JAWBREAKER

𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙞𝙭

Warren was scheduled for the climbing wall that afternoon, but she decided to ditch. Chiron wouldn't be too upset if he found out, she'd mastered that obstacle years ago, and it had been a long, stressful morning. In less than a day she'd be in the Labyrinth, and Warren wasn't about to spend her last hours above ground doing camp activities.

Instead, she trudged across the volleyball court, past the dining pavilion, and toward the Pegasus stables.

The long wooden outbuilding was filled with the smell of fresh hay and the sound of neighing horses. Warren peered inside, seeing a handful of campers mucking the stalls. At the very end of the row was Percy, talking to a stunning midnight stallion: Blackjack, his pet Pegasus.

Blackjack whinnied, and whatever he said must've been hilarious, because Percy laughed loudly.

"How's the handsomest boy doing?" Warren asked as she approached.

Percy turned to her and grinned. "I'm alright."

"I was talking to the horse," she replied, passing Percy and stroking Blackjack's mane. He snorted happily and Percy rolled his eyes.

"You're only making his ego worse."

Blackjack stomped his hoof, and Warren didn't need to speak horse to understand that he resented that comment.

"Yeah, yeah," Percy said, playfully pushing Blackjack's shoulder. "You know I'm right."

"Well I still think you're gorgeous," Warren reassured. "But do you mind if I borrow Percy for a while?" He bobbed his head and she thanked him.

"What's up?" Percy asked as they exited the stables.

"My afternoon is unexpectedly free," she shrugged. "I thought we could do something. One last day in the sun."

"What did you have in mind?"

Warren slipped her hand into his. "You'll see."

Twenty minutes later the two were deep in the woods, farther than they usually went for capture the flag, as well as the opposite direction. They were headed to the northwestern tip. The foliage and underbrush was thick, and there were no worn in footpaths. Percy wondered how Warren knew where she was going, but she walked steadily ahead with confidence. A twig snapped in the distance.

"Am I going to need my sword?" Percy asked. "We're pretty deep into monster territory."

"They won't bother us here."

"Why not?"

"Because of that," Warren pointed to something up ahead. It was a large rocky outcropping that marked the border of camp. It was fifty feet high and stretched about a mile in each direction. Thick fingers of ivy dripped down its mossy face.

"Ren, those are rocks. I don't think monsters have a problem with rocks."

"You're lucky you're cute," she said. "It's behind the rocks, Jackson."