Screaming.

One scream.

Two.

A cacophony of screams.

Annabeth screaming.

Percy jerks awake but the sound doesn't go away. He's on his feet and out of his cabin before he even registers that he's awake. The rest of camp is waking but no one else is outside yet. The screaming is coming from Cabin 6.

He's on the other side of the grounds, Riptide drawn and bare feet wet from the early morning dew that previously had decorated the grass.

He bursts into the Athena cabin and finds the twelve campers scattered around. Malcolm is standing on his bed, a book raised over his head as if ready to strike, should he be attacked. His siblings are all in various similar positions; on beds, under beds, peeking out from the bathrooms, all with the same terrified expressions. But none of them are anything compared to Annabeth, who is pressed against the wall, face stark white, lips pressed firmly together and eyes glued to a black something sitting on her own bed.

Percy takes a step closer to it, ready to crush whatever has Annabeth looking so scared. The black something crawls across the pillow, eight hairy legs moving.

It's a spider.

A spider which Percy slices in two. Because how does it dare come close to Annabeth after what happened in Rome?

The room collectively sighs in relief now that the monster is dead, but Annabeth stays pressed against the wall. Only now she's closed her eyes, the ultimate show of trust. She knows that Percy won't let any eight-legged children of Arachne close.

Percy caps Riptide again just as the first of the other campers arrives at the cabin, wearing armour over their pyjamas and wielding their weapons of choice. They all look around in confusion at the normally calm and collected children of Athena. One of them spots the sliced up spider. Someone else snickers. Percy shuts them up with a glare.

When he's sure that none of them will dare make a stupid comment, Percy retreats to Annabeth's corner, sliding down to sit on the floor next to her. He takes one of her clenched fists into his hands and unbends her fingers gently, slipping his own in between them.

Annabeth lets out a shaky breath.

Percy dimly registers Malcolm ordering everyone who'd come to their aid out, making one of them bring the spider remains with them, before he starts coaxing the younger of his siblings back to bed. No one argues and no one comments on the fact that it should be Annabeth's job. She lead her cabin well even when Percy himself was missing - like she always has and always will - she deserves this moment to regain her senses.

He presses a kiss to her temple. Her tense muscles relax a smidge.

"Never leaving you, Wise Girl," he murmurs against her cheek.

Annabeth leans against him, squeezes his hand, closes her eyes, breathes.

"You better not, Seaweed Brain."