It was midnight, and they were running through the streets of New York City. There were only three things that could be heard and that was the breathing of Celestia and Alaska, but you could also hear the crashing of numerous things. They had just managed to dodge a Chevy Silverado that had been thrown at them. They had managed to make it out to Long Island, and were now headed out of the city limits and into one of the forests that were at the edge of the city. They had managed to catch a glimpse of the monster chasing them as they ran through Brooklyn, he was tall. Tallest of all the monsters that had chased them since she was only five years old, and that was a lot seeing as she was now getting ready to turn 24. However it had been about eight years since they had last been chased by a monster. Celestia divered and headed off into the woods to her right, along with Alaska right behind her. She weaved her way through the trees not missing a step or hitting a tree. Celestia and Alaska kept running even after their legs had grown tired and were ready to give out. This monster had chased them a long way, he had started chasing them in New Orleans about 2 months ago and had chased them all the way to New York. Not realizing it they had passed a tree that had a dragon guarding it and it had a golden fleece on it. The crashing stopped, they both paused until they heard a couple of very loud thuds and a huge roar.
"You cannot escape forever forbidden child. We will get you eventually and when we do, you will beg for mercy." He hollered and threw things at an invisible barrier, but instead of stopping to take in what he said, she kept running. She heard and saw people running passed her with swords, spears, bows and arrows, hammers, and any other kind of weapon you could think of. Even with the people around her she ran, she actually lost sight of Alaska at one point, but didn't stop. She ran until she actually bumped into something. She looked around and found a centaur trying to stand, not to far from her. She hadn't realized that she had knocked him down.
"Oh, fantastic. Just what I need another curse to ruin my miserable life." Celestia thought and then passed out and landed right at the centaurs feet. The centaur looked down at the tiger and then called over for a girl.
"Annabeth, can you get her to the hospital wing and watch her. She may be a tiger but she is still tired and weak. Don't let her out and the only ones allowed in to see her are myself, you, and the dog that was with her when she crossed the hill. Am I clear?"
"Yes, Chiron. I'm on it." A girl with blonde hair and grey eyes came over and picked up the white tiger's left paw. The paw was the size of the girls head, mostly because Celestia had grown into being an oversized cat instead of staying the size of a regular tiger. She began to pull Celestia towards the hospital wing, with much difficulty. Eventually Tyson, a young cyclops came over and helped Annabeth by picking Celestia up and carrying her the rest of the way. "She is going to sleep till morning at least, if not longer."
The sun began to rise over the camp and Alaska emerged from where he was hiding. Looking around he saw that everyone was out and about, however he couldn't see Celestia anywhere. Sniffing his way around the camp he managed to eventually catch the scent of his best friend. Following the scent he found himself in a tent that was filled with injured youth. He continued to follow the scent to the back of the tent, where he noticed that there was a section that was blocked off from the rest of the tent. He noticed a girl standing guard at the entrance to the blocked off section.
"You can go in; I was told to allow you inside when you showed up. I will warn you that she is still asleep." Alaska nodded his head and went inside; he did see that he had not been lied to and that Celestia was still asleep. He jumped up onto the bed and curled up at her feet and drifted off to sleep. Annabeth came in the room only moments later; she just stood at the foot of the bed and watch Celestia and Alaska sleep. She could feel something that she couldn't explain but didn't know what it was and refused to admit it to anyone, even herself.
"How are they doing Annabeth?" Chiron asked as he entered the room, unto which Annabeth didn't move.
"They are both asleep. I am worried about her. She hasn't moved once all night. It seems like she hasn't slept in a long time. She seems to be purely exhausted." Chiron nodded and turned to leave. "I'm scared, Chiron, when I saw her yesterday I felt something and I can't explain it. I still feel it even now, it is just more intense now then it was."
"Have you ever felt this way for Percy?" He stopped just before he opened the curtain to leave. Annabeth looked over at him confused. "Have you ever felt the way you are feeling for this girl for anyone else, Percy included?"
"Never. It's almost as if I have this internal pull towards her, but I don't know why?" Chiron reached up and stroked his beard thinking.
"It is an interesting situation. I have never heard of such a thing before. I will looking into and get back to you about my findings." Annabeth nodded and Chiron left. She remained standing at the foot of the bed and watched Celestia sleep. As the sun began to set for the night, Celestia's body began to become the tiger again. When she had become human that morning it had scared Annabeth, but she had to remember that anything could happen with demigods. So the change now didn't scare her but it did confuse Annabeth as to how it is that she becomes the tiger at night. She stood and watched as Celestia began to stir from her slumber.
"You are safe great tiger. None shall bother you here; you can sleep as long as you need to to regain your strength. I shall not let anyone harm you." Celestia looked up at Annabeth and purred. Annabeth looked away because of the look that had appeared in Celestia's eyes. Celestia had looked at her with nothing less than pure love in her eyes and it scared Annabeth. There was also a hint of worry in the looked but it was not that noticeable, but Annabeth saw it. "On my life and honor no one will harm you here. Your friend has returned and he is asleep here at the food of the bed."
Celestia looked from Annabeth to Alaska and back. Annabeth was getting more and more uncomfortable with the situation but couldn't pull herself away, mostly because she was so tired. She hadn't slept at all the night before nor all day, but everytime she tried to rest she would have an urge to curl up with the girl or cat and sleep. Annabeth didn't want to fight an urge she knew would win, but she also didn't want to scare the poor girl. When Celestia moved over creating enough room on the bed for Annabeth, it startled Annabeth and she knew that there was no way that she would be able to resist. Closing her eyes and shaking her head, Annabeth responded, "I can't, not if I am to protect you."
I can protect you, at least while you get some sleep. You look like you need it. I have slept for long enough for now. I am also a cat and can detect if something is not right. I also have Alaska to help for that. He is the white husky/wolf hybrid that is with me. My name is Celestia. Hearing the voice in her head really scared Annabeth, to the point that she was ready to bolt. She stumbled backwards a step or two, and looked over her shoulder to see how close the curtain was. I do not mean to scare you. I am just trying to help you get the rest you missed last night and today. I can see how tired you are. Please lay down and get some sleep. Alaska has always been good at guarding me even if it looks as if he is asleep.
"I can't be hearing you in my head. That is just impossible." Annabeth turned to leave but came face to face with Aphrodite.
"Oh, you can hear her Annabeth. I have made it so, I have also done a few other things to help this child out against her enemies. Of course part of what I have done is because I disagree with what Athena has done to the poor child but oh well." Annabeth looked over at Celestia and noticed that she was curled up in a tight ball. This broke Annabeth's heart and all she wanted to do was cuddle and hold her, but she held back. "Oh for Pete's sake. Just go to her and hold her. Do you have any idea what your rejection does to me?"
Annabeth looked over at Aphrodite and then back at Celestia. She didn't want to hurt Percy's feelings by rejecting him for Celestia, but she also didn't want ot cause Aphrodite any more pain than she had so she went over to the bed and laid down next to Celestia. She placed her back up against her and rested her head on the pillow. When Annabeth took her first breath with her head on the pillow she caught a whiff of three of her favorite scents; lavender, cinnamon, and the woods. She also caught the smell of musk and cedar. Enjoying the smell she pushed her back against Celestia and drifted off to sleep.
Sleep dear one, no one shall harm you while I'm around. Was the last thing that she head before her mind succumb to sleep. Aphrodite smiled, looked at Celestia and nodded.
"You will have to work for her heart for right now it belongs to another but it is yours, only because I know it to be. Rest none shall harm either of you here at Camp Half-Blood." With that she vanished into a cloud of pink smoke. Celestia was curled up facing Annabeth, not able to keep her eyes open to much longer out of pure exhaustion. She rested her head on Annabeth's shoulder and drifted off to sleep.
