Ivy sighed as she scraped drool from Percy Jackson's chin. If she was being honest, she expected some flashy buff guy, but instead, she was faced with a scrawny brunette boy. He appeared to be about her age.

She knew better than to underestimate someone based on their looks. It wasn't something she enjoyed, especially when she was the one being underestimated.

She heard a huff of boredom from behind her. Ivy wheeled around to glare at her friend, Annabeth. Her dark skin glowed in the sunlight that crept into the infirmary, and her braids were in a half-up half-down style.

"What?" The daughter of Athena asked, shrugging her shoulders.

"Aren't you the one that's supposed to be feeding him this?" Ivy whined.

"Yes, but I'm not good at that kind of stuff. I'd probably give him more than he needed and kill him."

Ivy groaned. "I'm not good at this either! You could literally ask anyone."

It was true. The last time she'd attempted to help out the Apollo cabin in the infirmary she'd ended up injuring someone even more. It was safe to say she was not very welcome back in the infirmary.

She turned back to the unconscious boy, studying him intently. As she scanned his face, she noticed his slightly open.

"Hey, Annabeth?" She called out, earning a 'hm' from the girl. "I think he's awake."

Annabeth practically flew out of her seat at that. As soon as his eyes were opened, Annabeth interrogated the poor guy. "What will happen at the summer solstice?"

He managed to croak, "What?"

Annabeth looked at Ivy, who simply shrugged. Annabeth groaned, so desperately wanting answers she wasn't getting. She didn't give up, however. "What's going on? What was stolen? We've only got a few weeks!"

"I'm sorry," he mumbled. "I don't..."

Someone knocked on the door. Annabeth snatched the nectar from Ivy and shoved a spoonful into his mouth. He knocked out almost instantly.

Argus, camp security, entered the room to relieve them of their 'shift'. Argus was a husky blonde guy. He reminded Ivy of a surfer. He had blue eyes covering his entire body. On his cheeks, his forehead, and the backs of his hands.

Ivy thanked Argus for taking over and practically dragged Annabeth out of the infirmary.

"He still isn't awake?" Ivy asked as she took a seat beside Grover and in front of Percy.

Grover shook his head sadly. He stood leaning against the porch railing,

"Don't worry, Grover. I'm sure he'll wake up soon," she reassured him.

"I hope so," Grover said.

A few moments passed before Percy woke up. He reached for the glass of nectar in front of him, which had a green straw and a paper parasol stuck through a maraschino cherry. His hands, however, were so weak that he nearly dropped the glass as soon as he wrapped his fingers around it.

"Careful," Ivy said. Percy's eyes darted to her immediately. Now that he was awake, Ivy could see his eyes. They were a striking ocean blue, complimenting his dark blonde hair almost perfectly. He looked how Ivy imagined a surfer boy from Los Angeles would look.

"You saved my life," Grover said out of the blue. Percy's gaze turned to him. "I... well, the least I could do... I went back to the hill. I thought you might want this."

Reverently, he placed the shoe box in Percy's lap. Ivy leaned forward in curiosity. Inside, was a black-and-white bull's horn, the base jagged from being broken off, the tip splattered with dried blood.

Ivy and Grover exchanged concerned glances as Percy stared at the horn.

"The minotaur," he finally said.

"Um, Percy, it isn't a good idea-"

"That's what they call him in the Greek myths, isn't it?" he demanded. "The Minotaur, Half man, half bull."

Ivy shifted uncomfortably from where she sat. "You've been out for a while. How much do you remember?"

"My mom. Is she really..."

Dead, Ivy finished in her head. Neither of them replied, but that was enough for Percy to understand.

For a moment, Percy looked like he had his life force sucked out of him. His mom was dead and there was nothing he could do about it. Ivy understood how he felt a little too well.

She remembered being sat down by two police officers in her pink-walled bedroom, grabbing the nearest stuffed animal. That stuffed animal was her bear, Bernard, one her dad had won for her from some stupid carnival game. She remembered being told her dad had died in a tragic car wreck, one that killed him on impact.

She reached out and put her hand on top of his, in hopes of comforting him in some way. She figured it worked since she saw his face visibly relax. And also because she could literally feel his sadness fade in the slightest way.

"I'm sorry," Grover sniffled. "I'm a failure. I'm-I'm the worst satyr in the world."

He moaned, stomping his foot so hard it came off. I mean, the Converse hi-top came off. The inside was filled with Styrofoam, except for a hoof-shaped hole.

"Oh, Styx!" he mumbled.

Thunder rumbled across the sky. Ivy removed her hand from Percy's. She picked at the skin surrounding her nails, a habit she'd picked up over the years.

Percy said, "It wasn't your fault."

"Yes, it was. I was supposed to protect you."

"Did my mother ask you to protect me?"

"No," Grover admitted. "But that's my job. I'm a keeper. At least... I was."

"But why..." Percy looked as if he were about to pass out again.

"Don't strain yourself," Ivy said softly. "Here."

She helped hold the glass and put the straw to his lips.

He recoiled at the initial taste. She wondered what he tasted from the nectar. For Ivy, the nectar always tasted like the carne asada that her Dad used to cook during family gatherings.

Before he knew it, he had drained the whole cup. He stared into it for a moment, astonished that the ice hadn't melted.

"Was it good?" Grover asked.

He nodded.

"What did it taste like?" He sounded so wistful. Unfortunately for him, Grover couldn't drink nectar like she and Percy could.

"Sorry," Percy said. "I should've let you taste."

His eyes got wide. "No! That's not what I meant. I just... wondered."

"Chocolate chip cookies," Percy said, a hint of sadness in his voice. Ivy was good at picking up on people's emotions. "My mom's. Homemade."

Ivy sighed. "And how do you feel?"

"Like I could throw Nancy Bobofit a hundred yards."

Ivy didn't know who this Bobofit girl was, but she took it as a good sign. She grinned.

"That's good," Grover said. "That's good. I don't think you could risk drinking any more of that stuff."

"What do you mean?"

Ivy took the empty glass from him and set it down carefully on the table. "Come on. Chiron and Mr. D are waiting."

The porch they were on wrapped all the way around the big house. Grover offered to carry Percy's minotaur horn, but he declined. As they came around the other end of the house, Percy caught his breath.

Camp Half-Blood was a beautiful place, that couldn't be denied. From where they stood, the valley marched all the way up to the water, which glittered vibrantly in the distance. The landscape was dotted with buildings that looked like ancient Greek architecture-an open-air pavilion, an amphitheater, a circular arena-except that they all looked brand new, their white marble columns sparkling in the sun. In a nearby sandpit, a dozen high school-age kids and satyrs played volleyball. Canoes glided across a small lake. Kids in bright orange camp T-shirts were chasing each other around a cluster of cabins nestled in the woods. Some shot targets at an archery range. Others rode pegasi down a wooded trail.

Down at the other end of the porch, Mr. D and Chiron sat across from each other at a card table. Annabeth was leaning on the porch rail next to them.

Mr. D, who was facing the trio was small, but porky. He had a red nose, big watery eyes, and curly hair so black it was almost purple. He reminded Ivy of a painting of a cherub. He wore a tiger-patterned Hawaiian shirt.

"That's Mr. D," Grover murmured to him. "He's the camp director. Be polite. The girl, that's Annabeth Chase. She's just a camper, but she's been here longer than just about anybody. And you already know Chiron..."

Grover pointed to the man in the wheelchair.

"Mr. Brunner!" Percy cried.

Ivy scrunched her nose up in disgust. Brunner? Of all the names Chiron could've chosen, he chose that?

"Ah, good, Percy," he said. "Now we have four for Pinochle." He offered Percy a chair next to Mr. D, who looked at him with his normal bloodshot eyes and heaved a great sigh. "Oh, I suppose I must say it. Welcome to Camp Half-blood. There. Now don't expect me to be glad to see you."

"Uh, thanks." Ivy stifled a laugh as Percy scooted a little farther from the god.

"Annabeth, Ivy?" Mr. Brunner called out to them.

The pair stepped forward and Chiron introduced them to Percy. "These two young ladies nursed you back to health, Percy."

"Actually," Ivy unhelpfully interjected, "I nursed you back to health."

Ivy sent Annabeth a side eye that she happily returned.

"Why don't you two go check on Percy's bunk? We'll be putting him in Cabin Eleven for now."

Annabeth said, "Sure, Chiron."

Ivy watched as she glanced at the Minotaur horn in Percy's hand. She also saw how Percy looked as if he was expecting her to start praising him.

Instead, Annabeth said, "You drool in your sleep."

Then she sprinted down the lawn, her blonde highlighted braids flying behind her.

"I should, uh, probably go catch up with her," Ivy said. She turned to Percy with a small smile. "Nice meeting you, Percy."

LIA SPEAKS

hello hello... it's been a hot minute since I updated anything. School started back up and it's been kicking my ass 😒 anyways hope you enjoyed this chap && I double-updated who cheered??