Chapter 4

I was seeming with anger. I was mad at everyone, I was mad at my mom for putting herself in danger as bait, I was even angrier at Chiron for not telling me, I was mad at Annabeth and Grover for trying to cheer me up, I was mad at Calista for trying to protect me, I was even angry at myself for being angry at everyone who cared about me. But then I bubbled down into a pit of sadness. Why? If this thing wants me it can have me but if something happens to my mom….

By the time we got to archery I felt empty. I didn't care about my aim. I didn't even look at the target. Instead of going to the Arena after I was done I wandered around camp, and without realizing ended up in front of my cabin.

I didn't go for dinner. I didn't go for breakfast the next day, or lunch. By dinner the next day Grover and Annabeth were back. "Hey Perc… I brought a sandwich!" Grover said like he was talking to a little kid. "Hey seaweed brain. Are you ever coming out? Blackjack misses you…" Annabeth said softly. Blackjack! I forgot about him, poor Pegasus. Still I just stuffed my face into the pillow indignantly. Grover sighed and Annabeth got up from her spot on the edge of my bed. As they headed out the door Annabeth turned around, "Percy, Calista is trying hard to contact your mom, she hasn't done anything else all day." She said about to close the door. "You're right! We should give the sandwich to her! Bye Perc be back tomorrow!" Grover said stepping out. "That's not what I meant goat brain." Annabeth said closing the door as Grover began arguing.

By the next day I was tired of being alone in my cabin and I decided to head out. It was late in the afternoon and there weren't many campers around. I didn't feel like doing anything especially something with thinking or concentration. And I was a little hungry but I didn't want go to the mess hall I wanted to be alone. I thought about visiting Blackjack but I wasn't up to that either. So I went Strawberry Fields and watch the sunset and maybe pick some for Blackjack. I found a spot with a few straw berries and waited for the sun sink but there was still time. I wasn't actually going to sit here and sulk! I had already packed everything I needed and I was ready to go. Everyone thinks that keeping me in camp is best, but there is no way I was going to sit still while my mom was in danger, besides communicating with her shouldn't be that hard. They weren't doing enough. Everyone thought I was in my Cabin sulking, and I admit yesterday I was, well I realized that was good. See no one would realize I was gone for days! Tonight when it was late enough I was going to take Blackjack and fly to New York City. When I said everything I didn't mean everything. I needed food and water among other things that would be useful. Water I could overlook, the son of Poseidon could find water right, but food would be tough since I didn't have money and I couldn't risk going to the Mess Hall or it would ruin the whole he's-to-depressed-to-leave-his-cabin cover. So I thought why not strawberries Blackjack and I could run on those right? I know it's not genius but it's the best thing I got. The ADHD side of me wanted to run strait out but I knew that would never happen.

The sun was starting to set and I stared to smile as I munched on a strawberry. They grew plentifully here because of our Camp Counselor Dionysus, the god of wine. I heard footsteps behind me and I switched from a smile to a frown. I continued to stare at the sunset and threw aside the strawberry like I was uninterested. My stomach was dying and I hated letting that strawberry go. Calista plopped down beside me stretching her legs out relaxed. I continued to not care, shielding any emotion. Suddenly she leaned over and gave me a quick sideways hug. Now that was a surprise even I couldn't help reacting to that. It was hard not to holdback a smile but I could at least keep my face neutralish. "What?" I blurted. "I thought you needed a hug. I mean it's hard. Unless you don't like hugs." She said smiling. "Um….no,no I….like….hugs…" I said awkwardly, how do you respond to that? I tried hard to frown, really I did, but Calista could make anyone smile she was just like that. "Percy…. I know you think I'm slacking off on my promise…I'm not." She said gently welcoming back the cold empty sadness. "No. No you aren't! I get it no tech allowed in camp yeah that makes it harder, but it's not THAT hard to talk to my mom. What about Iris and the rainbow thing, I mean there are lots of ways!" I shouted anger rising in me. Calista looked hurt and very tired "Percy….that's the thing. Look I've tried EVERYTHING, I've been up all night working on this all of yesterday up to now. Please I tried Percy and I can't find another way." She said searching my eyes for a sign of forgiveness. I calmed down as I realized she had actually tried to hold up her side of her promise while I didn't do anything save spending a few minutes planning to drop my end of it. I nodded to show her I was starting to understand. She moved so we were face to face "Percy...I…the ways that I tried that didn't work. Your mom didn't answer…I don't know what happened to her…" she said softly. I jumped up "What?!"I yelled. "All I caught were snippets of her face." She went on. I started pacing around tears sprouting from my eyes. "She looked fine." Calista said hopefully. She stopped me by putting her hands on my shoulders and looking into my eyes "The only other way is going out there. And since you're packed I thought maybe we could sneak out and find her. Get her somewhere safe…" she said slowly a smile spreading across her face. It took a while before what she was saying donned on me through the fog of concern filling my mind. I was so happy I hugged her "Thanks! Thanks so much! Ok umm get ready and meet you at midnight at you're cabin…. Ya." I said thinking on my feet. "Umm…okaaay. But you seriously didn't plan on living off strawberries right?" she said laughing and heading off.

At midnight I checked everything in the dark including my pack of fresh strawberries. After a few minutes my eyes adjusted to the dark but I still had to feel around so I wouldn't fall. I felt my way to the steps of Calista's cabin. She was waiting for me there. As we headed to the Pegasi stalls I started to feel guilty for not visiting Blackjack earlier. Calista must have noticed I was stumbling because she stopped me. She whistled a few notes quietly and waited. After a few seconds later a small army of 10 or 12 fireflies came together and flew by us like a living lantern. I quietly found Blackjack and woke him up Calista was in the shadows probably looking at another Pegasus. "Hey Boss! Hey! Where have you been? Do you have donuts? Why else would you wake me up, of course you have donuts!" Blackjack said excitedly in my head. Long story with my dad and Pegasi, but basically they can talk with me in my head. "Sorry no. C'mon we need to go somewhere. I'll get you donuts later." I whispered out loud to him while opening the stall door. "Wait….who is that? Who's here someone special is here. Who boss, who?" he said stomping excitedly. "Hi… Blackjack, right?" Calista said walking up to him. I was surprised. She rubbed his mane while he licked her making her laugh. "You know him?How did you…?" I said curious. "Oh nature is kinda my thing remember? And no I don't know him but if he can sense me I can probably sense him, I guess my power gives off this scent that animals, normal non monster ones, can sense. I don't know how." Calista explained casually kissing Blackjack lightly. Then heading back to her spot. I lead Blackjack out of the stalls before I noticed. I heard the sound of hooves and turned around. Calista brought out a light brown Pegasus, till then it didn't occur to me I didn't think she had one. Blackjack stared at the horse transfixed. "This is Arrow. She's sweet." Calista said climbing on as I climbed on Blackjack. She pulled some carrots out and fed them to Arrow and Blackjack. The fireflies followed us as we trotted to the gates. Then Calista made a motion with her hand and they dispersed when we were a few feet away. "If that thing is out there we don't want it to see us fly beside me." Calista whispered. We were tense as we got closer to the gates, the Pegasi took flight and we made it out the gates without being killed. We flew silently higher checking behind us to make sure the creature wasn't after us. "So do you know how long it takes to get there?" Calista asked flying next to me. "Mope but you'll know when we get there. We've got a long ride." I said sighing. "Sorry for dragging you in. I mean you just met me and I've already dragged you into danger." I said sincerely. "Percy it's fine. I just met you but I know you well enough to care. If I care about someone I will do anything for them…..I mean I would do that for Annabeth or Grover too. I'm just glad they won't be dragged in." she said blushing a little but smiling at the end. "Anyway if it's so long how about we take turns keeping watch for the thing or a good place to give these guys a break. One person sleeps, I'll keep you in place with vines chill, and the other persons stays awake." Calista said. I felt to guilty and was to worried about my mom to sleep so I offered to take first watch. "Ok. You have to wake me up for my shift though, DO NOT try to pull an all-nighter I will punch you." She said with a fake edge in her voice making us both laugh. She turned around on her horse so her back was leaning against Arrow's neck and she could stretch out her legs. It looked like she was laying on a recliner except it was a horse instead with her pack on her lap. After a second a vine grew from the ground which she tore and tied around arrow and herself to keep her on.

Blackjack was a smart horse. He waited till Calista was asleep before asking. "So Boss….you like her don't you?" Blackjack said teasingly. "Umm…..we're just friends…." I said awkwardly. Why did everyone keep asking me that? Maybe I did, but technically we're just friends so….

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