The Daughter of the Sky // Wattys 2016

Chapter 28

      If there's anything I learned this summer, its that Camp Half-Blood really knew how to throw a welcome home party. 

The second we set foot through the camp's magical boarders there was a series of loud pops as multicolored confetti and streamers erupted in multiple clouds around us.

 Immediately following a feast fit for the gods that Chiron had set up for us, a wave of cheering campers ran in Paris, Percy and I's direction and began to lift us onto their shoulders. At first I was caught completely off guard, instantly wanting to writhe and squirm my way out of the five pairs of hands holding my legs and lower body upright. I looked over to Paris who was now red in the face from laughing at the Aphrodite cabin trying their best to lift her without breaking a nail or getting dirt on their shoes. 

Meanwhile, Percy was being hoisted up by the Hermes cabin. They snickered while he desperately swatted their hands away from the pockets of his jeans and sweatshirt.

    "Whoa, whoa, easy! Travis, Connor, stop digging around in my pockets," Percy tried to punch the Stoll twins from on top of the crowd.

      Nico and Danny watched from afar as Paris, Percy and I succumbed to the hysteria and chaos surrounding us. Will Solace joined them shortly, high-fiving Danny before wrapping an arm around Nico's neck lovingly. I could've sworn I saw Nico blush.

    People began to come out of their cabins to celebrate my friends and I's homecoming; out of the corner of my eye I caught Stacy Knoxville watching me from the entrance of the rusty Ares cabin. A couple of tree nymphs pranced out of the woods beside us and gracefully adorned each of our heads with traditional Greek olive wreaths, similar to those of Olympic athletes. Paris was right beside me, squealing in delight as the campers carried us towards the lake in the distance. 

    We finally reached our destination at the old wooden dock leading up to Camp Half-Blood's famous lake. The sun had set hours ago leaving us in almost complete and total darkness, with the exception of a couple of fire lit torches.

    "Alright guys, you know the drill," Travis Stoll made his way to the front of the crowd of campers. "If you complete your quest you get a complimentary dip in the lake. A La Stoll Style. Jackson, you're up first."

    "Come on guys, I've already done this way too many-" Percy tried to weasel his way out of a midnight swim.

      The entire crowd began to boo at his protests. My heart pounded at the thought of being forced into the water. They couldn't make me do that too...could they?

     "You know what? Fine. But if I drown, it's all on you," Percy gave into the crowd.

   "Five! Four! Three! Two!" Every camper was counting down Percy's launch into the lake while the Stoll twins swung his upper and lower body. Percy huffed out a breath in annoyance as the Stoll twins snickered above him.

     "Is this really necessary-" 

      "One!"

     SPLASH!

    I gulped as I watched my friend crash and disappear into the depths of the mysterious water below. It was far too dark outside to make out a solid figure or shape inside of the water. For a second the entire camp held its breath as they waited for a sign of life from the lake. After almost three whole minutes Percy rose to the surface, shaking out his shaggy black hair. Of course he couldn't drown. He was the son of Poseidon, for crying out loud. The crowd surrounding us went crazy, roaring and cheering wildly for him. He loved it; the attention, the acceptance from his peers. Even in the darkness I could clearly see the wide smile plastered across his rebellious face. Percy laughed and thrashed his arms around in an effort to splash the Stoll twins above him.