Moving On | Percy x Artemis

twelve

P E R C Y 

When I wake up after a restless night's sleep, the sun is shining through the thin walls of my tent and the earth smells sweet. It's all far too happy for my liking. I don't want to leave my tent because I really don't want to talk to Artemis again. But the sun is warm and I think I smell breakfast cooking so I pull my shirt on and climb out of the tent. 

The camp looks much prettier in the morning sunlight than it did last night. It seems almost friendly, little girls tripping over each other, laughing and talking excitedly. Something tugs in my chest as I realise it reminds me of Camp Half-Blood. Mornings of chatter and friends who live next door, the smell of freshly cooked breakfast filling the air. 

And her. 

I do not want to think about her right now. Not when the sun is shining and the world feels right. I shake my head and look around for Thalia, I want to talk to her, a small part of me is desperate for news from home. Artemis had mentioned my mother last night and it hurt too much remembering her, because she really was the only reason I would ever go back. 

I find Thalia sitting at the edge of the camp, keeping watch. Her bright eyes are wary as she scans the surroundings, just seeing her brings back a million unwanted memories. Maybe this was a bad idea. 

But then she turns and sees me and there is no running away now. 

"Hey," She says, not exactly smiling, but not frowning either so I take that as a good sign. 

"Guard duty?" I ask, sitting down beside her. 

She nods and scans the horizon again. "You are a wanted man after all." 

"So Artemis mentioned my mom," I say, straight to the point. "Did you get to see her? Is she okay?" 

I hadn't realised just how much I missed my mom until now. I was desperate for one of her hugs and some blue waffles. 

Thalia's face softened slightly. "She's as good as can be expected. Her only son did just disappear without saying goodbye though." 

Her words sting but only because of how true they are. And yet no matter how tempting blue food and my mom's hugs are, I know that going back would just ruin me more. Every little thing already reminds me of her and our walk through hell. It would be too much. 

I don't look at Thalia, I don't want to see her judgemental look. "You know why I left though, don't you?" 

She takes a minute to reply. "I get it Percy, she was everything to you." 

Everything. 

"I know how it feels to lose someone you love," her voice sounds bitter. "Pretty much every person on the planet loses someone at some point. But do you know what we do? We move on because if we mourned them forever we would lose ourselves too, and that's just weak." 

Weak. I am weak. 

She sounds so disappointed in me. I honestly can't blame her.

"You have been running for two years now Percy, and where has it gotten you?" 

Nowhere. She still haunts my dreams and my thoughts just as much as she did two years ago. 

I still will not answer Thalia. Her words are so straightforward, so honest and they are leaving cuts behind them. I didn't come here to hear the truth, I came here for sympathy, she lost a friend in Annabeth too. I guess a little part of me wanted justification for what I'd done. 

"It's gotten you nowhere." Thalia answers her own question, her voice slowly becoming more angry. "You're being selfish."

"I guess that means you think I should go back, huh?" I finally ask, my voice a lot quieter than I wished. 

"It's your decision Percy, all I'm saying is to start thinking about how your decisions are affecting others." She stands up as if her point is made, just in time for a girl to call out behind us that breakfast is ready. 

Before I had been so sure that never going back was the only option. Now I don't know what to do. I just wish everything wasn't so complicated. I just wish Annabeth was still here to enjoy this beautiful morning with me. 

I wonder if I'll ever be able to move on like Thalia suggested. 

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author's note

will percy stay or will he go? 

thanks for all the votes and reads! you guys are the ones that keep this story going! things are about to get exciting really soon. 

please remember to comment, i love hearing your opinion :) 

xoxo