Athena's Daughter

Chapter Four

JASON

Jason was an attentive listener as Frank, Hazel, and Percy told their story.  Jason really didn't know what to expect from Percy.  Camp Half-Blood had been Percy this and Percy that, but no one ever told his story.  He had picked up bits and pieces from conversations people had when they would say things like, 'remember when Percy helped Clarisse get the golden fleece,' and 'do you remember when that hellhound showed up and attacked him his first year during capture the flag?'  Most of the campers, when prompted to talk about Percy, talked about the stunts he would pull at camp and shared moments that would reveal parts of his character, but what Jason didn't know, was what Percy had done to be basically worshiped by the camp.  Jason hadn't gotten through his first day of camp before he realized that he was well loved by the people there and it didn't take long after returning from his quest that he began to understand Percy was the glue that held everyone together.  What Jason didn't understand and wanted to know was why Hera had switched him with Percy.  She had told him that his sudden appearance at Camp Half-Blood had been an exchange of leaders.  Jason would have thought that was Annabeth.  It had been clear from almost the beginning that she was Chiron's second and she knew everything there was too know about camp. So why Percy?  As Jason listened to the story of how Percy and Terminus had defeated the giant Polyboteus he thought he was  beginning to understand.

Percy had taken risks during his quest that Jason wasn't sure he would have taken had he been in Percy's place.  Jason noticed those extreme risks occurred when someone he was loyal to was in trouble.  Like when Ella's life was on the line, he drank the gorgon's blood to save her.  Jason had to agree with Annabeth about the risks involved, Gaea could easily have turned on him, but looking back at it he could also see what Percy had seen.  Gaea wanted them alive.  Had Jason been in Percy's place it would have a gamble he would have passed on.  The risk was too high, but that seemed to be what drove Percy.  The higher the stakes the harder he tried and the better he performed.  That was what made him a leader and why Hera had switched him with Percy instead of Annabeth.  Jason had a feeling that if Percy said they were going to war Camp Half-Blood would follow without much thought or argument.  They would follow Percy into battle and trust him with their lives, because he had proven - and Jason was curious to learn how often he had proven- that he valued their lives and he would take the risks involved as a leader to ensure their safety.  Jason felt a twinge of envy at this realization.  He had always had natural leadership instincts which he hated, because he didn't like to be receiving any form of attention, but he knew that Percy was a natural leader of a different kind and one that he could never hope to match.  Jason was quick to take charge and issue orders and make decisions and he did it naturally, but Percy led by his actions.  Of course Percy could issue orders, but his strength in leadership came from a willingness to participate and be one of the first to enter the foray.  Jason had the uncomfortable feeling that if Percy ever had to give up his own life for another's Percy would probably barely hesitate, something that his friends new instinctively.

After listening to Percy, Frank, and Hazel tell their story Jason still wasn't certain of how he felt about Percy.  There was a touch of envy he knew.  It was frustrating to see Percy wearing what should have been his purple cloak, but he had been able to reason it away saying that he had been gone for eight months, Reyna had needed someone.  Now, however he was discovering that Percy had only been at camp for only a week and had only been awake for two months. How had he gotten to be Praetor so soon?  He proved himself to the Romans by defeating Polyboteus.  Jason mentally sighed.  Of course Percy had earned the right, but that didn't stop the grain of jealousy to set in.  After all he had defeated Krios, a titan lord and fought with Polyphiron, king of the giants and defeated Enceladeus another giant.  What had Percy done but defeat one giant, a hellhound, and a couple of griffens?