Percy's POV
I woke up the next day with a headache so bad it hurt to even open my eyes. I don't even think it was daylight yet. I laid as still as I possibly could, trying to get my headache to at least go down. I ignored any and all noises, smells and even anything I could feel. Unfortunately, someone coming in my room made that impossible.
"Tiger? You up?" M.J asked. I groaned. "Oh, head hurts?" I nodded. "I'll be back." She said and left my room. She came back a few moments later and walked in front of me. "Here's some water." She said. I took a deep breath and opened my eyes. The headache flared with a burning passion making me wince. I sat up and accepted the glass. After downing the entire glass, my headache had subsided at least enough for me to let my regeneration to do its job. It was slow working, but working nonetheless.
"Thanks M.J." I smiled at her. She kissed my cheek and stood up. "No problem, when'd you get back?" I thought about it. When did I get back. Ugh, stupid spirit. Messing up my normally perfect memory. "Um, yesterday I think." I answered. "Yesterday?" She murmured. "No one saw you." She said. "Oh, someone saw me. No doubt about that." I grunted and stood up. "Who saw you?" I grimaced at the question. "I missed you." M.J gave me a look and folded her arms. I rolled my eye and pecked her lips.
"Come on. They're probably talking about on the news." I said and walked out of my room. Mary Jane followed me. My mom is sitting on the couch, a cup of tea in her hands. When she saw me, she jumped up and ran to me. She hugged me tightly, putting as much strength as she could into it. Like she felt that I'd disappear if she let go. I hugged back, making sure not to crush her. "I was so worried." She said.
"I told you that I'd be fine." I whispered back, but she just shook her head. I held her until she felt it was ok to let go. She pulled back and looked at me, caressing my cheek and smile. Her eyes watered making me sigh and wipe her eyes. "Hey, hey. No tears. Just cause I'm a son of Poseidon doesn't mean I like all forms of water." I joked. "My gods. Your jokes are just as bad as your fathers." She laughed. "Hey, I like to think my jokes are pretty good." I said with a smile. "Only when you're trying to insult someone." Mary Jane patted my shoulder.
"You guys are mean." I sulked, but was glad I managed to distract my mom from her worry. "Chiron called a few minutes ago. He asked if you'd be staying year round." She said. "Absolutely not. I have way too many people to see to stay at camp year round." I said. She laughed. "I still don't know how you did it." My mom said causing me to shrug. "If you manage to figure it out please tell me cause I have no clue." I shrugged. "Whenever I ask they just say...." Mary Jane cut me off. "The fact that you don't know means you deserve it all the more." She said.
"See! What does that even mean?!" They laughed at me. "Ugh, I'm gonna visit camp to talk to Chiron and my former quest mates. Then I'll be back here to talk with you mom. M.J, I'll meet you and anyone else you can get at Chinatown. I'm in the mood for Asian food." She nodded. "Oh, Bayonetta and Jeanne are out of town right now, doing something." She said with a shrug. "Meh, just less people to beat me up." I said.
"I'll tell them you said that when they get back." She smirked. "I will literally pay you not to." I said. "Be back in a bit." I kissed my mom's cheek, Mary Jane's lips and shadow traveled away. I reappeared in my cabin in Camp Half-Blood. My giant hammer still leaning on a wall. First thing, I picked it up and stored it away. I the left my cabin and rushed to the big house where I assumed Chiron would be. Luckily, I was right. He was sitting on the porch with Annabeth and Grover, all of them with grim expressions. I stopped in front of them, causing them all to jump. "Hey, why the long faces?" I asked.
"Percy! Where were you man?!" Grover asked. "I went to see my mom before coming back. Fell asleep. I guess spending day awake was too much for even me." I lied, knowing I'd get away with it. "Stupid. Why didn't you wake one of us up? We could've taken watch when needed." Annabeth said. I waved her off. "It was nothing. Anyway, why were you so upset? What happened?" I asked again.
"Luke left last night." Chiron explained. "And he took a bunch of undetermined kids with him." Grover said. "Along with some kids of the minor gods." Annabeth tagged on. I nodded. Obviously, I didn't trust or know him enough to care about him leaving, but it's clear that this was hitting these three pretty hard. "Are you waiting for a 'you were right'?" Annabeth asked. I raised my eyebrow. "No? Why would I?" I asked. "You made it pretty clear that you knew Luke was trying to set you up from the beginning." She said. I shrugged. "Yea, I thought. I had no idea." I reaffirmed.
"We couldn't have known and any suspicion is valid until there is enough evidence to either prove or disprove it." Chiron said firmly, trying to stop the seemingly unavoidable argument. Annabeth looked down. She was likely just upset that someone she was so close to just upped and left her. "So, will you be staying year round?" Chiron asked. "No. I wanna spend more time with my mom." He nodded grimly.
"I understand, but please be careful. With Gabe likely gone you'll have no one to hide your scent." I nodded. No need to tell him that I'd be fine. He'd just give me some lecture about being cocky. "I'll be sure to stay safe." He nodded. "Anyway, that was all I wanted to say." I stood straighter, about to run off again. "Actually, one last thing." I looked at the man questioningly. "I'd like to ask for a favor." He said.
"Ok, shoot." I shrugged. "Normally, I leave this to the saytrs, but if you happen to come across any unaware demigods on the, could you send a message to the camp?" He asked. I nodded. "Um, sure. Just send my mom a list of qualities I should look out for. I mean, I doubt that they'll all be like me." I said. "I'll be sure to send them. Good bye Percy. Good luck. I'll see you next summer." Chiron said. "See ya Chiron, see ya next summer. Grover, don't know what you'll be doing, but good luck on whatever it is. You too Annabeth." Grover smiled and gave me a bro hug.
Annabeth didn't acknowledge me. I didn't dwell on it and left the camp, heading for Chinatown.
