The Legend of Elodie Grant (Percy Jackson Fanfiction)

Chapter Twelve

"That is a dire situation indeed."

I whirled around to glare at Chiron. I was completely shocked. Was he not going to anything about this? Even the campers knew something needed to be done about this, yet all Chiron could say was that it's a dire situation.

I opened my mouth to snap at him, but Arsen stepped in front of me, cutting me off. I grumbled slightly, crossing my arms and resting my head on Arsen's back. I could feel his muscles flex underneath me and I blushed, whipping away from him.

I couldn't believe I just did that, in front of the camp director, nonetheless.

"What are we going to do?" Arsen asked, seemingly unfazed.

"We're not going to do anything."

I stepped around Arsen to meet Chiron's eyes. I said, "What to you mean?"

"The gods have forbidden me from interfering." He told us, sighing gently. "In fact, I've been ordered to leave the camp in the meantime. You are being tested by the gods."

"Tested?!" I exclaimed, "Tested for what?!"

"No one knows the ways of the gods, Elodie." Chiron said, "We don't always know why they are doing something until after its done."

"They need to get over themselves!" I snapped, "We are not pawns for them to play with!"

Thunder boomed and I glared up at the sky. We were on the porch of the big house, in clear view of the gods. They a were clearly unhappy with my words, but I was too angry with them to care.

"It's true!" I snarled up into the air.

Thunder boomed louder and Arsen growled at me, yanking my body close to his side to stop me. I blushed as I hit his chest. He kept me close and leaned down.

"Stop hassling the gods, Elodie." He whispered into my ear, "We are not losing you because you feel angry."

I blushed and backed away from him, my cheeks bright red. I turned back to Chiron, crossing my arms over my chest. I leaned against the porch railing, glowering down at the floor.

"We need to know what to do Chiron." Arsen said, taking charge of the situation again.

"I cannot help you."

I glared at him, standing up right.

"Then you are useless." I snapped.

With that, I turned and stormed away, hopping straight over the porch railing. I heard both men call to me, but I ignored them, racing away.

I was halfway back to my cabin when I slammed into Brooke. I careened backwards, wincing. Brooke reached out and grabbed me, steadying us both.

"I'm sor--"

"What the hell is wrong with this camp?" I demanded angrily, "Is it always this big of a mess?"

Brooke watched me with calm, blue eyes, watching me as I fumed. My fists were clenched, and I could feel my face going red with my frustration.

"Let's go for a walk." She announced, wrapping her arm around my shoulders. She turned us towards the beach and we began to walk.

"The camp borders are becoming nonexistent and all the camp director can do is say 'Whoops, you're on your own.'" I ranted, my brows furrowing, "How are we supposed to be training to survive without someone to train us?! Chiron is leaving the camp to fend for itself as we are attacked constantly."

I dug my toes into the sand, breathing in the ocean air. The waves crashed against the shore, and my voice echoed slightly.

"We are children, for goodness sake!" I continued, "What do the gods expect us to show them? Why would they test us in a time of peace? Whatever is in our future must be hella bad if they are resorting to attacking us in our own safe haven."

I groaned and plopped down into the sand, my legs splaying out in front of me. I dropped down, so that I was laying on my back, tossing my arm over my eyes to block the sun.

"Why is this 'test' so sudden?" I asked, sighing. 

"It's not sudden at all, Elodie." Brooke finally spoke up, saying something for the first time since we ran into each other.

I moved my arm so that I was looking at her with one eye. I raised an eyebrow and asked, "What do you mean?"

"You're strong."

I pulled my arm off my eyes completely and sat upright to look at her. Brooke was staring out over the water, a distracted look on her face.

"What does that have to do with anything?" I asked, bewildered.

"The gods sent you to us for a reason." She told me, "They know something big is going to happen, and they sent you, because you are an integral part to the camp's future."

I looked over the water, listening carefully to her words. What she said made sense, but I couldn't see how I could do anything to help the camp. I was new, inexperienced, and I'd already gotten in too many fights. I've only been here a couple of days and I had already called the camp director useless!

I couldn't be the key to the camp's survival.

Yet, it made a weird sort of sense.

"Nobody has been able to do what you've done in a long time." She continued, "You challenge everything in a way that hasn't been done in decades."

I pulled my feet up underneath me, sifting the sand through my fingers.

"If this was chess, you'd be the gods' Queen. The game is either lost or won, depending on you."

"No pressure, right?" I giggled, shaking my hair out.

Brooke laughed along side of me, before standing up and shaking sand out of her fur. She moved in front of me and held out her hand.

"Come on." She said, flashing me a smile, "It's almost curfew."

I looked over at the dying sunlight and realized that she was right. I hadn't realized how much time had passed. I pulled myself to my feet and brushed the sand off my bare legs.

"Thanks, Brooke." I said, smiling over at her.

She didn't say anything for a moment, her head tilting to the side. Finally she smiled.

"The harpies will be out soon, let's go."