The Fall of Percy Jackson

The Calm before the Storm

Percy's PoV:

The next couple days following Zade's arrival, he was officially claimed before dinner. There were whispers of disbelief, and a shocked expression going around the dining pavilion. He seemed to be happy.

What I liked about Zade was that he wasn't a cocky jerk like some other powerful demigods; he was humble and modest, much like me. We bonded over activities such as the lava wall, sword fighting (which he was very good at), and in the newly added weight-room. The weight-room was added after the Second Titan War.

Grover was rewarded by Zeus for his actions, and for the safe arrival of his son. Grover, being the humble person that he was, tried to deny Zeus' reward, but ended up accepting in the end. The lord of the sky had told him not to reveal this gift unless necessary and that meant he couldn't even tell me what it was.

At first I was taken aback by Grover's distrust, but I understood when he told me that he had strict orders from Zeus. I did not want Zeus mad at me. Again. I thought. He already disliked me just because I was Poseidon's son, but he had grown a small, secretive yet miniscule soft spot for me I defeated Kronos.

I was heading towards the arena, getting ready to practice on some dummies and teach Zade some new moves, when I heard a familiar horn from the main camp. The hunters of Artemis had arrived. I could see a girl dressed in punk clothes, wearing a tiara, following a girl who looked around 16, with silver hair. Thalia and Artemis. My two favorite people.

Thalia and I were best friends, but Artemis has always hated me for some reason. Probably it's because I am a boy and she kind of founded a group all about hating boys, but I feel like its more than that. However, she had started to like me a little bit more after I took the sky from her back when I was 14. I guess she thought it was a brave thing to do.

I told Zade that it would only be a minute and then I would return. He nodded, and proceeded to practice some of the maneuvers I had taught him. I walked up to the big house, where I saw Chiron welcoming Artemis. Thalia, was looking into the distance, and then she caught my eye.

"KELP-HEAD!" she yelled as she ran towards me. She hug-tackled me, and pinned me to the ground. She punched me in the arm playfully, but it still hurt like Hades.

I pushed her off of me, telling her that it was good to see her too.

"Ow.." I said, rubbing my arm and my back. I turned to Artemis and bowed respectfully. "Lady Artemis," I said.

"Lady Artemis, what brings you to Camp Half-Blood?" Chiron asked quizzically. He looked at Artemis, almost knowing something was off.

"We have decided to rest here as we have researched and tracked an unknown, and mysterious power rising as of late. The presence was first felt at Tartarus, and we do not know what it is. I brought my hunter's here to rest as I report to the gods at a council meeting," she gravely stated. I could see fear in her eyes, as if there was a darkness approaching that even the goddess of the hunt feared.

"Ah, I see," Chiron scratched his beard, a thinking expression on his faced. Artemis ordered the hunters to unpack in the cabin as they would be staying there for the next week, and participating in this week's capture the flag.

I waved goodbye to Thalia, as hurried back to the arena.

Zade's PoV:I had waited for Percy for five minutes before I started to just practice on the dummies. I didn't know what was taking him so long, but I didn't care. I knew it would be some important camp crap that he and the other senior campers handled.

I swung my electric blade blessed by my father at one dummy's neck, severing its head. Immediately I feigned a strike at the second dummy's right arm, and then redirected it into its belly. To make it seem more realistic, I jumped and rolled out-of-the-way of a third dummy, as if he had tried to strike me down. I swept my sword at the third dummy's feet, cutting its legs off.