Chapter Eleven

Percy walked past the border of camp, and realized just how long he had needed this. Being alone was feeling better and better. He couldn't go back to Sally. Not yet. Not while freedom was still so new. He broke in to a run nearing the bottom of the hill, and was sprinting by the time he hit the dirt road. Ten or fifteen minutes later, Percy was collapsed in a heap, panting. He had run further and faster than he ever had in his life, which was saying a lot. He walked for a while down the road, then veered off to walk among the trees. He hoped that the camp didn't tell his mom. He would be back in time for school to start. There was a rustling in the trees, and his head snapped up before he could completely comprehend what was happening. Three shadows detached themselves from the trees and stepped softly over the roots and rocks littering the forest floor. As their faces came into view, Percy breathed a sigh of relief.

"Flame? Luna? Joy? What're you guys doing here?"

"When Nico brought the letter to Chiron, we were watching him. He's been acting weird." This was Luna.

Flame scratched the back of his head. "I haven't noticed anything, but Luna said his auras been fluctuating wildly."

Percy slumped down. "Enough with the auras! What do you Aphrodite kids know that you're not telling us regular demigods?!" Joy giggled. When Percy looked at her with a silent question in her eyes, she laughed outright. "Y'see, it's not really something you hear everyday. 'Us regular demigods' sounded funny to me." While her impersonation of Percy left something to be desired, it did the trick. The ice was broken, and an air of companionship had settled among the group.

"So..." Luna's voice was hesitant, and Percy sighed. "Just ask."

"What were you thinking?!" Luna was the mother hen of their group, even though Percy was older.

"Everyone hated me! Annabeth was more the hero than I was, mostly because she was so aloof! People could see that I was a person! People make mistakes! Not goddesses though." This last part was a mumbled, sarcastic afterthought, hurt and anger dripping through his words.

"If we had known this would hurt you like it did, we never would've-"

"No! I needed to know! Who knows what else might have happened! Now she has the freedom to move on, no ties or shackles!"

"You still care. Even after all she did. How?" Flames voice was low, almost an echo.

"Guys?" everyone's eyes flew to Joy. "It's getting dark. Shouldn't we make camp or something?"

Percy pulled the tent out of his bag. Joy pulled another one out. "I'll share with Flame, and Luna and Joy can share. Does that work for everyone?"

"Yeah." Was the unanimous voice.