Elizabeth Potter

Chapter 9

Carlos and Coco had been gone for a month, but it felt like an eternity. My cabin was finished, so I moved all my stuff in. I collected things from the beach to decorate. I also began to get really clingy to Chiron and Dionysus. Luckily, they didn't seem to mind. I would sit at the picnic table with them, follow Chiron to his lessons, and stand beside Dionysus when he made announcements. Everyone was talking about me, but I didn't care. I was so scared that Chiron or Dionysus would leave next. Chiron or Dionysus was by my side when I fell asleep, and Chiron or Dionysus was there when I woke up. Calla and Strider as well, of course.

One day in October, I was sitting with Chiron while he played a card game with Mr. D. Calla slept on my shoulders, and Strider stayed on my lap. I was looking off into the distance when I noticed something. Way far off. I saw three-no four figures. They were sprinting towards camp. As they got closer, I saw that they were being chased. What looked like hundreds of monsters followed them. I leapt from my spot on Chiron's lap, startling Calla and Strider, and started to run to the border; Calla leapt from my shoulders and ran with Strider next to me. I pulled my bow into my hands, and once the monsters were close enough, I started shooting. I heard Chiron behind me. The arrows weren't doing much, but Calla and Strider were. They had both gone outside the borders and dug their teeth and claws into the monsters. Chiron and I could only stand helplessly and watch. The oldest girl shoved the youngest girl and the saytr across the border. I immediately ran over and held the two back as they tried to run back to the fight. The boy attempted to continue fighting, but the girl judo-flipped him and kicked him into camp, where Chiron grabbed him. I watched as the girl was overwhelmed. She fell backward, directly into a rock. As she lay dying, a god appeared. It looked like Zeus, but I had been around him long enough to tell that it was Dionysus. He banished all the monsters with a snap. Dionysus turned back to the dying girl and placed his hand on her forehead. I heard him whisper to me and Chiron only, "Zeus saved her," And then he was gone. We watched as the dying girl transformed into a beautiful pine tree.

Chiron and I carried the girl and boy to the infirmary. I sat with them as the Apollo kids did check up on them. Neither one talked. They were still grieving. The girl was silently crying as the boy held her. He had a glare set on his face, and he would glance at the sky every now and then. Eventually, I couldn't take the silence.

"I'm Eliza," I said, and the tension broke like a dam, "What are your names?" The boy glared at me, but his expression softened when he realized what I was doing.

"I'm Luke. Son of Hermes. This is Annabeth. Daughter of Athena," He told me softly. I smiled.

"It is good to meet you. This is Calla, she doesn't like people. And this is Strider. He loves people," I said, pointing to the respective cat. Annabeth's eyes widened as she looked at the wolves. Words began to flow out of her.

"Oh my goodness. That is so cool! Where did you get them? I saw them attack a lot of monsters. Are they magic cats? Do they protect you from everyone? How long have you known them? Calla is so pretty! Her black fur matches her eyes. I like your hair. It is a really silky red. Is the underpart seafoam green? Did you dye your hair? Is your hair damaged because of it? Is your hair naturally red?" She just kept going and going. Until Luke placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Annabeth, take a breath. I think you're overwhelming her," Luke said with a chuckle. Annabeth bit her lip and looked at me. I was in a state of shock, not expecting that. Then Annabeth seemed to realize something. She turned to Luke.

"You laughed. You haven't laughed in weeks," She said, tearing up. Luke also noticed this.

"Thalia would want us to laugh," He said bravely. His voice cracked a tiny bit, and his eyes got a bit glossy. But no tears ever fell.