Ch4
After getting into some sort of routine at camp Percy was slowly getting used to things. Gripping his sword he blocked Ethan's spear and countered, unlike Luke Ethan was more patient with him and always gave him pointers. Eventually he knocked the spear out of his hand and pointed his sword at him
"Good job. Come on lets get ready for capture the flag," Ethan said as he picked up his spear.
"What's it like?" he asked.
"Oh it can be fun just try not to get hurt," Ethan said as they gathered their things. "Usually us in the Hermes Cabin are canon fodder."
He and Alabaster followed Ethan to the rest of the Hermes Cabin. A bunch of armored demigods were readying their weapons while Luke was talking with Annabeth.
"Hey uh we're here," he said awkwardly
Annabeth looked them over and nodded. "Alright you three guard the river," she said. "The rest of us will be in formation as we get the opposing side's flag."
"Got it," Alabaster said as he took out his cards and began to shuffle them.
With that they quickly went to guard their position by the river. Ethan played with his spear while Alabaster was playing with his cards.
"So what's your mother like?" Alabaster asked.
He looked at the river his heart swelling as he remembered her. "She was the best mother ever and did everything for me. She put up with my animal of a stepdad for me." A part of him was considering asking Alabaster if he knew any revenge spells. "How about yours?"
Alabaster nodded and shuffled his deck. "Hecate always supports her children and makes sure they are prepared for the world." The son of Hecate looked up at him, with his deep green eyes. "I intend to make her proud and let all know of how great she is."
"We all want our parents to recognize us," Ethan muttered.
"There they are!" Clarisse yelled.
Alabaster swore and drew his sword from a card as Ethan gripped his spear. The children of Ares encircled them their arms drawn.
Clarisse pointed her spear at him. "He's mine! The rest of you destroy them!"
"Don't worry I'll try to hold as many of them off as I can," Alabaster said The son of Hecate yelled something in Latin and dust flew at the children of Ares.
That didn't stop Clarisse though, she charged at him with anger in her eyes. He swore and raised his sword but that barely did anything as he was pushed into the water.
"Percy!" Ethan and Alabaster called out to him as they fought off the other children of Ares.
"Hold on!" Alabaster yelled as a child of Ares fell to the ground writhing in pain from one of his spells.
"You'll regret all that you did," Clarisse said as she gripped her spear.
His heart raced as he touched the water he didn't feel afraid, instead he was invigorated. "NO!" It was as if the water reacted to his will, it hit Clarisse knocking her back.
Alabaster and Ethan stared at him in shock as the children of Ares lay on the ground with an assortment of injuries.
The horn blared signaling the end of the game. Soon Annabeth came up to them with a flag in her hands and a cocky grin on her face. He frowned at her. "You did this right? You knew Clarisse and her siblings would come after us."
Annabeth smiled. "Athena always has a plan."
That was when the hairs on his neck stood up. "Percy look out!" Ethan yelled.
He turned around and saw a large demonic dog monster lunge at him only to be shot dead by Chiron.
Taking a step out of the water his strenght weakened and he nearly fell onto his knees. There was a collective gasp from the campers as they stared at him in shock. "Percy above you," Alabaster said as he and Ethan slowly got on their knees.
He looked up and saw a trident over his head. "All hail Percy Jackson son of Poseidon," Chiron said as he bent a knee.
A son of the big three. Alabaster stared at Percy as he sat alone in his new Cabin. The boy did not look happy, in fact he looked as if he had been given the short end of the stick yet again in his life. Mother is this what you wanted me to watch out for?
"Do you need anything else?" Ethan asked.
"No," Percy muttered. "Unless you guys want to move in. I don't mind you can even make an area just for your parents."
There was sincerity in his voice and eyes that struck a chord with him, he knew what it was like to be alone at times. Most of the camp avoided the young son of Poseidon except for him and Ethan.
"Sorry but this cabin doesn't belong to our parents," Ethan said softly. "There are probably some rules against it."
Percy frowned. "But there is so much here and you guys are actually nice to me. I won't tell anyone if you both want to move in."
"Don't worry we'll make sure no one gives you any trouble," He said noticing a crumbled up newspaper at the floor of Percy's bed.
He went to pick it up and saw the headline, it was about Percy and his missing mother and a highlighted telephone number. "Ignis," he muttered as the newspaper burned in his hand. If I find the bastard who sent this I'll personally turn them into a guinea pig and light them on fire.
Percy looked down with a heavy gaze. "Just when I was starting to get used to things here."
"Don't worry we'll be here if you need anything," Ethan said calmly.
The next few days were tense. The weather got worse and only he and Ethan bothered to interact with Percy as the other campers avoided him like the plague. The son of Poseidon always seemed down, not that he blamed him. He tried to cheer him up with some magic tricks but those could only work for so long.
Eventually, Percy was called to the Big House by Grover. The son of Poseidon's face was neutral as he followed the satyr.
"You know things may soon change," Ethan said as they watched Percy go with Grover to the Big House.
"What do you mean?"
Ethan avoided his gaze. "A child of the big three is here that means things are going to change fast and I don't think the status quo for us or our parents will remain the same."
He nodded, there were many paths in this world and he had to be careful. "Me either."
It was then that Luke Castellan came up to him his face gaunt. "Hey you guys doing ok?"
"Yeah just helping Percy out," he said as he looked at the clouds in the sky. "Looks like a storm is coming."
Luke nodded. "Oh it is." The son of Hermes looked around carefully before leaning closer to them. "You know Alabaster you're very talented I know you make your mother proud. It's a shame she isn't recognized."
For some reason he didn't like Luke mentioning his mother. "I'll make sure that changes."
Ethan tensed up as Luke came in closer his gaze betraying coldness. "There are many ways to do that."
He looked up at him. "Such as?"
However, they were interrupted by a familiar satyr. "Um hey Alabaster." Grover came up to them his face tense. "Percy would like to speak to you."
"I'll be right back," he said. Luke and Ethan nodded as he followed Grover into the Big House.
Inside he found Chiron sitting between Percy and Annabeth Chase. The daughter of Athena's face was red her eyes watery as she looked down at the ground her fists clenched.
"Ah Mr. Torrington Percy here has a question for you," Chiron said, his hand on Annabeth's shoulder whose nostrils were flaring.
Percy took a deep breath and looked up at him. "Alabaster I'm going to find Zeus's lost bolt will you come with me."
He stared at him in shock. "M-Me?" I wasn't expecting that. Yeah he and Percy worked together and trained the past few days here but he didn't expect him to be invited to something this big.
Percy's eyes were earnest. "You said you could find my mom and your magic is strong I need you to help me if you want to. Besides this quest could make your mom look good too."
"I'll go," he said immediately. This quest is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Mom I'll show them here and now. If things went well maybe his mother could get some recognition.
Percy smiled. "Great. You and Grover will both come with me."
"Fine! You'll regret this seaweed brain!" Annabeth snapped before storming out of the Big House tears falling down her face.
"What's her deal?" He asked.
Chiron sighed. "She really wanted to go."
Percy frowned and folded his arms. "Well I want Alabaster and Grover to come with me. It's my quest and I choose them."
"Well I suggest you all get ready to go," Chiron said.
That night he found himself in his mother's hall. She turned to him her eyes flickering. "Alabaster you're going on a quest."
He bowed. "Percy Jackson chose me. I'll get the bolt back and make them respect you."
His mother smiled at him. "Things aren't that simple, but I appreciate your effort. I can't interact with you directly on your quest, but I'll make sure no harm befalls you."
His eyes watered. "I love you mom."
"As do I. Be mindful of the enemy and do not close off any paths prematurely," Hecate said as the dream ended.
The next morning he grabbed a sharpie and drew some protective runes on Percy's shirt. "These will protect you."
"Uh good to know," Percy said.
After marking their shirts up they went to load their stuff up in the van. As Percy talked with Chiron and received a pen and a pair of shoes from Luke, he heard a shuffle among the luggage.
He frowned and muttered a spell and the next thing he knew Annabeth Chase flew out of the back seat of the car her hat falling to the ground.
"Annabeth what are you doing?" Chiron sighed.
The daughter of Athena got up her face red as she avoided looking at everyone. "I need to go on this quest, please Chiron."
Chiron shook his head. "Three campers are allowed and Percy chose Alabaster and Grover. Please don't make this difficult."
Percy stepped forward. "I appreciate your help but I made my choice, I'm taking Alabaster and Grover with me."
Annabeth's body shook as she glared at Percy as if he had stolen something from her. "Fine! I don't need you anyway! You'll regret this seaweed brain!" With that she stormed off to her cabin.
Grover sighed. "I hope she doesn't hold a grudge."
Percy shrugged. "Well I chose you and Alabaster." The son of Poseidon turned to him. "Are you ready?"
He took out his cards and shuffled them. "As I'll ever be."
As Ethan Nakamura watched the camp van leave a strange sensation overcame him. It was a mixture of hope and excitement.
The fact that Percy Jackson chose a son of a minor god over a child of the Twelve Olympians was the newest gossip in the camp. Yet among children of the minor gods and those unclaimed like him it was seen as hope. One of them was on probably the most important quest in ages, perhaps things could change?
"You don't honestly think things will change do you?" Luke asked as he rested against a tree.
He frowned. "Nothing ever changes easily." The gods don't change that easily.
Luke chuckled his gaze hard as he came over and patted his shoulder. The son of Hermes leaned over. "This world needs to change one way or another."
"I agree," he said softly. He hated how he and the children of the minor gods were treated like second class citizens here. How his own mother never recognized him.
Luke smiled at him. "I know you can see the truth, don't fall for temporary happiness." The son of Hermes patted is back before leaving him.
He sighed and shook his head as he looked down the dirt road. He's right things won't change easily for people like me. Yet he couldn't deny the small sliver of hope that Alabaster and Percy gave him and the others whether they be the unclaimed demigods like him or the children of minor gods.
As he walked around the camp he decided to sit by the fire pit where a young girl was sitting. "May I join you?"
He didn't recognize the girl but she nodded and handed him a spare stick with a marshmallow on it. "I always enjoy company by the hearth."
Her voice was soft and had a strange maturity to it that didn't match her age. "Thanks." He held is stick over the flame and slowly turned it.
"How are you feeling?" The girl asked.
"Ok I guess," he said. Deep down he had to admit he enjoyed the company of Alabaster and Percy. Come back safely guys. "It isn't easy being a child of a minor god here, we don't even have cabins."
The girl pushed some embers into the flame. "We are a family here and each of us has our own place."
Her words seemed to hit his heart. "But is where is mine? My own mother hasn't even bothered to claim me."
The warmth of the flame seemed to push the bitterness out of him as he watched the flames dance in the hearth.
"Sometimes we can't see the guiding hand of our parents," The girl said calmly. "But they are always watching over us even when we don't know it. All we can do is move forward with our lives and find happiness."
He ate his marshmallow not knowing what to say. Happiness. If only I knew what it was that would make me happy. But deep down he knew the answer, if only his mother had some respect and recognized him.
