JAWBREAKER

𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙧

The next morning there was a lot of excitement at breakfast.

Apparently around three in the morning an Aethiopian drakon had been spotted at the borders of camp. Warren was so exhausted she slept right through the noise.

The magical boundaries had kept the monster out, but it prowled the hills, looking for weak spots in their defenses, and it didn't seem anxious to go away until Lee Fletcher from Apollo's cabin led a couple of his siblings in pursuit. After a few dozen arrows lodged in the chinks of the drakon's armor, it got the message and withdrew.

"It's still out there," Lee warned everyone during announcements. "Twenty arrows in its hide, and we just made it mad. The thing was thirty feet long and bright green. It's eyes—" he shuddered.

"You did well, Lee," Chiron patted him on the shoulder. "Everyone stay alert, but stay calm. This has happened before."

"Aye," Quintus said from the head table. "And it will happen again. More and more frequently."

The campers murmured among themselves.

Everyone knew the rumors: Luke and his army of monsters were planning an invasion of the camp. Most people expected it to happen this summer, but no one knew how or when. It didn't help that their attendance was down. They only had about eighty campers. Three years ago, when Percy arrived, there had been more than a hundred. Some had died. Some had joined Luke. Some had just disappeared.

"This is a good reason for new war games," Quintus continued, a glint in his eyes. "We'll see how you all do with that tonight."

"Yes..." Chiron said. "Well, enough announcements. Let us bless this meal and eat." He raised his goblet. "To the gods."

Everyone raised their glasses and repeated the blessing.

Warren took her plate to the bronze brazier and scraped a portion of her food into the flames. She hoped the gods liked raisin toast and Froot Loops.

"For Ares," she said. Then she whispered, "Dad. Please..."

What should she ask for? There was Nico and Luke to worry about, not to mention Grover's problem. There was so much going on she could've stood there all morning, but Warren just frowned and headed back to her table.

She picked at her breakfast, not really hungry. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed Chiron and Grover settle in at Percy's table. The satyr looked bleary eyed and his shirt was inside out. He slumped in the chair across from Percy, but Chiron stood, towering over them both.

The centaur tried to manage a smile, but it looked forced. Warren caught half a sentence, something about sleeping last night, and Percy shot her a panicked glance. Oh gods, had someone seen her sneak into his cabin? Had someone snitched?

Warren abandoned her plate and walked casually (or at least tried to) over to Percy's table.

"Morning Chiron," she said. Act natural. Don't look guilty.