Isles of the Blest (Ch. 5)

Percy remembered how when he had first arrived at Camp, it had been Annabeth taking him on a tour. Now the roles were reversed, and there was a lot more to the camp then when Percy first arrived. The Greek Cabins, the Roman Barracks, the small training navy, the specially designed war games arena that could be partly transformed to be play a part in capture the flag, the temples and shrines. Everyone was fascinated by them.

“So, you are saying that the children here are from both the Greek and Roman aspects of the gods?” Ann asked curiously.

“Yep,” Percy grinned, popping the p.

“How does that work?” Jake/Jason asked.

“Very delicately,” Percy answered with a cheeky grin that made Nico’s cheeks burn red and even brought a hint of colour to Ann’s.

“And how do you know who is Greek and who is Roman?” Frank asked.

“Simple. Who understands what I am saying?” Percy asked in flawless Latin.

As expected, the reincarnations of Jason, Frank and Hazel held up their hands.

“And who understands me now?” Percy asked in Greek.

Everyone else held up their hands.

“And that is how we tell,” Percy smiled as Chiron came galloping up. His eyebrows furrowed together.

“Back with us again Percy,” he said gravely.

“Looks like it. I brought some friends,” he responded, waving his hands as the new campers. Chiron examined them closely, and Percy could tell that he knew who they were. Or at least, who they had been.

“Have you discerned which who is Greek and who is Roman?” he asked.

“Of course,” Percy said with a smile.

“Maybe tonight at the camp fire.....” Chiron began, when a holographic symbol burned over everyone’s head. Chiron seemed a little surprised at the speed.

“Ahem, well, yes. Percy, would you mind showing everyone to their cabins and leading the Romans to the legion. There is a joint Senate and Senior cabin councillor meeting this evening. You are required to attend. If you could bring Thalia with you,” Chiron said in a careful voice.

000

(Ann’s POV)

Ann loved the Athena cabin. So many books and strategy boards. The head councillor, a guy called Matt, introduced her to her new siblings. As an only child, having so many new brothers and sisters seemed daunting at first, but Ann found she was up to the challenge.
“Alright everyone, set your alarms for dinner. I have to go to this meeting and I don’t want anyone late because they got caught up in a project. If we do it again, we forfeit to the Ares Cabin,” Matt  said as he walked out.
“Forfeit to the Ares cabin?”

“If we are late to dinner, everyone has to wait. We made a deal with the Ares Cabin to help us in the War Games. If we are late, we forfeit dessert privileges and use of the arena for training,” a girl called Joan said with a shrug. She was examining Ann with interest.

“So, you came in with Percy Jackson?” she asked.

“Yeah. I take it you know him?” Ann asked.

“Not too well in person. But everyone knows the legends,” Joan said.

“The legends?” Ann asked.

Joan shared a look with the others in the cabin.

“After dinner. There is a lot of detail and speculation to the legends,” Joan said.

000

The joint Senate and Senior Councillor meeting was uneventful, and dealt with what Percy, Thalia and Hades had talked about--  the trouble half bloods were having getting to camp.
“Things are bad, huh?” Thalia asked.

“Yeah. I knew things were bad, anyone with any experience in the mortal world would know, but I didn’t know it was affecting camp so much,” Percy said, stopping in the middle of the commons area between the cabins. He stretched, feeling his joints pop. Thalia grinned at him, punching him in the stomach.

“Remembering how flexible you are as a teen?” she teased. Percy grinned back at her.

“Big difference between me at eighty five and me at seventeen,” Percy grinned back. Thalia laughed, then glanced around at the cabins. They were trying not to be obvious, but Thalia could see people glancing out at them.

“Looks like your legend will be told to all the new campers tonight,” she said.

“Yeah,” Percy sighed. “See you tomorrow.”

Thalia gave him a sympathetic smile.

“Night Percy.”

Percy was asleep before his head hit the pillow, and Thalia was proven right. The new campers in both the Greek and Roman side of Camp Half Blood learned about the legend of Percy Jackson.

000

(Future flash forward)

Percy advanced on the ornate wooden door. From far below, helped by the acoustics of the building, a group of Christian monks chanted the funeral chant. On impulse, Percy pulled Riptide out. Several hellhounds and other monsters lunged forward.  Percy swiftly dealt with them, and pulled his gun, kicking his way into the Chancellors Office, dealing with the few armed mortals he found there. He faced the Chancellor. He jerked his head behind them.

“You hear that? The monks sing you to your sleep,” Percy stated.