It's been a long time since I came around,
Been a long time but I'm back in town
This time I'm not leaving without you.
Annabeth clutched the side of the boat. There was a somewhat comforting breeze that blew the loose pieces of hair out of her face as the boat sailed through the mellow sky. She managed to keep her gaze on the tall, well-built structures of the ship; she didn't need to know how far they were up in the sky.
Her eyes were busily watching the billowy but transparent clouds that they passed; she thought her eyes managed to catch one that seemed like it was the silhouette of Percy's face. The spark of hope, that was currently dim of disappointment, came to life with a small but bright flame.
She was growing more impatient by the minute because she knew that when every, slow minute passed, she was getting closer to the location of where Percy was supposed to be. She took her hand away and made her way through the clumps of demigods that were milling around the mast of the boat; some were talking while others were looking around at the sky, clearly in awe. She was sure that from a bird's eye view of the ship, they would all have looked like one, huge clump of orange.
Her footsteps led her up the stairs to the captain of the ship: Leo Valdez.
"Hey, Leo," Annabeth said, breathlessly, "How much more time do we have?" Leo cracked a smile at her as he turned the ship to the left slightly.
"I would have to guess less than an hour. But yet again, you just asked me this question ten minutes ago." Annabeth pursed her lips; she could tell that he was secretly making fun of her childish eagerness.
"Thanks, Leo." She briefly said and left him, making her way down the stairs again.
Annabeth was certain about only one thing: after all of her never-ending searching, this time, she wasn't leaving without Percy.