"I won't update this regularly," I said.
Here I am giving y'all two chapters within a week. At least it's a good one!
CHAPTER THREE: A GAME OF CHESS
Percy hated the Hermes cabin with every bone in his body.
It wasn't just crowded. It was chaotic. The place was a mess of bunk beds, personal belongings strewn everywhere, and kids of all ages talking, laughing, or arguing over who got what space.
Percy tried to navigate through the sea of people, his feet crunching on loose beads and snacks that littered the floor.
Luke Castellan, the head counselor, spotted Percy immediately. He had an easy smile, a bit too charming for Percy's liking. "You must be the new guy," Luke said, extending a hand. "Welcome to the Hermes cabin, where we make do with what we've got."
"More like barely make do," Percy muttered under his breath.
Luke laughed like he didn't hear the sarcasm. "It's temporary. Trust me, once you get claimed, you'll be out of here and in your own cabin. Until then, find a spot, claim it quick before someone else does."
Percy glanced around at the already overcrowded room. "Sure. No problem."
Later, Annabeth decided to challenge Percy to a game of chess.
She set up the board on a wobbly table near the corner of the cabin, clearing away some clutter to make space. Percy sat across from her, still trying to process his chaotic new environment.
"Chess?" Percy raised an eyebrow. "Isn't there anything more... exciting to do around here?"
Annabeth smirked, her gray eyes glinting. "Consider it training. Chess isn't just a game; it's strategy. If you want to survive here, you'd better start thinking ahead."
Percy rolled his eyes but picked up a pawn, moving it forward. "Fine. But don't expect me to be any good at it."
Annabeth watched him carefully as they played, explaining the rules and guiding him through the basics. "You're in enemy territory. Every piece is a threat. Don't just move because you can - move because you have a plan."
"Maybe I have a plan."
"Doubt it."
After a few moves, Annabeth frowned. "Percy, you do realise that if the king is taken, you lose?"
He nodded.
"Then why, for gods' sake, is it in the middle of the board?"
Percy blinked, glancing down at the board, where his king sat completely exposed amidst a crowd of opposing pieces. "Oh. I thought... y'know, offense might be the best defense?"
Annabeth sighed, pressing her fingers to her temples. "Offense is important, yes. But throwing your king into the middle of enemy lines is just asking to lose. You need to protect your most valuable piece."
"Maybe my king's tougher than he looks," Percy said, half-joking. "He can take whatever your army throws at him."
She gave him a look that was part exasperation, part amusement. "You can't just power your way through every situation, Percy. This isn't Capture the Flag where brute force wins the game."
"Check in two."
"What?"
Percy gestured to the board, where his remaining pieces had somehow cornered Annabeth's king. It was an awkward setup, but his rook and king formed an unexpected trap.
Annabeth stared, stunned. "How...?" She looked up at him, her expression somewhere between disbelief and grudging respect. "You actually managed to nearly checkmate me. By accident."
"Actually," Percy said. "It was on purpose."
She rolled her eyes. "As if."
"That attitude is the exact reason it worked. In your eyes, you're the mighty daughter of Athena, goddess of wisdom, and I'm an unclaimed loser. How could you lose to me, right? So all I had to do was act dumb. Y'know, put my king in stupid positions, so you'd toy with me. And while you thought you were toying with me," he moved his king forward. "I was actually toying with you. Checkmate."
Annabeth's mouth dropped open, and for a moment, she was at a loss for words. "You're insane," she finally managed. "You actually tricked me."
Percy leaned back in his chair, a satisfied grin plastered on his face. "It's all about playing the long game, Wise Girl. Sometimes, you have to let them think they're winning before you strike."
"Wise Girl?" She shook her head, unable to suppress a smile despite her annoyance. "You're going to have to work on that strategy if you plan to survive here."
"Hey, it worked this time," he said, gesturing at the board. "I'd say I'm off to a good start."
Annabeth gathered the pieces with a huff, resetting the board for another round. "Fine. Let's see if you can pull that off again. But this time, I won't go easy on you."
"What do you mean, this time?" Percy got up. "You know, wisdom is knowing when to cut your losses. I'm out."
Annabeth narrowed her eyes, rising to the challenge. "Oh, no you don't. I'm not letting you leave with a lucky win."
Percy paused, giving her a lopsided grin. "Lucky? That was skill."
"Right," she said, rolling her eyes but already arranging the pieces for another game. "One more round, unless you're afraid I'll figure you out this time."
He hesitated, glancing at the door and then back at her. "Fine, but only because I want to prove it wasn't luck."
They settled back into their seats, and Annabeth took her first move with fierce determination. Her strategy shifted, this time more aggressive, no longer letting him make reckless plays without consequence. Percy, however, watched her moves carefully, picking up on patterns.
As the game progressed, he could feel the tension building. She wasn't just going for the win; she was trying to humiliate him. And for some reason, he found himself actually trying.
But as Annabeth's pieces closed in, Percy saw his options shrinking, his pieces outnumbered and outmaneuvered. He moved his king back, buying a little more time.
Annabeth smirked, leaning forward. "Checkmate in three."
Percy groaned. "Okay, maybe this isn't my game after all."
Annabeth leaned back with a satisfied smile, watching him glance at the board, studying his next possible moves. "Better luck next time," she said.
"Next time?" He raised an eyebrow, moving his bishop up. "Checkmate."
Annabeth's eyes widened as she looked down at the board, disbelief flickering across her face. She hadn't seen it coming, his bishop trapping her king with a clever move she hadn't anticipated. For a moment, she just stared, then let out a breathless laugh.
"You… you actually did it. Twice," she said, half-impressed, half-annoyed. "Maybe luck really isn't your only weapon."
Percy leaned back, crossing his arms, clearly pleased. "See? Told you it wasn't luck."
She shook her head, finally unable to hide a grin. "Fine. I'll admit, you've got some potential. But don't think that means I'm going easy on you next time."
He raised an eyebrow. "Didn't think you were going easy on me this time."
"Consider that a warm-up," she replied, packing the pieces into the board with a determined look. "But don't get cocky. This isn't Capture the Flag, and there are some things even luck can't save you from."
"If you think you can convince me that was a warm up, you're still underestimating me." Percy got up, stretching his arms. "See you at Capture the Flag."
Annabeth grinned fiercely. "You're going down."
He couldn't resist the jab. "Like I went down at chess?"
He left the room laughing as Annabeth threw books at him.
During capture the flag, Percy stood with his borrowed armor, surrounded by a mixture of other campers gearing up for battle. Annabeth, standing a little way off, caught his eye and gave him a nod.
The teams were, in his honest opinion, not fair. Hermes, Ares, and Hephaestus cabins against Athena, Apollo, and Demeter. It seemed stacked in their favor; they had most of the heavy hitters on their side.
Percy decided to do a little bit of spying, putting on his invisibility cap and creeping over to the other team, where Annabeth was busy giving instructions. She was focused, her tone sharp as she directed the Athena kids to set up defenses near their flag. Her eyes scanned the woods, calculating distances and obstacles, and Percy couldn't help but be impressed. She was taking this seriously, as if the game was more than just a game.
He crept closer, his cap rendering him invisible. Annabeth continued, "Remember, the goal isn't just to defend. We have to outthink them. They'll expect a head-on fight, especially with Ares and Hephaestus involved. But we're going to use that to our advantage."
Percy smirked. This would be interesting.
Just then, the horn sounded, and he slipped back to his team's side.
He found himself reluctantly standing with Clarisse and the rest of her team from the Ares cabin. Since he was unclaimed, they'd stuck him wherever they had space - which, unfortunately for Percy, meant the more aggressive side.
Clarisse eyed Percy with a bit of a smirk, but it wasn't as harsh as he'd expected. "Stick with me, Jackson," she said, gesturing for him to follow. Her tone was firm but not unfriendly. Despite the banter, she was grinning. "Wouldn't want to get lost now."
"Wouldn't dream of it, Clarisse," he replied dryly, adjusting his borrowed armor. He scanned the field, already mapping out where he might be most useful.
"I'll show you how we do things here."
Percy raised an eyebrow. "Guess you're the expert, then?"
Clarisse shrugged. "Guess I am," she replied, almost laughing. "Just don't wander off. Capture the flag's a big deal around here, and I'd hate for you to get lost."
Her words surprised him; there was a bit of unexpected warmth there. He adjusted his armor, feeling a little more at ease as they moved to take their positions. Maybe teaming up with Clarisse wouldn't be so bad after all.
It took about two minutes for him to regret that statement.
Within seconds of the game starting, Clarisse was off like a storm, charging straight into the trees with her spear raised. Percy ran after her, trying to keep up.
"Keep up, Jackson!" she called over her shoulder, her grin wide and fierce. "This isn't a stroll through Central Park!"
Percy barely managed to dodge a tree branch as he pushed forward, trying not to lose sight of her. "Yeah, I got that," he muttered, more to himself than to her.
They crashed through the underbrush until Clarisse held up a hand, signaling for him to stop. She crouched low, peering through a break in the trees at a small group of Athena and Apollo campers guarding the flag. She glanced back at him, her eyes sparkling with a mix of excitement. "Here's the plan," she whispered. "I go in from the right, you take them head-on. Got it?"
"Wait," Percy whispered back. "You want me to just… going straight for them?"
She grinned. "It's called a distraction. I'm here to grab the flag."
Percy hesitated, but then nodded, steeling himself. "Fine."
Clarisse's grin softened just a bit, enough to almost be reassuring. "Don't worry, Prissy. I won't let them hurt you too much."
"Prissy?"
"Suits you, doesn't it?"
And before he could respond, she was already charging from the right, yelling a war cry that echoed through the trees.
And I thought I was meant to be the distraction, Percy thought.
He took a deep breath, steeling himself as he stepped out of the brush and directly into the line of sight of the Athena and Apollo campers. His heart was racing, and he wasn't entirely sure what he'd gotten himself into. But he forced himself to keep moving forward, trying to channel some of Clarisse's boldness.
The Athena campers spotted him first, their eyes narrowing in suspicion. One of them raised a shield, and another nocked an arrow, drawing it back and aiming straight at him.
Percy held his hands up, trying to look harmless. "Uh… hey, nice day for a flag capture, right?" he offered with a weak smile.
They shot arrows at him, so Percy did the smartest thing possible - putting on his cap and turning invisible.
The archers hesitated, just for a second, and that was all the time Clarisse needed. From the right, she burst out of the trees like a tornado, taking them completely by surprise. She barreled into the line of campers with a wild grin, knocking shields aside and sending one poor Apollo kid scrambling for cover.
In the chaos, Percy spotted the flag fluttering a few yards away, unattended in the moment of confusion.
This might actually work, he thought, adrenaline kicking in as he bolted toward it.
Percy sprinted through the chaos, still cloaked by his invisibility cap. It felt surreal, dodging around campers who were too focused on the brawl with Clarisse to notice the seemingly invisible force slipping past them. Clarisse's war cries and the sounds of clashing weapons filled the air, keeping everyone's attention squarely away from him.
The flag was just a few feet away, fluttering in the breeze, and Percy grinned to himself. Almost there.
Just as he reached out to grab it, a voice rang out. "Stop right there!"
He froze, glancing around, realizing that Annabeth was watching the flag like a hawk. Her eyes were narrowed, scanning the area. Percy held his breath, praying she wouldn't catch him.
Annabeth stepped forward, her gaze sharp. "I know you're there, Percy," she called, smirking. "The cap doesn't make you silent."
Caught off guard, Percy hesitated, but then shrugged it off.
He picked up a rock and threw it over her head, aiming for the trees behind her. It landed with a sharp crack, and Annabeth's head snapped in that direction.
He reached for the flag, grabbing hold of it. Just as he was about to dash away, Annabeth lunged forward, making a grab for him.
Reacting on instinct, Percy bolted, his heart racing as he broke out of the trees, flag in hand. He glanced back to see Clarisse waving him on, a proud grin plastered on her face.
"Run, Jackson!" she yelled, pushing back another camper. "We've got this!"
With a final burst of speed, Percy raced across the field toward the finish line, barely registering the cheers and shouts around him.
With a last surge of energy, Percy crossed the line, flag clutched tightly in his hand. Cheers erupted from his team.
Clarisse was the first to reach him, clapping him on the shoulder with a grin. "Not bad, Jackson," she said, breathing hard but looking impressed. "Guess I'll have to admit you're tougher than you look."
Percy couldn't help but grin back, his own exhaustion forgotten in the thrill of victory. "Couldn't have done it without the best distraction team around."
Clarisse just laughed, giving him a playful shove.
Luke came up out of nowhere (seriously, what was that guy's deal with being sneaky?) and congratulated Percy.
"Thanks," Percy said. "It was pretty neat."
"Don't get cocky. You're still unclaimed, remember? Just means you're with us until someone claims you."
Of course, that was the exact moment a giant trident appeared in a circle above his head.
The cheers died down as everyone's gaze shifted to the symbol floating above Percy's head - a glowing, unmistakable trident within a shimmering blue circle. For a second, Percy just stared, processing what he was seeing, and then the realization hit him.
He'd been claimed. By Poseidon.
Everyone stared at him, eyes wide. For once, Annabeth looked unsure of herself. "Poseidon?" She whispered. "There's been no children of the Big Three since-"
Chiron gestured for everyone to kneel. "Hail, Percy Jackson, son of the Sea god, the Earthshaker, the Stormbringer. All hail Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon."
"Figures. Well, looks like you're too fancy for us now, Big Three boy," Clarisse said. But then she looked up. "What the-"
Percy followed her gaze, looking above his head, and the circle seemed to falter, almost… glitch. The blue became grey, and the trident was suddenly an owl carrying an olive branch.
Everyone's eyes grew even wider, if that was possible, as the symbol over Percy's head shifted.
Percy's heart skipped a beat, and he barely managed to process what he was seeing. Poseidon? Athena? He looked around, seeing a range of expressions from utter confusion to awe.
Suddenly an owl - an actual, live owl, mind you - appeared out of nowhere, gliding towards the river where a horse was waiting. The owl swooped in, trying to scratch the stallion, while it was attempting to kick it with its front legs.
His parents could have at least been subtle.
Annabeth's mouth hung open, her usual composure completely shattered. "That… doesn't make any sense," she murmured, eyes darting between Percy, the owl and horse fighting, and the flickering symbol above his head.
The symbol - or symbols - were warring with each other, trident clashing with olive branch.
Clarisse snorted, trying to mask her own shock. "Guess you're a real piece of work, Jackson," she muttered, almost impressed. "Two claims? Never seen that before."
Then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, the symbol vanished, leaving the crowd in stunned silence.
"Ok," Percy managed to say, glancing from Luke to Annabeth, then to Clarisse, who was now just shaking her head with a smirk.
Chiron seemed to finally find his voice. He cleared his throat as he looked between Percy and the now-empty space above his head. "This… is unprecedented," he said slowly. "In all my years, I've never seen two gods attempt to claim the same demigod."
A murmur ran through the campers, whispers and gasps echoing through the crowd. Even the most experienced demigods looked uneasy.
Annabeth crossed her arms, brow furrowed as if she were trying to solve a puzzle. "That shouldn't even be possible. Athena and Poseidon…they've never been known to agree on anything, let alone…" Her voice trailed off, and she looked at Percy, eyes narrowing slightly, as if he were somehow the answer.
Percy shrugged.
Luke shot him a wry smile. "Well, Jackson, whatever you did to deserve this, you just made Camp Half-Blood history."
Clarisse huffed, crossing her arms with an almost grudging respect. "So, what? You're a son of Poseidon and Athena?" She shook her head. "Only you, Jackson. Only you."
Chiron raised a hand, silencing the murmurs around them. "We'll need to discuss this further," he said. "Percy, I'll speak with the gods and see if they can clarify… or at least agree on one thing."
Percy scratched his head, feeling everyone's eyes on him, and gave a small, awkward laugh. He had a part to play, and that was a clueless camper. "Great. Guess I just have to survive the rest of the summer without ticking off either of them."
Chiron offered him a sympathetic smile. "Yes, let's hope that's all."
That was not, in fact, all.
A low, guttural growl filled the air, cutting through the murmurs and the wind. Percy whipped around, heart leaping into his throat as he spotted a massive shadow emerging from the treeline. Red eyes glowed, fixed on him, and a cold shiver ran down his spine.
"Hellhound!" Annabeth shouted, reaching for her knife.
Campers scattered, some grabbing their weapons, others backing away in alarm. But the beast only had eyes for Percy. It bared its fangs, muscles tensing, and lunged.
Reacting on instinct, Percy reached for Riptide and uncapped it, the celestial bronze sword flashing in his hand just in time to meet the hellhound's charge. The beast's jaws snapped inches from his face, hot breath reeking of sulfur, but he sidestepped and swung, Riptide cutting through the thick fur and muscle.
The hellhound yelped, staggered back, but didn't retreat. It snarled, lowering its body in preparation for another attack. Percy's heart raced as he tightened his grip on his sword, his senses sharpening.
"Percy, watch out!" Luke shouted, hurling a dagger at the beast's flank. It barely glanced at the weapon, fixated on Percy.
The hellhound sprang again, teeth bared, but Percy didn't wait for it to attack. Instead, he took a deep breath and focused, feeling the pull of water within him. He raised a hand, willing the moisture in the air to condense, forming a swirling sphere of water.
The beast lunged, and Percy thrust his hand forward, sending the sphere crashing into the hellhound like a tidal wave. The force knocked it backward, stunning it as it struggled to shake off the water clinging to its fur.
Seizing his chance, Percy focused again, his fingers curling as he imagined the water hardening, freezing mid-splash. The water crystallized around the hellhound, trapping it in icy tendrils.
Percy darted forward, Riptide raised, and with one swift slash, he drove the blade through the creature's chest. The hellhound let out a final, chilling howl before disintegrating into shimmering golden dust, mixing with the frost and melting away.
Chiron trotted forward. "Camp counsellors, come to the Big House," his tone left no room for argument. "Now."
THE WISDOM OF WATER
Percy was starting to feel like he was getting interrogated.
He followed Chiron and the camp counselors up the path to the Big House, the cool evening air doing little to soothe the heat pooling in his stomach. He could feel the weight of everyone's eyes on him as they walked.
Once inside, Chiron gestured for everyone to sit around the large table, and Percy settled into a chair, feeling the heavy gaze of the other counselors. Annabeth took a seat beside him. "You're my half-brother," she whispered.
"I figured," he whispered back sarcastically.
Chiron cleared his throat, the sound echoing in the otherwise quiet room. "Percy," he began, "we need to understand what just happened with the dual claim. It's highly unusual for two Olympians to claim a single demigod, especially given their history."
Percy glanced around the table. Luke leaned back, arms crossed, his eyes narrowed in contemplation, watching him with an intrigued expression. He couldn't explain it, but Percy had a bad feeling about him.
"Honestly, I have no idea," Percy said, running a hand through his hair. "I didn't do anything special. I just fought a hellhound."
Chiron looked at him, his expression softening slightly. "This is… new. We'll need to determine how this affects your training and your standing here at camp."
"Does it mean I have to choose between them? Or will they expect me to juggle both?"
"That's the concern," Chiron replied. "Both gods are immensely powerful and have very different ideologies."
Annabeth leaned in closer, her voice low. "You might have strengths from both parents."
"Or it could make things a lot more complicated," Luke chimed in, tapping his fingers on the table. "What happens if they don't agree on something? They're pretty famous for that. You could end up in the middle of a feud."
"Great," Percy said, running a hand over his face. "Just what I needed - more family drama."
Chiron shifted in his seat, eyes serious. "Percy, the truth is, it's unprecedented. We'll need to set up a meeting with both gods to clarify your situation. Until then, we must proceed with caution. The gods can be fickle."
"Fickle? That's an understatement," Luke muttered, earning a few chuckles around the table.
Percy couldn't help but grin back, feeling a sense of camaraderie. "So, what's next?"
As the meeting continued, Percy felt a growing sense of determination. In their eyes, he wasn't just a camper anymore; he was the son of Poseidon and Athena.
After the meeting wrapped up, Percy stepped outside into the cool night air, taking a deep breath to clear his mind. The stars twinkled overhead.
"Percy," Chiron called, "I wanted to speak to you." He looked pointedly at Annabeth. "In private."
Percy felt a flicker of dount as Annabeth gave him a quick nod, her expression encouraging. She gave his arm a reassuring squeeze before heading back toward the cabins, leaving Percy alone with Chiron under the starlit sky.
"Come, Percy," Chiron gestured, leading him to the quieter side of the Big House veranda, away from the lingering noise of the campfire and the bustling campers. For a moment, they stood in silence, listening to the faint sounds of the forest.
Chiron's gaze softened as he looked at Percy. "Tonight was… unusual, to say the least. I imagine you have questions of your own."
"I guess."
The centaur hesitated, as if he wasn't sure how to say what he wanted to say. "The Bolt has been stolen."
Percy blinked, caught off guard for once. "The Bolt… you mean Zeus's Master Bolt? The one that can blow up mountains?"
Chiron nodded, his expression grim. "Exactly. It was stolen from Olympus not long ago. The gods are… let's say, less than pleased."
Percy let out a low whistle. "And they think a demigod might've taken it?"
"Zeus thinks you might have taken it. Your… parentage is not exactly helping your case."
"Hold on," Percy said. "Why me?"
Chiron sighed, his eyes heavy with worry. "It's not a matter of logic, Percy. It's fear. The gods are on edge, and when they're afraid, they look for someone to blame. Zeus believes a child of Poseidon could be seeking power - especially now, with the tensions between the Big Three."
"But I don't even know how to get to Olympus, let alone steal the Bolt! This is crazy!"
Lightning rumbled.
"I wouldn't say that if I were you," Chiron said, his voice quiet. "But that's the nature of the gods. They don't always think through their fears rationally. Zeus demanded answers, and unfortunately, your name came up."
Percy took a steadying breath, fighting to stay calm. "So, what do I do now?"
Chiron's gaze turned determined. "We prove them wrong. The Oracle has spoken of a quest, one that may clear your name - and recover the Bolt before tensions escalate beyond control. If you accept, you could set things right."
He hesitated. "I'll uh- I'll get back to you."
The centaur gestured for Percy to stand. "Choose soon, Percy. The solstice…"
"Right."
Percy walked out of the Big House, not exactly feeling confident.
"Hey, Percy," Annabeth called, catching up to him as he walked. "You okay?"
"Yeah," he replied, smiling. "Just thinking about everything."
"You're going to have to get used to being in the spotlight now," she said, crossing her arms. "But you handled yourself really well back there. I'm impressed."
"Thanks."
"And you're my half brother now!" Annabeth seemed pretty happy with that fact. She made a face. "Even if you're also a son of Poseidon."
"Hey, Poseidon's cool!"
"Let's just hope this doesn't turn into a full-blown Olympian soap opera," she said, a teasing glint in her eyes.
Percy laughed. "Speaking of, you know the Master Bolt got stolen?" He winced at his flippant tone.
Annabeth's eyes widened. "Wait, seriously? Zeus's Master Bolt?" She shook her head, her expression turning serious. "That's… bad, Percy. Like, catastrophic levels of bad. If Zeus thinks Poseidon had something to do with it…"
"Yeah, I got that vibe," Percy replied, shoving his hands in his pockets. "So now I need to go on a quest and complete it before the solstice."
"A quest? You have to take me."
"Of course. The literal Master Bolt got stolen, and you're excited."
She smiled sheepishly.
"Chess." Percy said.
Annabeth frowned. "Percy, I don't think now's the time to have a rematch."
He stopped walking and turned to face her. "No. No, that's not what I meant. I mean-" he struggled to find the words. "Someone planned this. Like chess pieces. Someone, or something, either took the Master Bolt or knew it was going to be taken, and is capitalising on it."
"What do you mean?"
Percy sighed. "Someone took the Master Bolt, right? We all know that. And I'm the new son of Poseidon who just so happens to have the most unique parentage since the Greeks. Obviously, I'm the prime suspect. I'm the scapegoat here. And what does a scapegoat do? Try and prove their innocence, which in this case is travelling west to find the Bolt…"
"Percy, what are you saying?"
"I'm saying that someone planned this. Someone orchestrated this entire situation," Percy continued, his voice low. "No-one just steals the most powerful weapon in existence. That requires a plan. And I might just have an idea on said plan."
Annabeth crossed her arms, considering his words. "But who would benefit from framing you? This doesn't make sense."
"I don't know. But I have a suspicion. Keep an eye out, yeah?"
"I will. Hey, are you going to stay in the Athena cabin?"
Percy pretended to think about it. "Hmm, I mean, do I really want to stay in a cabin with you?" He dodged a punch. "I was joking! Geez."
Annabeth rolled her eyes, though a smile played at her lips. "You're lucky I'm in a good mood, Seaweed Brain. But seriously, I'll talk to Chiron about setting up space for you in Cabin Six."
As they continued walking, Annabeth's expression softened. "Look, I know this is… huge. But you're not in this alone."
Percy looked over at her. "Thanks, Annabeth. Really."
They paused outside her cabin, the quiet night settling around them. She gave him a reassuring nod, and with one last smirk, she disappeared into Cabin Six.
Percy stood there for a moment longer, glancing up at the stars, wondering just how deep the gods' game went - and how he'd make it out without being their pawn.
Boom shaka laka, chapter over.
So, Annabeth's nicer than in canon, cuz I really didn't want to write her fighting with Percy. Clarisse too. And Percy's smarter than in canon (obviously) but how will that affect the quest?
Review responses:
Anaklusmos404: Thanks! Training arcs are gonna be fun, maybe after the Lightning Thief quest? I reckon you're probably right about the Hephaestus kids, maybe they'll make him armour. Clarisse will (hopefully) compliment Percy as well as you think. Hope the claiming was as crazy as you expected!
Robotdocter: Thank you so much man! Don't worry, I won't burn myself out. Writing is fun anyway lol :). The claiming was actually kinda inspired by your review lol, so thanks for that. Sally is going to be STRESSING, lmao. And I wanted to make Annabeth a bit nicer than in canon, she is his half-brother after all.
Twinstar dragon: Dude, Nico's like, 10 at this point in the story. And Arachne is all the way in Greece.
Guest: Probably no Perlia. But I mean, I could do Percy/Piper if enough people want it…
Guest: I mean, manipulation and trickery are pretty similar but I see where you're coming from. Thanks!
Guest: No, he's not getting with Annabeth.
Guest: Yeah, Percy is pretty powerful.
Guest: You'll see…
That's it!
Pairing is undecided, but probably Percy/Clarisse. I did have a review asking for Percy/Piper, so if a lot of people want that, I might do it.
Anyway, that's all!