(A/N this is the last chapter of Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief: Annabeth's Point of View. Hope you enjoy it. By the way, look out for the next one: Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters: Annabeth's Point of View. Love the reviews! :D xx)

It was like we had just come back from a perilous journey that no one had ever completed before- which was kind if true. Every single camper asked us about our quest. We had to repeat it at the minimum of ten times! I let Percy do most of the talking, and corrected his mistakes when he made one, for example, his grammar.
My jawed ached by the end of the week; I was lucky my voice didn't break!
According to camp tradition, we wore laurel wreaths to a big feast prepared in our honour, and then led a procession down to the bonfire, where we got to burn the burial shrouds our cabins had made for us in our absence.
My shroud was absolutely beautiful. It was a slippery grey silk with embroidered sliver owls. Percy said that it was a shame not to bury me in it. I told him to shut up and made my words clear by punching him in the face. Don't hit at all if it is honourably possible to avoid hitting; but never hit soft.
I laughed a long with the crowd (and Percy) at the burial shroud that the Ares cabin has sown together for Percy. They had taken an old bed sheet and painted bright canary yellow smiley-faces with crosses for the eyes around the border, and the word LOSER painted in blood-red really big in the middle.
Percy was happy to burn it.
As Apollo's cabin led the sing along and passed out toasted marshmallows, the majority of the camp came to crowd around Percy, Grover and I. Grover's entire satyr friends were admiring the brand new searchers licence that he had be given by the Council of Cloven Elders. The council had called Grover's performance on the quest 'Brave to the point if indigestion. Horns-and-whiskers above anything we have seen in the past.'
Dionysus's welcome back speech didn't manage to damage my spirits. "Yes, yes, so the little brat didn't manage to 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..."
At nearly in the morning, the campers left the amphitheatre, and went back to their cabins. I laid awake for a while, listening to the comforting deep breaths of my siblings around me; many thoughts came forward in my mind but then quickly changing to another though pushed it away as quickly as it had come.
But, there was one thought that would not seem to be budged from my mind. It was still tugging at my mind who this thief was. Percy only knows a few campers at Half-Blood Hill; it must've been a camper who was skilled at stealing. But the only camper that was the son of Hermes- God of Thieves- that person had talked to and heard their voice was: Luke. Luke did go to the field trip on the winter solstice. Soon after that, the weather started changing. No, it couldn't be…
Sleep over came me as soon as I closed my eyes, the dampening thought still lingering.

*4th July, Largest Romanic Event At Camp*

The entire camp gathered at the beach for the tradition fireworks display, by cabin nine. Being Hephaestus's children, they weren't going to let this be a boring display, they never did nor would. They'd anchored a barge offshore and loaded it with rockets the size if Patriot missiles. I explained to Percy, who hadn't seen the performance before, that the blasts were sequenced so tightly they'd look like frames of animation across the sky. The finale was supposed to be a couple of thirty-metre-tall Spartan warriors who would crackle to life above the ocean, fight a magnificent battle, and then explode into millions of different colours.
Selena smirked at me, while I was spreading a small picnic blanket on a soft patch of dry green grass with Percy. I gave her one of my death glares, and turned to face Grover who had just turned up to give me and Percy a last farewell. He was wearing the usual t-shirt, jeans and trainers outfit. He was definitely starting to look older. His goatee was slightly thicker. He'd put on a bit of weight. His horns had grown a few centimetres taller, 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."
I knew it was hard for him saying goodbye, when he might never come back again. I had had the feeling before. I tried to feel happy for him; it's not every day a satyr gets the permission to go looking for Pan. Grover had been my friend since I was seven; he had guided me along to camp and had always been there for Luke and me after Thalia's... accident.
I gave him a warming hugs; silently wishing him great luck.
Why does it take a minute to say hello and forever to say goodbye?
"Keep your fake feet on," I told him.
Percy asked him where he was going to search first.
"Kind of a secret," he said, looking embarrassed. "I wish you could come with me, guys, but humans and Pan..."
"We understand." I assured him. "You got enough tin cans for the trip?"
"Yeah."
"And you remembered your reed pipes?"
"Jeez, Annabeth," he grumbled. "You sound like an old mama goat."
But he didn't really sound annoyed.
He gripped his walking stick tightly, and slung a backpack across his shoulder. He looked like any American hitchhiker you might see on a highway.
"Well," Grover said. "Wish me look."
He gave me another hug and clapped Percy on the shoulder, then headed back through the dunes.
Fireworks exploded over head: Hercules killing the Nemean lion, Artemis chasing the boar, George Washington (who, by the way, was a son of Athena) crossing the Delaware.
"Hey, Grover." Percy called.
He turned at the edge of the woods.
"Wherever you're going- I hope they make good enchiladas."
Grover grinned, and then he was gone, the trees closing around him.
"We'll see him again," I told Percy, believing myself with my whole heart. Grover would be the first to survive this mission. I was certain of it.

The last night of the summer session came way too quickly.
The campers had one last meal together. We made sacrifices for the gods. At the bonfire, the senior counsellors awarded the end-of-summer beads.
The bead was pitch black, with a sea-green trident shimmering in the centre.
"The choice was unanimous," Luke announced. "The bead commemorates the first Son of the Sea God at this camp. And the quest he undertook into the darkest parts if the Underworld to stop a war!"
The entire camp got to their feet and applauded. But what made me blush a red as a tomato was when the Athena cabin pushed me forward so I could share the applause.
This was my home. And I would never forget it, even if I did choose to take a certain somebody's advice.

*Next Morning*

Campers would be leaving today. But I had made my choice.
I sat down at a small wooden desk that was cramped with papers, pencils and over writing utensils. I grabbed an A4 piece of paper and a long thin pencil, then started to write:

Dear Dad and Harriat (A/N It is a girl's name and can be spelt different ways- I checked),
I am taking a friend's advice by writing a letter of apology to you. I am truly sorry for running away. I shouldn't have done that. I just thought you didn't accept me; with my scent attracting monsters all the time. But you know I can't help it. I didn't mean for all those monsters to ruin the house and destroy your hard work plans and expensive furniture. I want you to know that you can't help who I am. I am what I am: a demigod.

An uninvited tear ran down my cheek.

I am not who you want me to be; I am who I am supposed to be. Though I ran away from you I can't run away from myself. I can't run away from monsters. I have to stand and fight like every other half-blood. It makes me feel weak and useless if I can't fight- that's part of being a daughter of Athena. I hope you will accept who I am; please think about it and write back. I miss you all and hope you will welcome me without hatred in your heart.
Your half-blood daughter,
Annabeth

I folded up the letter and sealed it in an envelope.
I ran to Chiron and asked him to send it to the person addressed on the back of the envelope, keeping my eyes fixed on the wall behind him.
He took one glance at the addresser and smiled down at me. He nodded. I let out a breath that I realised I had been holding.
I slowly turned around and headed back to the cabins.
I sat down on my bed, the vacancy of the cabin hitting be like a crowbar. I hugged my knees into my chest and took a few deep breaths. More tears, which felt like burning tar against my cold skin, ran down my cheeks. Would my only family accept me?
When I had calmed down, I realised that there was something in my pocket. I dug my hand into my pocket and pulled out a baby pink silk scarf.
Aphrodite's scarf.
I hadn't taken it out of my pocket since the tunnel if love ride. I decided to put it up in the attic with all the other souvenirs from long-ago quests.
I smiled. Luke would be proud of me. I pushed myself off of my bed and made my way to the Big House, yet again.
Nobody was on the porch so I silently crept past the doors that were open ajar. The attic was four flights of stairs upward and ended under a green trap-door.
I pulled the cord. The door swung down, and a wooden ladder clattered into place.
The warm air from above smelled like mildew and decayed wood and the smell of rotting dead reptiles.
I held my breath and went in.
The attic was cramped with Greek hero junk: armour stands covered in cobwebs; once bright shields, now layered with dust; old leather streamer trunks plastered with stickers that said: ITHAKA, CIRCE'S ISLAND and LAND OF THE AMAZONS. A dusty mounted trophy on the wall looked like a giant snake's head, but with horns and a full set of shark's teeth. The plaque read: HYDRA HEAD NO.1, WOODSTOCK, NY, 1969. One long table was stacked with glass jars filled with pickled things- severed hairy claws, huge canary yellow eyes, various other parts of monsters.
By the window, sitting on a rickety wooden tripod stool, was the gruesome mummy. The Oracle.
I cleared a small spot on the window sill, and placed the bright sparkling scarf down. It looked odd against all the dust covered objects. It was the only recent souvenir that had been placed in here since Luke's quest. I wrote on a piece of paper and attached it to the pink silk scarf:
SCARF OF THE GODDESS APHRODITE
recovered at Waterland, Denver, Co.,
by Annabeth Chase and Percy Jackson
The scarf was something to resemble that Poseidon and Athena can work together to achieve something great; it was like a monument, it would last forever up here. It wouldn't be torn down or crumble to pieces.

I climbed back down the ladder and stepped onto the porch when an urgent voice shouted, "Help! Camper injured!" It was a cabin counsellor.
The conch horn sounded.
I ran to where the crowd of people were gathering. I pushed the people in front of me out the way, and stared down in horror.
I gasped. Percy was clutching his right hand like his life depended on it. His skin was turning grey and green.
First Thalia, now Percy was on the inch of death. This could not be happening.
"Don't just stand here and stare!" I shouted. "Do something!" But everyone was still in too much shock. Two tree nymphs, that were holding him by the arms lifted him and started heaving him towards the big house.
They wouldn't make it in time if they were going at this slow speed.
I ran to back o the big house, and banged on the door.
Chiron came rotting out of the front room.
"Percy…" I panted. "Near the forest… hurry,"
Chiron set of at once, me following closely behind. "Out of my way," Chiron ordered. The campers stumbled away, giving him a wide range of space. I knelt down at Percy's head; my heart in my throat; my head was pounding like a drum, making all the noises around me sound like distant voices calling.
Chiron laid his hands on top of Percy's chest and started to whisper Ancient Greek under his breath.
Dark, green smoke wisped from his hands and swirled around Percy's chest and Chiron's hands.
Centaur healing magic, I thought.
After a couple of distressing minutes, Chiron lifted Percy onto his back and trotted off to the Big House and into the infirmary. I ran after him.
I wrapped cloth around Percy's injured hand and doused a cloth in water and started dabbing his sweat-beaded forehead. I took some nectar from the appliance cupboard and placed the straw into Percy's mouth. Then I continued dabbing Percy's head.
Chiron transferred back into his wheelchair form and wheeled over to the end of the bed.
About half an hour later, Percy stirred conscious again. "Here we are again." He said.
"You idiot," I said, although I was actually really relieved to see him conscious. "You were green and turning grey when we found you. If it weren't for Chiron's healing..."
"Now, now," Chiron said. "Percy's constitution deserves some of the credit."
Percy shifted himself so he could see Chiron.
"How are you feeling?" Chiron enquired.
"Like my insides have been frozen, then microwaved."
"Apt, considering that was pit scorpion venom. Now you must tell me, if you can, exactly what happened."
Between the sips of the nectar, Percy told us the story.
The room was filled with a deadly silence.
"I can't believe that Luke..." My voice faltered. Then I remembered I had realised it before but had never considered it as a possibility. Who else am I going to lose? Thalia's gone. Grover has gone and may never come back. Percy nearly died. And now Luke has gone. "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 announced. "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 gave in. But he always has something else to ask, the important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing, "Chiron... your prophecy from the Oracle... it was about Kronos, wasn't it? Was I in it? And 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?"
His 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.
"Alright!" Chiron shouted. "Fine!"
He 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 said.
"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." Positive thinking, Percy.
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..." It was obvious what Chiron would have wanted to advise to Percy, but he kept his lips sealed. "...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 kept silent.
"I'll be back as soon as I can," Chiron promised. "Argus will watch over you."
He glanced at me. "Oh, and, my dear... whenever you're ready, they're here."
"Who's here?" Percy questioned.
That was quick.
I kept my face expressionless, hiding my feelings. Chiron rolled himself out of the room. I heard the wheels of his chair clunk carefully down the front steps, two at a time.
I studied the ice in Percy's drink, avoiding his gaze.
It never works. "What's wrong?" He asked me.
"Nothing," I set the glass on the table. "I... just took your advice about something. You... um... need anything?"
"Yeah. Help me up. I want to go outside."
"Percy, that isn't a good idea."
He swung his legs out of bed. I caught him before he could crumble to the floor. His face coloured green.
I said, "I told you..."
"I'm fine," he insisted. I rolled my eyes; he was obviously not.
He managed a step forward. Then another, still leaning heavily on me. Argus followed, but he kept his distance.
By the time we reached the porch, his face was beaded with sweat.
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 Sounds glittered in the last light of the sun.
"What are you going to do?" I asked him.
"I don't know."
He told me that he got the feeling Chiron wanted him to stay year-round, to put in some individual practise, but he wasn't sure what he wanted. He admitted he'd feel bad about leaving me alone, though with only Clarisse for company...
I pursed my lips, he'd find out soon enough, then said quietly, "I'm going home for the year, Percy."
Percy stared at me. "You mean, to your dad's?"
I pointed towards 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 (Bobby and Matthew), a woman (Harriat) and my dad with blonde hair. They were waiting. Dad was holding my back-pack that I had got from Waterland in Denver.
"I wrote him a letter when we got back," I explained. "Just like you 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."
I pursed my lips. "You won't try anything stupid during the school year, will you? At least... not without sending me an iris-message?"
Percy smiled. "I won't go looking for trouble. I usually don't have to."
"When I get back next summer," I 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?"
"Sounds like a plan worthy of Athena."
I held out my hand. He shook it.
Percy was my best friend. Yes, Seaweed Brain was not just me friend. He was my bestest friend.
"Take care, Seaweed Brain," I told him. "Keep your eyes open."
"You two, Wise Girl."
I try not to think of the future- it comes soon enough.
I walked up the hill to join my family. I gave my dad an awkward hug and looked back at the valley one last time. I touched Thalia's pine tree for good luck, and then allowed myself to be led over the crest and into the mortal world.
So here I am, going off on my new adventure. Life is full of them, new surprises just don't stop coming.