𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐑, percy jackson

₀₀₃. spoiled kid vs dick-ish gods

Percy had never seen Camp Half Blood in the winter before, and the snow surprised him.

The camp had the ultimate magic climate control. Nothing gets inside the borders unless the director, Mr. D (the god Dionysus), wants it to. Percy had thought it would always be warm and sunny, but instead the snow had been allowed to fall lightly. Frost covered the chariot track and the strawberry fields. The cabins were decorated with tiny flickering lights, like Christmas lights, except they seemed to be balls of real fire. More lights glowed in the woods, and weirdest of all, a fire flickered in the attic window of the Big House, where the Oracle dwelt, imprisoned in an old mummified body.

"Whoa," Nico said as he climbed off the bus. "Is that a climbing wall?"

"Yeah," Percy said, unfocused, glancing back at Ivory and Apollo. The two of them seemed deep in some kind of gossip.

"Why is there lava pouring down it?"

"Little extra challenge. Come on. I'll introduce you to Chiron. Zoe, have you met—"

"I know Chiron," Zoe said stiffly. "Tell him we will be in Cabin Eight. Hunters, follow me."

"I'll show you the way," Grover offered.

"We know the way."

"Oh, really, it's no trouble. It's easy to get lost here, if you don't"—he tripped over a canoe and came up still talking—"like my old daddy goat used to say! Come on!"

Zoe rolled her eyes, figuring there was no getting rid of Grover. The Hunters shouldered their packs and their bows and headed off toward the cabins. As Bianca di Angelo was leaving, she leaned over and whispered something in her brother's ear. She looked at him for an answer, but Nico just scowled and turned away.

"Take care, sweethearts!" Apollo called after the Hunters, who glanced back to glare at him.

Ivory, beside him, laughed so hard she was on the floor. Apollo, too, bent over laughing.

"What's so funny?" Percy faked a smile.

"They're so stiff, bro," Ivory said, fighting to breathe, "They clearly need to get laid."

Percy had never seen a God show this much emotion; Apollo had tears in his eyes at this point. The black haired boy really couldn't see what was so funny, probably missing some sort of inside joke.

"Watch out for those prophecies, Percy. I'll see you soon." Apollo winked.

"What do you mean?"

Instead of answering, he pecked Ivory's cheek, "I'll see you around, babe."

"Sure you will," Ivory's arms were crossed, rolling her eyes.

He hopped back in the car. "Later, Thalia," he called. "And, uh, be good!"

He gave her a wicked smile, as if he knew something she didn't (which, based on the fact that he was the god of prophecies, he probably did). Then he closed the doors and revved the engine. The demigods turned aside as the sun chariot took off in a blast of heat. When they looked back, the lake was steaming. A red Maserati soared over the woods, glowing brighter and climbing higher until it disappeared in a ray of sunlight.

Nico was still looking grumpy, and Percy wondered what his sister had told him.

"Who's Chiron?" he asked. "I don't have his figurine."

"Our activities director," Percy said. "He's... well, you'll see."

"If those Hunter girls don't like him," Nico grumbled, "that's good enough for me. Let's go."