Chiron was on the deck when I reached the Big House. It's light blue shade and pure white porch were the same as always, comforting me slightly. Chiron's white horsey-flank matched the wooden deck, his tail swishing from side to side.

"Grian." Chiron bowed his head a bit, smile clear on his face.

"Heya Chiron." I hopped up the steps, leaning against the railing a few feet before the centaur. "So I know what you're thinking."

"Do you now?" Despite Chiron's seemingly serious demeanor, his eyes were filled with humor.

"You're thinking 'wow, Grian, you did all the work of a satyr! You totally deserve a break, and not punishment for fleeing camp for 7 months!'"

"I am?" Chiron crossed his arms over his chest, head tilting just a bit. I kept up the act, grinning wide.

"I mean, I brought two demigods here! My cousins!" I gestured back to the fields, where Mumbo was sparring with a demigod twice his height. I felt a sudden urge to protect him.

"I was fully aware of that." Chiron glanced into the big house, where I could see Iskall looking at us from a bedroom window. He pulled away as soon as he noticed us spying, but my heart panged at the loneliness on his face.

"Look..." I sighed, sliding my hands in my pockets. I shifted weight from foot to foot, avoiding eye contact. "I know it was stupidly reckless to do what I did, but I-"

"-You know who Iskall's parent is, don't you?" Chiron's hand landed on my shoulder, squeezing gently.

"Pearl... when she learned who I was, she confided in me. She was courted by his father long before Mumbo's mother came along." I stared towards the beach, out to the depths. "I tried to protect them, but a monster came for him. I brought them both here, and I guess I... I hoped that he'd be claimed by now."

"His father is powerful, Grian." Another squeeze on my shoulder, comforting to a fault. "Perhaps more powerful than yours."

"I somewhat... doubt that."

"Have I not told you about a previous camper of mine?" Chiron turned us, leading me into the Big House. "This young man was special... his name was-"

~~

I left the Big House feeling a bit more relaxed. The dinner horn had gone off, and I noticed Iskall sitting at the head table next to a man in a horrifyingly familiar leopard-print shirt. Iskall and I made eye contact, speaking without saying anything.

'You okay?'

'Obviously. You?'

'Obviously not.'

I decided to rescue Iskall from the torture of sitting through dinner with Dionysus, and walked up to the table. The teen perked up, green eyes practically glowing with excitement.

"Heya Issie," I reached over the table, ruffling his hair teasingly. "I lived."

Iskall swatted my hand away, cringing back. "Jesus Grian, you scared us! Mumbo was worried you'd never wake up!"

I chuckled, swinging around the table and winking at the god of wine, who seemed perpetually annoyed by my presence. "Heya D. How's the final stretch goin'?"

"Would have been better without you, Grant Locksmith." The god held a wine glass filled with diet coke, his head resting on his other hand solemnly.

"For the last time, it's Grian Lurette- you know what? I'm just gonna kidnap my cousin." I hooked an arm around Iskall's shoulders, pulling him away from the table. "Hope you don't mind!"

All Dionysus gave me in reply was an annoyed sigh. I laughed a bit, leading Iskall to the Zeus table, where the only other child of Zeus was sitting. Iskall and I sat on the opposite side of the table, a little ways down from Nightmare - as she liked to be called.

"So. How's camp life been?" I smiled at my younger cousin, grabbing some ribs from a nymph's plate. Iskall snatched some of my ribs, earning the lightest, teasing-est wrist-slap I could manage.

"It's really great," Iskall grinned, filling his plate. "I mean, it sucks to stay in the Big House, but the Athena cabin lets me tag along on their activities so I can be near Mumbo!"

"That's awesome dude," I stood, taking my plate to the fire. Iskall followed, and together we threw in some food.

My prayer was to my dad. I thanked him for being my dad, and the last strawberry I dropped in was for Poseidon. I had done this every dinner since I got to camp... for Parker.

I didn't really have a lot of respect for Poseidon since they had died, but... I hoped that somehow, the offering was getting to Parker. Letting them know I hadn't forgotten them. My head hung just slightly as the final piece of food I had planned fell into the flames.

Hades. Uncle. I closed my eyes a bit. Please... tell me they made Elysium. Tell me Cleo is okay. Anything... please.

No response came - it wasn't like I was really expecting anything from the two gods that hated me most - but I still hung my head a bit as I walked back to the dinner table. Iskall seemed to notice my slight mood drop, and we remained silent through the rest of the meal.

"Iskall! Grian!" I turned to see who was running up behind me just in time to get an armful of Mumbo once more. I laughed, pulling Iskall into the hug as well.

I had brought my family into my world, and I couldn't wait to keep showing them everything we had to offer. But if I had predicted what was coming, I would have never done what I did. Mumbo and Iskall would live in ignorance forever.

Then I wouldn't be to blame.

~~

Wow, Grian. Way to take all the blame, huh? You're not the only one that messed up around here, huh? Well, I'm gonna take some blame next with my origin story! Wait... Grian has more? *Hmph* Bully.

~Parker