Charmolypi

Chapter 48

The duo got into a cab, and Percy told her everything. He told her how the pearls would return to the sea, the entire interaction with Ares, how they were able to change the story about the entire situation. He finished by telling her how Hades had returned Sally to the house after he received the helm, and how Poseidon had "gifted" them the head of Medusa to help take care of his stepfather. To say that Thea was impressed was an understatement.

They were the first heroes to return alive to Half-Blood Hill since Luke, so of course everybody treated them as if they were royalty. According to camp tradition, they wore laurel wreaths to a big feast prepared in their honor, then led a procession down to the bonfire, where they got to burn the burial shrouds that their cabins had made for them in their absence.

As soon as Percy and Thea arrived to Camp Half-Blood, the daughter of Zeus was ambushed by hugs and questions from her friends.

"Annabeth said you stayed behind in the Underworld! Are you crazy? That's absolutely insane, T! What were you thinking?" Silena rambled. Charles pulled the daughter of Aphrodite back.

"Calm down, Lena. She's here now and that's all that matters." He told her reassuringly. He proceeded to hug the daughter of Zeus tightly.

Thea was also greeted by a very worried Annabeth and Grover, as well as Luke, Connor, and Travis. Behind them, Clarisse stood with Michael Yew, Lee Fletcher, and Will Solace. The group further back didn't hesitate to do a full body check as soon as the daughter of Zeus was within reach. Once they deemed her physically fine, they allowed her to walk further into camp and attend the festivities.

James had a small, relieved smile on his face, glad that his daughter had people around her who truly cared for her.

Annabeth's shroud was so beautiful-gray silk with embroidered owls Percy told her it seemed a shame not to bury her in it. She punched him and told him to shut up.

Being the son of Poseidon, Percy didn't have any cabin mates, so the Ares cabin had volunteered to make my shroud. They'd taken an old bedsheet and painted smiley faces with X'ed-out eyes around the border, and the word LOSER painted really big in the middle. It was fun to burn.

As for Thea, almost everyone in camp contributed to the making of her shroud. It was made out of white silk with lightning bolts that made it seem as though it was a picture taken in the middle of a storm. It wasn't the typical shroud with a symbol in the middle, it was a shroud that represented Thea as a person.

"It's beautiful..." Narcissa said, amazed by the shroud.

"It really suits her." Bellatrix agreed with her sister.

That night the Apollo Cabin, as well as Thea, led the singalong and passed out s'mores. Percy was surrounded by his old Hermes cabinmates, Annabeth's friends from Athena, and Grover's satyr buddies, who were admiring the brand-new searcher's license he'd received from the Council of Cloven Elders. The council had called Grover's performance on the quest "Brave to the point of indigestion. Horns-and-whiskers above anything we have seen in the past."

The only ones not in a party mood were Clarisse and her cabinmates, whose poisonous looks told the group they'd never forgive Percy for disgracing their dad. But Clarisse sucked it up and sat with Thea and her group of friends, who were sitting slightly in front of Percy and his group.

"You know, I really actually appreciate what Clarisse does for Thea." Remus told his friends.

"What? Why?" Peter asked, expressing the group's confusion.

"She's the only one who actually puts aside her pride so that she can be with the people that care about her." The werewolf explained.

Even Dionysus's welcome-home speech wasn't enough to dampen anyone's spirits. "Yes, yes, so the little brat didn't get himself killed and now he'll have an even bigger head. Well, huzzah for that. In other announcements, there will be no canoe races this Saturday...."