¹𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐀. percy jackson

V.

ｔｈｅ　ｔｉｔａｎｓ　ｃｕｒｓｅ

WHEN LUCIA MADE IT ONTO SOLID GROUND she looked around in genuine wonder. As much as she disliked the cold she would be a liar to say she didn't appreciate the beauty of winter.

Frost covered the chariot tracks and the strawberry fields. The cabins were decorated with tiny flickering lights, like Christmas lights, except they seemed to be balls of real fire.

"Whoa," Nico said."Is that a climbing wall?"

"Yeah," Percy answered

"Why is there lava pouring down it?"

Lucia's gaze fell towards the climbing wall watching as multiple campers did stunts to avoid the lava. They all seemed to be quick, smart, and strong. Those that weren't calculating when the lava was going to come out were making swift moves to dodge it. All of them were skillful and incredibly impressive.

"I'm going to last two days" Lucia mumbled to herself

"Little extra challenge. Come on. I'll introduce you to Chiron. Zoe, have you met—"

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

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

"We know the way."

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

Zoe rolled her eyes, but Lucia could tell she realized there was no getting rid of Grover. The Hunters shouldered their packs and their bows and headed off toward the cabins.

As Bianca di Angelo was leaving, she leaned over and whispered something in her brother's ear. She looked at him for an answer, but Nico just scowled and turned away.

Bianca turned towards Lucia, she was hesitant.

"I will make sure he's okay B" Lucia reassured, even if she did disagree with Bianca's choice she loved her and she was her friend "Dont worry okay?"

Bianca smiled in relief before she followed her new family "Thank you L"

"Take care, sweethearts!" Apollo called after the Hunters. He winked at Percy. "Watch out for those prophecies, Percy. I'll see you soon."

"What do you mean?"

Instead of answering, he hopped back on the bus. "Later, Thalia," he called. Then he looked towards his daughter "And, uh, Lucia, uh, be good! No blowing up more cars!"

He closed the doors and revved the engine. Everyone turned aside as the sun chariot took off in a blast of heat. When Lucia looked back, the lake was steaming.

A red Maserati soared over the woods, glowing brighter and climbing higher until it disappeared in a ray of sunlight.

"You blew up a car?" Percy laughed, she turned towards him he looked impressed. "Awesome"

Before Lucia could respond, a grumpy Nico changed the subject. "Who's Chiron?" he asked. "I don't have his figurine."

"Our activities director," Percy said. "He's...well, you'll see.

"If those Hunter girls don't like him," Nico grumbled, "that's good enough for me. Let's go."

☼

THE CAMP WAS RATHER EMPTY FOR ITS SIZE. Lucia followed behind Percy and Thalia as they passed the armory, two twins picking the lock to the camp store, and what Percy said were a few kids from the Ares cabin having a snowball fight with wood nymphs at the edge of the forest.