I spent half of the time out on this break not outlining. But y'know we got there eventually.

Slightly different style for my writing. I practiced a bit.

Enjoy!

Silena drags her fingers across the pines across the Camp Half-Blood's border. The armor on her head and shoulder sits too heavy and too big on her. The nearly-summer sun beats on the back of her neck, and little insects bite at her heels.

The trees are still feeling the lingering effects of spring. The leaves are thriving, and their stems are still moist from early morning rain.

Except Thalia's tree of course.

Its leaves are more yellow than green, the wood is decaying and it's only been a few weeks.

Clarisse huffs as they finish the rotation. It's almost like she's disappointed that there weren't any monsters around to fight.

Silena removes her helmet. She rights her hair and puts her sword back in its sheath, awkwardly fumbling around her cast.

Clarisse looks at her. "Are you okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" Silena asks.

"You've got dark circles. Like, 'goth eyeliner' dark circles."

"Oh."

She rubs at her eyes with her one good arm.

Then there is a rustle.

Her sword comes right back out. Clarisse's spear hums. The smell of ozone flows into the air.

Another rustle. And the birds around scatter.

Clarisse grins maniacally. Silena swallows harshly. Clarisse will be fine, that she can count on. Herself though… She's not the best fighter. Nowhere close, really.

A mess of limbs breaks past the tree, moving at a speed faster than she can react. They land on the ground behind them and start rolling down the hill towards the big house.

"What in Hades?" Clarisse says.

The thing tussles down the hill like a tire, and she hears the noise of cursing and frantic movements until they've reached the bottom.

Lee Fletcher from the Apollo cabin doesn't notice the thing until it reaches him at the bottom and he screams so loud, Silena can hear it.

"What kind of monster looks like that?"

Silena stares. "Is this just me or were they… flying?"

Clarisse looks at her. "What?"

"Their trajectory. It was, well, from the sky."

Clarisse says nothing and they race down the hill. At the bottom, the mess of limbs has turned into two people.

The closer one is a blonde-haired and blue-eyed child younger than her or Clarisse, with scar on his bottom chin and a tattoo draping his forearm.

The other is Naruto. Blonde-haired and blue-eyed, younger than her or Clarisse with a relatively fresh cut on his forehead, and a set of tattoo-like marks on his cheeks.

Brothers?

Nah.

They share nothing else really. She can tell too. Her mom is Aphrodite.

Naruto rises to his feet first. "Holy shit Jason. Brake next time."

"Sorry," the other kid says, "I'm still figuring this whole thing out."

The guy's shirt is purple. The guy's shirt reads Camp Jupiter.

"What the hell is going on?" Clarisse demands.

"Oh," Naruto says. "Hey guys!"

He waves at them.

"This is Jason," he introduces. He props the other guy forward. "He was swapped with Percy. He's got amnesia and, um… yeah."

"I'm also a son of Jupiter."

"And that."

Clarisse squints her eyes at Jason. "Who's Jupiter?"

"Zeus. Roman interpretation of Zeus," Silena says, and she feels herself gape a bit.

Clarisse's eyes widen. She turns to Jason, looking him over in a different light. Silena wonders instead. She hadn't been given a heads up about this, so she wonders.

It takes about a minute for the thought to kick in Clarisse's head. A child of Zeus down, and a child of Zeus up. "This and Thalia's tree being poisoned," she says, "Fishy."

"Thalia's tree was what?!" Naruto rages.

He looks up at the hill and she sees the moment he catches the sight of the little daughter of Zeus dying.

He gasps.

Jason's face is scrunched up for some reason.

"What about the barrier?" Naruto asks.

"Still standing. Barely," Clarisse says.

The bits of snow earlier in the year had been less managed by the tree. Strawberries sales were lower than they had ever been, and Chiron had dug into saves.

"It's getting worse. By summer…" Silena's voice dies.

"Who did it?" Naruto asks.

"We don't—"

"Yes, we do!" Clarisse interrupts her. "The gods just don't want to admit it. They say shit like we need proof but when has a god ever needed proof to strike someone down? They just don't want to admit that the only way this got to be here was Kronos."

Silena looks around. "Guys, maybe we shouldn't—"

"Luke," Naruto says.

"Undoubtedly."

"That fucking rat."

Clarisse grunts in agreement.

Silena licks her lips. This type of conversation is dangerous. So dangerous. But how to deflect without outing herself?

Jason answers. "Who's Thalia?"

"Daughter of Zeus," Clarisse says. "She died before I got here. On the hill. Zeus turned her into a tree to keep her alive."

"A tree?"

That's what Silena had said too.

"Out of curiosity— what was her last name?" Jason asks. He's looking down, biting at his lip.

Naruto gives him a weird look. "Really? Who knows that kind of stuff?"

Both her and Clarisse open their mouths but the door to the big house opens. Chiron trots out. He doesn't look surprised to see Naruto or Jason.

His wispy beard is grayer than usual, and his wrinkles are slowly getting more pronounced. For the first time in Silena's stay at camp she doesn't need to look into Chiron's eyes to see how old he is.

"Ms. Jackson called," Chiron says. "Welcome to our camp again, Naruto."

"Chiron!" Naruto says.

The old horse looks at Jason. "And welcome to our camp for the first time, um…"

"Jason."

Chiron smiles warm and soft. He turns to her and Clarisse. "Would you two mind getting the other camp counselors for a meeting? We have much to discuss."

Silena twists a strand of her hair around her fingers. It's all she can do to keep herself from pacing.

She made the rounds a bit ago and the counselors are slowly coming in one by one. The ones that don't have early duties look cranky, others look nervous, and others are, um, Beckendorf.

He smiles at her and all is right with the world. His smile is like sunflowers. Like fresh picked daisies. So charming. So effortless.

She's heard Valentina, her sister, bemoan how some guys just have perfect eyelashes without even trying. But really it's the bright smile that escapes her.

Beckendorf. Solace. Naruto.

She gets jealous of it sometimes.

Dionysus gets in, nearly the last person despite living in the big house, and the weirdest thing happens.

His eyes land on Jason, and Dionysus changes in real time in front of them. His form shimmers and the person that takes the next step looks very different.

His beard is combed down. The belly fat on him melts away, and his tiger-striped Hawaiian shirt turns into a set of battle armor.

It's a blink and you'll miss it kind of situation, then regular ol' Mr. D is back. His jaw is set a bit tighter and he stubbornly refuses to meet Jason's glance again.

Travis and Conner Stoll waltz in last (Silena decides she'll be a bit more careful around them today) and the meeting commences.

Chiron relays the information of Percy's disappearance frankly and Naruto chips in occasionally.

Dionysus huffs. "Good riddance."

Everyone stares until it makes him shift a little. "A joke," he says. "Lighten up."

Chiron sighs. "Anyone deployed for recovery, keep your eyes open, search outside your regular parameters."

Clarisse stands up. "But sir. Don't you think that we are… overburdening the campers that have already dangerous missions?"

Dionysus rolls his eyes. "You say that because most of those guys are Ares campers."

"So you admit that there is a bias? That you are sending out my campers to possibly die, and then you add this?!"

"Recovery?" Naruto interrupts.

Silena finds her voice. "Monster activity has risen—"

"Drastically," Chiron adds.

"—And we have teams going out to find demigods. Not just satyrs."

"Oh."

Chiron looks back at Clarisse. "My dear, the only reason the Ares campers make up the majority of these missions is the strength you hold. Above any other cabin for sure." Chiron ignores the way the sky rumbles.

Clarisse blushes with pride but she doesn't sit down. "Still," she says.

"What would you have us do then?" Chiron asks patiently.

"Make another group," Clarisse says instantly.

"Impossible. We have already stretched ourselves thin with campers."

Clarisse points at Naruto. "He can do it."

Naruto perks up.

"Alone?" Chiron asks.

"With the help of satyrs. They sniff out a scent and he finds it."

Chiron shakes his head. "Too dange—"

Naruto stands up. He looks more than excited for the idea but why escapes Silena. "I'll do it."

Chiron sighs. "Young Uzumaki. Do not agree with such haste. You understand you would put yourself in great danger against monsters or possibly higher forces that might just smell like Percy."

"Okay."

"Like Oceanus. Keto—"

"Okay."

Chiron sighs. Dionysus smirks at Naruto. "If the kid wants to go and he knows the risks. Let him go."

"You're not helping, Mr. D." Chiron rubs at his temples.

"Why even worry?" Travis asks. "He's mortal. No monsters will attack him."

"They do now," Naruto says. "Save your breath. I don't know."

Travis shuts his mouth.

"Nonetheless," Malcolm says. He's the cabin counselor for the Athena cabin when Annabeth is away. "It's a good idea. He's only one person."

"Look at that, centaur. I am helping," Dionysus says.

Chiron looks at Naruto again. Silena has seen the look on Naruto's face only a couple of times. It's a hard look with almost glaring eyes and a set jaw. Eyes are sharp. Face unwavering and unflinching.

Silena thinks Chiron gets the vibe that Naruto isn't taking no for an answer even better than if she'd said it with charmspeak.

"Fine."

There is an almost cheer.

Dionysus looks at a watch on his wrist that isn't there. "Look at the time. I've got a meeting at… would you look at that— thirty minutes ago." Dionysus stands. "Don't die while I'm away, you hear? I wanna watch."

Dionysus vanishes.

The meeting ends shortly after. Chiron tells all of them to keep safe then pulls Jason aside for a tour of the camp.

"Hey," Charlie says. "What happened to your—"

"My arm? My eyes?"

"Your eyes?" Charlie asks, confused. "I just figured you were going emo."

She laughs a bit. "My mom would disown me."

Charlie puts his arm on her cast. "Why haven't I seen you around with this piece of artwork?"

He rubs at the little stickers of pet animals plastered on, and Silena blushes a bit. "Will Solace put them on there."

"Will Solace?"

"You spend too long in your forge," Silena says. "He's the new son of Apollo."

Recognition fleets across Charlie's face. "The nine year old?"

"Lee says he's one of their best healers. He patched up my arm yesterday after an… an cooperative pegasus."

Naruto walks up. "There is a pegasus at this camp that doesn't love you? Wow."

"Not at camp," she mutters under her breath and it doesn't seem to catch on Naruto's or Beckendorf's ears.

"Yo, Beckendorf. I used the kunai yesterday."

"How were they? Were they light enough? Did they pierce with enough power?"

"They were perfect," Naruto says and Charlie smiles. Silena is blinded. "Can I have more?"

"Sure! Drop by on Monday and—" Silena starts walking away. "—where are you going, Silena?"

"Sorry," She says, "I promised Lacy I'd braid her hair."

Charlie tries not to look disappointed. "Oh, okay."

"But tomorrow, I'll drop by. I'll do your eyebrows for you."

Beckendorf perks up. "Yes! I mean, uh, sure, that's cool."

Silena strolls to her cabin. Her siblings congregate at the door when she appears, muttering and asking what happened and if the thing that had come down the hill was a monster.

"No," she says. They all sigh in relief.

Silena ruffles Lacy's hair and Lacy beams like a ray of sunshine.

She curses Morpheus as she wakes up on Mount Othrys when she goes to sleep that day.

Silena forms in a room with Luke. His hair is wind-swept. His scar glitters even in the dark and unlit room.

Luke smiles at her. Her stomach goes into knots and butterflies.

"Hey," she says.

Luke steps by her side. "Kronos wants a status report."

Silena blushes and grimaces at how close he is to her. "Well, Per–"

"No," Luke interrupts. "Directly."

Silena stares. "I've been here a week Luke—"

"Yeah, and you make it obvious." He looks pointedly at her eyes, then her heavy shoulders "Loosen up a bit otherwise people at camp will start… suspecting. Now, Kronos doesn't like to be kept waiting."

She kind of finds that ironic, considering his domain, but she wisely doesn't say that out loud.

The hall to the room toward Kronos' throne is tattered. The walls are cracked with spiderwebs. The ground is still a bit wet under her feet and the smell of burn has not escaped from millenniums ago.

Silena finds the silence choking. "The guys at camp know that it's you who did it. Nothing is being done though. No proof or something," she says.

Luke shrugs. "Expected."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Talk about what?"

"I can sense the swirling emotions going around your head. Child of Aphrodite, remember?"

Luke gives her a sharp look. "Mind your business maybe, hair spray."

Then they are at the entrance. A few steps away from the titan lord. Luke looks at her unkindly, nodding his head towards the door.

A chill runs through her spine. She gets in alone.

The throne room is worse than the hall. A black throne is a stump on the floor. Star-burst marks of lighting litter on the ground.

The stump is new. Some time ago, it would have been just a memory.

It's forming again, she realizes— slower than plants grow, but it forms.

She enters halfway into conversation between a casket and a figure she can't see. They talk through a rainbow but it's a lot fainter than a regular iris message.

Arke, she remembers. The goddess of the second, more faded, rainbow. She was a sister to Iris and betrayed the gods for the titans in the first Titanomachy.

Silena would too if she was the goddess of the lesser rainbow.

"—you speak in riddles!"

A female voice comes through the rainbow, silky smooth and warm, like freshly baked cookies. "Oh you're so grumpy today Kronos. Have you taken your cereal? Eaten your vegetables?"

Kronos hisses. "I am in a thousand pieces, woman! I cannot eat." Kronos pauses for a long second. "Not that I would want to eat that blasted food created by my daughter. The first thing I shall destroy."

"Lord Kronos," Silena says and she bows.

There are no eyes to see from the faint rainbow or from the casket but she feels both of the beings look upon her.

The pressure is… immeasurable.

"Raise your head and speak," the casket tells her.

The female voice chimes in. "Who is this?"

"A demigod servant. Child of Aphrodite."

"That harlot? And why do you think it is important to have soldiers from the pretty goddess?"

Silena looks at the figure. Her tone is biting. "You shouldn't underestimate us Aphrodite kids."

She bites her tongue but it's already too late. "Child?" Kronos asks. She's so stupid.

She sees the sick and twisted smile through the rainbow. "Nevermind, I like her."

Silena pushes against a weight on her shoulders and stands up. She rubs at her nose nervously, to remove the smell of burning and burnt. She side-eyes the rainbow to ask Kronos if she is to talk freely with her in the room.

No reply. Then she remembers Kronos can't actually see her. He's in a casket.

Oh, whatever.

"Status report," she says officially. "Percy Jackson has been kidnapped. Naruto Uzumaki is back in camp. There is a child of Zeu–Jupiter in the camp."

"Woah!" The voice says. "Jupiter? Like Roman? That is so rad."

"Stop your nonsense!" Kronos says.

The voice says to her. "Jupiter isn't Zeus. Not really. Different interpretations mean a slightly different person, you get? Even Saturn here is not exempt. Me though… I'm special."

"Okay?"

"And if he knows he's a kid of Jupiter, not Zeus, it means he's from the other camp. Camp Jupiter."

Her eyes widen. "He's wearing a shirt that reads Camp Jupiter."

The voice gasps excitedly.

"Focus!" Kronos snaps. "Where did this boy come from?"

Silena blinks a couple of times. "Naruto said he and Percy were swapped. He brought Jason from Sally Jackson's house."

"Sally Jackson?"

"Kronos, you dolt! It's obviously Percy Jackson's mother."

"Shut it, woman."

Silena is about to continue when a loud bang comes from the rainbow.

She flinches.

The voice floats in and out of hearing range. "Put that down, Thea… Stop food fighting in my calls… I'm trying to be cool!"

Silence. Another bang.

Chaos.

The voice comes back. She sounds like an annoyed single mother. "Sorry you two lovelies, I have to go and order my troops."

"Begone," Kronos says.

The voice smiles at her. The rainbow starts fading. "Kronos' army all have giant sticks up their asses. We're cool. We always have coffee. Ooh, and, uh, cookies." Silena blinks. "Think about it!"

The rainbow fades.

There is a small silence. Long enough for Silena to start shifting on her feet. Finally Kronos speaks with his crackled and old voice.

"I don't trust her a bit. She has an agenda in all this. Worst thing: I don't know what it is."

"Who was she?"

"Someone worse than I."

Writing Naruto out of his POV is so much easier than writing him in his own POV. I don't know why. Maybe I just like writing darker and more serious characters who aren't just lovable goof balls. Maybe I just like writing edgy characters. Idk.