𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑔𝑛𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑒¹

𝐷𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑁𝑒𝑤 𝐹𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑠

‧̍̊˙· 𓆝.° ｡˚𓆛˚｡ °.𓆞 ·˙‧̍̊

WITH THE WATER FIASCO, campers became hyper aware of Percy, staring and pointing at him, Annabeth, and Astoria. Either they were talking about his abilities or pointedly staring at the dripping wet girls. Regardless, Annabeth continued the tour. When she finished, they returned to the canoeing lake where the cabins lay ahead.

"I've got training to do," Annabeth said flatly. Dinner's at seven thirty. Just follow your cabin to mess hall." She turned to Astoria. "Since you aren't assigned a cabin, you'll be fine sitting anywhere."

"Got it."

"Annabeth, I'm sorry about the toilets." Percy apologized guiltily. Chase only rolled her eyes.

"Whatever."

"It wasn't my fault." He insisted.

The two girls looked at him skeptically. Then it dawned on him.

"You need to talk to the Oracle," Annabeth said.

"Who?"

"The prophecy giver, Percy," Astoria explained. "And I'm pretty sure its a 'what', not 'who'," her eyes met Annabeth's for confirmation. The child of Athena nodded.

"I'll ask Chiron to get you consulted."

Percy stared at the lake. 'Oh boy.' Astoria saw the naiads below the water. They giggled amongst each other while pointing at Percy. They smiled as they waved, and Percy reciprocated their actions.

"Don't encourage them," Annabeth warned. "Naiads are terrible flirts."

"Naiads," Percy repeated, feeling completely overwhelmed. "That's it. I want to go home now."

"What," Astoria blanched. She could never understand his logic, even when reading the books. "so you see a huge lava wall, your teacher turns out to be a mythical figure, gods exist, there's flying horses and satyrs, and you've got powers, but the moment you find out naiads are flirts you want to go home?" Percy seemed to have no qualms with it, confusing her even more.

Annabeth frowned. "Don't you get it Percy? You are home. This is the only safe place on earth for kids like us."

"You mean, mentally disturbed kids?"

"I mean not human. Not totally human, anyway. Half-human."

"Half-human and half-what?"

"I think you know."

"It's a little too late to be acting ignorant, Kelp Head." Astoria shook her head.

"God," he said. "Half-god."

"And he finally understands." Astoria threw her hands up in the air.

Annabeth nodded. "Your father isn't dead, Percy. He's one of the Olympians."

"That's... crazy."

"Is it? What's the most common thing gods did in the old stories? They ran around falling in love with humans and having kids with them. Do you think they've changed their habits in the last few millennia?"

"I'm surprised they don't get bored of it." Astoria admitted.

"But those are just-" Percy stopped himself. He almost said myths again. "But if all the kids are half-gods-"

"Demigods," Annabeth corrected. Astoria nodded. "That's the official term. Or half-bloods."

"Then who are your dads." He pointed to them both. Astoria clenched her fist, and Annabeth's hand tightened around the pier railing.