𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗿𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀, luke castellan

ᴛᴡᴇʟᴠᴇ

Suspicions Arise.

⚡

    ON THE 14TH OF JUNE, THE CABIN COUNSELORS GATHERED AT THE BIG HOUSE along with Chiron and Mr D to talk about the escalating tension among the campers. Rory was frustrated not knowing what was happening, instead, having to stay out on the Big House porch, restlessly pacing back and forth. She longed to be inside, to be part of the discussion, but she knew she had to wait. Luke had promised to give her a full rundown after the meeting but she hated the anticipation gnawing at her at the fact of waiting around like a sitting duck.

   Maddie spotted her pacing on the porch as she walked past the Big House, her red hair swinging in a ponytail, the muscles in her arms tensing as she held a cluster of training swords over her shoulder.
   
    "You okay?" She asked, stopping in her tracks and frowning as she watched the older girl.
   
    Rory sighed before leaning on the porch railing, her shoulders sagging with the weight of her frustration. "Yeah, just waiting for Luke, counselor meeting."
   
    "About what?" Maddie asked curiously.
   
    "Percy's quest, the whole civil war, you know..."
   
    "Of course it is," Maddie muttered. Rory raised an eyebrow at her response.
   
    "What, what is it?"
   
    Maddie's eyes shifted to the ground in embarrassment. She shuffled her feet nervously. "It's all anyone talks about..."
   
    "Well it's a big deal," Rory replied.
   
    "I guess... I'm just sick of it..."
   
    "What, you jealous?"
   
    Maddie scoffed, her eyes rolling in exasperation. "He was no one a few weeks ago. And now it's like he's Zeus himself."
   
    "Don't be such a baby. Not everything is about you."
   
   Maddie seemed almost taken aback by Rory's response. She was so used to Rory backing up her little fits or at least humoring her, that Rory's straightforwardness caught her off guard. Maddie knew not everything was about her. She knew that. And maybe she was jealous of Percy. After all, he had been at camp for less than a month before immediately receiving a super important quest. Maddie felt a little bit like a failure next to the son of Poseidon. She was no hero on a quest for glory, instead, she was nothing more than a cursed daughter of Ares, a constant magnet for monsters. And here Rory was, making her feel even more worthless, making her feel stupid and immature. Maddie felt—embarrassed.
   
    "I'm—I'm sorry..." she said quietly and Rory sighed at that.
   
    "I didn't mean it like that Mads..."
   
    Maddie shook her head, her voice tinged with a hint of defeat. "It's fine, whatever, you're right."
   
    The girl turned to leave, fighting to ignore the prickling sensation in the corners of her eyes, willing herself to push past the rising tide of anger and self-hatred threatening to engulf her.
   
    "Maddie..." Rory said softly feeling a pang of guilt.
   
    "I'll see you at dinner."

    Rory watched the girl's retreating figure. She felt horrible for what she had said but at the same time, all Maddie ever did was complain. Why did she want a quest so bad? Quests were stupid and bound to end badly, Rory knew that from experience. And besides, why did she want her dad's attention so bad? He wasn't worth it. None of the gods were.

   Before she could worry further however, the disquieting silence was shattered by piercing screams echoing from the direction of the cabins. Rory halted in her pacing, her head snapping up toward the source of the disturbance. The counselors had heard it too, and were emerging from the Big House to see who had caused the commotion. From a distance, it seemed to be another fight, although Rory couldn't tell who the conflict actually involved.

    Chiron, with a resigned sigh, took charge of the situation, dismissing the counselors who scattered off to their respective duties. Meanwhile, Luke joined Rory on the porch, waiting until the others were gone before updating her on the situation.