The Eclipse, Percy Jackson

Chapter 5

It didn't take me too long to pack. I had my clothes, some money (drachma and dollars), a book for when I got bored - Little Women-, food, nectar and ambrosia, and toiletries. I had all of this in a purse of the sunset. It is small but has an expanding charm on the inside, kind of like Mary Poppins. It was a gift from my father on my 11th birthday.

I had already told Drew that I was going on a quest and she enveloped me in a hug. If anyone asks, it didn't happen though. What would happen if people knew Drew was kinder than she let on?

I was in my cabin and I noticed ηλιοβασίλεμα (sunset) was missing.
What a brilliant start.
I didn't want to ask around because that would just be too embarrassing so I decided to go look on the training field to see if I left it there. After that, I could go see Luke and say goodbye.

***
Luke was already in the arena killing two birds with one stone.

“Drommy!” Luke called me over. I only ever let my siblings call me that but Luke is. He's like a brother to me– an older brother who's too protective. Clarisse also calls me that and Drew but my relationship with Clarisse was odd. Some days we'd get along, others, to keep it simple, we don't.

“Yeah. You haven't seen Sunset have you?” I asked hopefully. “Actually, that's what I wanted to talk to you about.” He took Sunset from behind his back. Phew I thought I'd lost it. “Here. When you were training it somehow went slanted. I don't know if it was just because of too much pressure but you didn't notice.”
“So you took it to fix it as a surprise.” I guessed.
“Well yeah,” he said. “I didn't expect you to be going on a quest so I thought I had a bit more time but I did as best I could.”
“Thank you so much I was freaking out. I thought Apollo was going to kill me for losing his gifts.”

I didn't see anything wrong with it so just sheathed it next to ανατολή ηλίου (Sunrise). “I'm going to Thalia's tree now. Are you coming with me?”
“Yeah,” he put his arm over my shoulders and we started walking. “I still need to say goodbye to Annabeth and I have a gift for Percy.”
“Well that's nice of you.” I thought he grimaced but I must have been imagining things as it was gone the second I thought I saw it.
“I suppose. Just make sure you don't touch them. Percy will really need them.”
That's a weird request. “You know I wouldn't.”
“I know just be as safe as you can be. It's bad enough going with four people. I know it can be considered a good number but the best is three.”

We made our way up the hill, Chiron, Argus, Annabeth, Grover and Perseus were already there.

“Hey!” Luke said, “I just wanted to say good luck. And I thought… um maybe you could use these.” Annabeth was blushing like she normally did around Luke. She always looked up to him and the crush started about 5 months ago. I finally saw what Luke's gift was: the trainers that grew wings. Perseus looked pretty underwhelmed until Luke said Maia.

“Awesome,” Grover said.
“Luke smiled, “those served me well when I was on my quest. Gift from dad. Of course, I don't use them much these days…” his expression turned sad.

“Hey, man,” Perseus said. “Thanks.”
“Listen, Percy…” Luke looked uncomfortable. “A lot of hopes are riding on you. So just… kill some monsters for me, okay?”

They shook hands, Luke patted Grover's head between his horns, next gave a goodbye hug to Annabeth then one to me.

After Luke was gone Perseus said to Annabeth, “you're hyperventilating.”
“Am not.”
“Oh yeah you are.” I added. Perseus looked shocked that I backed him up but continued, “you let him capture the flag instead of you, didn't you?”
“Oh… why do I want to go anywhere with you two?”
She stomped down the other side of the hill where a white SUV waited on the shoulder of the road. Argus and I followed after her.