{1} 𝐁𝐔𝐋𝐋𝐒𝐄𝐘𝐄 | p.jackson

𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘯

| chapter nineteen |
in which annabeth trusts luke ( again )

CAMP HALF-BLOOD IN THE WINTER WAS — IN NIA'S OPINION — ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

Even though the camp had protection from the elements, snow had been allowed to fall lightly. Frost covered the chariot track and the strawberry fields. The cabins were all decorated with tiny flickering lights, like Christmas lights, except they seemed to be balls of real fire. More lights glowed in the woods.

"Whoa," Nico said as he climbed off the bus. "Is that a climbing wall?"

"Yeah," Percy told him.

"Why is there lava pouring down it?"

"Little extra challenge," Percy said.

"It's more fun than you would think." Naomi grinned at her newfound best friend. "Come on — We'll introduce you to Chiron."

"Zoë," Percy started, "have you met—"

"I know Chiron," Zoë said stiffly. "Tell him we will be in Cabin Eight. Hunters, follow me."

"I'll show you the way," offered Grover.

"We know the way."

"Oh, really, it's no trouble. It's easy to get lost here, if you don't—" Grover tripped over a canoe and came back up still talking— "like my old daddy goat used to say! Come on!"

Zoë rolled her eyes, but stopped protesting. She probably realized that there was no getting rid of Grover. The Hunters shouldered their packs and bows and headed towards Artemis's cabin.

"I'd better go with them before they mess with my stuff," Nia said. "Or kill Grover." 

Nia shouldered Moonbeam and hurried off in the direction of Cabin Eight, leaving Percy, Thalia, and Naomi with Nico.

When she got there, she saw one of the Hunters — Pheobe, it looked like — looking almost ready to murder Grover. The satyr already had a black eye and red lines on his face that looked like a slap mark.

Nia immediately rushed in and stepped between Grover and Phoebe, forcing the Hunter of Artemis back. "Hey! Stop!"

"Traitor," another Hunter, Audra, spat out.