Gods and Defenders

Percy ties his shoelaces watching Annabeth. She seemed frantic and finally she found herself her shoes. Watching her tie up her shoes as well Percy stayed silent. His felt a dreading sensation. The meeting only embraced the problems he didn't want to face; He was nervous. The few months before he disappeared he felt as if the whole camp was leaning against him. Was he ready for that again?
"Are you ready?" Percy said trying to keep his voice steady. Only the day after the war and already back in business. Percy tapped his foot nervously, making an annoying noise even to him. Annabeth looked at his foot tapping, then tilting her head slightly upwards to look at Percy.
"Yeah" She said dully, finishing tying her shoe. Percy felt all sense of humor drain out of him.
Percy pushed himself off of the bed, heading towards the door; Holding it more open than it was. As Annabeth stepped out, Percy slowly closed the door waiting for the click signifying it was closed before leaving the door to join Annabeth at the bottom of the steps.
She had her hands tucked in the pockets of her sweatshirt and shorts despite the chilly whether- Which was unusual for this time of year.
"We better get there quick. I'm afraid the other campers may be having the same thoughts the rest of the seven did that morning of the stables. Plus I don't think Piper is helping our case much." Annabeth said with the ghost of a smile. Percy gave her a slight nod. After deciding to run to the Big House. They walk in letting the screen door close behind them; A bit to loud to Percy's pleasure. Everyone in the house heard it without a doubt. Annabeth walked into the rec room first her cheeks flushed red. All eyes were directed to them.
"Glad for you join us." Connor said. "Lovebirds." Travis continued. Percy had learned to tolerate their teasing, so he simply rolled his eyes.
"I'll make sure to return the favor of teasing when you and Katie get together." Percy retorted, cracking a small smile at the on going joke the camp had teasing Travis and Katie.Travis hesitated and people around the ping pong table- mostly Connor - were smirking.
"From that response, I'm guessing I can tease you now. You miss a lot when a goddess kidnaps you, huh?" Percy joked.
"Yeah, I guess so." Travis said laughing.
"Percy if you do not mind sitting. I would like to start the meeting." Percy glanced to Chiron at the head of the ping pong table and sat down without another word. His nervousness climbing back up his throat.
The room had gone eerily silent; Grim also not wanting to have this meeting- all humor gone. After a moment of tense silence, Chiron cleared his throat.
"I assume we all know what I am going to say. It is a grim day. But we must jump back into it- getting camp back to work. I say our first priority is to let families know whether or not their children are okay. Avoiding phone calls if we can, however our sources we can use for Iris-Messages are limited-"
Percy's mind raced.
"I can take care of that anybody that needs to send an Iris-Message can meet up at the lake. I'd say we call families of the injured or . . ." Percy felt like his heart was a weight. Deciding not to say the word, he now hated so much he continued: "First." he finished. Chiron gave him a blunt nod.
"Thank you." Other campers around the table nodded as well.
"I'm afraid we should all be braced. Even now I have been getting . . . " Chiron paused, trying to find the right word. "Emergency calls to the big house. Demanding their children come home- I have been trying to make them see reason but I expect many parents may do this. Thinking camp is no longer safe." The idea of parents thinking Camp Half-Blood wasn't safe sent a chill down Percy's spine. He crossed his arms, shifting his position, the news making him uncomfortable.
"Next, until our defenses are set up and improved. A watch of the boarder will be taking place at all times. Those who will signed up will be excused from some cap chores, more so for the people willing to take the night shift. Is there anybody within this room that would like the sign up?"
Percy spoke without question, his heart only speeding faster. "I'll take night shift." Percy said slightly raising his hand. Chiron nodded at an Aphrodite girl who immediately wrote down what Percy assumed was his name on a notepad.
"I'll take the same as well." Annabeth said quietly, her arms still crossed. Percy looked at Annabeth staring at the table to the left of him. Annabeth not giving Percy even a glance.
"You sure there won't be any detours?" Someone teased them- a boy from the Apollo cabin.
Percy laughed slightly. "Like I haven't heard that one before."
"Moving on?" Chiron asked. After a few more people signed up Chiron continued.
"This will the last for the day, other details have to be configured but we need someone to go around taking a census. We have a list of campers. On the paper all you need to do is write down their current condition." Everyone knew Chiron had phrased it this way to avoid the word dead. The word that everyone seemed to know too much.
"I'll-" Percy started.
"Wow, Percy. No joke when everyone said you were the leader around here. You've been the first to sign up for everything and fix each problem!" Percy heard Jason exclaim from across the table. Percy looked over at Jason not sure how to respond.
"Yeah. He's the big shot around here. I think being a son of Poseidon went to his head. Explains the big ego." A Hephaestus kid teased and Percy smirked.
"Anyways. . . I'll take the census after everyone is finished with breakfast at the Pavilion or I can do it during like calling attention and go looking for the others. Assuming that everyone in the Pavilion is in okay condition. After I finish the census, I can have campers meet me by the lake- Those in worst conditions the families would get the message first." Percy continued the plan forming and clicking together in his head. Jason was shaking his head and some new campers Percy hadn't known seemed shocked. Everyone else was expressionless.
Chiron cast Percy a look, questioning- Percy simply giving him nod.
"Okay then. Any other questions?" A moment of silence was passing. Percy could feel his heart thumping in his ears, he knew what he needed to ask- what he wanted to.
"How's New York?" Percy asked quietly. Everybody cast Percy a glance wondering why in Hades he was asking that.
"Percy. When was the last time you've heard about New York?" Clarisse asked. She had been so quiet that Percy hadn't even realized that she was at the meeting and for some reason Percy took confidence in knowing she was okay. He stayed silent though, having to think about it.
"When was the last time you talked to your mom?" Annabeth turned facing Percy her voice no longer quiet, only concerned. Her hold body was alert with attention.
Percy waited a moment, forming his answer.
"It's been a while. But it's no big deal, there are more important people who need to be attended to. I only asked about New York well because when I last remember . . . It wasn't good" Percy felt as if a shadow had been cast in the room.
Annabeth looked to Chiron in exasperation. When Chiron did nothing, Percy watched as Annabeth looking for support for an argument she hadn't stated. When no one offered anything she sat back in her chair, crossing her arms.
"New York is getting better." Someone, Percy couldn't detect, answered quietly.
Percy nodded. "That's good to hear. Good to hear my city's okay." A moment of silence passed before; "Meeting adjurned" Chiron stated.

Notes