𝐒𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐎𝐖 ༄ ᴘercy ᴊᴀᴄᴋꜱᴏɴ

i get drooled on

I groaned and sat up from where I was laying on the tree platform, my back sore from where I had been leaning onto the wooden deck.

The sun had already risen, and from the camp I could hear sounds of movement and some people bustling about.

Oh god. I had overslept. I burst into movement, hiking back down the tree groggily. 

I was so stupid.

From what I could remember of last night, I had told Katie that I was just going for  a short while, but now that it was already morning? I knew that Katie cared about me to some extent, enough that she might go and tell the rest of the Demeter cabin or Lee or (gods forbid) Chiron. Or even -  and this was the very worst case scenario - she might even go to Annabeth or Kai.

Annabeth was insanely perceptive, and could see through any of my lies and would call me out on it too. Kai was insanely perceptive (when it came to me) and would also figure out what was wrong immediately, just by an accidental expression or the wrong eye movement. I didn't want them two to deal with my baggage. I knew both of them had too much on their plate without my extra load.

And it'd be a hard conversation.

How would you go about telling your closest friends that you've been repeatedly seeing their dead bodies displayed as their spoils of war, after a battle they lost? How would I go about telling them fighting was pointless? Our victory is doomed. The end of us is inevitable.

I couldn't.

I can't.

I groaned in frustration, pausing to kick at the grass. This was such a mess.

I didn't even know what my dreams meant. Or who the man was. I could tell Chiron, but I didn't know how he'd react. What if he thought I was going to turn and join Luke? The man in my dreams had essentially prophecised I would.

I could talk to Persephone. Although I was never truly going to get over what she did, our relationship was slowly mending. And she was a goddess. She'd be able to help me, or at least give me an insight into her dreams. And she would help me, because even though she did forget for 10 years, I was still her daughter.

Persephone had been alive for eons. She must have so much knowledge, from both her own experiences and what she learnt from Demeter and Hades. As much as I disliked it, the best idea would be to seek her help and advice.

But how would I get her attention?

I stopped my walking and stood still on the path, my body unmoving. I clasped my hands together and looked at the sky. How does a prayer go again?

"Oh...Persephone. Uh, mother. Please can you visit me soon. In a dream or.. some other way. There something important I feel like I just discuss with you." I paused. What else was I meant to say? "I promise that I'll plant a flower in your name. Thanks. See you, hopefully."

I nodded up at the sky, hoping she was actually listening and I wasn't just making a fool of myself. I waited two moments for something to happen. Maybe a little flower to sprout from the ground, or a little bunny to roll in front of me. Anything to make me feel like she was there, like she was listening.

There was a rustle from the bushes. I turned quickly, watching for any movement or another rustle. My hand reached up for my hairpin and I unclipped it, turning it into my sword, Kalon.

I fidgeted with the handle of Kalon. There was nothing in the bushes. It was empty space. I was alone. Yet my gut told me that this wasn't completely true.

I took a step along the pathway, a slight and subtle movement, but as soon as I did, a low growl rang from the trees. I froze.

I stared at the spot where the growl came from. There was nothing there. Only the green of bushes and flora. There was no creature I had learnt about that could growl that loudly, and hide in a metre tall bush. Maybe it was a harmless fox?