𝒎𝒊𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒍 - 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒚 𝒋𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒙 𝒐𝒄

.•°*¯'*¤° 𝑭𝑶𝑼𝑹 °¤*'¯*°•.

"Almost done," Silena smiled, finishing Phoenix's makeup.

"This is pointless," Phoenix said looking at herself. "It's going to disappear in thirty minutes."

"Nope!" Silena smiled and sat down next to Phoenix. "I have a secret weapon."

She pulled out a pink spray bottle.

"Setting spray?" Phoenix asked. "Seriously?"

"Nope, this it magic. I made it. It will make your make up last forever," she smiled and sprayed it on Phoenix's face. "Until you purposely take off your makeup of course."

"Thank you, Silena," Phoenix laughed.

"You have to look gorgeous for Percy."

"Shut up!" Phoenix stood.

"You like him!"

"No!"

Silena gave her a look.

Phoenix sat back down.

"Mhm..." Silena nodded. "That's what I thought. "

"I don't know," Phoenix shrugged. "Feelings are confusing."

"Well, all I know is that you like Percy and he likes you back."

"What?" Phoenix looked at her. "No."

"Yep!" Silena smiled and combed out Phoenix's blonde hair.

She braided it into one braid. Phoenix wore her hair like that often for Bianca and Zoe.

"Okay Phoenix," Silena grinned. "Go get your man."

"I hate you!" Phoenix called walking out the door of the Aphrodite cabin.

"Love you too!" Silena called.

Phoenix turned her head and smiled and then made her way to the woods.

.•°*¯'*¤° ★ °¤*'¯*°•.

Just after dawn, the quest group met at Zeus's Fist. 

Phoenix had packed her knapsack—thermos with nectar, baggie of ambrosia, bedroll, rope, clothes, flashlights, and lots of extra batteries. She had Ardere on her neck, Blaze on her left wrist, and Dove on her right. 

It was a clear morning. The fog had burned off and the sky was blue. Campers would be having their lessons today, flying pegasi and practicing archery and scaling the lava wall. 

Meanwhile, they could be heading underground. 

Juniper and Grover stood apart from the group. Juniper had been crying again, but she was trying to keep it together for Grover's sake. She kept fussing with his clothes, straightening his rasta cap and brushing goat fur off his shirt. Since they had no idea what they would encounter, he was dressed as a human, with the cap to hide his horns, and jeans, fake feet, and sneakers to hide his goat legs. 

Chiron, Quintus, and Mrs. O'Leary stood with the other campers who'd come to wish the six well, but there was too much activity for it to feel like a happy send-off. 

A couple of tents had been set up by the rocks for guard duty. Beckendorf and his siblings were working on a line of defensive spikes and trenches. Chiron had decided they needed to guard the Labyrinth exit at all times, just in case. 

Annabeth, Davey, and Phoenix were doing one last check on their supply packs when Tyson and Percy came over. 

Phoenix frowned. "Percy, you look terrible," she said, brushing random curls out of his eyes.