Chapter 8: Confusion at Camp

The sun began to rise over the horizon of the Half-Blood Camp, but for Selene Beauregard, the clarity of the day brought no relief. Sitting by the dock, she watched the gentle ripples on the water. Her mind was a whirlwind of doubts, guilt, and fear. She hadn't been able to sleep. Charles Beckendorf, her boyfriend, had always provided her with a sense of security, but now, after what had happened with Inti, everything seemed to be falling apart. She didn't know how to face it.

The sound of footsteps approached from behind her, and although she didn't turn, she knew immediately it was Beckendorf. She could feel the familiarity of his presence before he even spoke.

"Selene," he said softly, but his voice carried concern. "You haven't been yourself these past few days. What's going on?"

Selene closed her eyes, trying to block the pain in her chest. The guilt gnawed at her. Beckendorf had always been kind to her, always reliable, and now she was betraying him, even if only with her silence.

"It's nothing," she replied, unable to look him in the eye. She knew this lie wouldn't last long. Beckendorf knew her too well.

"Really?" he asked, crouching down in front of her, searching for her gaze. His hands took hers, but she quickly pulled away, unable to bear the contact. "We've always been honest with each other. You can tell me anything."

Selene felt tears threatening to fall, but she forced herself to hold them back. She couldn't tell him what had happened with Inti, the mysterious demigod whose impulsive and carefree actions had destabilized her life.

"I just... need time to think," she lied again, but her voice trembled. Beckendorf noticed the hesitation but didn't press further.

He stood up, sighing deeply. Though he didn't say it, in his heart, he was already starting to feel that something was wrong.

Meanwhile, in a clearing in the nearby woods, Percy Jackson was training with Grover Underwood. Despite his sword striking with force, his movements were erratic, full of frustration. Grover, though a pacifist satyr, tried to keep up.

"Percy!" Grover shouted, blocking Percy's strike with his makeshift shield. "What's going on?"

Percy lowered his sword and breathed heavily, staring at the ground. His thoughts weren't on training, but on Annabeth. The pain from her recent betrayal still burned within him. He couldn't understand how it had happened, how she had fallen into the arms of Inti, a demigod whose lack of care made him so dangerous.

"I don't get it, Grover. I can't stop thinking about it. Annabeth..." Percy clenched his fists. "Why?"

Grover, always the patient counselor, set his shield aside and placed a hand on Percy's shoulder.

"I know it hurts, buddy. But you have to talk to her at some point. You can't keep training like everything's normal."

Before Percy could respond, Katie Gardner appeared running from the edge of the woods.

"Quirón needs you in the Big House!" she shouted, breathless from the run. "Something's happening."

Percy and Grover exchanged looks. Whenever Quirón called the campers urgently, it meant trouble was brewing. Without a word, they both ran after Katie, with the weight of their concerns still hanging heavily on Percy.

At the Big House, a group of demigods was already gathered. Annabeth stood in a corner, visibly uncomfortable, as Percy walked in. Their eyes barely met, the air between them thick with tension. Clarisse La Rue, as always, stood off to the side with her arms crossed, waiting impatiently for things to begin.

In front of everyone, Quirón was speaking quietly with Rachel Elizabeth Dare, the camp's oracle. Rachel, clearly disturbed, stood to address the group.

"I've had a vision," she began, her tone serious. "Something unusual is happening at the camp, something that threatens to destabilize the balance. I've seen chaos... and I believe it's connected to one of us."

The campers exchanged confused looks. No one knew what Rachel meant, but the discomfort in the air was palpable.

"Clarisse, Percy, Annabeth..." Quirón began assigning tasks. "I need you to keep an eye on the woods and the areas around the camp. Something or someone is causing disturbances."

Before they could respond, the door burst open. Thalia Grace, Artemis' Huntress, entered quickly.

"Quirón, I have bad news. The Hunters have seen strange movements on the camp's boundaries. Creatures that shouldn't be here," she said with her usual firmness. "And there are rumors that someone new is causing all this."

Percy frowned, already guessing who it could be. He hadn't seen Inti since his arrival at camp, but he'd heard enough about his encounters to know that the mysterious demigod had no control over his abilities. Inti wasn't evil, but his carelessness with consequences made him dangerous for everyone.

"We need to investigate," Percy said with determination, grabbing his sword. His frustration with Annabeth and his personal pain momentarily faded. Something was wrong at the camp, and he wouldn't let it spiral further out of control.

Annabeth, still keeping her distance, nodded. She knew that part of this chaos, even if unintentional, was connected to her. Inti hadn't planned anything, but his mere presence had begun to unravel the ties that held the camp together.

As for Inti, he was far from the Big House, lying on a rock near the stream, enjoying the sound of the water and the tranquility of the forest. His nature was not that of a strategist; he had no grand plan to manipulate or destroy. He simply did what seemed fun in each moment.

He had just transformed into an eagle to explore from the skies when, upon returning to his human form, his carefree smile remained. Life at camp was entertaining, but he couldn't understand why everyone seemed so tense lately.

"It's not my problem," he thought, stretching with a yawn. Life was too short — well, for others — to worry about complications.