Since we were the first heroes to return from a quest since Luke, we were treated like pop stars. According to camp tradition, we wore laurel wreaths to a big feast in our honor, then led a procession to the bonfire where we burned the burial shrouds the cabins made for us during our quest.

Annabeth's was nice. It was a gray silk with embroidered owls.

"It's a shame that they don't bury you in it," Percy said. Annabeth punched him.

"Shut up," she told him.

Since Percy and I didn't have cabin mates, the Ares cabin volunteered to make his shroud. The Aphrodite cabin volunteered to make mine. For mine, it was purple with miniature hurricanes and tornadoes. I looked up and one of the girls from the Aphrodite cabin was staring at me. She winked at me and I blushed. She smirked and disappeared into the crowd. Percy saw the encounter and smirked.

"Someone's got an admirer," Percy sang.

"Shut up," I said. "How's your shroud?"

He shrugged. "It was fun to burn."

I grinned. "You got an ugly shroud, didn't you?" Percy didn't answer. "That's tough, man."

"Eh. Don't care." I shrugged and took a s'more from a Hermes camper. We were surrounded by our Hermes cabin mates, Annabeth's siblings, and Grover's satyr buddies who were admiring the new searcher's license he'd received from the Council of the Cloven Elders. The council had called Grover's performance on the quest "Brave to the point of indigestion. Horns-and-whiskers above anything we have seen in the past."

The only ones who weren't happy were Clarisse and her cabinmates, who kept on sending us poisonous looks. I personally didn't care. Percy seemed to agree, since he didn't return any looks.

Dionysus' speech didn't dampen our 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..."

Percy and I moved back into our respective cabins, but we weren't lonely anymore. We had friends who weren't each other and we trained with them during the day. The bonfires were epic. And after a week after we got back at camp, we got a letter from Sally. She had a chance at a new life. Gabe had left mysteriously, disappearing off the face of the planet. She filed a missing persons report, but she doubted that the police would ever find him.

Coincidentally, she had sold her first life-sized sculpture, entitled The Poker Player, to a collector through an art gallery in SoHo. She had gotten so much money for it, she'd put a deposit down on a new apartment and made a payment on her first semester's tuition at NYU.

The SoHo gallery wanted more of her work, claiming that it was a "huge step forward in super-ugly neorealism."

Percy said that she'd found a private school in the city and put down a deposit for two spots. We had to make a decision to stay year-round here at camp or only come for the summer.

For the Fourth of July, the whole camp gathered at the beach for a fireworks display by the Hephaestus Cabin. Being Hephaestus' kids, they weren't going to settle for some regular fireworks. They'd anchored a barged offshore and loaded it with rockets the size of missiles. Annabeth said that the blasts would be sequenced so tightly that it would look animated. The finale was supposed to be hundred-foot tall Spartan warriors fighting, then explode into a million colors.

As Percy and Annabeth were setting up a picnic blanket, Grover showed up to tell us good-bye. He was wearing jeans and a T-shirt, which was his regular outfit. The only thing that changed was that he looked older. His goatee had gotten thicker. His horns had grown which meant that he now had to wear a rasta cap at all times.

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

We were silent for a while before Annabeth gave Grover a hug. She told him to keep his fake feet on.

"Wouldn't want to scare any mortals senseless," she said.

Percy and I gave him a fist bump, and Percy asked where he was going to search first.

"Kind of a secret," Grover replied, looking embarrassed. "I wish you could come with me, guys, but humans and Pan..."

"We understand," Annabeth said. "You got enough tin cans for the trip?"

"Yeah."

"And you remembered your reed pipes?"

"Jeez, Annabeth," he grumbled. "You're like an old mama goat." But he didn't sound annoyed.

He gripped his walking stick and slung a backpack over his shoulder. He looked like a hitchhiker, nothing like the scrawny kid we were friends with back at Yancy.

"Well," Grover said, "wish me luck." He gave Annabeth another hug, and clapped Percy and I on the shoulder. Then he headed back through the dunes. Fireworks exploded to life overhead. Hercules killing the Nemean Lion (which I didn't like), Artemis chasing a boar, and George Washington, who was a son of Athena, crossing the Delaware.

"Hey, Grover," Percy called. He turned.

"Wherever you're going-I hope they make good enchiladas."

Grover grinned, and then he was gone.

"We'll see him again," Annabeth said.

"I hope," I said.

July passed. We celebrated Annabeth's birthday, which was on the 12th. I kept on making new records at the climbing wall, and Percy finally made it to the top without getting scorched. During Capture the Flag, I was a terror. Nobody could stop me, and Ares didn't win a game. August passed and we celebrated Percy's birthday, which wa son the 18th. The last day of the summer session came too quickly.

The campers had one last meal together. We burned part of our dinner for the gods and for my dad. At the bonfire, the senior counselors awarded the end-of-summer beads. Chiron had said something about me not needing a leather necklace because Cataclysm was already connected to one. When Percy saw the bead, he blushed.

The design was pitch black, with a sea-green trident on one side and the sign for a hurricane that was purple on the other.

"The choice was unanimous," Luke announced. "This bead commemorates the first sons of the Sea God and the Storm Giant at this camp, and the quest they undertook into the darkest part of the Underworld to stop a war!"

Everyone felt obliged to stand, including the Ares cabin. Athena's cabin steered Annabeth to the front so that she could share the applause.

The next morning, I found a form letter on my nightstand. Dionysus must've filled it out, because it said:

Dear Leo Bradshaw,

If you intend to stay at Camp Half-Blood year-round, you must inform the Big House by noon today. If you do not announce your intentions, we will assume you have vacated your cabin or die a horrible death. Cleaning harpies will begin work at sundown. They will be authorized to eat any unregistered campers. All personal articles left behind will be incinerated in the lava pit.

Have a nice day!

Mr. D (Dionysus)

Camp Director, Olympian Council #12

I decided that I would go wherever Percy goes. He needs somebody to help him when he's in trouble. The fact that we knew that we were demigods just multiplied his chances of getting into trouble.

I decided to wait and talk to Percy later. I acted like it was a normal day. I played volleyball with some of the other campers against the satyrs. I then went to the climbing wall. I didn't want to think about leaving. I then was going to go after Percy. I walked into the arena and saw that no one was there. The dummies-what was left of them-were scattered across the arena.

I was about to leave when I heard voices. It sounded like it was coming from the woods..

"You're being used, Luke. You and Ares both. Don't listen to Kronos." That was Percy's voice. I must've taken a wrong turn, because I didn't hear what Luke was saying.

I turned right and I heard Luke's voice.

"Nice try, Percy. But I'm not Ares. You can't bait me. My lord is waiting, and he's got plenty of quests for me to undertake."

"Luke-"

"Good-bye, Percy. There is a new Golden Age coming. You won't be part of it." I heard the slashing of a sword and silence. I then heard the uncapping of a sword and I burst through the woods. Percy had just stabbed a scorpion.

"Percy!" he looked up. "What-"

I was cut off as Percy stumbled to the creek, a big red ooze on his right palm. He submerged his palm, but he wasn't healing.

"Oh gods," I said. I helped him up, and I saw a nymph come out of her tree.

"Help!" I said as I dragged Percy towards camp. She helped me towards the camp and I saw Beckendorf, who's eyes widened.

"Help!" he shouted. A centaur blew a conch horn as Beckendorf helped me and the nymph carry Percy, who was now unconscious, to the Big House. Chiron started to say, "What's the-oh, Percy." He took him from our arms as he laid him onto a cot. I took a look at Percy. He was green, turning gray. Annabeth came out of nowhere and pushed me back.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Chiron has to heal him, and he can't do it when you're in the way," she said.

"When I find Luke, I'm gonna murder him," I spat. Annabeth looked at me in shock.

"Luke did this?" she asked.

"Yes," I said. "He summoned the scorpion that stung him. He's the thief. He's working for Kronos."

Annabeth looked conflicted, but she nodded. "We'll talk more when Percy's awake."

I nodded. "Yeah."

After a while, Chiron said that Percy was okay. Annabeth and I walked in and Annabeth started dabbing a washcloth on his forehead. She also helped him drink his nectar. Percy stirred and he woke up.

"Tyche was on your side," I said.

"Yeah, yeah," he said, waving me off.

"You idiot," Annabeth said. "You were green and turning gray when we found you. If it weren't for Chiron's healing..."

"Now, now," Chiron said. "Percy's constitution deserves some of the credit." He turned to Percy. "How are you feeling?"

"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 sips of nectar, Percy told him the story.

"I can't believe that Luke..." Annabeth faltered. "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."

"Not like that, you're not," I said. "You almost died. You have to be patient."

"Lazarus is right," Chiron said. "The gods-"

"Won't even talk about Kronos," Percy snapped. "Zeus declared the matter closed! My dad said that Typhon thinks that Kronos is rising and Zeus is doing nothing!"

"Percy, I know that 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? And Annabeth?"

Chiron glanced at the ceiling nervously. "Percy, it isn't my place-"

"You've been ordered not to talk to me about it, haven't you?"

Chiron's eyes were sympathetic. "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!"

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 said. "But you and Lazarus must be careful. Kronos wants the both of you to be shaken. He wants your lives to be disrupted, your thoughts clouded with fear and anger. Do not give him what he wants. Train patiently. Your time will come."

"Assuming we live that long."

"I'm supposed to be the realist," I said. "We'll live. We just have to stay out of trouble."

Chiron put a hand on Percy's ankle. "First, you have to 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. Argus will watch over you."

He glanced at Annabeth. "Oh, and, my dear,...whenever you're ready, they're here."

"Who's here?" Percy and I asked at the same time. Nobody answered. Chiron rolled himself out of the room. Annabeth suddenly took an interest in the ice in Percy's drink.

"What's wrong?" Percy asked Annabeth.

"Nothing." she set the empty glass on the table. "I...just took your advice for something. You...um...need anything?"

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

"Did the venom destroy your brain cells? You're in no shape to be standing up." Percy ignored me and slid his legs out of the bed. I caught him before he could crumple to the floor. Annabeth helped me.

"I'm fine," he insisted. He managed another step, and then another. Argus was following us, but he kept his distance. By the time we reached the porch, his face was beaded with sweat.

It was dusk. The camp look deserted. Long Island Sound glittered.

"What are you going to do?" Annabeth asked Percy.

"I don't know."

Annabeth pursed her lips, then said quietly, "I'm going home for the year, guys."

"To your dad's?" I asked. She nodded. She pointed to the crest of Half-Blood Hill. Next to Thalia's pine tree, a family stood, silhouetted-two little children, a woman, and tall blond man. The man was holding Annabeth's Waterland bag.

"I wrote him a letter after we got back," Annabeth said. "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."

Annabeth pursed her lips. "You won't try anything during the school year, will you? At least...not without sending me an Iris-message?"

"I'll keep him out of trouble, don't worry," I said.

"I don't go looking for trouble," Percy protested. "I usually don't have to."

"When I get back next summer," she 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?"

"Agreed."

"Sounds like a plan worthy of Athena." Annabeth held out her hand. Percy shook it, and then I did.

"Take care, guys," she told us. "Keep your eyes open."

"You too, Wise Girl."

I had to adjust to Percy's weight as she walked up the hill to join her family. She gave her father an awkward hug and looked back at the valley one last time. She touched Thalia's tree and then allowed herself to be lead over the crest and into the mortal world.

Percy looked over Long Island Sound.

"Luke will pay," I said. "If it's the last thing we do."

"We'll survive, just like you said," Percy said. "Come on. Let's go to our cabins and pack up." We asked Argus to take us down to the cabins so that we could go home.

And that's a wrap. Thank you to everyone who followed, favorited, and reviewed, and I hope you enjoyed the book. The first chapter of The Storm Giant's Son: The Sea of Monsters should be up soon. Peace.