The Questioning

I didn't have a dream when I fell asleep, but I didn't need to, I already thought I knew what lay ahead: we had to find Athena, and bring her back to Olympus.

I woke up still lying on the bench, a group of campers, were shaking my shoulder, probably wanting me to leave so they could get some practice time in.

But as I looked up, I saw a bunch of kids that looked so much like Annabeth, I figured she cloned herself, and then I saw that they were just her siblings. They all had worried expressions on their faces that told me Annabeth had a story to tell.

I saw Sophia in the small crowd; she was out front, and also the leader of the cabin behind Annabeth. I looked at her, "Can I help you?" I asked.

"We want to know what's up with our sister." She said.

"I'd gladly tell you Sophia," I said, "But I know that is some way or another, all of you are armed."

"I promise, we aren't." she said. "Annabeth just told us you knew what's wrong."

"I do, but I'm not the one to ask, she is."

"So just tell us." She pressured.

"Did she tell you to come ask me for the answer or did she just say that I knew what's going on?" I asked.

"She doesn't want us to know."

I sighed, "So listen to her."

Sophia rolled her eyes and walked out of the arena, everyone else followed.

I figured now was a good time to talk to Annabeth again.

I spent the next fifteen minutes searching the entire camp for her, but she was nowhere to be found. Then, I had an idea.

I rushed into my cabin, and went into the bathroom. I opened a window and took out a golden drachma from my pocket. Next, I closed my eyes and willed the sink to spray a mist of water towards the open window. Seconds later, a rainbow appeared.

I raised the coin above my head, "Iris, goddess of the rainbow, show me where Annabeth Chase is." I tossed the coin in the mist and it disappeared. In place of the gold, was a scene that I recognized well, the beach just inside the camp borders; I never checked there, because I knew Annabeth wouldn't go there without me, much less to think alone. Then, I saw Annabeth, sitting in front of a sand dune, staring out at the waves. I couldn't see her face, but I knew it was her. I was silent, as I cut off the connection and slipped outside my cabin.

I half walked, half ran down to the beach. I saw Annabeth sitting there, and walked up behind her. She noticed me, turned around, stared at me for half a second, and turned again back to face the waves.

She took a deep, shaky breath, "You told them, didn't you?" she asked.

"No," I said, "I didn't, but I can't believe you wouldn't."

"It doesn't involve them." She said, almost snapping at me.

I took a seat next to her. "She's their mom too. It involves them as much as it does you."

She turned to look at me, "If you knew what was going on, you would know that it's not for everyone to know."

"They're your brothers and sisters, Annabeth; they deserve to know what's going on."

"I know that, Percy." She said, "But none of them can handle it."

"You could barely handle it." I said, "You were sitting around by yourself for a week, crying, and complaining and no one else knew what the problem was until last night."

"I don't need this." Annabeth said as she stood up hastily, stomped her foot on the ground, and turned around towards the camp.

"You need someone to talk to about it."

"I need my mom!" Annabeth shouted.

Now under certain circumstances, when someone said that, I would have cracked a smile or something, but with Annabeth, I knew what she meant, and I also knew why she wanted to keep it between us. She thought that by telling her siblings, it would arise to be like the council, arguments and yelling, just what Athena doesn't need.

I sighed again, "C'mon Annabeth."

She wouldn't even stop walking, "Shut up Percy, if all you're going to do is pressure me into telling them, and possibly destroying Olympus, then I don't want to see you ever again!"

She stormed off. I let her go; I knew firsthand what making her angry could do.

I stayed at the beach for a long while, staring out at the water that seemed to rock the world back and forth. My dad was out there somewhere, I hadn't seen him in the longest time, and part of me thought, a prayer wouldn't hurt.

I stood and walked into the waves up to my knees. "Hey Dad," I said, "Something's not right on Olympus, Athena is leaving and I want to get her back on her throne. Anything to get Annabeth back to her regular self; it's not right for anyone, including you. Ignore the rivalry; she's your family so help get her back so things will settle back down. Athena's not someone any of you want as an enemy."

I stepped out of the waves, completely dry as usual, but I still felt something was weighing me down.

I went back to the camp, feeling the same as I had leaving it. Anticipated; something was bothering Annabeth, and it was bothering me too. If Athena was leaving Olympus that means something was going bad; very bad. If the goddess of wisdom leaving power would that make everyone stupid? (Some people couldn't spare the brain cells). Personally, I couldn't either.

When I stepped back into camp grounds, I'd made up my decision. I was going to get Athena back on her throne rather she liked it or not. And Annabeth was going to help me.