PJO/HoO Around the Campfire

Chapter 33: Break

November 27, 2021

Annabeth woke up shivering with no blanket and an arm slung over her waist. She looked over her shoulder and saw Percy, his eyes opened to the slight movement she made.

He smiled when he became fully aware of his surroundings. "What's the plan for today?" He noticed the blanket fully wrapped around himself and pulled on it to cover Annabeth's shivering form as well.

Annabeth turned back around, not sure how much she's allowed to tell. Not sure how much of it she actually knows."Well, I have to make sure Piper and Jason are okay, after what happened yesterday. I still don't know exactly what happened after I talked to them so I'm hoping they're both okay."

"I'll come with you if you want," Percy pulled her closer as if to accentuate his point.

"No, it's okay, you should hang out with Grover while you still have time." Annabeth fully rolled over so she was facing Percy.

"You make it sound like he's dying," Percy said with a laugh.

"Oh, haha, I didn't mean to, it's just... well, you know he has a lot going on."

"Yeah I know. He's already starting to talk about leaving, I'm just a little worried about him living out there with covid and everything."

"I am too, I mean we still don't know how covid would affect him, being only half human. But we know that he is strong and capable."

"That's true, and he's doing good work out there."

Annabeth smiled and kissed Percy before getting up out of the bed. "He's doing great work out there. Tell him we're proud of him, okay?"

"I already have," Percy said with a smile dancing over his lips as he rolled onto his back and put his hands up under his head. He closed his eyes and listened to the sounds of Annabeth getting ready for the day.

He must have fallen asleep because when he opened his eyes again he was still in his cabin, but now he was alone.

Percy reluctantly got out of bed, got ready for the day, and headed towards the dining pavilion. He hoped that was where he would find Grover.

Grover sat in the dining pavilion with Juniper. Usually the nymphs wouldn't eat with the campers, but the satyrs would and Grover had wanted to be with Juniper.

They sat at the extra table that Chiron had put in when they added the new cabins. With them sat Piper and Nico, talking about something Grover was not following. He was too busy focusing on Juniper, who kept looking around nervously, like she thought she was being watched.

Grover was about to ask her about it when Percy called out to him from the entrance to the pavilion. He jogged over and sat beside Grover.

"Hey man, how'd you sleep?" Grover asked when Percy plopped down beside him.

"Really well, what about you?"

"Interesting. I had a dream last night, I was wondering if you had one too?" Grover's voice was grave and Percy's mood immediately darkened.

"What about?" Percy knew dreams were never a good sign among demigods, and he couldn't help feeling the same kind of dread he had anytime one of them had a dream about a quest. Was Grover having the same kinds of dreams now? Was that even possible, he's not a demigod?

"It wasn't that bad, you shouldn't worry about it." Grover paused before adding, "I'll talk to Chiron and Rachel about it later anyway, just in case.

Percy wanted to ask questions, he wanted Grover to tell him everything about the dream, but if Grover wanted to just tell Chiron and Rachel about it then that was his choice. Only he knew what the dream actually was so Percy just had to trust his judgement on this one.

"I hope it's not another quest." Percy said with a dry laugh, "I'd hate to have to send people out there with covid and everything."

Grover eyed his napkin and sighed. "Yeah," he finally said. "That would suck."

"How about I grab some food and then when I get back we talk about something more happy. No sense worrying until we know for sure we have to worry."

"Alright, that sounds good," Grover replied. "I could use a break from that."

Before Percy left he turned to Piper, remembering what Annabeth had said that morning, "how are you doing Piper, I know you've been going through a few personal problems, just wanted to let you know that I'm here if you want or need anything, okay?"

Piper smiled at him. "Thanks Percy, I really appreciate you saying that, it really means a lot to know you care."

Percy smiled and got up to get his breakfast but not before he noticed Nico had furrowed his brow and whispered something to Piper.

He heard Piper say a quick, "I'll talk with you about it more later, Nico, thanks."

When Percy returned Juniper was gone. "Where'd Juniper go?" He asked.

"Oh, she was done eating and wanted to return to the forest, guess it's just us four now."

"Well, we can make due with that." Percy said with a wink. "I want to hear all about your adventures out of camp. You were gone for so long and I only got snippets." Percy turned to Piper and Nico, "do you two want to stay for the stories, or should we go somewhere else so you two can keep talking?"

Grover spoke to Percy before either of the other two demigods could speak up. "I'd love to tell you all about it." Then he too turned to Piper and Nico, "But, I don't want to interrupt your conversation, so we wouldn't mind going to the campfire or something to talk."

"Actually I think we should do that, I've heard a couple people talking about you and your adventures, I think they'd love to hear your stories as well."

"Um, okay. I think Nico and I will stay here then, but I'm sure you'll have an audience in no time." Piper said as Percy and Grover got up to go to the campfire.

When they were in the middle of the pavilion Percy called out to all the campers present, "Grover is about to start telling stories about his adventures if anyone wants to join us at the campfire!"

There were a few murmurs and then a group of around ten demigods got up and followed them out, chattering excitedly with one another.

As Grover spoke Percy noticed he got less tense, he loved Grover and he was glad to finally see him relax a little. All of their lives had been so chaotic, one quest after the other, for years, it was great that they finally got a break now.

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