iv. percy jackson

WHEN ANDY BLINKED herself into consciousness, her eyes painted with faint tears dried to a crust, her vision cleared enough for her to gain semblance of her surroundings. Her eyes fell on the familiar settings of the room that had little change over the years---from fading stencil markings of messy sketches to renovated decor of the room, holding a sense that it was once lived in. It was Andy's and Morgan's old shared room within the Big House. They had resided there until they turned five, when they had been moved into the Hermes cabin with the intent of, hopefully, assisting in their claiming by their godly parent.

It obviously had not worked.

At the feeling of the familiar sheets, a dull lavender that almost appeared white, and the warmth of her pillow Andy had half the mind to slip back into unconsciousness. However, as her eyes tracked over the four figures in the room as well, already holding a suspicion of whom they were without having to look.

Harmony stood at the center of her bed, jaw clicking every so often as her teeth bit the inside of her cheek. An occasional grunt would rise in response as Leia whispered something back to her, the younger brunette resting her hand on the base of Andy's ankle.

Priya who, while reclined in a chair with her feet leveled on the foot of the bed where Andy resided, would occasionally shift her position at any given moment to jut her chin over her shoulder. The repeated tapping of her heels gave way to how, at any moment, she was ready to jump to her feet.

Lastly, Morgan, who stood farther off to the side near her old bed. Her arms rested over her chest and her face was half shadowed by the turn of her head, but Andy held an inkling that a scowl of some form was painting her expression. Behind her, tucked under the bedsheets, the shape of a body could be seen, lengthening from where the feet laid all the way to the waistline. Further up, however, remained blocked by Morgan's frame and prevented Andy from making out the face of her neighbor.

"It's still hard to believe," Andy heard Priya say. "I mean, a camper being chased to the camp boarders isn't something that's new. But by the Minotaur of all monsters?" She ignored the looks she earned at the mention of the beast name. "And Andy was there to see it--"

"Priya," Harmony interrupted, peering at the younger girl. "This isn't something to take lightly. Imagine what could have happened! Why was Andy even there in the first place?"

At the feeling of a sharp jab lingering up her temple, a hiss fell from Andy's mouth and alerted those to her change in state. Harmony was the first to react, rushing over to the bedside table, out of Andy's line of sight before reappearing and urging a straw between the young girl's lips. As soon as the liquid hit Andy's tongue, relief flooded through every network that mapped her body, breaking through any ache that could be causing her pain.

The familiar taste illusioned by the golden liquid carried remnants of sugar and coconut of the cassava cakes. Liquid cake. A warmth ran through her as Andy thought back to her time in Kauai, her small frame peering up at Harmony's father as he worked around the kitchen, a place that had been his second home, teeth on display as he let out a hearty laugh whenever he noticed her standing by, eager for the treat of freshly baked dessert.

Draining the glass until only a pair of ice cubes were left, Andy had all but collapsed back on to the bed as her soothe muscles practically turned to jelly. Harmony placed the glass back on the bedside table, not taking her eyes off of Andy as narrowed, studying her minisculy, as if waiting for any sign that the nectar hadn't accomplished its job properly.

"How do you feel? Does your head hurt still?"

Andy shifted in her old bed, wiggling her body slightly in search of any signs of protest. Upon finding none, her eyes traveled down to the bracelets on wrist, the silver and gold metal reflecting the soft light of the room, no longer holding their own glow.

"I feel fine." Andy stated, surveying how Leia moved to stand at Morgan's, who had only slightly moved to be closer, left in an obvious manner of shielding her view of the body next to hers. Priya had shifted her chair closer to the foot of the bed, allowing Harmony more room on the side. It seemed everyone had knew what was about to occur.

"Good, that's great truly, considering how you were found passed out on the Big House steps, covered in mud and drenched from the rain." Harmony recounted, voice slightly holding a twitch that could bare resemblance to a crack in progress. "Which leads us to believe that you stepped outside the boarders. Andy, what were you thinking?"

Andy sighed, reaching a hand up to grasp at the curled hairs littering around her neck. "Look, I heard someone calling for help and I acted. I know it wasn't the smartest play, but what was I supposed to do? Everyone was asleep."

"Not everyone, what about at the Big House--"

"It was a task enough to sneak out of the cabin, I had little time to hurry between there and back. Especially considering the threat just behind him..." Andy trailed off her statement, eyes traveling back to body resting aimlessly, blissfully unaware of the world around him.

"Yeah, I know." Harmony said, face pulled into a twisted expression. "If what everyone's been saying is true, and the memorabilia to match," she nodded towards the box, beat up and practically falling at the seams, that resided on a chair placed in the corner. The true treasure, a testament to the trials of the previous night and its existence, remained inside. "Than all the more reason for no one to be excited about this."

She sent Priya a look, the young hijabi only letting out a huff of air in return.

Andy let out a grunt as she dragged her legs over the side of the bed, jumping to her feet much to the protest of Harmony. With a slight stumble, she stared blankly at Leia and Morgan both who, in their stance before her, remained unmoved. But even so, Andy held an advantage with her slight height differences making her a whole foot taller than Leia, it was easy for her to catch a further glimpse of the boy resting in bed.

"That's him." She said in a monotone voice, expression remaining blank even as she felt a cold shiver dance down her spine.

Morgan and Leia looked over at Harmony, receiving a nod from the older girl, the two separated and allowed Andy a full view of the boy she discovered the night before.

No longer drenched by the heaviness of the storm and caked in mud, it was easier to map out his features. He had tan brown skin, lighter than both Andy's and Morgan's but darker than Harmony's, a head of inky black curls that painted just over his hairline. His mouth agape allowing for a thin trail of drool to run down his chin.

Morgan's face twisted in displeasure, arms crossed over her chest. "He's drooling on my pillow." She grumbled.

"You hardly sleep here except for sleepovers. You and Andy moved out of here when you guys were five." Leia commented, reaching for a cloth as she used the fabric to gently wipe away the slobber.

"My point still stands." Morgan gave the boy a once over, eyes trailing over his features before saying. "He doesn't look like much."

"Most guys don't." Priya shrugged.

Harmony massaged the bridge of her nose, her breath blowing a stray strand of her from her face as she turned to Andy, regarding her gently. "Andy, when you woke up, Chiron wanted us to let him know. He had some questions to ask about what happened last night."

Andy glanced at Harmony, for a split second allowing her expression to shift as she took in the fast paced tapping of her Converse heels, a trait that Andy had long since registered as a soothing tick. And even with the distance spread between the others in the room, Andy didn't have much trouble figuring out what they were all thinking.

But there was one glaring problem, and the root of it had to primarily do with the boy laying just a few feet in front of her. Telling them of the events that had transpired, from sneaking out of her cabin to collapsing on the steps of the Big House, would be easy. However, telling them of the nightmares that tormented her mind, sometimes trailing into the day, about how her sketches as of late being riddled with nothing but images of their home's demise, of how the boy who stumbled his way into their camp could be the cause.

Of how, whenever she clenched her fist, the reminder of her bow and the weight of an arrow could still be felt. Awaiting to be released.

"I was trying to go to sleep, last night, but it wasn't really happening as fast as I hoped so I had to wait for everyone else to become quiet first." Andy began. "As I was about to close my eyes, I heard him calling for help. I mean--" she tapped her knuckles against her temple. "So I snuck out of the cabin and hurried to where the voice was coming from. I made a decision."

Harmony crossed her arms, lips pursed as she listened as Andy recounted her story. The others in the room appeared just as attentive, from Priya practically falling out of her seat in anticipation to Leia watching earnestly, toeing a line between awe and dismay as, while it wasn't everyday a demigod encountered such a monster as the Minotaur there was a reason that a beast such as that was feared.

Morgan remained silent.

"At first I didn't see the Minotaur--" Andy shifted at the deadpanned look she earned from Harmony at the mention of the name, but continued nonetheless. "And when I saw Grover, just laying there, it was too late for me to notice until it was right in front of me."

Leia leaned forward, hand outstretched as if to reach for Andy's own. "It must have been so frightening. Are you all right?"

Andy hummed mindlessly, toying with the tips of fingers. "I'm fine. I was so focused on helping Grover that I almost forgotten about him." She glanced over to the inky haired boy. "That was, until I saw him break off the monster's horn and stab him with it."

A whistle flew from Priya's lips as something akin to awe crossed her gaze. She turned to new infamous camper, leaning over to poke his cheek. "Huh, I guess he is something if he had the strength to do that."

"It doesn't seem as uncommon to us, considering past demigods throughout history have had moments of surprising strength. We are children of gods after all." Leia reasoned, placing a hand under her chin. "But it is still something to be enamored by, as no camper has been able to attract a monster such as that, let alone kill it, since---"

A cold silence had fallen over the room.

Leia shifted uncomfortably. "Sorry, I, uh, just meant that this is really big news, it's already spreading like wildlife. Camp gossip for you." She sent Andy a soft smile. "I bet there are already some people just dying to hear your side of all this."

"Unlikely." Andy stated with little hesitancy. "Besides, there aren't that many people that I would care enough to retell what happened too. Sounds too exhausting. And not many have much interest in talking to me most days anyway."

"Andy--" Harmony began only to fall silent at the groan that arose from the sleeping figure. Each of the girls watched in anticipation as he the boy shifted in his sleep, face twisted and eyes moving rapidly beneath their lids, the possibility of him awakening seeming nearer and nearer.

But the hope, for some, was dropped when Andy let out a sigh. "He's just dreaming, that's all."

As if hearing her voice, the boy let out a soft grunt and shifted his body towards the sound. Andy frowned at this, viewing him curiously as the others stepped forward with interest.

Harmony hummed. "This is the first time he's responded to anyone's voice, aside from Grover and Chiron. We've deemed it because they were on a mission to scout him. Maybe that could be the case for you too, Andy."

Andy stared down at the boy, frown becoming even more present the more his thoughts persisted in making themselves known, much to her dismay. She truly did not want to see the inside of his thoughts, but they were too loud. Scattered and searching for some sense of reality made his mind more of a series of loops and twist, practically birthing a headache of strain in Andy's own mind.

"What's his name?"

"Perseus Jackson, but Grover said he goes by Percy. " Léa answered. Her eyes suddenly grew saddened and downcast, lingering on the floor as she nibbled on her lip. "He said that his-Percy's-mother...she didn't make it."

A solemn atmosphere clung to the air. Harmony stared intently at Andy, brows furrowed. "Andy, you didn't-?"

"I was too focused on helping Grover, by the time I looked back she was already gone."

Harmony stood for a moment, blinking occasionally. Then she sighed, dragging her palm down her face. "Okay, all right," she waved her hand towards Priya. "Priya, come on, I promised Clarisse that I'd walk you to the training arena and I'm not in the mood for her attitude for being late."

"I don't need a babysitter," the hijabi girl grumbled but ultimately rose to her feet, advancing towards the bedroom door when she stopped at Andy's side. "Went toe-to-toe with the Minotaur and made it to tell the tale."

Andy shrugged, scratching the back of her neck. "I, uh, also may have shot an arrow...all the way through its eye."

Priya blinked for a moment, eyes narrowing in slight disbelief before a wide, toothy grin slip across her tanned face. "So cool!" Her palm smacked against Andy's back in a sense of praise, but the hand lingered and was soon followed by a gentle squeeze. Andy didn't have to look up to know what the gesture meant. "I'm really glad that you're okay."

Leia moved into Andy's line of vision next. "I have to go too, but I'll see you at dinner later." She raised her arms, motioning to the gap centered between them. When Andy inched forward, Leia closed pulled herself into her, pressing her face into the other's shoulder. "I was so worried, but now that you're safe I can worry less."

Andy nodded unconsciously. "I'm sorry."

"That's okay, I understand."

Harmony pressed kiss on to Andy's hairline, thumbing rubbing gently across the apple of her cheek before breaking away. As the trio disappeared from view, Andy had registered how little Morgan had spoke during the entourage. Brows furrowed, Andy watched as she sat down at the edge of the bed, not caring about being near Percy's feet as she gently brushed them off to the side without much concern.

The two sat in silence, safe the soft snores and grunts. Morgan pursed her lips, nodding at Andy.

"Chiron thinks he'll wake up soon, maybe in a day or two." She said, glancing over her shoulder briefly. "That could be great news, considering all of the events from last night. Maybe we can even see how much he knows."

Andy could only grunt in response, her eyes bouncing off everything in the room except where the sleeping boy laid.

Morgan furrowed her brows, looking over the Jackson boy with a peak of interest. "You know, when I first saw him, I didn't see much of a resemblance, to that picture you were working on yesterday," she clarified.

While she didn't move, Andy's could feel her jawbone shift.

"And, even now, as I look at him...I still don't see it." With this, Morgan rose to her feet. Her dark brown, almost black, eyes drew one the other girl with a raised brow and arms crossed over her chest expectantly. "So, how come you saw it that way? And don't try to lie to me, Andy, I know what I saw. Does that have to do with your lack of sleep?"

And here's where the test begin. It would have been easy to break down lay all of her cards out before Morgan, explain what the sketch in question had in relation to her sleepless nights, and how new camper was tied into it. She could explain in thorough detail about what exactly she had been seeing in her dreams. But, the more and more she thought of them, the dryer her throat became and heavier the weight on her chest grew.

It made Andy's eyes burn.

"Look, I don't really know how to explain it, and I really don't want to talk about it right now." Her voice stressed and sent a hard look towards Morgan when she made an attempt to protest. "I will talk about it, when I'm ready."

The heavy twist of a scowl and pout that formed on Morgan's face almost made Andy reconsider. "You always make people worry," she thought to herself, arms wrapping around her frame as her eyes refused to meet Morgan's. The pair stood before one another, neither making a move.

Finally, with a huff of air leaving her lips, Morgan stepped forward. Andy let out a squeak of surprise when she felt a pair of arms wrap around her shoulders, squeezing tightly.

"You know, you're lucky, your one of the few people who get to see this side of me," Morgan muttered, tilting her jaw so that her temple could brush against the side of Andy's neck. "Harmony suspects you haven't been sleeping either, and she's less inclined to not broad around compared to us, so sooner or later-whatever is going on-you'll have to tell someone."

Andy nodded slowly. "Okay."

Pulling away, Morgan jutted her thumb over her shoulder with a sense of urgency. "Come on, Chiron's been waiting a while to speak with you. I'm sure it's a out Sleeping Beauty over there."

Not given much of an option, Andy allowed herself to be pulled away towards the room's entrance with little resistance. Just before her heels could step over the threshold, her gaze snapped towards the boy, in hopes of finding him still resting soundly.

Instead, she was met with the piercing gaze of sea green eyes.

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author's note: 3184

Next chapter update is finally here! It took me a minute to figure out how I wanted to do it, or at least have it planned out so here are the final results. I wanted to bring the events from the last chapter to this one, so that's why some things are brought up and will be mentioned later on. One involving Percy and Andy, so let me explain--

Andy is kind of freaked because of the nightmares she's been having, and running low on sleep, so she's not thinking clearly. Her only real thought is to not see the destruction of her home and loss of her friends and will kind of do anything to prevent that, this won't show up to much I comparison to later books. With this in mind, along with other factors that will be brought up later down the line, this is why she reacted to Percy the way that she did--holding an arrow at him. Yeah, not the best way to work out an introduction and, if it wasn't clear by the hints throughout the story, Percy remembers her and Andy knows that so-

While Percy and Andy will eventually have a friendship, it won't really be developed until the Sea of Monsters, but they're going to put in the work. So some tension will be between them in the first half of this book. In all honesty, other characters won't really know what exactly happened that night aside from Morgan, and even she won't know all of the details. So, it's mainly a need-to-know basis between Percy and Andy.

I've decided to change Leia's name: from Léa to Leia, simply because I liked the meaning behind the latter more and it will fit into a certain joke later on.

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