*

Florence worried about the blonde boy
all morning.

The young kid had killed a Minotaur and lived to tell the tale. It perplexed her.

Of course Florence was relieved and happy the boy was live she just couldn't figure out how he was able to. He was definitely going to be an interesting addition to camp.

Florence put her hair in a bun and dusted her hands off after helping one of her siblings, Katie, with the strawberry field. While there, She was approached by a familiar face. Briar.
"Hey, you!" Briar squealed, embracing Florence who gladly hugged back "Hi Bri! I missed you, where have you been?", she grinned, pulling back from her satyr friend "Oh just out and about, I've been trying to get my searchers permit and I'm so close I can feel it!" Florence nodded enthusiastically "If anyone's getting their permit it's you!" Briar smiled softly.

The older satyr girl put a hand on her friend's shoulder "We need to catch up soon! I need to know everything you've done recently and also you need to update me on you and Luke" Briar wiggled her eyebrows, teasingly and Florence looked down, giggling, her cheeks glowing red, "I will, don't worry." Florence hugged Briar.
"I'm gonna go see if I can help Chiron at all but you know where to find me if you need me!" Florence nodded, grinning "Of course! Good luck on getting your permit!" Briar threw her a two finger salute and skipped off, leaving Lori to giggle to herself.

Florence got back to her work in the strawberry field, letting the leaves on the fruit intertwine with her fingers, a softly glowing green mist appeared and the the strawberry went from green to red, slowly fading into the latter colour. Flora felt at peace. Around plants she always has. If she went anywhere you'd find her sitting by plants, any kind, she just seemed to drawn to nature. That part of her was her mother. Whenever she was around plants or any kind of nature, it felt like she could feel her. Florence didn't know how to feel about her mother, on one hand she adored her, feeling anything close to her was a relief however on the other hand she couldn't help but feel disappointed that her mother hadn't shown up. In a way Florence understood but again it was hard for her to accept it.

Florence patted the soil around the plant and whispered affirmations to it. Some may find that strange but Lori was a firm believer that if you speak to a plant it grows stronger despite her having powers that could do that anyways, she liked to care for the plants traditional ways too.

"Florence!"

Flora turned her head to the direction of the voice. She grinned as she saw her boyfriend and the boy from the infirmary. Florence got up, dusting off her hands and walking over to the two. "Hi!" her smile stayed big but comforting, Luke patted the blonde boy on the shoulder "Lori, this is Percy Jackson, as you know he's new to camp and we're trying to find what he's good at." Florence's eyes lit up "I'm glad to see you up and about Percy! I patched you up in the infirmary so I'm glad the bandaids helped!" "Wait...that was you?" Florence nodded "mhm!" Percy smiled softly at her "Well...uh- thank you!" Lori shrugged "It's no problem! It's my job after all!" Luke chuckled at her "Now" she continued, clapping her hands together "You wanna see if you have a green thumb?"

"This is a lot safer for you and everyone else...we don't need another accident." Luke said, as Florence handed Percy a pair of gloves, her eyes widening "I'm sorry another accident? Please tell me you aren't putting children in danger?" Luke laughed "No, of course not! He had goggles and gloves when he accidentally launched that hot rod." "WHAT?" Luke's grin dimmed into a nervous one "Everyone's okay, no one's hurt, it's all okay! Anyways! Plants! Isn't that fun? It's fun right Percy?" Luke's pleading eyes met Percy's who just nodded slowly in reluctant agreement, Florence just shook her head "You're gonna be the death of me Luke Castellan." "But you love me..." "You're making it difficult right now...anyways Percy! We work with strawberries here so if you follow me!" Percy followed quickly after the older girl, unfortunately while trying to catch up he stood on a plant and hissed as it squelched under his shoe, Florence turned and winced slightly "Florence I am SO sorry!" Percy apologised quickly, expecting the girl to be pissed at him but she just smiled and shook her head "It's okay, don't worry! We all make mistakes plus this is your first time it's bound to happen! You think I haven't stepped on a plant or two in my time?" She got down to the ground and picked up the squashed strawberry, Percy watching carefully, Florence's hands produced a soft mist that engulfed the strawberry and when it dissipated, the strawberry looked brand new. Percy's eyes widened "What the-" "I get it from my mother." Florence shrugged, offering the strawberry to the boy who took it and observed it, he was so tempted to eat it but he wasn't sure it was edible after that.

Florence brought Luke and Percy to a budding strawberry plant and gave Percy a watering can. "Okay, just water the plant. Simple!" Percy raised his eyebrow expecting more but shrugged and started watering the plant, he sighed, clearly not connecting with plants. "I don't think this is my thing..." he said looking back at Luke, who smiled "That's okay! We can keep looking." Florence nodded, soft smile on her face "You'll find it don't worry Percy, it took me a year to be claimed, it sounds like a long time but you'll find other things to occupy the time." Percy looked down and nodded "Yeah...thanks anyways Florence. This was nice." Florence nodded, taking the watering can from him "That's okay! I hope you find your calling soon."

Florence led the boys back to the entrance of the strawberry field. "Percy if you ever need to talk I'll be at the infirmary, I work there and I'm not just a wound healer, I'm a great listener too!" "Yeah, thanks Florence, I'll keep that in mind...also...sorry about your strawberry plant again..." Percy said, giving her a small smile, Florence nodded and returned his smile "Like I said Percy, it's all good, don't worry about it!" Luke chuckled and kissed her head "I'll see you later, yeah?" Florence nodded, Luke took Percy's shoulders and guided him away to their next activity. Florence went back to the patch she was working on, humming a soft song to herself.

*

Florence found her way to the lunch area. She released her hair from the bun, ruffling it to try make it look presentable.

She spotted Luke, Chris and Percy sitting at a table so she decided to join them, slotting herself in the middle of Luke and Chris, across from Percy.

"Hey guys! Oh Percy have you found what you're good at yet?" Percy sighed, shaking his head "nope..." Florence shot him a sympathetic look "It's okay, it's just your first day here, you'll find it." Percy nodded, slightly uplifted by her words, yet he couldn't help but frown.

"Is there a Greek god of disappointment, maybe someone should ask him if he's missing a kid..." Percy grumbled, Chris piped up "Oizys..but she's a godess...and her whole thing isn't really disappointment, it's more like failure..." Florence rolled her eyes and hit Chris in the arm who winced and gave her an offended look "really?" She whispered back, Percy looked down at the table, feeling worse than before. Luke rolled his eyes at his friend and went back to trying to comfort you boy in front of him "We're gonna find the thing you're good at. I know it." Florence nodded, hoping that they could provide Percy with some kind of comfort.

The bells chimed and the three older kids got up to sacrifice their food. "Out turn." Luke voiced. The youngest just looked at them confused. "Our turn for what?" "Burnt offerings" the Castellan boy answered "The Gods like the smell so it gets their attention before you say a prayer." He continued, "They like the smell of burnt mac and cheese?" Percy asked, still as confused as ever, Florence laughed "They like the smell of begging" Chris quipped, Florence nodded "If you give up the thing you'll miss the most, the Gods will listen more. Because then they know you really mean what you're about to say" She said, walking off after Chris to offer her brownie. She'd miss that brownie.

Florence always prayed to her mother. Telling Demeter how much she loves her and that she hopes that she's not only looking over her but her father too. Things like that. Anything, hoping for a sign her mother heard her. Hoping for a sign that she wasn't ignored and that she meant something to the woman that gave her life. Each time she wouldn't get a reply but deep down Florence knew she was heard, maybe that was a coping tactic or maybe she was right and she knew which one she preferred.

*

Florence was finishing up in the infirmary when she heard the door open.

"Well this is all too familiar"
Percy said, looking around.

"Percy? Are you okay?" Flora looked at his, concerned. Percy looked at his shoes and nodded "yeah, yeah, you just said you'd be free to talk whenever so...I was hoping I could talk to you about something?" Florence smiled and shut the cupboard, turning to give the young boy her whole attention. "How can I help?"

Percy took a deep breath "A lot has happened since I got here and it just feels so overwhelming...like I kill a Minotaur...My mom..." he pauses, trying to figure out what to say next "The bathroom just now..." Florence raised an eyebrow "What happened in the bathroom? Is it something I need to know because if it's TMI then-" "No! No, nothing like that...just...Clarisse cornered me in the bathroom with her siblings and basically water flew at them and pushed them off of me...but I wasn't hurt or touched by the water at all...it's just weird..." Florence nodded "Oh wow...that is overwhelming..." "Yeah, and now a girl called Annabeth wants to recruit me for capture the flag?" Florence couldn't help but smile "Of course she would..." "What? You know her?" Florence nodded "Yeah...she's determined that one...but she means no harm, mostly..." Percy didn't really like that answer but let it slide "Yeah tell me about it..." he rolled his eyes "I just...I don't know what to do?" Florence nodded.

Percy was like a plant and Florence would speak to him to make him stronger. "Well first of all, Clarisse is clearly jealous of your Minotaur kill. She'll get over it. You did nothing wrong in that situation and the water thing is...well I'm not too sure about that, but you shouldn't worry about it" Percy nodded, slightly smiling to himself at the thought of Clarisse being jealous because he was cooler than her "And Annabeth recruiting you for capture the flag? That's a compliment, she's very picky with her team and she likes to win. It means she sees potential in you which is something to be proud of because she's usually right about those kinds of things." Percy chuckled and nodded "okay..." "Who knows, maybe the thing you're good at is capture the flag?" Percy's eyes slightly sparkled at that, maybe that was his calling.

The two had moved to the bench now, Florence continued to comfort him and let him know that while things may be hard now, she can tell he's strong enough to be seen and strong enough to find the thing he's good at. Percy listened to every word, nodding, smiling, sharing jokes. It was nice to have someone to talk to, someone who seemed to understand wanting to be seen by a parent. Florence was right, she was a good listener.

When Percy felt better, he decided he should get some sleep ready for capture the flag. "Hey Florence?" "Yeah?" She asked walking him out the door "Thanks...for making me feel better and stuff..." Florence smiled and shrugged, locking up the infirmary for the night "I told you it's my job. And seriously you'll be fine kid, trust me." She patted his shoulder and bid him good night before going off to her own cabin to get some rest.

Tomorrow would be eventful. Capture the flag.

*

AUTHORS NOTE!!

This was a long one!! 2149 words!!
I hope you enjoyed!!