CHAPTER EIGHT: THE WORRIES OF AN INSIGNIFICANT GIRL

     After dinner, Nico ran up to Nari and excitedly dragged her to the campfire. She hid her frown as best as she could. If she failed him—if she failed Bianca di Angelo—this would be one of the last times she saw his bright smile.

     "I talked to Chiron earlier." He said cheerfully, his eyes gleaming brightly in the faint light of the fire. "He said you could sit with me..." he leaned over, "because, technically, you can sit wherever you want. You're special." He seemed to be warming up to the idea of Nari being from a different universe, but she wondered if he was trying to convince himself that it didn't bother him. She hoped that he wasn't.

Nari still managed a smile, "won't it raise a few questions as to why I'm not with my cabin?"

"I guess," Nico shrugged, his hand still held tightly around Nari's. "But it's okay." He shrugged it off, not worrying a bit about what sort of trouble Nari could cause. Nari found herself laughing at his carefree attitude, allowing him to drag her down to where the Hermes Cabin was sitting.

Nari hadn't really met any of the Hermes kids. She could point out the Stoll brothers with ease, who looked at her with a curious yet mischievous glint in their eyes, but most of the others payed her no mind. The Hermes Cabin was used to having more campers than they should—it made sense that they didn't even bat an eye when Nari sat next to Nico.

Nari glanced up, looking around the campfire. She couldn't find Percy anywhere, but she knew he would be at his cabin. He had skipped dinner this chapter, upset about not getting to go on the quest. Nari perked up at the realization that he would be meeting Bessie soon, or rather, the Ophiotaurus. She couldn't wait to meet him.

Then, Nari met the curious gaze of Lee Fletcher. He rose a brow at her, earning a sheepish smile in response. Lee laughed softly to himself as the other Apollo kids got their ukuleles ready, before looking away as to not draw any attention to her. Nari silently thanked the boy, before looking to Nico, ignoring the pang in her chest. Lee Fletcher needed to be saved.

As the camp began singing along to countless songs that Nari wasn't familiar with, Nico leaned in to talk to her. "Are you staying here?" He asked.

Nari was quick to realize that he was talking about the quest, and that the other campers must've explained to him what the Oracle had been doing out. She sighed, "yes." She she said, knowing that she could never lie to Nico di Angelo. "I'm gonna watch over them. Make sure nothing goes wrong."

The words felt bitter on her tongue. They felt wrong. It shouldn't have been her job to watch over a fictional world. She loved it dearly, but she wasn't meant to live in it.

Nari Seong was positive that no one hated the Fates more than her.

Nico, however, was beaming. "That's so cool." He kept his voice low, but it didn't really matter. All the other campers were too busy singing, laughing and joking around to hear the newest campers at Camp Half-Blood. "You know what's gonna happen, so you can avoid all the bad stuff."

Nari knew that wasn't entirely true. She would still be in danger, but as long as she kept the major plot points in mind, she would be able to avoid the more terrible things.

Still, she smiled down at Nico. "Mm-hmm." She managed. "I'll try my best, anyway."

"I know you will." Nico smiled. She was reminded with the fact that Nico thought he knew her inside and out, and maybe the mist had been more or less accurate, but it was still wrong. Nico believed that Nari was someone she wasn't, and that would always leave her feeling guilty.

By the time the campfire was going out, each camper began trudging off to their cabins. Nico was quick to pull Nari into a bone crushing hug, which Nari wasted no time in returning. "In case you leave too early." He said. "And I don't see you until after you get back."

Nari's lips pulled into a frown, but she nodded anyway. "I'll miss you." She said honestly, resting her head on top of his. She was much taller than him, but she knew he would soon outgrow her. He was only ten, after all.

"I'll miss you, more." He said. "Be safe, please."

When they pulled away, Nari realized that there were tears in his eyes. She frowned, crouching down. "I'll try." She promised. It was the best promise that she could make.

Nari wiped his tears away, and smiled, her lip quivering. The thought of leaving camp terrified her. Monsters and gods—it wasn't meant to be real. A part of her still wished she was dreaming.

"Okay." Nico nodded, sniffling. She sent him one last smile, before letting him go. She watched as he made his way towards the Hermes Cabin—the most worn down building at camp—before following his cabin mates inside.

Nari sighed and turned to the Apollo Cabin, which didn't gleam as brightly in the night as it did in the day. Now, the Artemis Cabin took the spotlight, gleaming in the moonlight, a beautiful silver glow.

Lee was waiting for her at the door. She smiled at him as she walked in, before heading to the bathroom—it was one of the few cabins with a bathroom, as it held quite a few demigods—and getting ready for bed.

She didn't take long, and when she walked out, she saw her cabin mates staring at her, with varying looks of worry.

"You're going, aren't you?" Michael Yew asked, his lips pulled into a frown.

Nari found the dread pooling in the pit of her stomach once more, a familiar feeling after the last few days, but she nodded. "Yeah. You know I have to."

She was glad that her cabin knew she wasn't from their universe. She didn't have to lie or sugar coat anything. She could be honest with them, and tell them how she was really feeling. She was glad that Chiron and the gods had allowed her that flexibility.

Lee sighed loudly, pinching the bridge of his nose. When he looked up to meet her eyes, his own were shining with concern. He pushed it back, and sent her the smallest of smiles. "Want us to pack your bag?" He asked.

Nari was grateful, and nodded. "Please."

Will was immediately on his feet. He began digging through the drawers at the end of his bed, "we'll have to pack you a mortal first aid kid. You can't take ambrosia or nectar." He said.

Nari moved to sit on her bed. "Yeah, good point." It hadn't really occurred to her that if she got hurt, she would heal far slower than the others. Given that she wasn't half god, it was likely that she was more injury prone than everyone else was, too.

"How bad is it?" A girl's voice caught Nari's ears. She turned, and a girl named Mai Sasaki had asked. She wasn't a character that was ever mentioned in the books, but despite hardly knowing her, Nari already loved her. "The future, I mean."

     Immediately, everyone's eyes were on Nari. The girl frowned, thinking over the quest that was to come. Bianca, Zoë, Artemis, Atlas... her mind swirled with all those who she could lose, and all those she would see. The events that would take place, the running, hiding, getting lost. All of it.

     She found her words after a moment of thought, "it's... not the worst quest I'll have to go on." She decided on saying, assuming that she would stay for The Battle of the Labyrinth and The Last Olympian—which was a terrifying thought. "It won't be easy, but... I think I'll be okay."

     But would she? She wasn't a demigod. How could she be so sure?

     Still, the others looked more at ease with her words, so she felt like it was too late to take them back.

     Lee walked over, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You're not our sister," he said, "but you are family. Remember that."

     Nari wanted to cry. This world was crazy, but it was horrifyingly beautiful. There was never a dull moment, and that was what drew Nari in the first time she read The Lightning Thief. To experience what she was was both a nightmare and a dream come true.

     Nari smiled up at Lee, trying to show him how much that meant to her. "Thank you." She said. "For everything." Thank you for giving me a safe place, and for hearing me out. Thank you for welcoming me in—she meant it all.

     Lee seemed to understand, and sent her one last smile before walking off, helping Will pack her backpack for her travels.

     Will looked up then, "is there anything you know you'll need?" He asked.

     Nari thought for a long moment. Her eyes widened as she nodded, "warm clothes. For, uh, snow." She said sheepishly, scratching the back of her neck. "Like, really warm. Please. And doubles of everything."

     Yes, it was winter, so everyone had their winter coats at the ready around camp. Still, Nari couldn't help but feel like the questers still weren't prepared for Cloudcroft. She didn't want to take her chances.

     Not only that, Percy wouldn't have his own bag, as far as she remembered. She figured she'd help him out.

     Will nodded. "You got it."

     Once her backpack was completely stuffed with everything she would need and more, Lee called lights out, and Nari forced herself to try and get some sleep.

     Naturally, it took forever. She kept thinking over everything that could go wrong. She went over in detail about what was meant to happen, again and again. Then, she went over what she wanted to fix, countless times over. She kept running through the possibilities, trying not to miss a single thing.

     As she worried over Bianca and Zoë, her brain had had enough, and sleep finally took her.

     Nari stood in a void. She expected to remain alone, like last time. She waited patiently for the voices. Would she be given another warning? Of Zoë or Bianca?

After what felt like a lifetime, she heard a voice in the void, and she jumped at the familiarity of it.

"Nari." It said. She turned, whipping her body around faster than she could process. She stared at the god for a long time, frowning. Still, he managed a smile. "I come with good news." He said.

"Apollo..." she said slowly, "what's going on?"

His smile dropped. "Do you not trust me?" He asked. He snapped his fingers, and there in the void, two chairs appeared. "Sit." He said. Nari sighed, but walked through the nothingness before sitting down, Apollo doing the same a few feet away. "It's really good news, I promise."

Nari decided that she was intrigued, so she nodded. "Go on."

"I bear gifts." The sun god said.

Nari looked around the void before turning back to face Apollo. The only things she could see was the chairs, Apollo himself, and her body when she looked down. "Really?" She asked suspiciously.

Apollo laughed at her confusion. "Oh, it's already been given to you." He said. Nari frowned, confused. "You've been given a blessing."

Nari stared wide-eyed at the god, "from you?"

Apollo shook his head. "No. I figured you were already much like me." Nari raised a brow at his comment, but he continued. "I asked Ares if he wouldn't mind. Of course he wasn't really... on board with the idea. But, I knew he was the best person to ask."

"So..." Nari blinked, "what exactly did he give me?" She asked. Apollo was clearly not picking up on how unbelievably confusing the conversation was.

"Well," Apollo rubbed his hands together excitedly. "We can't exactly leave you defenceless on a quest. That would be... bad. So, Ares agreed to give you the skills of a great swordsman. Now, you can fight like the others can. You won't only have to rely on your knowledge."

Nari gasped. Apollo wasn't kidding; it really was a good gift. "No way."

Apollo looked pleased by her reaction. "Yes way." He inhaled, "and, of course, you've been given your own personal sword. You'll know where it is when you see it."

Nari was confused at the thought of having to search for a sword when she woke up, but she breathed a sigh of relief. "That makes me feel a little bit better." Apollo raised his brows. "Okay, much better. Thank you very much." She said. "I'll be sure to thank Ares when I see him next."

Apollo frowned. "See him— ah," he tapped his temple, "future stuff. Of course." It was clear to Nari that Apollo didn't like her knowing stuff that he didn't. It was bruising his ego a little. "Well, that's all the news I have. Until next time, Nari."

Apollo, and the chairs, disappeared in a glittering gold mist. Nari shrieked as she collapsed to the invisible ground, before mumbling curses under her breath. "He did that on purpose." She found herself saying. No need to be a sore loser for not knowing the things that she did—at least, not all of them.

Then, Nari's eyes shot wide open, and she could see the sun beginning to rise.

     Nari got ready for the day in a blur. She didn't exactly know what to expect until Percy showed up, so she hoped the car rides wouldn't be too awkward. And if anyone had any questions, she would be happy to explain. Anything to fill the possible silence or arguing between Thalia and Zoë.

     The goodbyes to everyone in her cabin were short and sweet. She gave them each a hug, even the people she didn't know very well (but in technicality, that was all of them). Then she was out the door with her heart beating out of her chest.

     She nervously played with her fingers, confused at the sudden touch of cold metal. Nari looked down, and on her left hand was a ring. It was unfamiliar, and she was certain that she hadn't worn it before.

     She remembered Apollo's words, and her eyes trailed over it in a new perspective. Ares had gifted Nari a sword, and she was sure that the ring was it.

     It was a bronze ring, the same colour as any other demigod weapon was, and it had Ares' named engraved into it. Nari wondered if that was his way of reminding her to thank him. She found herself feeling amused, but she agreed. A gift like that needed to be recognized. She would thank him when she met him—which would be in the desert, if she remembered correctly.

     Nari met up with Bianca, Zoë, Thalia and Grover. She was briefly informed that the Stoll brothers had put centaur blood on the inside of Phoebe's shirt (that she didn't ask for), even though they knew that she already knew, and she felt guilty for not saying anything.

     Zoë insisted that they couldn't risk bringing anyone else on the quest to replace Phoebe, camper or Hunter alike. She had some sort of feeling that it would end badly if she did, and Nari knew better than anyone that she was right on the money.

     Percy was meant to go on the quest. He would be taking Phoebe's place, and making his dramatic entrance at the Smithsonian. Nari was more than excited to see him again, but she knew that it meant the chaos would really begin. He would have had his run in with the skeletons by then, and he would've seen Luke and Atlas and countless others working for Kronos. In all honestly, Nari was terrified.

     However, it wasn't long before the questers got into the camp's van on Half-Blood Hill, Nari barely processing her surroundings as Bianca buckled her in upon noticing her being stuck in a daze. Bianca sent the girl the smallest of smiles, showing her that she still cared, before going to the front seat next to Zoë, who would be driving.

     Bianca's beautiful smile only made Nari feel worse. She hoped that the Hunter would be able to live after the quest for as long as she deserved—then, Nari could continue to see the smile that outshined the others' around her.

     As Nari searched through her bag, she found a notebook. She slowly opened it, seeing a sticky note inside. 'Writing might help you focus on what's important. Stay safe, and don't put too much pressure on yourself. Good luck'. The note was signed by Will, who was far more mature than she was at his age.

     Nari quietly searched for a pen, before tightening her hands around one. She let out a sigh as she began to write, her thoughts all exploding onto the page as she planned out what she would do when Talos made his presence known.

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lizzie speaks...

gonna try and bring back weekly updates for real now. i've been stressed abt lots of things rn but slowly... it's getting better? i think? pfft i'll update anyway ig

hello hello hru all? ideas are always welcome. i love adding them to my fics and i give credits if u want. comment them whenever <3