"Don't dump it on her yet, Nellie!" Someone hissed.
I rolled over and groaned, still mostly asleep.
"Ready?" The girl's voice permeated my dream of my rescue of Nico. That was, if we were ever together again.
"When you spill it on her, run because she'll automatically suspect us."
"That's right, you two hate each other," The other girl, Nellie, said. "Why is that?"
"That's another story for another time, Nellie. Okay, now!"
SPLASH!
"HOLY HERA!" I shrieked and smacked my head on the low-hanging bunk bed. "WHAT IN ZEUS'S NAME IS--"
"Paris?! What're you screaming about?" Annabeth moaned in the bed above mine.
"Someone drenched me in water!" I glowered. Then I realized, the voices that had invaded my dream must've been those of the people who'd poured a bucket of water on me. That meant that the jerks were still nearby.
"Be right back, Annabeth," I jumped up from the soaking sheets and blankets and dashed out of the cabin, but not before I heard Annabeth grumble about early morning risers and water.
As I stepped from the cabin, the fresh morning light trickled across the paths that led around the cabins. Dew glistened on the bright, healthy grass as I darted past.
I saw recent footprints in the dirt that lead into the sprawling, lush greenery. I flew after them and soon caught up with my enemies.
"THALIA!" I yelled.
The Hunter turned on her heel, a wicked grin spreading across her lips, electricity crackling dangerously at her outstretched finger tips.
"Morning, Paris, sleep well?" A hint of cockiness glinted in her eye. The sight of it reminded me so much of Nico that I clutched at my chest, the pain nearly unbearable. "What's wrong with you?"
"I-it's nothing," I spoke hesitantly and uncurled my fingers from my tank top. "I thought you guys weren't coming until later." I eyed Thalia's Barbie doll t-shirt (the one with an arrow through it's blond curls) and spiky hair which made her look like she'd purposely stuck her finger in an electrical socket. Not that she needed an electrical socket to do that, of course.
"Right. Well, we decided to come a little early and get some rest before capture the flag," Thalia's brief moment of concern for my well-being was past as an arrogant expression crossed over her features. "You guys are ready to get your butts kicked again, right?"
"I don't know if Clarisse will--"
"Clarisse will what?" For once, I was glad to hear the snideness that lurked in Clarisse's conceited voice.
"Thalia Grace thinks she can beat us tonight," I ignored Thalia's angry and rather rude comment about me using her last name.
"Really?" Clarisse fingered the handle to her spear, Maimer, the second one she got after her first one was destroyed. That's not a story you want to remind her about, though, if you know what's in your best interest.
"I can." Thalia said simply with a shrug.
"Wh-what's going on?" Someone yawned behind Clarisse.
"Percy?" Thalia craned her neck to pear over the daughter of Ares' broad shoulder. "Percy! It is you!" Thalia rushed forward and around Clarisse, throwing her arms around Percy and squeezing him. Then she pulled back and poked him with a finger. A quiet crackle and yelp was the only eveidence that Thalia was zapping her friend. "How's it going?"
