Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian

The Prophecy

Annabeth-

I was talking to Chiron when Percy arrived, emerging from the sea, looking for a moment like his father, Poseidon.

'Percy!' cried Chiron running- or galloping, I guess- towards him. 'Thank the gods. But where...'

I sprinted over towards them. 'What happened?' I panted as a grabbed Percy's arm. My heart sank slightly. 'Is Luke-'

'The ship blew up,' he said. 'He wasn't destroyed. I don't know where-'

At that moment, Silena pushed through the crowd that had gathered around us. The usually impeccably neat girl was in disarray. Her hair was everywhere, and she wasn't even wearing makeup, an unknown for her and the other daughters of Aphrodite.

'Where's Charlie?' she asked, turning around.

Where was Beckendorf? I hadn't seen him since he left with Percy...

The thought finally sank into my mind when Percy glanced at Chiron, looking helpless. Oh, Beckendorf....

Chiron cleared his throat. He looked worried. I didn't blame him. With Olympus under siege, the Great Prophecy about to begin and now our first casualty to the war...

'Silena, my dear, let's talk about this at the Big House-'

'No,' she muttered. 'No. No.'

With that, she burst into tears, sobs muffled by her hands. My heart went out to her. I could have easily been in her position. If Beckendorf had come back instead of Percy....

Looking at him, I felt a sense of guilty relief. I felt terrible for poor Silena, but I was just so glad that Seaweed Brain had made it back home. A small part of me was glad that Luke was still alive too, an emotion I tried to quell. Luke was an enemy now.

After a long and silent pause, Clarisse La Rue stepped forward to pat Silena awkwardly on the shoulder. Generally, she would have been the last person I'd have picked to comfort someone whose boyfriend had just died, but recently, the daughter of Ares had become friends with the gentle head of the Aphrodite Cabin, bonding with her when Silena had given her advice on her first boyfriend. I still couldn't get over the fact that Clarisse actually HAD a boyfriend, given her disagreeable temper. Still, she wasn't all bad.

'Come on, girl,' Clarisse told her gently. 'Let's get to the Big Houses. I'll make you some hot chocolate.'

As the two girls walked off to the Big House, one sobbing on the shoulder of the other, the crowd that had gathered around us dispersed. After Silena's outburst, no one wanted to hear any more news, and feel worse than they already did. The bonfire was going to be very low and dull tonight.

Eventually, Chiron, Percy and I were the only ones left standing.

Percy... At least he escaped. If he had been the one who died, who would have comforted me? Chiron? Malcolm, or one of my other half-siblings?

Realising I had a tear running down my face, I wiped it off.

'I'm glad you're not dead, Seaweed Brain,' I told Percy.

'Thanks. Me too.'

Chiron put his hand on Percy's shoulder. 'I'm sure you did everything you could, Percy. Will you tell us what happened?'

Chiron and I listened carefully as he recounted his misadventure, marvelling at the courage displayed by both Beckendorf and Percy himself, who I was sure had earlier today been spending some 'quality time' with a certain 'friend'- AKA Rachel, whom had a crush on Percy that he seemingly returned. My heart sank a little at the thought of that, and then sank even further as Percy reached the conclusion of his report and told us about the mysterious spy at camp.