Hazel-

Percy was concerning all of us.

He was smiling, laughing, being his normal self.

But he wasn't.

Something was up with him. And when asked if he was okay, he responded with why wouldn't I be?

So many reasons, Percy.

We went back that afternoon. And Nico was talking with him.

"You have no-"

"And you would know how?" Percy snapped back. "You know nothing about me, Nico."

"Please." Nico claimed. "Anyone with common sense can see it. You're not the you you used to be. And not in a good way."

"So...?"

"Is a crime to care?" My older brother asked the older demigod. "Percy, whatever you beat yourself up about. Bianca or Luke or whoever or whatever, its not your fault. You couldn't stop it. It happened. It's over. You have to move on."

I didn't hear what was said afterwards. But at campfire a month later. It was the last campfire. Everyone going home today was packing. That includes Percy and about 3 others. College starts a week earlier than everything else.

Nobody really told us. When you go to college. You're done. You're gone.

And Percy... That means a new leader. How that works we soon found out.

"Every about 5 to 6 years a generation of demigods leaves us, and with them, their leader." Grover announced. "And the leader chooses their so called legacy to take their place for the next however long until they leave or die or go to college. How this is done is that the leaving leader and the soon to take over leader will record a song. The coming leader doesn't know that's why they do it. Due to how our leader before Percy left the video turned out a bit odd. But there's two videos here. And as of midnight tonight Camp Half-Blood shall be lead by Nico, the son of Hades."

Nico had no idea this was a thing.

Of course there's questions. And then Jason noticed his sister wasn't here. She dropped the hunt. A few months ago. She's usually at campfire.

"Where's Thalia?" Jason asked Grover afterwards.

"She didn't tell you?" Grover asked.

"Tell us what?" I questioned. We were all talking.

"This was Thalia's last summer." Grover told us. "She's been here for over 10 years. She's starting to miss the world outside of this place."

"She's 14." Piper reasonably points out. "Maybe 15."

"She's supposed to be 24." Grover quickly explained. "She's aged very slowly as a tree and you don't age in the hunt. She came here when she was 12 with Annabeth and Luke. All three of them were runaways. Annabeth was the only one that ever went home. Now it's her turn."

"And Luke?" I asked.

"He wont get a turn." Grover told us. "He died in battle a few years ago. How he left was odd. Like I told Leo and a few others, he rebelled. And he killed himself. Just don't bring it up to Thalia and Annabeth. They'll kill you and maybe themselves. Its a very sensitive and touchy subject even after two summers. After all, they were family."

And family don't end with blood.

0.0
Jason

I was talking with Percy. Before he left for good.

"My bro is leaving me." I tell him. Referring to him leaving.

"Your bro has been here way to long." Percy comes back with.

"I've been here for 15 years." I point out to him.

"And you also don't know life outside of this place." The son of Poseidon explained. "I still have my mom and my step-dad. And college. 6 years is long enough for me. 2 wars, a few battles, and endless quests is enough for one person. Hopefully it won't be hell on Nico like it was me."

"Hopefully." I agreed, looking over at the son of Hades, who was talking with my older sister. I don't know what about, but he was smiling so. Compared to last year, that was a huge improvement.

And time to talk to Thalia.

*.*
Nico

I don't like Percy anymore. As a friend. Of course. But that's all. He's the closest friend I have.

And now he's leaving.

"Don't look so down." Percy remarked as I walked over. "You know where I live, you have my number, my dorm room address, and where I'm going to college. You'll be fine on your own. If I made it, you can do 10× better."

"I know." I tell him. "Maybe not 10× but. Gods... Its been nearly 4 years... Are you sure you want me in charge of this place?"

"Yes." The older demigod confirmed. "Stopped being so worried, Nico. I'll be back to visit. I'm pretty sure we all will. This is your fresh start. Don't waste it."

"I know, but-"

He stopped me and looked me in the eye.

"Nico." He was straight forward with me about it. "You're looking at a kid that for 6 years led this place with anxiety, depression, ADHD, and depression. You'll do fine. You always know what to do. Just don't take after me. I was a fucking horrible leader. We lived. But dam. All those little comments you'd make, you can make that happen. It'll take some work. But we got more cabins than we had two years ago. We have more cabins. Its not impossible."

I nod my head. Not sure what to say.

With that I said goodbye to the son of Poseidon, stepping back with my sister.

¢°¢
Leo

"I haven't been here long." I admit, talking with Percy. "But damn is it going to be weird without you guys here."

"It'll be weird not having to be here." He agreed with me. And yes I am gay. I thought for the longest time it was bisexual but that was proven wrong quickly. Over the month Percy and myself started hanging out more. Both of us opened up more. And about 3 weeks ago we started going out. Nobody knew yet. But for now that was okay. "I'll miss the place. But hell, I'll be here for a few days around the holidays so."

=∆=
Percy

The flight left at midnight and we landed in California at 3 AM. I was going to CalArts. It would be fun.

I crashed a couple blocks away from the school. Set up a little camp site. Whatever, right? We're supposed to be there at noon tomorrow.

One of the girls had the same idea I did. About 10 minutes after I got there she showed up. But she had an actual tent.

"Let me guess." She said. "You're going to Cal but you're too cheap for a hotel?"

"Something like that." I agreed. "You, too?"

"Yeah." She agreed, putting her crap down as we started to put the tent together. "I'm Nancy, by the way. Nancy Bobofit. Its a stupid last name, but I can't really help it. So."

"You don't say." Was all I could think to say. She's changed for sure. She grew a few inches. About 5'5." Still tiny. Her hair was dyed and grown out. A cotton candyish pink down into a light purple at the tips. Would've never recalled it to be her if she hadn't said her name. Ever.

"Did you know a Nancy back home?" Of course that's what she got out of it.

"Sort of." I said. "Did you perhaps graduate from Yancy Academy?"

It sounded creepier than it was supposed to.

"How would you...?" She said and took a closer look at me. "We didn't go to school together, did we?"

I sigh.

"My name is Percy." I explained. "Percy Jackson. Sixth grade. Before I got expelled."

So that made her feel horrible.

"Oh god." She then recognized me. "I'm so sorry. I was such a bitch."

I almost laughed. Almost.

"Don't worry about it." I tell her.

"No, seriously." Nancy insists. "I should've never done that. I'm a horrible person."

"Not if you feel bad." I point out as we finish putting this tent up. "And trust me, I've met worse. My dad is one of those people."

"You got to meet him?" She asked me.

"Uh, yeah." I answered. "The next summer. He wasn't very nice, though. But what can you do? I barely see him as it is. At least my mom got remarried. What about your parents?"

"My parents." She simply stated. "They're divorced. They got divorced not long before I turned 14. It sucks but it could be worse, I guess. Constantly fighting if they're around each other. My dad hasn't seriously been with anyone. But my mom is engaged. The wedding is next summer so. All I'm hoping as of myself is to figure out what I'm doing with my life. I'm single, in college far from home. Lets find limits, right?"

I passed out as she putting up a small air mattress or whatever. Woke up around 7. She was sleeping. So I was nice, wrote a note saying I'd be back, found a bakery, got some donuts, a couple small milks, and got back around 8:30. By then she was awake.

"Where were you?" She asked me. Looking like she recently woke up.

"Bakery." I answer, handing her a little paper bag. "I got glazed, powdered, plain, chocolate, rainbow, and jelly filled. And there's an apple fritter in there, too. And a carton of milk."

"You're too nice." She commented, taking out a jelly filled donut.

"When I want to be." I agreed. "But trust me, if I need to slap you, you will get bitch slapped and you will that shit."

"Okay, you're a little more aggressive than I remember." Nancy commented.

"Aren't we all." I comment. And we packed all the crap up and decided to drive around for a few hours and about a quarter to noon we got to campus. Where they wanted everyone at noon. That was orientation. Classes start next Monday. In a week. But they gave us where our room was. Our dorm, and I beat my dorm mate there. So I claimed half of the room and started unpacking. And as I was finishing up, about ¾ of the way done, a guy my age walked in. He was I'd say 5'10", bright sky blue eyes, pretty pale. Not too much muscle at all. But I knew the guy. He used to go to Goode until he moved or something.

My phone starts ringing.

Thalia.

So one of her openers backed out last minute and the show is here at CalArts. She needs me there as soon as I can get there. There was a group a while ago at Camp. So I agree and go down. And we got everything taken care of. There were two people new to it. Nico on bass and Frank on drums. Then I sing, Chris screams, Clarisse is lead guitar, and then Pollux is on Rhythm Guitar. We started this years ago. But with Castor and Beckendorf instead of Nico and Frank. But they're dead, so.

"Here goes nothing."