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DAYS IN THE SUN

chapter ten
❛ 𝚒'𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔, 𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚎. ❜

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     AMARA AND ZEUS got to talk for a little while afterwards, before the god evidently had to return back to Olympus. Once he left, she made her way out of the Zeus cabin but wasn't able to make it far before arms wrapped around her frame. She was picked up, spun around a couple of times before she was able to get a look at the camper's face. Her lips broke out into a grin once she recognized the familiar scarred blond son of Hermes, the older demigod held a smile of his own as he set her down, relinquishing her from his hold.

"I know I said I would never let you live it down if you got your butt kicked on this quest, but did you really not want to deal with it that badly you preferred Hades realm?"

She rolled her eyes as the older boy threw an arm around her shoulder, pulling her into his side while his smile turned soft. "I'm glad you're back, Ara. Don't do anything like that again, got it? That's my job."

She nodded, accepting the small lecture she knew was hidden behind his words. "Yeah, I know."

His smile turned into a smirk. "Good, now come on, we got camp traditions to attend too."

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

It was camp tradition to burn the burial shrouds of the returned Half-Bloods in the fire during the ceremony. It wasn't an ordinary occurrence as not many demigods return from quests.

The Hephaestus cabin was the one who made Amara's shroud, since she didn't have any siblings to make one for her. Her's was a muted grey with gold sewn into the fabric, blue sky adorning the center. Not only that, but the gorgeous sky was surrounded by blue electricity tingles, with eagles flying between the strands.

Her eyes landed on Charles who held a proud smile, not only from his creation but the fact she managed to come back alive. "Thank you," she said, her eyes shining slightly as she couldn't take them off the masterpiece he had created. The older boy pulled her in for a side hug, ruffling her hair as she pulled away. "I'm glad you came back, Am."

Annabeth's was a lovely grey silk with embroidered owls, and since Percy was the only one in his cabin, another cabin had offered to make his. The Ares cabin had volunteered to create a shroud with an old white bedsheet, a painted on smiley face with x's as the eyes.

The campers cheered as the demigods burned their shrouds. Amara watched and let out a silent laugh as Percy made a cheeky comment to Annabeth that the blonde punched him for.

As Apollo's cabin led the sing along and passed out s'mores, the brunette was able to see Percy surrounded by his old Hermes cabinmates, Annabeth surround by her half siblings from the Athena cabin, and Grover was surrounded by his satyr buddies, who were admiring the brand new searcher licenses he'd received from the Council of Cloven Elders. The council had called the satyr's performance on the quest, 'Brave to the point of indigestion. Horns-and-whiskers above anything we have seen in the past.'

Even Dionysus' welcome home speech wasn't enough to dampen their spirits. "Yes, yes, so the little brat didn't get himself killed and now he'll have an even bigger head. Well, huzzah for that. In other announcements, there will be no canoe races this Saturday . . ."

"Amara!" Luke called from across the camp fire, she leaned forward to hear him better for his next words. "Think you can give us some wind to boost the fire?"

Amara grinned, the familiar feeling of the wind blowing past her as she directed it towards the fire. Campers watched in awe as the fire shot into the air blazing to life once more, and they began cheering loudly as the Apollo cabin continued their sing-a-long.

The Grace girl let out a laugh and she leaned back against the tree root, Beckendorf sitting besides her as they watched the campers party the night away. "You know," the older boy started as he picked up a branch, twirling it in his hand. "You did worry me when only Annabeth and Grover came back and I found out what happened to you."

He threw the branch, giving her a side eyed look. "I've never been more angry at you in my life. And I've know you since we were six and nine, that's a long time to get angry at you." The fourteen year old chuckled, breaking off another branch.

"I'm sorry," the younger girl apologized, but part of her wasn't sorry, she did what she had to do. "I did what I needed to do."

He shrugged, "I can respect that, just not at the expense of your life, okay? You can't do that again, or I'll drag you back from the underworld myself."

An amused look formed as she willed electricity to travel between her fingertips, the son of Hephaestus watching her. "Which is why I need to ask you this," her direction was pulled back to the older boy.

"Come home with me for the school year, please, you deserve a chance at a normal life. My mom wouldn't mind I promise, you shouldn't have to stay at Camp forever. I know how you feel about leaving Luke, bu—"

"Okay," she said as a small grin formed. "I'll go."

He blinked. "Wait, really?"

She shrugged. "You're right, I saw what the real world had to offer and I want to be a part of it. I'm sorry I never took your offer before, but I'm ready for it now."

A smile curled onto the dark skinned boy's lips as laughter escaped. "You won't regret this!" He promised, the smile never once leaving his face for the rest of the night. "I know," she simply said, before they both returned their attention to the Apollo cabin.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

On the Fourth of July, the camp gathered at the beach for a fireworks display by cabin nine, Beckendorf's cabin. Being Hephaestus' kids, Amara knew they weren't going to settle for a few lame red-white-and-blue explosions. She could already guess they'd anchored a barge offshore and loaded it with rockets. The blasts would be sequenced so tightly they'd look like frames or animation across the sky. The finale, according to Charles, was supposed to be a couple of hundred-foot-tall Spartan warriors who would crackle to life above the ocean, fight a brave battle, then explode into a million colors.

As she, Annabeth, and Percy were spreading the picnic blanket, Grover had shown up to tell them goodbye. He was dressed in his usual jeans and t-shirt along with sneakers. But during the past few weeks, he'd started to look older, almost high school age. His goatee had gotten thicker, and he even put on weight. His horns had grown at least an inch, so now he had to wear his rasta cap all the time to pass as human.

"I'm off." He said. "I just came to say . . . well, you know."

Annabeth gave him a hug. Amara gave him a grin as she told him to keep his fake feet on. After Annabeth pulled away, Percy asked Grover where he was going to start his search.

"Kind of a secret." The satyr said sheepishly. "I wish you could come with me, but humans and Pan . . ."

"We understand." The brunette said. "You got enough tin cans for the trip?"

"Yeah."

"And you remembered your reed pipes?" Annabeth asked.

"Jeez, you guys." He grumbled. "You're like an old mama goat." But she could tell he really didn't sound annoyed.

Grover gripped his walking stick and slung a backpack over his shoulder. To Amara, he looked like any hitchhiker she saw while she was still a runaway. He was nothing like the little runty boy he first was when she met him.

"Well," Grover cleared his throat. "Wish me luck."

He gave Annabeth another hug, clapped Percy on the shoulder, and gave the daughter of Zeus a hug, before he headed back through the dunes.

Amara returned her attention to the sky, where fireworks exploded into bright colors. Hercules was killing the Nemean lion, the goddess Artemis chasing the boar, and George Washington crossing the Delaware.

"Hey, Grover." Percy called and Grover turned at the edge of the woods. The Grace girl had also diverted her attention back to Percy. "Wherever you're going—I hope they make good enchiladas."

Grover grinned, and then he was gone. Amara watched with a slight downwards of her lips as the trees closed around him.

"We'll see him again." Annabeth's voice broke the electric eyed girl's trance, and she reverted her attention to the fireworks, but not before she shared a smirk with the son of Poseidon, who met her gaze along the way.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

July passed. Amara spent her days working in the Camp's workshop along side Beckendorf, Jake Mason and the rest of the Hephaestus cabin. She wasn't good at making weapons like cabin nine was, so occasionally she would hold the material still or hand them their tools.

But on the days where Charles wasn't busy with Camp needs, he would sit down with her and help her create something, whether it be something small like a dagger, or simply a bead. She was even promised to help create the camp's new bead once the summer was over.

But, whenever the brunette wasn't with Beckendorf in the workshop, or studying ancient greek with Annabeth inside cabin six, she would be in the Arena training alongside Luke or being trained by Dionysus.

She swiped her sword at the grape vine that held her leg, causing her to fall upside down. Dionysus let out a sigh while Luke helped her up. "Amara, this is child's play. Keep the wind around you at all times, we've been over this."

She rolled her eyes at the god's words, earning a grin from Luke. "Liam," Dionysus called. "You, train with her for a bit. I'm taking a break."

Luke's teeth gritted as a sigh escaped his lips. "It's Luke, Mr. D."

The god waved his hand as he walked away. "Whatever you say, Lucas."

A snicker escaped Amara's lips at the older boy's frustration, causing him to turn to her. "It seems, you're the only one who gets their name right around here."

She shrugged. "I'm just special."

The son of Hermes smiled. "You're not wrong there, Amara. You're pretty special all right. Now come on, let's see what you got."

"Loser has to do the other ones chore?"

"Your on."

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

The last night of the summer rolled around once more, Chiron allowed Amara to sit with a cabin of her choice instead of cabin one, she had chosen cabin nine. Then, all the campers burned a part of their dinner for the gods.

At the bonfire, she and the rest of the senior counselors awarded the end of summer beads. The brunette was the one to give Percy his own leather necklace, she couldn't help her smirk at his reaction when he saw his bead for his first summer at Camp. The bead design was pitch black, with a sea green trident shimmering in the center.

"The choice was unanimous." Luke announced to all the campers after the senior counselors finished giving out the bead. "This bead commemorates the first son of the sea god at this camp, and the quest he undertook into the fearless part of the Underworld, to stop a war!"

The entire camp got to their feet and cheered. The Hermes Cabin pushed Percy where all the campers could see him. Athena's cabin steered Athena to the front as well so she could share in the applause, as did Beckendorf do the same for Amara. The electric blue eyed girl grinned as Annabeth tried to hide her blushing face underneath her blonde hair, before she met eyes with Percy, who sent her a joy filled smile. She returned the favor with her wide grin.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

The next morning, Amara was sparring with Charles in the Arena, where Percy and Luke had been before the blond asked to have a talk with the raven haired boy. She knew Luke wanted to talk with Percy, but she also knew it shouldn't take this long for just, 'a quick chat.'

"What's wrong?" Beckendorf asked lowering his sword.

"Somethings . . . not right." She muttered looking out the Arena door, her eyes narrowed.

"Why?"

"It's just a feeling, Luke wanted to talk with Percy, but it's been awhile. It shouldn't be taking this long, especially without one of us hearing them." She looked up at Charles. The older boy didn't say anything, instead he sheathed his sword and made his way to the Arena exit.

"Hey," she copied his actions, slipping her necklace back over her head. "Where are you going?" But the dark skinned boy ignored her, and she was forced to jog after him. When they made it out of the Arena, she immediately noticed neither the son of Poseidon or Hermes were anywhere to be seen.

"Let's go search the woods," Charles suggested as he unsheathed his sword. "They couldn't have gotten too far." She didn't argue with him, unsheathing her dagger as she flipped it in her hand. "I'll go left, you go right." The older boy ordered. "Meet back here in thirty minutes."

She gave a nod, beginning to walk off in her direction when he pulled her back. "Hey," his eyes were serious as the playfulness was wiped from his expression. "If something is wrong, just call for me, okay? I'll come running."

A grin curled onto her lips as he let her go. "Don't worry, I'll call for you." A smile twisted onto his as he ruffled her hair, and they went their separate ways into the forest.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

Amara had been walking through the woods for awhile before she was finally able to hear voices in the distance, and began to jog towards them. "Percy?" She called, stopping in her tracks as she looked around. "Luke!" She tried again, only to let out a sigh once she realized the voices had stopped, and there was nothing for her to go off of.

Until, she heard the sound of stumbling and groans. She spun around, dagger in hand as her eyes landed on the Jackson boy. Percy was lurching in the woods, his eyes whipping around as if he couldn't see, his hands out in front of him to catch himself if he fell.

She jogged towards him, sheathing her dagger. "Hey, Jackson." But she got no response. "Jackson!" She yelled, causing his eyes to flicker open and close, a green haze over his usual sea green eyes. "Amara?" His voice was weary as he attempted to grab her arm, but he missed and began to fall.

She quickly wrapped her arms around him, using her body weight to support his as she dragged him to feet. "Percy?" She called, waiting for him to give her any sign of response by opening his sea green eyes. "Hey, come on, Percy, this isn't funny." But his eyes didn't open, and she began to panic.

"Beckendorf!" She yelled wrapping the raven haired boy's arms around her neck as she wrapped hers around his torso. "Charles!" She screamed, almost dropping the son of Poseidon in the process.

Finally, she could hear feet pounding against the earth as the son of Hephaestus came into view. His brown eyes were wide and frantic, filled with hints of panic and fear with his sword unsheathed, until his eyes landed on the two children of the Big Three. "Oh my gods," the older boy ran forward, taking the Jackson boy off Amara who let out a breath of relief.

"Come on," he instructed, adjusting the demigod on his back. "We need to get to the infirmary, run ahead, tell Chiron what happened. I'm sure everything will be explained after Percy is healed, now go!"

She didn't waste a second, listening to the dark skinned boy as she took off running to the Big House, the yells of Beckendorf behind her as he instructed her to run as fast as she could, and she did.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

Percy was out for an entire day before he finally opened his eyes. "Here we go again," the raven haired boy joked, startling the half awake Amara from her resting place besides the blonde daughter of Athena. "You're an idiot," she muttered, making her way to his side with Annabeth. "A complet—"

"Kelp head?" He finished for her, but instead she rolled her eyes. "—Seaweed Brain, don't interrupt me next time."

"You were green and turning grey when Beckendorf and Amara found you, if it weren't for them being fast runners and Chiron's healing . . ."

"Now, now." Chiron responded. "Percy's constitution deserves some of the credit." He gave Percy a tired smile. "How are you feeling?"

"Like my insides have been frozen, then microwaved." The son of Poseidon explained. "Apt." Chiron agreed. "Considering it was Pit Scorpion venom. If Amara and Beckendorf hadn't found you in time . . . I'm not sure what would of happened."

"Now, you must tell us, if you can, exactly what happened." The girls nodded in agreement at Chiron's statement as Annabeth grabbed the glass of Nectar and a few cubes of Ambrosia for him to ingest. And through small nibbles and swallows of the godly food, Percy told them the story about Luke and how he was the one who had stolen the lightning bolt under the command of Kronos.

"I can't believe that Luke . . ." Annabeth voice's faltered as her expression changed from sad to angry. "Yes. Yes, I can believe it. May the gods curse him . . . he was never the same after his quest." She hissed.

Amara's gaze was locked on the floor, her hands folded together as she gripped them tightly, trying to conceal her obviously growing anger. She had trusted Luke, known him since they were only runaways, when they were all each other had. Her anger grew at the thought of how easy it was for him to lie to her, go behind her back and betray her this entire time. But she also couldn't help her heartbreak from the news either, he was like her brother, he was there for her when Thalia died, she trusted him. Before she could let herself get too deep into her thoughts, she pushed aside the emotions she was feeling and focused back on the matter at hand.

"This must be reported to Olympus. I will go at once." Chiron muttered.

"Luke is out there right now." Percy said. "I have to go after him."

The director shook his head. "No, Percy. The gods—"

"Won't even talk about Kronos." He snapped. "Zeus declared the matter closed."

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

"Chiron . . . your prophecy from the Oracle . . . it was about Kronos wasn't it? Was I in it? Annabeth? Amara?"

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 questioned.

The centaur smiled his fatherly smile. "You will be a great hero, my child. I will do my best to prepare you. But if I'm right about the path ahead of you . . ." He was interrupted by thunder rattling the windows and lightning striking the ground. Amara couldn't help but glare out the window at the sky. "Alright! Fine!" Chiron yelled to the sky as the thunder quietened. "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." He complained.

"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 that I live that long."

"You have to trust me, Percy. You'll live. But first you must decide your fate for the coming year. I cannot tell you the right choice. 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." Chiron left no room for discussion. "I'll be back as soon as I can. Argus will watch over you." He glanced at Annabeth and Amara. "Oh, and my dears . . . whenever your ready, they're here."

"Who's here?"

Chiron rolled himself out of the room and Annabeth studied the ice in Percy's drink.

"What's wrong?" Percy asked her.

"Nothing. I just took your advice about something. You . . . um . . . need anything?"

"Yeah. Help me up. I want to go outside."

"You're going to fall." Amara mumbled, staring at him.

Percy slid his legs out of the bed and Annabeth caught him before he could crumple to the floor, while the brunette watched as a wave of nausea rolled over him. "I told you . . ." She sang.

"I'm fine." He insisted but slung his arm around Annabeth to manage his weight on her. By the time they reached the porch, Amara noticed Percy's face was beaded with sweat. But, he had managed to make it all the way to the railing, which she had to admit, was a little impressive. "What are you going to do?" Annabeth asked him.

"I don't know."

"I'm going home for the year, Percy." Annabeth said quietly, the Grace girl giving her a smirk.

Percy stared at her. "You mean, to your dads?"

"I wrote him a letter when we got back. Just like you suggested." The Chase girl said. "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 acknowledged.

"You won't try anything stupid during the school year, will you?" Annabeth asked. "At least, not without sending us an Iris-Message?"

Percy smiled. "I won't go looking for trouble. Usually I don't have to."

"When we get back next summer." Annabeth looked to Amara who was completely silent, her eyes trained on the hill, looking at a particular figure who was smiling at her besides their parent. "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?"

Amara grinned lightly, taking her eyes off the camper. "Sounds like a plan worthy of Athena." She chuckled.

Annabeth held out her hand and Percy shook it. "Take care, Kelp Head." Annabeth told him. "Keep your eyes open."

"You too . . . Wise Girl." He grinned at her as Annabeth turned to the brunette. "You'll catch up soon to say goodbye, yeah?"

Amara nodded, placing her free hand on Annabeth's shoulder. "Go. I'll be there soon, don't worry." The blonde smiled and made her way up the hill where she greeted her family.

"Coming back next summer, Jackson?" The daughter of Zeus asked, keeping her gaze on the Chase family as they hugged the daughter of Athena.

"I'll be back, Grace." He promised. "I'll survive until then."

A smirk replaced her grin as she gave the son of Poseidon one last look and began descending the Big House steps. "See you next year, Seaweed Brain."

He nodded weakly. "See you next year, Stormy."

She froze halfway, turning around with a raised brow at the raven haired boy who held a smirk of his own. "What? Told you I'd come up with something better." She shook her head at the boy. "Stay alive, Jackson."

He gave a smile, an action she returned with a nod as she hiked her way up the hill, leaving Percy holding onto the porch railing. The son of Poseidon watched as the daughter of Zeus joined Beckendorf and his mother, the older woman giving her a bright smile as she engulfed the demigod in a hug, rocking them back and forth. Once the mother was finishing hugging the girl, they walked off into the sunset, disappearing into the golden river that coursed through the sky.

As he watched her go, Percy couldn't help but realize how wrong he had been about the daughter of Zeus, and in the end, he made a friend from the experience they had been through. With that thought in mind, he couldn't wait for next summer to get to know everyone a little better.

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3-25-23

     hello hello! this is officially the last chapter of part one, part two is getting rewritten as we speak, so hopefully i'll have some chapters prepared soon. i hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and i'll see you in the part two character list ! <3333