Finally Clarisse from the Ares cabin came forward. She put her arm around

Silena. They had one of the strangest friendships ever — a daughter of the war

god and a daughter of the love goddess — but ever since Silena had given

Clarisse advice last su mm er about her first boyfriend, Clarisse had decided

she was Silena's personal bodyguard.

 

Clarisse was dressed in her bloodred combat armor, her brown hair tucked into a

bandana. She was as big and beefy as a rugby player, with a permanent scowl on

her face, but she spoke gently to Silena.

 

"Come on, girl," she said. "Let's get to the Big Flouse. I'll make you some hot

chocolate."

 

Everyone turned and wandered off in twos and threes, heading back to the cabins.

Nobody was excited to see me now. Nobody wanted to hear about the blown-up ship.

 

Only Annabeth and Chiron stayed behind.

 

Annabeth wiped a tear from her cheek. "I'm glad you're not dead. Seaweed Brain."

 

"Thanks," I said. "Me too."

 

Chiron put a hand on my shoulder. "I'm sure you did everything you could, Percy.

Will you tell us what happened?"