SEN
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"PERCY GOT STABBED BY A SCORPION?!" Sen shrieked as she ran with Annabeth to the infirmary.
"No, stung. He got stung by a scorpion." Annabeth reported. "Chiron and I found him. We don't even know what..." She stopped talking, and Sen didn't blame her. The girls pushed through towards the back of the infirmary, finding Percy on the bed, and a healer leaving. Chiron's human form was next to the bed.
Annabeth grabbed a cup of nectar and put a straw in it, handing it to Sen. She shoved it in Percy's mouth and used her other hand to hold Percy's- one of his hands was bandaged and looked like a balloon- and she waited patiently for Percy to wake up.
And when he did, he looked more confused than anything.
Annabeth dabbed a washcloth on his forehead. Argus was in the corner, watching with most of his eyes.
Percy cracked a small smile even though he turned from a cute tanned boy to Edward Scissorhands. "Here we are again."
"You idiot." Annabeth barked, which is how Sen knew she was overjoyed to see Percy conscious. "You were green and turning gray when we found you. If it weren't for Chiron's healing..."
"Now, now." Chiron said. "Percy's constitution deserves some of the credit."
Sen brushed Percy's hair aside. "How are you feeling?"
"Like my insides have been frozen, then microwaved." Percy answered.
"Apt, considering that was pit scorpion venom. Now you must tell me, if you can, exactly what happened." Chiron sighed.
Percy looked uneasy. Sen frowned. "Do you need me to go get you anything? Do I need to splash you with a pail of saltwater?"
"No... but that might be nice." Percy shrugged. "No, it's just..."
In between sips of nectar, he explained the story.
You will be betrayed by the one who calls you a friend.
"Luke." Sen whispered once Percy was done. She didn't know why she didn't trust herself. She knew something was wrong with Luke. She knew it. Something about his soul... it hadn't been right. Like Yin and Yang, except Yin was beginning to take over.
"I can't believe that Luke..." Annabeth's voice faltered. Her expression turned angry and sad. Lightning flashed in her stormy eyes as her lips turned into the most sorrowful yet enraged frown Sen had ever laid eyes on. "Yes. Yes, I can believe it. May the gods curse him... He was never the same after his quest."
"This must be reported to Olympus." Chiron murmured. "I will go at once."
"Luke is out there right now." Percy said. "I have to go after him." He was still the color of moldy seaweed, so Sen didn't think that was a very good idea.
Chiron shook his head. "No, Percy. The gods-"
"Won't even talk about Kronos." Percy snapped, even bucking up a little bit. "Zeus declared the matter closed!"
"Percy, I know this is hard. But you must not rush out for vengeance. You aren't ready."
Percy faltered. He knew Chiron was right, of course. He glanced at his hand, which wouldn't be ready to wield a sword anytime soon.
He glanced up at Chiron, staring at him through his eyebrows, lowering his voice. "Chiron... your prophecy from the Oracle... it was about Kronos, wasn't it? Was I in it? And Sen? Annabeth?"
Chiron glanced nervously at the ceiling. "Percy, it isn't my place-"
"You've been ordered not to talk to me about it, haven't you?" Percy murmured.
"Percy, maybe we don't need to talk about this." Sen said softly. "You should be resting."
Chiron's eyes were sympathetic, but sad. "You will be a great hero, child. I will do my best to prepare you. But if I'm right about the path ahead of you..."
Thunder boomed overhead, rattling the windows.
"All right!" Chiron shouted. "Fine!" He sighed in frustration. "The gods have their reasons, Percy. Knowing too much of your future is never a good thing." In this, Chiron was right. Heroes always fail ten times worse when they attempt to stop a prophecy or if they know too much of it than if they were to just let things run the natural course.
"We can't just sit back and do nothing." Percy growled. Sen clutched his good hand, trying to give him some sort of anchor. Percy looked like he was on the verge of tears.
"We will not sit back." Chiron promised. "But you must be careful. Kronos wants you to come unraveled. He wants your life disrupted, your thoughts clouded with fear and anger. Do not give him what he wants. Train patiently. Your time will come."
"Assuming I live that long."
Chiron put his hand on Percy's ankle. "You'll have to trust me, Percy. You will live. But first you must decide your path for the coming year. I cannot tell you the right choice..." Sen got the feeling that he had a very definite opinion, and it was taking all his willpower not to advise Percy. "But you must decide whether to stay at Camp Half-Blood year-round, or return to the mortal world for seventh grade and be a summer camper. Think on that. When I get back from Olympus, you must tell me your decision."
Percy bit his lip. He clearly wanted to say more. It was in his DNA. That boy always wanted to say more. But Chiron had clearly said as much as he could.
"I'll be back as soon as I can." Chiron promised. "Argus will watch over you."
He glanced at Annabeth. "Oh, and, my dear... whenever you're ready, they're here."
"Who's here?" Percy and Sen piped up.
Nobody answered.
Chiron rolled himself out of the room. Sen heard the wheels of his chair clunk carefully down the front steps, two at a time. She wondered if it was fun to do that. It had to be at least a little fun.
Annabeth studied the ice in the nectar.
"What's wrong?" Sen asked. "Do I need to get a healer for you, too?"
Annabeth shook her head. "Nothing. I... just took y'all's advice about something. You... um... need anything, Percy?"
"Yeah. Help me up. I want to go outside."
Sen winced. "Percy, that isn't- OH!" Percy slid his legs out the bed and Sen had to catch him before he crumbled over. His face changed from green and grey to green and red as Sen put one arm around his shoulder and used her other hand to brace his stomach.
Annabeth said, "I told you..."
"I'm fine." Percy insisted. I managed a step forward. Then another, still leaning heavily on Sen. Argus followed everyone outside, but he kept his distance. Annabeth had the nectar ready in case Percy needed a sip.
By the time they reached the porch, Percy's face was beaded with sweat. His breathing was heavy. But he had managed to make it all the way to the railing.
It was dusk. The camp looked completely deserted. The cabins were dark and the volleyball pit silent. No canoes cut the surface of the lake. Beyond the woods and the strawberry fields, the Long Island Sound glittered in the last light of the sun.
"What are you going to do?" Annabeth asked.
"I don't know." Percy admitted. "I think... I think Chiron wants me to stay all year. But, honestly... I miss my mom." He bit the inside of his cheek. "That sounds stupid."
"No, it doesn't." Sen shook her head. "Everyone misses their mom at some point. It's natural. After everything you've been through, I'm surprised you're showing a little more hesitation."
Percy smiled a little bit. "But... well, I think I'll feel bad about leaving Annabeth alone, stuck with Clarisse..."
Annabeth pursed her lips, then said quietly, "I'm going home for the year, Percy."
Sen and Percy stared at Annabeth.
"Like, to your dad's?" Percy asked.
"No, to Mount Olympus." Sen rolled her eyes.
Annabeth pointed toward the crest of Half-Blood Hill. Next to Thalia's pine tree, at the very edge of the camp's magical boundaries, a family stood silhouetted- two little children, a woman, and a tall man with blond hair. They seemed to be waiting. The man was holding a backpack that looked like the one Annabeth had gotten from Waterland in Denver.
"I wrote him a letter when we got back." Annabeth said. "Just like you guys suggested. I told him... I was sorry. I'd come home for the school year if he still wanted me. He wrote back immediately. We decided... we'd give it another try."
"That took guts." Percy nodded.
"Good for you, Annabeth." Sen said softly.
Annabeth pursed her lips and looked at Percy. "You won't try anything stupid during the school year, will you? At least... not without sending me an Iris-message?"
Percy smiled. "Nah. Sen will keep a watchful eye on me, right?"
Sen looked away.
Annabeth stared. "Wait... you haven't told him?"
"While I decided, he was being betrayed, Annabeth."
Percy frowned. "Told me what? Decided what?"
Annabeth turned and whistled. "Not my circus, not my monkeys." She walked around the other side of the infirmary.
Percy pulled away from Sen, using the railing instead. Sen dropped her hands to her sides, suddenly unsure what to do with them.
"I-I already told your mom." Sen explained. "She's using my tuition money to redecorate your room, instead. Plus, you'll have a spare room- a study for her to write, maybe for you to slash your sword a little bit so you don't lose all your skills..."
Percy's back was turned to Sen. "You're not going."
Sen played with the hem of her purple sweater and bit her lip. "This is where I need to be, Percy. I think you know that. I'll train here, I'll spend time with Rafael, I'll go to the campfire every night... it's where I belong. Not in Manhattan, not with you and your mom, at your school, with your friends-"
"You are my friends, Sen. You, and Annabeth, and Grover." Percy muttered. Sen tried to ignore the bracelets on his wrist- woven blue threads and azurite chips.
Sen placed a hand on his shoulder. "You know what I mean. We have to have our individual lives. We have to live true to ourselves. This is where I need to be."
Percy must've known that. He didn't try to fight it anymore. Instead, he turned, and threw his arms around Sen, partially leaning on her for support. Sen fought back tears as she wrapped her arms around Percy.
"I'll miss you." Percy murmured.
"I know. But, we have Iris-messages and you bet your ass I'm gonna send you doves and butterflies full of letters every single day." Sen snickered. "Really, it won't be that different. We just won't see each other's faces."
Sen didn't want to admit that not seeing his face every day was the worst part about it.
"Annabeth?" Percy called. He pulled away from Sen as the blonde walked back over.
She sighed as she stood in front of Sen and Percy. "When I get back next summer," She said. "we'll hunt down Luke. We'll ask for a quest, but if we don't get approval, we'll sneak off and do it anyway. Agreed?"
"Agreed." Sen and Percy nodded.
"Sounds like a plan worthy of Athena." Percy added.
She held out her hand. Percy shook it.
"Take care, Seaweed Brain." Annabeth told him. "Keep your eyes open. And Sen?"
"Yes?" Sen accepted a hug from Annabeth.
"Stop wearing such tacky sweaters."
"Hey!" Sen complained. "You know what? Next summer, I'm gonna be even tackier just to spite you guys."
"Can it get any tackier?" Percy snorted as he picked at the wool sweater. Sen smacked his hand away, then apologized because she forgot he was not doing so good after the scorpion sting.
"Oh, you don't even know my capabilities." Sen grinned. "Just wait. Next summer, you're gonna see me and go wow."
Annabeth rolled her eyes. "Ugh. Cringe. See you guys."
"Bye!" Sen waved. Percy waved with her. They watched her walk up the hill and join her family. She gave her father an awkward hug and looked back at the valley one last time. She touched Thalia's pine tree, then allowed herself to be lead over the crest and into the mortal world.
Sen turned to Percy. "You've already made your decision."
Percy raised an eyebrow, though he was smiling. "How'd you know?"
"You've got a funny look. It's whatever. I already packed your bags for you."
"Yeah? Did you hide any goodies in there?"
Sen put a finger on her chin and looked to the skies. "Perhaps. I guess you'll have to find out, huh? Now, you're not allowed to open the blue bag until you're in your room, or that'll mess it up. The green bag is for your mom, but if you forget, it's also got her name on it. Lastly, you both have to open the purple bag together, or the whole thing will be ruined."
Percy rolled his eyes. "This seems like a lot."
"It'll be worth it. Also, I left your Latin book in there." Sen grinned. "You'll be getting at least one letter per week in the language, so I expect to hold full conversations with you when you come back. Alright?"
"You're ridiculous."
"And you love me. Now, go home to your mommy."
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woooh! we're done with the lightning thief!
it IS the end of an era but sea of monsters (which im about halfway through rn) is looking goooooooood