I dream I'm back on Mount Diablo. Gaea's voice laughs, rumbling the mountain. The crater from Jason's sword reappears, and I fall, sliding slowly. The earth cracks open again, and I see that dark pit. It's pitch black. The rumbling from Gaea's laughter shakes the earth, making me slide faster. I can't summon wind, or fire, or anything. My feet reach the edge of the chasm. I can't see a bottom.
"You will join me, one way or another, daughter." Gaea laughs.
My feet slide, and I lose the friction that was holding me up. I grab the side of the canyon, but the darkness seems to be pulling me. I lose my grip, and watch as the earth closes above me, leaving me in complete darkness.
I sit up, shaking and sweating. It takes me a second to recognize my room. My guitar, my tv on the bookshelves in front of my bed. The desk covered in paintings and scraps of metal. The photos on the wall of me, Annabeth, Luke, and other campers as well. Outside of my windows, I see that the sun is just starting to rise. I know I should sleep more, but I'm afraid that I'll have that dream again. I'm not tired anymore anyways, I may as well get up. My wolf is still asleep in a makeshift bed next to mine. I have to think of a name for him. I don't know why he attached himself to me, but he's pretty cute now that his eyes aren't scary and red.
I go downstairs and make myself some tea. I lean against the counter, holding my cold hands against the warm mug. It doesn't feel real, being back here. It feels like I'm still dreaming. I have nothing to do today. I can do what I want. I can go canoeing, or go read my book in the strawberry fields, or go work on the new knife I have in mind.
The first thing I want to do is shower. Oh my gods, I forgot how it feels to take a nice hot shower. I've only been gone for a few days, and I'll never take it for granted again. I finally manage to get all the dirt and dust off of me. Thankfully, Aphrodite had cleaned all of Festus's grease and oil off of me when she left us in California, but this feeling, sitting under the hot water, this is paradise.
I dry my hair, do my makeup, and get dressed. It's still early, no one is really up yet, but I make my way to the basketball court. My wolf follows me obediently. What should I name him? The first thing that pops into my head is Jacob, from the movie with the vampires and werewolves. That's gonna be a no. Then I remember when I watched Game of Thrones. I loved that show. All of the Stark children had pet wolves. My favorite character, Arya, had a wolf named Nymeria. But that's a girl name. Her brother Jon had a white wolf named Ghost, but he's not white. Then it hits me. Stark.
I grin down at him. "Stark. You like it?"
He stares up at me, tilting his head.
"No?" I ask.
He keeps his head tilted.
"Okay," I sigh. "I'll keep thinking."
I pick up a basketball and make a shot. As always, it lands right where I want it, and swishes through the net. This isn't as fun without the Apollo kids to play against. I keep walking to the pier. The sun is rising up above the trees. The campers will be up soon.
My wolf lays down beside me. The name pops into my head instantly. "How do you feel about Heracles?"
He wags his tail, like a happy puppy.
"Heracles it is." I pet his head affectionately for the first time, and he wags his tail harder. It's hard to believe that this beast was trying to kill me not even twenty-four hours ago.
"Theo?" I hear a familiar voice.
"Leo." I grin, looking behind me. "Good morning."
He approaches, and I see he's showered and cleaned up too. "You're up early."
"I couldn't sleep." I tell him, looking back out at the sound. The sunlight is reflecting off the water peacefully.
He frowns, clearly concerned. "Hey, look, I'm taking the Hephaestus cabin to see Bunker Nine today. Do you think you could come with?"
I nod.
He grins and sits down next to me, our legs dangling over the water. "This is a nice spot."
"Right?" I ask. I look over at him, but he looks lost in thought. "You good?"
"Yeah," His face returns to the goofy grin. "Just nervous about everyone knowing I'm a fire user."
"You saved everyone's lives and fought a goddess with your fire. That's not disaster." I rest my hand on top of his, and he turns it so that our fingers are interlaced.
"I hope you're right." He stares into my eyes. "You'll support me, right?"
"Of course." I kiss him on the cheek, and he blushes.
Over the hill, the conch blows for breakfast.
"Come on, time to start the day." I stand and pull him up with me, and we walk hand-in-hand to the dining pavilion.
