As much as Aurora hated to do it, she saved the day.

(Everyone, clap! Aurora not being dead weight doesn't happen very often. In fact, Aurora seemed to cause a lot of their life-threatening problems, which she actually did feel bad for. Example: the Furies. Haha. You can laugh, she's funny!)

As Percy screamed something stupid for their thermos as the four demigods plummeted to their deaths—does that sound familiar? Because it sure did to Aurora—with arrows and javelins whistling over their heads, the daughter of Persephone simply smiled, giggling ever so slightly as Annabeth's hair flew straight up like a torch and Percy's hair line was revealed under his mop of messy black locks that flopped in front of his forehead most often than not.

"Are you insane?" Annabeth screeched, and Aurora simply shrugged.

"As my best friend, shouldn't you know that by now?" She retorted, letting go of the boat straps, which led to the blonde girl shrieking even more.

Aurora outstretched an arm, sending a quick and loving prayer to her mom up in Mount Olympus for agriculture to reach them in the middle of the ocean. And with insane luck, a vine of white roses shot out of nowhere—really, it was out of Aurora's hands, but Annabeth often got grossed out by that—and wrapped around the boat's failed propellers.

"Hand me the thermos, psychopath." Aurora commanded, outstretching her hand as she tightened the loop the rose vine had created around the back end of the boat.

"I'm the psycho?" Percy rolled his eyes and scoffed, but conceded and carefully gave her the thermos that Tyson had graciously retrieved from Percy's duffel bag.

"Watch it, Shark Boy." She grabbed the thermos, tying the end of the vine around it as a makeshift engine. It was probably the stupidest idea Aurora had thought of to that day, but whatever works, works. If it worked, that is.

With a deep breath, she unscrewed the thermos cap and instantly, a white sheet of wind jetted out and propelled the boat downwards at a forty-five degree angle. Instead of throwing them completely out of the boat, the vine Aurora had created somehow acted as some sort of security, taping the boat to its source of energy as the boat hit the ocean, bumping once, then twice, skipping like a stone until they whizzed along like a speed boat.

Aurora laughed as the salt sprayed in her face. She never would've guessed that she would've actually liked being on the water as much as she realized she did. She reached over board as they continued to sail quickly across the ocean, plucking a rose the color of sea foam from the vine.

Percy stared out into the sea, his shoulders relaxed and a lazy, easy smile on his lips. He seemed so calm, so at ease in his father's domain, and Aurora realized that his spring was the water. His comfort— the reminder that his godly parent was real and there for him—was right in front of him, soothing him like a father's touch, just as the season of spring enveloped Aurora like a hug from her mother.

Aurora smirked slightly as she leaned over and placed the white flower behind Percy's ear. He jumped slightly, startled at the sudden touch, but his grin widened as he readjusted the flower so it would fit better against his skin.

"Do I look like a Disney princess?" He asked, his beam practically glowing.

The ocean seemed to enhance his elation, and suddenly, Percy looked like he fit in. His tousled dark hair, his eyes the color of the water beneath them... Aurora had to blink to realize that he was a human, and not some sort of river god or something. He just looked so contented, so natural sitting in their small escape boat, with the stupid flower tucked behind his ear, it's cool white petals and pointed shape a sharp contrast to his tanned skin and laid-back expression.

Of course, she would never, ever say anything to imply that she thought Percy was powerful or special in any way. Sure, obviously she knew that he was important. She knew that since the day she met him. But to let Percy know that would be literal torture. Aurora would rather go back to the Underworld.

But Aurora also wanted to let Percy enjoy his moment of tranquility, just as she soaked up every last bit of spring air and brightly colored flowers and the smell of strawberries. It wouldn't last very long anyway. In fact, he might never feel that ever again.

Aurora was fine with that.

"Oh yeah," she answered with a breathy laugh. "Our little princess."

"Our? Who's our?" Annabeth scrunched her nose, glancing between Aurora and Percy with distaste. "More like your, Rory. Let's focus now, okay? We should try to send an Iris message to Chiron. It's important that somebody with sense at least knows what Luke is doing."

Percy cleared his throat. The sun was hot on their backs and Percy's cheeks were tinged red, presumably because he was sunkissed. "Good idea. No one at camp can be trusted right now. Especially not Tantalus."

He turned to Aurora with a huge grin, the sunlight making his eyes twinkle. "I still can't believe you punched him."

"I can't believe I survived," Aurora responded with a giggle. It was probably one of her finest moments. It was satisfying as her fist collided with Tantalus' nose, the crunching sound being the only echo in the entire mess hall.

"Who did you punch?"

Aurora jumped. Because of her conversation with Percy, she hadn't noticed Annabeth throwing a gold drachma into the mist the wind had created, but as the daughter of Persephone turned, Chiron's face stared at her. He was feigning disappointment like he usually did, but there was a spark in his eye that held appreciation. Oddly, there was some kind of weird strobe light flashing in the background and rock music blaring, like he was at a dance club.

She shrugged casually, deciding to change the subject and try to inform the centaur about sneaking away from camp, and Luke and the Princess Andromeda and the golden box for Kronos's remains, but between the noise on his end and the rushing wind and water on our end, I'm not sure how much he heard.

"Percy," Chiron yelled, "you have to watch out for—" His voice was drowned out by loud shouting behind him-a bunch of voices whooping it up like Comanche warriors.

"What?" Percy shouted back, his forehead creasing as he frowned with confusion.

"Curse my relatives!" Chiron ducked as a plate flew over his head and shattered somewhere out of sight. "My dear Rory, you shouldn't have let Percy leave camp! But if you do get the Fleece—"

"Yeah, baby!" somebody behind Chiron yelled. "Woo-hoooooo!"

The music got cranked up, subwoofers so loud it made the boat vibrate.

"—Miami," Chiron was yelling. "I'll try to keep watch—"

Their misty screen smashed apart like someone on the other side had thrown a bottle at it, and Chiron was gone.

An hour later, they finally spotted land—a long stretch of beach lined with high-rise hotels. The water became crowded with fishing boats and tankers. A coast guard cruiser passed on their starboard side, then turned like it wanted a second look. Aurora understood. It wasn't everyday that you could see a yellow lifeboat with no engine going a hundred knots an hour, manned by three kids.

"That's Virginia Beach!" Annabeth exclaimed as they approached the shoreline. "Oh my gods, how did the Princess Andromeda travel so far overnight? That's like—"

"Five hundred and thirty nautical miles," Percy answered, before taking back his words. He clamped his mouth shut as if the number had escaped his lips against his will.

Annabeth stared at him. "How did you know that?"

"I-I'm not sure."

Annabeth thought for a moment. "Percy, what's our position?"

"36 degrees, 44 minutes north, 76 degrees, 2 minutes west," Percy said immediately. He shook his head following his speaking. "Whoa. How did I know that?"

Aurora let out a loud laugh, smirking slightly. "Gods, you're a nerd."

"Stop it Rory. That is actually so cool. It's because of your dad," Annabeth guessed. "When you're at sea, you have perfect bearings."

"Yeah, my bad." Aurora nodded, trying to contain another giggle as Percy glared daggers at her. "You're super cool, Shark Boy. How far are we from a Chipotle?"

Percy just stuck his tongue out at her, and as he was about to retort, Tyson tapped his shoulder. "Other boat is coming."

The four demigods turned around, and Tyson was right. The coast guard vessel was definitely on their tail now. Its lights were flashing and

it was gaining speed.

"We can't let them catch us," Percy concluded. "They'll ask too many questions."

"They'll recognize you from last year," Aurora added. "You were a national terrorist."

"Uh, we were national terrorists." Percy countered with a raise of his eyebrow. "Together."

"You murdered me!"

Annabeth's groan cut off their arguing. "Keep going into Chesapeake Bay," She instructed. "I know a place we can hide."

Almost instinctively, Aurora automatically listened to her friend. She knew how the daughter of Athena was so familiar with the area, even though she didn't exactly know what she meant by a hideout. But she pulled at the vines a little more, loosening the thermos cap and pulling it off.

A fresh burst of wind sent them rocketing around the northern tip of Virginia Beach into Chesapeake Bay. The coast guard boat fell farther and farther behind. They didn't slow down until the shores of the bay narrowed on either side, and of course it was Percy who realized that they'd entered the mouth of a river.

Percy's shoulders sagged, and he let out a low, quiet breath. It was steady and drawn out, and his sea green eyes fluttered closed for one second, then two. Aurora realized she had been staring, and she immediately looked away. But she had to ask: "What's wrong?"

Percy glanced over at Aurora, whose gaze was firmly set on the water in front of her, refusing to look at him. "Nothing," he said.

His tone was confused with a hint of something else, the same something that Chiron had tried to smother when overhearing about Aurora's violent tactics toward the new head camp director. Out of Aurora's peripheral vision, she saw the side of Percy's mouth quirk up.

Aurora frowned, her lips parting slightly. She didn't know why Percy was hiding his emotions, but something had dragged him down. He looked tired. But she wasn't going to pry.

"Seriously, Ro." Percy added, leaning forward in the boat slightly, so his body was only a couple inches from hers. "We entered a river, that's all. The water just changed from salt to fresh. Don't—"

Aurora snorted, covering her mouth with her right hand as her left let the vine slip a little, causing them to jolt forward.

"—do that." Percy finished, scowling at the girl who was making fun of him. Aurora didn't even bother apologizing. Percy knew she didn't mean it.

"There," Annabeth spoke up after a beat of the boat sailing. "Past that sandbar."

They veered into a swampy area choked with marsh grass. Aurora beached the lifeboat at the foot of a giant cypress. Vine-covered trees loomed above them, and insects chirred in the woods. The air was muggy and hot, and steam curled off the river.

It was the furthest thing from New York that there was, but it didn't feel all that different from camp. And Aurora hadn't really been any place else—besides her quest last summer and the Underworld—in a while.

Percy's body tensed, but Annabeth surged forward. "Come on," she said. "It's just down the bank."

"What is?" Percy asked.

"Just follow." She grabbed a duffel bag. "And we'd better cover the boat. We don't want to draw attention."

After Tyson and Percy buried the lifeboat with branches, the three followed Annabeth along the shore. Their feet sunk into the red mud, and Aurora yelped as a snake slithered past Percy—who was walking adjacent to her—'s shoe and disappeared into the grass.

"Not a good place," Tyson murmured. He swatted the mosquitoes that were forming a buffet line on his arm.

After another few minutes, Annabeth said, "Here."

At first, all Aurora could see was a patch of brambles. Then, Annabeth moved aside a woven circle of branches, like a door, and the camouflaged shelter was revealed.

The inside was big enough for four, even with Tyson being the third. The walls were woven from plant material, but they looked pretty waterproof. Stacked in the corner was everything you could want for a campout: sleeping bags, blankets, an ice chest, and a kerosene lamp. There were demigod provisions, too—bronze javelin tips, a quiver full of arrows, an extra sword, and a box of ambrosia. The place smelled musty, like it had been vacant for a long time.

"A half-blood hideout." Percy turned to Annabeth, his eyes widening in awe. "You made this place?"

"Thalia and I," the blonde answered quietly. "And Luke."

The boy's name made something inside Aurora stir. But all of their names strung together... Aurora felt, as silly as it was, excluded. She hadn't known Thalia at all. When Luke and Annabeth arrived at Camp Half Blood, Aurora had already been there for two years. She wasn't exactly adjusted, but she was grateful for another girl her age who had been abandoned—more or less. Aurora knew Thalia and Luke had taken care of Annabeth when she was little, and the three of them had been runaways together, hiding from monsters, surviving on their own before Grover found them and tried to get them to Half-Blood Hill. But whenever Annabeth talked about the time she'd spent with them, Aurora felt... abandoned, in a sense. Annabeth loved Thalia and Luke. She was closer with Luke than Aurora had ever been, even though she had viewed him as an older brother.

Aurora had always thought that if she was the perfect demigod, the best one anyone had ever seen, she would gain something in return. When she was eight, she had worked hard enough to be deemed the best swordsman in the last century by Luke. He had looked at her with such pride, an expression Aurora had assumed a family member would bestow on someone else—though, she didn't exactly know what that looked like. But Annabeth would walk up to Luke, and Aurora would fade into the background.

But now, now that Luke had betrayed all of them, and Aurora had Gracie and Annabeth and Silena and Clarisse—and Percy, she guessed—she had been so sure that she would be someone's first choice. It didn't really matter who. But hearing Annabeth speak about Luke, about how he had always cared for her, about their time together... she didn't exactly know how to feel. Obviously, it wasn't something to be jealous of. Aurora did not want to be Luke's first choice, especially not now. But it was just another reminder where Aurora fell in terms of importance, for everyone.

"So..." Percy broke the silence. "You don't think Luke will look for us here?"

The daughter of Athena shook her head. "We made a dozen safe houses like this. I doubt Luke even remembers where they are. Or cares."

She threw herself down on the blankets and started going through her duffel bag. Her body language made it pretty clear she didn't want to talk. Percy inched toward Annabeth, meeting Aurora's eyes for a split second.

But she knew what he wanted.

He wanted to talk to Annabeth, to understand. To learn about Thalia, to comfort her in a way that Aurora couldn't. Because, from what Annabeth had told her, Thalia and Percy were extremely similar. And Annbaeth's ever-moving mind needed the comfort that if Percy could be loyal to the gods, so would Thalia.

But still, as Aurora touched Tyson's arm and said, "Hey, buddy. Do you want to scout around outside with me? We'll look for a... wilderness convenience store, or something," she felt her chest become tight at what she was doing.

"Convenience store?" Tyson repeated, cocking his head to the side with confusion.

"Yeah!" Aurora could hear her own voice, as if she was out of her own body, and she cringed at the annoying peppiness it held. "For snacks, of course. Do you like donuts? Because I would love a powdered donut right now, yeah?"

"If pretty girl likes powdered donuts, I will find powdered donuts!" Tyson exclaimed earnestly, pumping his fist in the air with an eager beam. "I will look for powdered donuts in the wilderness."

Aurora forced a smile. "Great!" She took Tyson's arm and led him outside. A laugh slipped out as Tyson started calling, "Here, donuts!"

Aurora watched as Tyson ran around, trailing behind him as he sprinted forward in search of a donut shop.

But her mind was elsewhere. Percy wanted to talk to Annabeth. He was allowed to talk to her. It didn't matter. But, Aurora was terrified that she would have to cross him off of the list of people that would potentially put her first. Yeah, she was being egocentric and narcissistic and selfish, and Aurora hated herself. But she couldn't help but wonder what she could do better to not be a second choice. She dissected her flaws in her head, wincing at every reminder of her imperfections.

You're not smart. You have awful plans. You bring down the entire group. You're useless. Annabeth's smart. She does everything right.

Aurora's thoughts kept going back to the same word. Perfect.

"Fuck this." She muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes at herself. She was so self-centered. Hello, Luke was evil? There was a war?

"I found donuts!" Tyson's voice was loud and shrill as her thoughts were capped. Aurora's mouth fell open as Percy held up a pink pastry box. "Powdered donuts!"

Her heart started to beat faster, and she followed where Tyson was pointing. "Oh my gods," she whispered to herself.

This was bad. A donut shop was not supposed to be in the middle of the woods. It looked brand new, with brightly lit windows, a small parking area, and a little road leading into the forest, but there was nothing else around, and no cars parked in the lot. Aurora had no idea how Tyson had snuck in, purchased a dozen donuts, and had come out so quickly. She could only see one employee reading a magazine behind the cash register. That was it. On the store's marquis, in huge black letters that Aurora could—concerningly—read, it said: MONSTER DONUT.

A cartoon ogre was taking a bite out of the O in MONSTER. As much as Aurora didn't want to admit, the place smelled good, like fresh-baked chocolate donuts. She really wanted to take a bite of the powdered donuts in Tyson's arms, but she knew something was wrong.

"Hey, Ty," Aurora tapped the Cyclops' shoulder and smiled brightly, trying to convey that everything was okay. "I am positive that your brother and Annie would love some donuts. Can you go get them and bring them here?"

Aurora was being stupid. She was not a mythical creature, and she could sense the monsters that infested Monster Donut. But she also knew she could deal with it. What was the use of being the best swordsman in the past eon—or whatever—if she couldn't defeat some simple monsters?

Tyson agreed easily, as Aurora knew he would, and skipped away. The box of powdered donuts was still secure in his arms as his figure faded into the distance.

Aurora waited ten seconds, then fifteen, for Percy and Annabeth to come running towards her. But nothing happened, so she decided to dive in.

But