BY fates design

Returning to England

It was the last day at camp, summer was coming to an end and they had a whole year ahead of them before they came back. It felt strange, nothing had really felt real since Luke left. It caused a stir, paranoia amongst campers, always just a little more apprehensive towards others. The lingering fear of the person you're talking to working with Kronos gnawed away at the once usual family bond of camp.

Cassiopeia was in her cabin, sat quietly on her bed, legs crossed as she stared blankly at the rug on the floor, her fingers fidgeted with Poppy's necklace. She had only one bag packed for the trip home, leaving everything else behind. It wasn't like she needed to take much with her, she had everything she needed at Emrys Cottage or at Hogwarts anyway.

"Poppy," she whispered, "do you think I'm doing the right thing? Staying by the gods, I mean? They... they don't deserve my support, I know that, ultimately Luke is right, the gods are using us as pawns. I don't want to be their pawn. I just, I can't agree with his method, I refuse to trade one manipulator for another. I don't want to be a pawn for the titans, I... I don't know maybe I just feel better sticking to what I know. On a different note, I think Delilah is staying here this year, what do you think about me inviting her to England for Yule, or the solstice?" Of course no reply came. Even still Cassiopeia waited with her thoughts, she liked the younger girl, maybe this was the perfect opportunity to know her better.

Many teared up at the mention of the young, dead, girl. Despite never having known her themselves they couldn't help feeling saddened every time she was mentioned.

Standing up, she flung her bag over her shoulder before walking out of her cabin. She kept going until she reached the worn down cabin of Hermes' children. Stepping in, she greeted the few in there, "hey Chaos, Trix, you two nearly ready to head home? I bet Ruby is missing you, Prewett manor must be pretty lonely all by herself." She smiled over to the twins. They were sat on their bunks, that they may or may not have stolen from two of their siblings.

"Oh you know it, can't wait to be back at the magic." George said. "It feels like forever since we could cast a spell." Fred finished. Cassiopeia laughed, it did feel that way after camp sometimes. She waved to the twins before moving over to a bed at the back of the cabin. It was untouched despite the cabin being so full, the blankets went unchanged and no camper ever occupied it.

Lying against the pillow was an adorable stuffed penguin, it had big blue eyes and a red scarf tied round its neck. Gently, Cassiopeia lifted it her chest, the subtle, lingering sent of cherry and vanilla wafted to her nose. Carefully she set it back down before moving to the trunk at the end of the bed.

She brushed off a layer of dust before flicking it open, staring down at the content. Shirts, shorts, trousers, jumpers all folded neatly, a couple of books in Ancient Greek were piled to the side along with a collection of bits and pieces: shells, stones, crystals, rusted keys, sea glass, hair clips, a lighter, most of which had been stolen or picked of the floor.

Amongst all of this was a stack of letters, carefully preserved, each signed with love from her mother and a photo album filled with pictures of Poppy and her friends from when she was a baby to the day she left on her quest. Cassiopeia smiled as she filtered through the objects, she flicked through pages of the books, fairy tales, until she found something, wedged between the pages of a Greek translation of Goldilocks and the three bears.

It was a Polaroid, that must have been used as a book mark, of Cassiopeia, Poppy and Eddy on her first day at camp, there were three others in the picture that she recognised to be other children of Hermes.

"You look so cute in that picture." Sirius teased the dark haired girl. She rolled her eyes but smiled back. "Of course I do, I was four and adorable."