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LUNCH FELT LIKE A FUNERAL PARTY. And not even the cool kind in indie films. Everybody ate. People talked in hushed tones. Nobody seemed particularly happy. The other campers kept staring at Percy and Dawn's closeness with pensive gazes and squints. People were looking at them like they were the corpses of honor.
Dawn always did love the movie Corpse Bride.
Reyna had made a brief speech wishing them luck after having a super top secret conversation with Percy. Reyna probably professed her undying love to him.
Dawn smirked to herself.
Octavian ripped open a Beanie Baby and pronounced grave almonds and dark times ahead, but predicted the camp would be saved by an unexpected hero (who's initials were probably OCTAVIAN). Then The other campers went off to their afternoon classes—gladiator fighting, Latin lessons, paintball with ghosts, (Dawn's personal favorite) eagle training, and a dozen other activities that sounded better than a suicide quest with Fish Face.
Dawn was irritated with the camp, to put it lightly. She was the damn daughter of Victoria. And praetor. She would come back in one piece. She would save camp.
For Reyna.
And Jason.
So, as Dawn trekked up to the border of the valley, she looked every damn camper she passed directly in the eye with her unflinching gaze. Her blue eyes were almost hypnotic, and her confident gleam left most awe struck.
She sent nods towards everyone and little smirks and winks. She didn't want the camp to worry for her. She could understand them worrying for Percy, though, since Dawn was 100% down for teasing him the entire journey.
Edging towards the top of the hill, her sword in hand and her combat boots practically glued on, Dawn took a glance at her surroundings.
The sun was high in the sky reflecting its yellow haze and painting the trees light green. She kneeled slowly to touch the grassy hill of Camp Jupiter one last time and breathed.
For Reyna and Jason. For victory.
Dawn felt a tall presence next to her and smirked slightly when the smell of salt water and rain filled her senses.
"You're late." His breath fanned her left ear as his gaze pierced the side of her face, zeroing in on her lips—then her eyes.
Dawn rolled her eyes, but didn't turn towards the boy. She let him stare a little longer.
"You can tell time! How impressive." She licked her lips with a sarcastic smile.
Percy lifted a brow, and Dawn couldn't help but falter at the sight of his windswept hair and amused glint.
