★彡[ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʀᴀɪᴛᴏʀ ]彡★

The last of summer soon arrived, and many of the non year-round campers had already left with the rest set to leave by the afternoon. Ameris had been keeping a watch at the entrance for any monsters since morning, relieved to find none.

She was making her way back towards the big house, when an unsettling feeling bubbled inside of her, one that always warned her that trouble was near. Someone nudged her shoulder, gaining her attention.

"Hey, you alright?" Katie asked. "You just stopped."

"Yeah ..." Ameris glanced around uncertainly.

Everything seemed fine, so why was she on the edge? And that's when she felt it again, this time stronger as realisation dawned upon her.

"Percy!" Ameris' eyes widened, leaving the daughter of Demeter's side in a blur, who stared at her retreating figure in confusion and surprise.

Ameris zipped through the woods, fear crawling inside of her, an emotion she hadn't felt in a very long time, as she scanned her surroundings. Her eyes then fixed on the creek and found Percy lying next to it with his hand plunged into the water.

The hybrid was beside his side in an instant, scanning him for any injuries. His skin was getting paler, taking on a greenish tint. His head was lolled to the side with his eyes closed, showing no signs of consciousness.

"Percy!" Ameris shook him, desperate for any signs for a response but he didn't budge.

She caught sight of his bleeding hand, smoking yellow with guck, her eyes widening. It was a sting from a pit scorpion. She barely had less than twenty seconds left, his skin getting even greener, almost turning grey.

Ameris's hands grasped onto his bleeding palm tightly, taking a deep breath and closing her eyes as she willed the water from the creek towards her. While she knew she couldn't heal the sting wound, she used all the power within her to prolong the effects of the poison, hopefully until they could find the cure.

Snaking her arm underneath Percy's neck while the other under his legs, she heaved him up, disappearing in a blur before reappearing in the infirmary, surprising the eleven year old son of Apollo.

"Will, go and get Chiron!" Ameris told the boy, who nodded and hurried out to find the centaur.

Ameris placed Percy in an empty cot, trying to calm her uneasy nerves as she waited by his side. Chiron soon burst in, glancing between the two siblings in confusion and concern.

"Pit scorpion," Ameris said, answering his unspoken question. "If I had arrived a second late ..."

She cut herself off, watching silently as Chiron grabbed the nectar and began his healing magic, patching up his palm. Annabeth rushed in moments later after hearing the news, a worried look on her face.

What bothered Ameris the most was how a pit scorpion entered the camp borders in the first place. She had been patrolling all morning for any monsters but had found none. Someone had summoned it inside the camp, just like they had with the hellhound.

And a few hours later, Percy soon awoke much to everyone's relief, the colour slowly returning to his skin, but he still looked terrible. He then explained what had happened in between sips of nectar, about Luke betraying them all and Kronos rising.

Ameris leaned quietly against the wall, regret bubbling inside of her instead of anger. She had a hunch since the beginning that it was the son of Hermes, but she had continued to ignore it.

She understood exactly why he had done it, and if anyone, it was herself to blame for it. She had unknowingly encouraged him to continue to fight for a change after the night of the summer solstice, not realising that he'd already chosen his side.

The room was quiet for a long time.

"I can't believe that Luke ..." Annabeth's voice faltered before her expression turned angry and sad. "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."

Chiron shook his head. "No, Percy. The gods-"

"Won't even talk about Kronos," Percy snapped. "Zeus declared the matter closed!"

"Percy, I know this is hard. But you must not rush out for vengeance. You aren't ready."

Percy sighed, knowing that the centaur was right. "Chiron ... your prophecy from the Oracle ... it was about Kronos, wasn't it? Was I in it? And Annabeth?"

Ameris eyes darkened at the mention of the prophecy while 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 asked.

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!"

The centaur sighed in frustration. "The gods have their reasons, Percy. Knowing too much of your future is never a good thing."

"We can't just sit back and do nothing," Percy argued.

"We will not sit back," Chiron promised.

"But you must be careful. Kronos wants you to come unravelled. 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," Percy mumbled.

Chiron put his hand on the boy'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 ...."

He paused before continuing. "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."

"I'll be back as soon as I can," Chiron promised. "Argus will watch over you."

The centaur wheeled out of the room, but not before sharing a knowing glance with Ameris who let out a sigh before walking out of the door after him in silence, leaving Percy and Annabeth alone with Argus.

"He was such a nice boy," Chiron sighed, his expression one of exhaustion.

"I'm going to find him," Ameris stated impassively.

He was quiet for a moment before nodding. "Keep an eye on camp while I'm gone, will you?"

"Of course."

Chiron sent her a small smile before wheeling out of the infirmary, leaving Ameris alone with her thoughts.