harm." Diana Jones, daughter of Demeter piped up. "They just came by accident by the looks of it."
"What I'm interested in is how mortals got past the borders, which should be impossible!" said Connor.
"They aren't mortals' said Annabeth, "They wouldn't have been able to do this stuff with their magic-sticks if they were."
Everyone suddenly went quiet as a loud thump and a groan could be heard from above us.
"It appears our visitors are awake." Said Chiron
'Should we go question them" said the councilor of Appolo's cabin.
"of course not," said Chiron, 'they'll never talk if we interrogate them, but they will talk amongst themselves."
'Eavesdropping," I thought, now that's something I was good at.