Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson & The Olympians.
Chapter I:
Sixteen Years After the Storm
Clara stood in the shadows on the ranch porch watching her nephew pet and feed the horses through the fence near the pasture. His brilliant blue eyes would follow each movement of the animals' large heads like he understood each of their individual gestures. His eyes were always the brightest when in their presence. His bond with those horses was like nothing Clara had ever witnessed between man and animal.
It was almost like an inhuman connection they shared.
She smiled in her spot when one of the horses reached its long neck out to chew at her nephew's hair. The boy laughed and playfully swatted the horse to retreat before it let out a snort and shook its head.
The horses that her husband and she owned on their ranch had always favored their nephew. It didn't matter that they raised, bathed, and fed them all these years; it was still their nephew that really held the animals' trust. A relationship that farmers usually spent years trying to gain and accomplish with their own livestock. The boy was indeed gifted.
She started from her thoughts when her nephew caught her gaze and smiled clumsily like she'd caught him in the act. She always thought it adorable when he would get embarrassed being spotted with the horses, especially when he was caught speaking with them.
With the bond they shared it wouldn't surprise her if the large animals actually did understand him. Wouldn't that be something?
"Now that the horses are fed," she uncrossed her arms from around her waist and held them out for the approaching boy. He grinned up at her and took hold of them. "How about you go on inside and get something to eat as well? Your uncle might need some help in the kitchen."
"I'm not that hungry." He confessed and Clara raised a pale brow as she studied him.
"Sharing apples with the horses again?"
The guilty expression on his handsome face said it all. He certainly had the appetite of a growing boy that was for sure. She was certain that once he sat down at the table and took in an eye full of the food then he'd be loading it onto his empty plate.
Clara moved back to take in her nephew's appearance from under the rays of the sun. He must've known what she was doing because he rolled his eyes at her lingering gaze.
His dark, rich colored hair reflected the sun and shimmered in spots that were lightly laced with sweat. Years of living under the intense Colorado sun didn't seem to affect his skin tone all that much since he was still fair skinned. His cheeks were red from the heat along with his neck and nose. The price he would have to pay for not listening to them and wearing a hat.
As striking as his features were, it was really his sapphire colored eyes that drew the most attention. No crystal lake or clear day could compare to the radiance of them. They were a sight to behold and had many other people envious of them. Clara had often wondered if they were a trait he revived from his mother or father.
Either way she was positive he would've made his birth parents proud. Together they made a fine young boy.
"My handsome little, Percy." She couldn't help but to smile down at him as he blushed. So easily flustered the boy was.
"Come on, Aunt Clara," He protested and tried to pull his hands free from hers. "You said you'd stop doing that."
She let go of one of his hands but continued to hold the other as she pulled him to her side. She folded her arm under his as they ascended back up the porch steps and into the cool refuge of shade.
"With the rate you're growing I can't help but to stare. I'm afraid that if I blink I'll miss it and you'll be all grown up and moving on out." She paused and turned to look down at her nephew. He gave a small grin in return.
"It'll be lonely here with just your Uncle Alan and I. The day we received you and the memories that followed are the most cherished things we have in our lives. I wouldn't replace them for the world."
Percy breathed in slowly as he turned his stare elsewhere. Being under his lovingly aunts tender gaze and hearing her says such things always struck a cord in him. He owed these people everything. They took him in when he had been abandoned as an infant and practically raised them as their own son.
It didn't matter what other people might say. They were his family and he would give them his everything in return for what they gave him. They were all that each other had.
"I'm not going anywhere just yet, Aunt Clara." He gave her a reassuring grin and squeezed her hand gently. "I'm only sixteen and still have a few years left at high school and some after. I'm in no rush to get out of here and leave you and Uncle Alan behind."
It was true when he told her about hanging around a few years after he graduated from high school. His aunt and uncle were older than most of his friends parents and years of working on the farm only added to their maturing. With his uncle already spotting a full head of grey hair and strands that were gradually increasing in his aunts, he seriously wondered how much longer the two could put up with all the farm labor.
If something happened to one of them and he wasn't around to do it for them or give a hand, then he would never forgive himself. These people took care of him when they didn't have to and he was planning on paying it all back to them with his care.
"Oh, Percy." They stopped walking again and Percy knew what his aunt was about to say. They never quite agreed on things he planned for his future often.
"I'm not telling you to rush with it all. You're still so young and need to be appreciating what you have around you instead of worrying about what may or may not happen in the future."
"But Aunt Clara-"
"I know what you're thinking and I want you to let it go. These thoughts will only distract you from your true focus. I know your uncle and I aren't as young as we used to be," she gave a thin amused smile. "but we're going to be just fine. Don't let your worrying about us keep you back. You are capable of so much, Percy, and sitting around this ranch isn't going to help you realize that."
Percy held his aunts stare for a long while before sighing and nodding his head. It wouldn't be smart to try and protest her words any further. She seemed so confident about everything and Percy couldn't help but want to follow her lead and have the same outlook on life.
His aunt had always been such a strong and wise woman that age didn't seem to hinder. He always admired and listened to her growing up because in the end she'd always seem to have the encouraging words that would push him forward.
"Now lets go get something to eat if your greedy uncle hasn't already eaten everything without us."
Percy laughed at the statement and let his aunt pull him through the doorway and into their small yet cozy ranch styled home. He could already pick up on the delicious smells wafting from the kitchen as they stalked further in. Even though he'd eaten a few apples earlier when outside, his stomach rumbled regardless and Percy swore he heard his aunt chuckle softly at the noise.
When they entered the kitchen they were greeted with the sight of a lean man with a head of brushed back grey hair hovering over the stove while humming softly to himself. When he felt the presence of others he turned and Percy saw that his uncle had dawned his wife's bright pink cooking apron and matching mittens.
His uncle immediately halted in his tune and stared wide eyed at the two that stood speechless in the doorway. He took a long swallow before gripping the spatula in one hand and directing it at Percy and his aunt.
"Not a single word from either of you two or else I get all this food to myself."
~0.o.0~
The constant sound of the glass saltshaker being picked up and placed back down again was enough to cause Aunt Clara and Uncle Alan to pause in their dinning and stare at their nephew in bewilderment. The woman glanced from the boy to her husband who gave a small shrug in response to her unspoken concern.
Her grey eyes turned back to her nephew who seemed completely oblivious to his actions and carried on with distracting routine. She slowly set her fork down and reached for her napkin to clean the corners of her mouth off before speaking.
"Percy, dear." She called to him softly and smiled kindly when his eyes finally accessed hers. He didn't look the least bit aware of what he'd been doing.
"Is there something wrong with your food? Your uncle and I can start on something else if that's the problem."
Percy paused in what he was doing and glanced back and forth between his two caretakers. "Nah, the food taste fine. Why do you ask?"
"Well," she started off slowly, not quite sure how to state the obvious. "You seem to be taking full advantage of that saltshaker there. I swear there was half more before we all sat down to eat."
Percy looked a bit blank for a moment before he really took in her words and the expression she bared while speaking them. He looked down at the little jar of salt and saw that his aunt was in fact right about it missing half of its contents compared to when they first started.
There was no way he dumped almost half a jar of salt in his mashed potatoes. That would just be disgusting and he was pretty positive not the healthiest thing either.
The funny thing about it all was that his food didn't even taste that salty after every spoon full. It tasted the same after each shake and bite. Maybe the salt was just an off brand of some kind and wasn't the real deal. There was no way he wouldn't have been able to not taste the salt with the amount that he poured on.
Percy looked back into his bowl and saw how the light from over their small table reflected off the tiny little grains in his food. It didn't look too appetizing and he was sure his aunt and uncle had seen it and thought the same.
"I swear it doesn't taste as bad as it looks." He insisted and his uncle grunted in disbelief before digging back in to his own food. His aunt gave an unsure smile like she just couldn't believe him. He had a feeling that neither of them would be up for trying it for themselves.
"Maybe it's the brand of salt?" He tried as another excuse.
"The grains do seem a little fine…" She considered for a moment while in thought before turning to her husband. "How about we buy that type with the larger chunks?"
"Sea salt?" Uncle Alan mumbled over a spoon full of green beans.
Aunt Clara's face seemed to light up at that. "That's the one. We can start using that kind for a while and see how we get used to it. How about that, Percy?"
He just shrugged. "Suppose it won't hurt to give it a try."
"I'll pick it up tomorrow when I go into town then." She picked up her fork to resume eating again before pausing and turning back to Percy. "Would you like to come along? I know your uncle won't be up for it." She shot him a glance.
"Someone's gotta watch the farm."
"Can't come up with another excuse?"
"Not on such short notice." He chuckled softly as she grinned with a knowing amused look.
"So how about it?" She directed her attention back to her nephew.
"Sorry Aunt Clara, but I'm actually going out with some friends tomorrow morning. Not too sure what time I'll be back if you planned on going out later. Maybe I can be a little late though and meet up with the guys-"
"Cancel with them just to hang out with your old aunt?" She laughed and patted him on the hand during her amusement. "Go out and have your fun, Percy. Just don't get into any trouble and be home at a reasonable hour. I'll need you to help me put the groceries away because your uncle will disappear until the job is done."
Percy smiled over at his uncle who gave him a wink in return.
~0.o.0~
After helping his aunt and uncle clear off the table and clean the dishes from dinner, Percy retreated back to his room to relax before retiring for the night. His uncle had offered for him to hang around and watch some television but Percy kindly rejected because he was just too exhausted. He probably would've passed out on the sofa and remained there for the night.
That reminded him of all the times when his uncle would carry him upstairs when he was much younger. When he got too old and heavy to carry then his aunt started placing pillows under his head and thrown a blanket over him. They may not have been his true birth parents but Percy knew they were the next best thing if not better.
After changing into something more comfortable to wear for bed, Percy walked over to his desk on the side of his room where his fish bowl was placed. He gave a small grin when his pet goldfish practically swam laps around the small container once it got sight of him. The little guy knew it was feeding time.
He dropped four tiny pellets into the water and watched his pet zip along the surface and swallow them up in quick swipes. After it was done it turned its attention back to its owners and continued its impatient swimming pattern.
"I'm sorry lil' guy, but that's all you get for tonight. You're gunna have to wait until next time." He sighed as he traced his finger along the side of the glass, though found it amusing when his fish trailed after his finger eagerly.
Percy walked away from his frenzied little pet and threw himself onto his back on his bed. The digital clock on his bedside table told him that it was only a quarter past eight but Percy swore it felt later. The aches in his limbs from running around doing chores on the ranch always took a toll oh him, especially when the sun was constantly beaming down on him.
He enjoyed being out in the sun but only to an extent. Being out too long made him incredibly parched and physically drained him. He remembered blacking out several times as a kid due to dehydration. His caretakers always made him carry around bottles of water after that and insisted him to not overstrain himself like he'd been doing it on purpose.
Percy drew from his daze when he felt his phone vibrate hectically from within his sweatpants pocket. He didn't even have to glance at the screen to know who had texted him.
He tapped the screen and brought it up to his head, folding his free arm behind his head.
"Hey, Marco. What's up?" He stifled a yawn.
"Yawning and it ain't even nine o'clock yet. What you've been up to?" His best friend scolded him over the phone. "And you better not say farm work."
Percy rolled his eyes even though he knew the other couldn't see it. "Yeah, because it's not like I live on one or anything." He said sarcastically and heard his friend laugh. "but I should be fine tomorrow if I get a good nights rest."
"Good because tomorrow we have a long-ass hike ahead of us and you better be up for it. I already called Ben and the dude said he's game."
It didn't surprise Percy that his other friend Ben would be up for a long hike. The guy would be up for anything if it meant getting out of the house and away from his six sisters. Poor fellow was the only guy in the family without them having a dad. What did make Percy curious was where this long hike was taking place.
"Where're we going again? I thought we were just hanging out at the mall and getting lunch?" It didn't bother him that much that there was a change of plans. Hanging out at the mall and watching his best friend try to pick up girls can only be so amusing the first few times.
"Did I not text you? Anyway we're hiking up to the quarry and spending the afternoon there with some ladies." Marco said deviously.
Percy didn't hear anything past the mention of them going to the quarry. He gripped his phone a little tighter and swallowed at the thought of being around all that water. His friend seemed to catch on to his lingering silence and spoke back up.
"Calm down, dude. You don't have to go swimming if ya don't want. Nobody is gunna force you so chill out. We're just gunna be messing around and having maybe a few beers that I might snag from my dad. Got it?"
Percy let out a long breath at that and hummed in acknowledgment. He could do that. Just throwing a ball around with some friends and hanging out with possibly a few girls. Harmless enough.
"So you down?"
"Yeah," Percy sighed again and relaxed back into his bed. "I'm down."
When they finally hung up after going over supplies and a time they were set to leave, Percy found that he was still restless from what Macro had said. They'd been to the quarry many times but for some reason Percy got this feeling in his gut that it'd be better to just stay behind.
After playing nervously with his phone in his hand for several more minutes he decided that he better just sleep on it and give his friends an answer that next day. He pulled the cover over himself and stared up at his ceiling with his mind still busy with unrealistic thoughts.
In the corner of his room he could hear the water spluttering around and he imagined that his fish was swimming laps again for it to make so much noise. Hopefully there wouldn't be too much water on his desk the following morning.
AN:
Fun Fact: Poseidon is also known as the God of Horses according to some beliefs..