Piper I woke up with a groan, reluctantly rolling out of bed. I slipped into the bathroom, changed into my camp clothes, and brushed my hair, weaving a few feathers into one of my braids like I always did. Stepping outside Cabin Ten, I took a deep breath, smiling as the familiar scents of fresh strawberries and the salty breeze drifted through camp. Mornings at Camp Half-Blood always felt peaceful, especially before everyone was fully awake. As I made my way to breakfast, Jason and Leo fell into step beside me. We talked and laughed the whole way to the dining pavilion. While we were talking, Annabeth, Percy, Nico, and Will caught up to us and joined the conversation. Before long, we were all walking together. The smell of pancakes, bacon, and fresh fruit filled the air, mixing with the cheerful chatter and laughter of campers. It felt... different. For once, there wasn't a prophecy hanging over our heads or a world-ending crisis waiting around the corner. It was strange, but in the best way. Things finally felt normal, and I planned to enjoy every second of it. After breakfast, I headed down to the canoe lake. The water was calm, reflecting the bright blue sky as I paddled across it. It was quiet, peaceful, and exactly what I needed. Later, Annabeth and I met up for combat training. We spent the next hour sparring until we were both sweaty, tired, and laughing after a few close calls. By the time we finished, I was more than ready for lunch. After lunch, Hazel and Frank were coming over to hang out. I'd promised Annabeth and Hazel that I'd teach them how to surf on the Argo II. It had taken a surprising amount of convincing to get them to agree, but today seemed like the perfect day to finally keep that promise. I couldn't help but smile. It was nice to have a day where we could just be normal teenagers instead of demigods trying to save the world. For now, I was going to enjoy every minute of it.
