Halcyon [Leo Valdez x Reader]

Piper's Makeover

I soon realized Annabeth’s heart wasn’t in the tour.

She talked about all this amazing stuff the camp offered—magic archery, Pegasus riding, the lava wall, fighting monsters —but she showed no excitement, as if her mind were elsewhere. She pointed out the open-air dining pavilion that overlooked Long Island Sound. (Yes, Long Island, New York; we’d traveled that far on the chariot.) Annabeth explained how Camp Half-Blood was mostly a summer camp, but some kids stayed here year-round, and they’d added so many campers it was always crowded now, even in winter.

I wondered who ran the camp, and how they’d known me and my friends belonged here. I wondered if I’d have to stay full-time, or if I’d be any good at the activities. This was a Greek place, so would the fights be the same? Could you flunk out of monster fighting? A million questions bubbled in my head, but given Annabeth’s mood, I decided to keep quiet.

As we climbed a hill at the edge of camp, I turned and got an amazing view of the valley—a big stretch of woods to the northwest, a beautiful beach, the creek, the canoe lake, lush green fields, and the whole layout of the cabins—a bizarre assortment of buildings arranged like a Greek omega, Ω, with a loop of cabins around a central green, and two wings sticking out the bottom on either side. I counted twenty cabins in all. One glowed gold, another silver. One had grass on the roof. Another was bright red with barbed wire trenches. One cabin was black with fiery green torches out front.

All of it seemed like a different world from the snowy hills and fields outside.

“The valley is protected from mortal eyes,” Annabeth said. “As you can see, the weather is controlled, too. Each cabin represents a Greek god—a place for that god’s children to live.”

She looked at Piper like she was trying to judge how she was handling the news.

“You’re saying Mom was a goddess,” Piper said

Annabeth nodded. “You’re taking this awfully calmly.”

Piper took a shaky breath. “I guess after this morning, it’s a little easier to believe. So who’s my mom?”

“We should know soon,” Annabeth said. “You’re what—fifteen? Gods are supposed to claim you when you’re thirteen. That was the deal.”

“The deal?” I asked.

“They made a promise last summer… well, long story… but they promised not to ignore their demigod children anymore, to claim them by the time they turn thirteen. Sometimes it takes a little longer, but you saw how fast Leo was claimed once he got here. Should happen for you soon. Tonight at the campfire, I bet we’ll get a sign.”

“Why thirteen?” Piper asked.

“The older you get,” Annabeth said, “the more monsters notice you, try to kill you. ’Round thirteen is usually when it starts. That’s why we send protectors into the schools to find you guys, get you to camp before it’s too late.”

“Like Coach Hedge?” I asked.

Annabeth nodded. “He’s—he was a satyr: half man, half goat. Satyrs work for the camp, finding demigods, protecting them, bringing them in when the time is right.”

I had no trouble believing Coach Hedge was half goat. I’d seen the guy eat. I’d never liked the coach much, but I couldn’t believe he’d sacrificed himself to save me.

“What happened to him?” Piper asked. “When we went up into the clouds, did he… is he gone for good?”

“Hard to say.” Annabeth’s expression was pained. “Storm spirits… difficult to battle. Even our best weapons, Celestial bronze, will pass right through them unless you can catch them by surprise.”