Things Change

Leo?

Walking out of Bunker 9 was hard. It meant going out into the woods and it meant walking to Camp and it meant he was alive again. Being away was quiet, and it was peaceful. It was relaxing, and it was... comforting. Being back was better. being back meant seeing his friends and training with his siblings. Leo never noticed how much he missed doing these things. Luckily, Festus flew on through the day and night, so he made it back late morning. The sun shone through the leaves majestically and he got more and more nervous with every step he took towards the clearing.

From his location in the woods, Leo could see everything. The Cabins, the Amphitheater, the strawberry fields, and in the distance, the Big House. Campers were walking and talking and laughing. He spotted a few of his siblings a little ways away, but then his eyes finally found what he was searching for. Piper and Jason, seated at the same bench as in his dream. he sprinted out of the woods and made it to the bench, catching his breath before approaching his friends.

When he could finally breathe again, he walked confidently to the two figures sitting in silence. He put an arm around each of the two, and put his head between theirs.

"Did you miss me?" Piper and Jason both jumped forward and turned to face him, weapons raised. Leo put his hands up in defeat and have them a big smile. "Woah... Don't gotta kill me, huh Pipes?" Piper dropped her dagger and leaped over the bench. She tackled Leo and Jason just stood there, mouth agape and, surprisingly, tears coming down his cheeks.

"YOU'RE ALIVE!" Piper yelled, hugging him tightly.

"Yeah, not-" Leo started, gasping for air, "If you don't-" he continued, still struggling for air, "loosen your grip!" He finished.

"Oh gods, I'm so sorry!" Piper loosened her grip and helped Leo back up off the ground. Jason slowly walked over to his friend and looked at him, eyes wide, before embracing him and crying.

"Jace? You alright, bro?" Leo asked him, returning his hug.

"I hate you so much," Jason said.

"Love you, too," Leo chuckled.

When Jason pulled away, he held Leo an arms length away and BAM. Punched him in the jaw.

"Um... ow?" Leo said, hand on his jaw.

"That was for disappearing. For dying. And then for not contacting us sooner." Replied Jason, once again hugging Leo.

Piper let out a relieved sigh, tears escaping her eyes. Tears of relief.

"We have to go tell the others, let's go!" Piper said, grabbing both boys by the wrist and dragging them behind her.

When they arrived at the training arena, Percy and Annabeth were sparring and Frank and Hazel were resting. Nico was in the corner, playing with his skull ring and watching Hazel.

Leo walked boldly up to Percy and Annabeth, and stood there.

"Hey guys, what'd I miss?" Annabeth's reaction was nothing new, she sent him flying to the ground, sword tip to his throat.

"Who," she started, panting, "gave you the RIGHT?" Her gray eyes shone a stormy color and looked just downright scary. Leo gulped.

"Hey," he said, waving up at her. Percy, who was having trouble processing this information, threw Annabeth's sword off the the side and pulled Leo up. He just stared him down. Leo rubbed the back of his neck, "Geez, guys, I didn't mean to spook you..." Just then, Hazel ran to him and hugged him, a shocked Frank not far behind. Hazel cried, and when her and Frank got off of him, Annabeth's expression softened and she hugged him tight. She buried her face in the crook of his neck,

"Promise me you'll never scare me like that again. Promise me."

"I promise," Leo said, and Annabeth pulled back and planted a peck on his cheek.

"We missed you so much, man." Percy said.

"Yeah," Leo said, playing with some scraps of metal in his hand nervously. "Sorry about that. Won't happen again. I learned my lesson," he finished sadly.

"What happened?" Annabeth asked, placing a hand on his shoulder. Leo told them everything that happened with Calypso and even cried a bit when he told the last part, how she used him.

Jason's eyes were full of anger when Leo finished his story, and he promised his friend that no one would ever treat him that way again. Leo smiled at him gratefully.

Just then, a girl about Leo's age came up to the group and wrapped an arm around Nico, who'd joined in on the huddle.

"Supp, guys?" She greeted, "and who's that?" She asked, looking at Leo.