him, in all of his glory.

17. 𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨

Our final day had finally arrived, and my feet just couldn't anymore.

I woke up feeling like shit. My heels had blisters and my soles felt like I had been walking on lego pieces all day. But after realizing the pain, I couldn't stop thinking about that kiss and the fact that it's our last day. I MEAN PERCY KISSED ME!!! I was way too chill about that yesterday. It was incredible. I mean they're had been tension since forever. Yesterday all that tension and weight had finally lifted off my shoulder. Thinking about it now made me want to kiss Percy right now. But I could hear Malcolm outside of my tent, so probably not the best time.

Also, I'm really scared. About the whole necklace sacrifice. "A necklace that will cost so much" didn't exactly make me feel reassured. I tried not thinking about it too much but then also we are hours away from making it to the cave. If it is the right cave even. Ah fuck it, I'm overthinking it. I'm grateful I made it this far, I mean I could have been dead on that train. Or in Chicago. Or even when me and Percy encountered Lamia. But even Lamia said it, "how are you still alive child? It can't be a coincidence."

I meditated some to try and call down before getting out of my tent and getting some bread for breakfast.
"Goodmorninng Sunny, ready to finally end our quest?" Malcolm asked me. I smiled and nodded.
"First however we have to talk to camp Jupiter, I need to talk to Chiron." I said to him.
"Should we wait for Percy?" Malcolm asked
"Actually I think it's best if I just talked to them. I have something important to ask Rachel anyway. I truly hope you don't mind." I said.
"It's fine! I get it. Here's a golden drachma. I'll just be finding some wood. If you need anything!" Malcolm said while putting his hand on my shoulder. I nodded and hugged him. He walked away.

I found a little water spring and as the sun was shining at it, in the little droplets, a rainbow formed. It was perfect. And so I threw my drachma and said; "Oh Iris, goddess of the Rainbow, please accept my offering."
Next thing I knew a curly haired guy showed up and a ginger I knew all too well.
"Rachel?" I asked and her head turned around.
"Oh my Gods! You look so different!" She said, I laughed. When I first arrived I looked normal but I guess a road trip, hitchhiking and being chased down by monsters will change you.
"Look it's just me, but I wanted to check in."
I looked at the curly haired guy on her right. He smiled and had this mischievous look on his face.
"Oh yeah this is Leo Valdez, a Hephestus son. A half blood just like you." Rachel announced.
"Nice to meet you finally, I heard loads about you. Guess I'm not the only one with cool fire powers anymore." He smiled.
"Wait, but your dad was Hephaestus right? How come you have the same powers?" I asked him.
"I guess we are a bit different. Mine's actual fire, yours is sunney powers? I mean still cool, basically the same thing. Just different dads" Leo said.
"Enough talking. Camp has been a disaster. Chiron has been helping but it's not doing much. Basically the same things that have been happening to camp Half Blood have also been happening at camp Jupiter. Monsters evade camp quickly. And they're way too powerful. Even the 'easy' ones are harder to defeat. I'm not sure how much we can withstand." Rachel announced.
"Well that isn't good. I'm just wondering that even when I retrieve the necklace then what happens? I can't defeat all those monsters, and I certainly can't be at both camps at once." I said.
"You're right. But I have this feeling that when you do retrieve that necklace your odyssey won't be over. Remember what we talked about in the stables?" Rachel said.
"Frankly I haven't figured out what all that meant. Because neither you, Chiron or Percy has told me anything about all that shady stuff." I replied angrily. Maybe I shouldn't have responded with that but I was a bit upset at all that cryptic stuff they had been keeping from me.
"I understand your anger. Just meet me and Leo back at camp whenever you get back to camp Halfblood. I'll tell you everything, I promise. Chiron will also be there." Rachel announced as Leo was nodding his head. I nodded back.
"Alright Rachel, you owe me that much." I said.
Leo laughed. "I like her. It was nice meeting you, hopefully we get to see each other soon." Leo said.
"Likewise Leo. I just hope we won't die." I said.
They both laughed and nodded.
"Goodluck, you guys will be fine." Rachel said and I glanced at them for one last time as the message ended. I sat next to the river contemplating all my choices. It was time to get up.