𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐄𝐈𝐋¹ || 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐘 𝐉𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐒𝐎𝐍

𝐗𝐋𝐈𝐈𝐈

✦ 𝐖𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐊𝐄 ✦

PERCY HAD NEVER SEEN CAMP HALF-BLOOD IN WINTER BEFORE, AND THE SNOW SURPRISED HIM. See, the Camp has the ultimate magic climate control. Nothing gets inside the borders unless the director, Mr. D, wants it to.

Percy thought it would be warm and sunny, but instead, the snow had been allowed to fall lightly. Frost covered the chariot track and the strawberry fields. The cabins were decorated with tiny flickering lights, like Christmas lights, except they seemed to be balls of real fire.

More lights glowed in the woods, and, weirdest of all, a fire flickered in the attic window of the Big House, where the Oracle dwelt, imprisoned in an old mummified body. Percy wondered if the spirit of Delphi was roasting marshmallows up there or something.

"Whoa," Nico said as he climbed off the bus. "Is that a climbing wall?"

"Yeah," Percy said.

"Why is there lava pouring down it?"

"Little extra challenge. Come on. I'll introduce you to Chiron. Zoë, have you met–"

"I know Chiron," Zoë said stiffly. "Tell him we will be in Cabin Eight. Hunters, follow me."

"I'll show you the way," Grover offered.

"We know the way."

"Oh, really, it's no trouble. It's easy to get lost here if you don't–" he tripped over a canoe and came up still talking "–like my old daddy goat used to say! Come on!"

Zoë rolled her eyes, but Percy guessed she figured there was no getting rid of Grover. The Hunters shouldered their packs and their bows and headed off towards the cabins.

As Bianca di Angelo was leaving, she leaned over and whispered something in her brother's ear. She looked at him for an answer, but Nico just scowled and turned away and hid behind Aurora, gripping her shirt.

"Take care, sweethearts!" Apollo called after the Hunters.

Apollo then turned to Aurora with a warm smile, his arms open wide in invitation for a hug. "It's time for us to part ways for now, my little sunshine," he said softly, pulling her into his embrace.

Aurora returned the hug tightly, her heart filled with love and gratitude for her father. "I'll miss you, Dad," she whispered, feeling a sense of warmth and comfort in his arms.

"I'll miss you too," Apollo held her for a moment longer, his gaze filled with paternal pride.

As Apollo pulled away from their embrace, his hand lingered on Aurora's right wrist, his touch gentle as he eyed it with a thoughtful expression. Filling with confusion, Aurora glanced down at her wrist and then back up at her father.

Apollo's gaze shifted from Aurora's right wrist to Percy's left wrist, a glint in his eyes that caught both of their attention.

He gently rubbed Aurora's wrist before speaking in a mysterious tone. "Here will do," he muttered, his words laden with meaning that eluded Aurora's understanding. She furrowed her brow in confusion, trying to make sense of his cryptic statement.