Alright, my first chapter from Annabeth's point of view. Please let me know how I portray her. If I'm going to be doing her point of view it has to vary from Percy's and capture her character. Other than that I hope you all enjoy this chapter.

Thank you all for your reviews and support.

Chapter 2

The refugees had been marching for three days, and were still no closer to figuring out what lay on the horizon. Annabeth theorized that perhaps the structure was able to move. This seemed to calm people down as long as it wasn't moving towards them. The structure then served as some kind of goal or a guide to where people might be. It was one of the refugees' secondary goals to figure out what happened to all the people who left Othrys. It would be comforting to know that they were doing okay for the refugees were ones truly responsible for the destruction of the city even if they didn't take part in the riots. Annabeth daydreamed as she marched that the maybe the structure they were chasing was some great innovation earlier stifled by the Arena. All the possibilities of what could be learned now so many people were free, it was enticing to Annabeth. She wanted to catch the moving structure just to see the innovation behind it.

On the fourth day of the journey the band of refugees lost sight of the moving structure. It didn't seem possible. It never appeared that it was getting farther away, but rather closer. However, on the fourth day the evening came early and the march was halted accordingly. Once a temporary camp was constructed Annabeth looked over to the horizon as she did at regular intervals, a paranoid habit developed after almost being killed, and she could no longer make out the structure. It didn't worry her too much for the twilight blurred the horizon, except she couldn't see the continuously lit torches either. Immediately her mind went to work trying to rationalize the situation. Perhaps the structure moved on while they had stopped. Or the torch fuel had been burned away. No one else seemed to notice the structure was no longer visible. All conversation topics were elsewhere. Annabeth's uncertainty made her resolve not to tell anyone.

"Something on your mind?" Thalia asked quietly. Around them, people were already beginning to settle down for sleep. A hard day of marching always made people fall asleep quickly, in particular the former slaves.

"Nothing more than usual," Annabeth lied. "You know, finding the quickest path to the mountains, worrying when our food runs out, finding a home."

"You should get some rest. Think about all that in the morning."

"That's the thing. They'll still be problems in the morning." Thalia gave her friend a sympathetic look. Annabeth ignored it. She appreciated her friend's attempt to help, but she was feeling particularly obstinate at that moment. "Go to sleep. I'll take first watch. Even if I lay down, my mind wouldn't let me sleep."

"Alright, fine, but don't stay up too late," Thalia advised. Then she thought about it and added, "At least try not to think so much." Annabeth managed a small laugh. It worked to satisfy Thalia and she went to sleep with no further commentary. Annabeth sat down on the ground with her back up against one of the wagons wheels. The position gave her a perfect view of the sleeping people around her.

As Annabeth started her scan of the surrounding area a cloud passed over the moon. Now the only source of light came from the dying fire that was used to heat that evening's meal. Annabeth thought about refueling it, but she didn't want to go through the hassle of weaving through all of the sleeping bodies. The night was quiet anyways. Of course, every night was quiet. The traveling band had still yet to come across any other people. Annabeth blamed it on their late start. The rest of the city had evacuated days before them and it appeared that they had travelled far.

Annabeth attempted to check the horizon again, but the darkness outside the encampment engulfed everything. She could only make faint details and none of them were conclusive. So instead she busied herself with watching her sleeping companions, guarding over their wellbeing. It eased Annabeth to see everyone so peaceful, unconcerned with the things around them. If only for a short time. She wished she could join them, but she feared the mental torment before the rest. Her mind always seemed to go into overdrive when she tried to sleep. Under tonight's circumstances, she didn't want to see what her mind could think up. Her eyes continued to roaming across the various sleeping faces around her and she wondered what other people thought of. Did they have happy, carefree dreams or stressed filled ones like her? Although there were times when she had good dreams and they seemed to be increasing.

It took only seconds for Annabeth's eyes to locate and lock onto Percy's sleeping form. Not once since they left the city had he slept far from her. She wasn't sure if it was because he wanted to or if he wanted to give the others a wide berth. Annabeth wasn't blind. She could see the gap between Percy and the others. She also knew how badly he wanted to break that barrier down. He made that evident when he asked her to talk to Thalia. Percy couldn't have known how difficult that was for Annabeth to explain. Thalia could forgive him for everything except nearly killing Annabeth. Of course, she also believed that was his worst offense. When Annabeth tried to tell her friend that she was confident that Percy was never going to kill her, she couldn't find the right words. She knew her excuse that it was because of their friendship wasn't convincing and Thalia was only nicer to Percy because she had asked. Annabeth wasn't too worried that she couldn't convince Thalia. She was bothered that she couldn't convince herself. She knew that it had to be something more.

Annabeth had always kept friendships close to her heart. She developed strong bonds and affections with all of her close friends. Ever since Percy asked to her help with finding her mother she knew he was a close friend. After she allowed herself to relax around him, she couldn't help but notice, with much surprise, how intimate their relationship quickly became. She didn't realize the just how far that went until the wedding. The pang of jealousy she felt when Percy complemented Rachel and escorted her on his arm was inexplicable. She knew it was all out of polite formality, but still, it was the first time she had ever heard Percy comment on something being lovely. The memory stayed clear in her mind and helped to excite a jealous rage every time she saw Rachel with Percy. Like Annabeth had a claim to Percy's attention and it was heresy for Rachel to hold it. It was all nonsense. Annabeth had no such claim. Annabeth and Percy had defined their relationship as friends and had done nothing more. The thought hurt.

"Is everything okay?" The whisper made Annabeth jump. She silently reprimanded herself for not paying attention while she was supposed to be on watch. She turned toward the person who spoke and tried to act like everything was normal.

"Yeah, why wouldn't it be?" Annabeth answered Percy in a low whisper so no emotion could be detected in her voice. Percy had woken up and carefully picked his way over to sit next to Annabeth. It wasn't strange for him to be awake. He often took the guard shift in the middle of the night.

"I don't know," Percy shrugged, half his body lit by the fire light, the other half hidden in shadows. Annabeth had just noticed the fire was replenished. Percy must have done it when he first woke up. How long had she not been paying attention? "It looked like you were upset," Percy continued. "But it is dark, so I could be wrong."

"I'm fine, just a little tired," Annabeth quickly made up an excuse. She didn't want to admit that she was thinking about him.

"Then you should get some sleep. I can take the watch now."

"Mm. I'm not sure I can fall asleep."

"You won't know until you lay your head down." Annabeth looked over at Percy. His face was gentle and caring. Annabeth rarely got the chance to see him like this. She seemed to only catch it when he was with her or his mother. "Come on, lay down." Percy reached out his arm and softly pulled at Annabeth, forcing her to lay down with her head resting in his lap. He then took her place leaning his back against the wheel and let his hand rest on her shoulder. His touch did nothing to help lull Annabeth to sleep.

"Percy?" Annabeth asked in a soft whisper. "Do you think this is worth the risk?"

"Of course. I can think of no better plan. It's going to take a lot of work, but look how long you were willing to fight the Arena."

"I know. I just don't want to put everyone through so much hardship after everything else." Percy let out a heavy sigh and began to absentmindedly run his fingers through Annabeth's hair. She didn't protest or comment.

"I don't think life comes without hardship. No matter what we chose we'd have to rebuild a new home," Percy reasoned. Annabeth couldn't deny that. It didn't mean she liked it any better, though. Annabeth let the conversation hang there as she thought things over. The only sounds were the crackling of the fire and the soft breaths of sleeping people. The steady drone of peaceful noises and rhythm of Percy's hand was beginning to make Annabeth actual feel sleepy. Her eyelids were half-open and heavy. She was about to close them when a noise startled her and she was suddenly wide awake once more.

"What was that?" Annabeth asked quickly, forgetting to whisper.

"It was just one of the horses shuffling around," Percy assured her. "Shouldn't you be asleep?"

"The horse woke me up."

"Well, if you're going to be awake, you have to be quiet." Percy gestured toward where Clarisse was laying. She shifted in her sleep, disturbed by Annabeth's earlier outburst.

"Maybe I want more company than you," Annabeth shot back. She didn't want that, though. She was enjoying this time with Percy, virtually alone since everyone else was asleep. It made her think back to her earlier reflection of their friendship. This made her happy, but there was something standing her way even now. What was it that she wanted from him?

"Do I really make such bad company?" Annabeth thought perhaps Percy had caught on to her jest, but his tone was a little too serious. She turned her head to look up at him. He wasn't looking at her. He was doing his duty and paying attention to their surroundings.

"Of course not, Percy," Annabeth answered softly. Percy finally looked down at her. His eyes were filled with a desperate emotion.

"You've forgiven me, right?" Percy's question caught Annabeth off guard. It made her question herself. She didn't think she acted in any way that would make him think he wasn't forgiven. Then again maybe he wasn't. Maybe it wasn't that she forgave him, but rather she couldn't bring herself to condemn him. No, she had to be able to forgive him.

"Yes, Percy, I forgive you." Percy relaxed and gave Annabeth a small smile. "Why did you ask?"

Percy brushed a stray hair from her forehead. "I ju- What is it?" Annabeth suddenly pushed herself up and was looking around. Right before Percy had spoken she heard the same noise that she heard earlier, except this time she was certain one of the horses didn't move. "Annabeth?" Percy asked again after she ignored him.

"Be quiet. Listen," Annabeth commanded sharply. Percy did as he was told. His body now on high alert as well. At first the two hear nothing more than ordinary nighttime sounds. Annabeth strained her ears to hear something more and finally she heard the noise again. There was definitely something moving in the night.

Somewhere in the darkness- on the other side of the wagon was Annabeth's best guess- something was making a clacking sound. It reminded her of the ratcheting system of Athens' defense. The wooden gears would be cranked and a wooden peg would slide across each tooth until it reached the end. Then the peg would fall with a clap onto the next tooth. The repetitive sound it made was almost identical to the one she was hearing now. Athens had used this system for their tension catapults and to operate the city's gate, two things that would never be found in the middle of the countryside. Of course it could be used for other things as well. Or it could have been another gear powered mechanism that made a similar sound. Either way Annabeth needed to figure out what it was. Even more important than that was to figure out if it was dangerous.

Annabeth's second question was answered with a scream. Annabeth whipped her head around and saw dark figures emerge from the darkness and into the fringes of the firelight. They were grabbing at a few of the refugees that slept on the edge of the group. They were awake now and struggling, but the flashing glint of metal told Annabeth the raiders had weapons. Annabeth and Percy sprang to their feet simultaneously and grabbed for their swords that were strap to their belts. Other people in the camp were beginning to wake up due to all the noise, but they were slow to react, leaving Annabeth and Percy to deal with one of the raiders as they began to drag one of the refugees away. Annabeth went for the girl while Percy lunged with his sword at the raider. They worked together perfectly without even having to say anything. Annabeth ducked, Percy slashed and then stepped, and the raider fell to the ground as Annabeth pulled the frightened girl around her so she was in between the girl and the other raiders. All of it done with the timing of practiced dance partners.

The fight was hardly over and it wasn't going to be that easy. As the raiders stepped further into the fire light Annabeth could make the details of their appearances. Somehow t didn't shock her to see Arena insignias on some of their clothes and armor although not nearly as well kept as they would have been in the Arena. The men looked ragged and desperate with hunger. They had twisted smiles on their faces that showed bloody teeth. Annabeth got the feeling that these men's minds were broken and had gotten into the habit of eating people. The looks they gave her confirmed her suspicion, but it was more than that. There was also a lust in their eyes. They seemed to be more concerned with her body than the weapon in her hand. The raiders didn't look at her or the girl behind her as just food. It disgusted Annabeth. She'd much rather be food.

The raiders stopped their advance as more people with weapons came to stand with Annabeth and Percy, but they weren't retreating. Instead, the increased numbers excited them more, like they knew something the refugees didn't. Suddenly the clacking noise became louder and something large began to appear out of the darkness behind the raiders. It stood almost two times taller than any man and was wider than a wagon. Annabeth's stomach twisted. She didn't know how, but she just knew that whatever it was, it was the mysterious structure they had been chasing. Annabeth's thoughts were interrupted as fighting erupted all around after the structure let out a volley of flaming arrows.