Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians or the Heroes of Olympus Series.
Story: Perseus and the Monster Force
Chapter 7: Raven
Labyrinth – Daedalus's Workshop – Two Years Later
"Percy is twelve years old. Not in years within the Labyrinth, but years in the outside world. My workshop and immediate surroundings are not affected by the time distortion between the rest of the Labyrinth and the outside world. A perk of being the great maze's creator," Daedalus relayed.
Daedalus punched a few keys on his computer. The large monitor in the center of the super computer showed the inside of the main warehouse of the workshop. The beds and nests of Daedalus and Percy's family were organized around the huge space. Daedalus focused the camera on the tan horse with the black mane. Daedalus smiled as the horse walked around his table in a confident strut. A white Unicorn on the other side of the room watched him closely. Daedalus laughed at the sight.
"Arion has made a good addition, although his constant flirting with Leora gets on her nerves and others as well. Leora cares for Arion, but the immortal horse is rather high strung or some might say, well, he has a big libido," Daedalus explained awkwardly.
Daedalus rolled his eyes at Arion's antics before he shut off the camera feed into the warehouse.
Daedalus looked back the door on the far side of his workshop; it was Percy's room.
"Percy has been growing more powerful. I'm certain now that his father is Poseidon. However, I'm not sure about his mother. His tracking abilities and hunting skills would point to Artemis, but she's a maiden goddess," Daedalus said. Therefore, Daedalus was stumped, but the old inventor wondered if his mother could point to the reason why he was mortal even though he had the blood of a god.
Daedalus punched up the blood results for his son. The blood was definitely golden ichor, but there were some subtle differences. For one, Percy's blood had a much smaller energy signature than the blood of a god or an immortal for that matter. His blood also contained a very common protein marker; one that was found in the blood of mortals only.
Daedalus ran his hand through his salt and pepper hair. He sighed before looking at a final display that said,
A half-blood of the eldest gods
Shall reach sixteen against all odds
And see the world in endless sleep
The hero's soul, cursed blade shall reap
A single choice shall end his days
Olympus to preserve or raze
Daedalus studied the prophecy closely. He had a bad feeling that this prophecy could be about Percy, but how could that be? If he was a child of two gods, then how could he be a half-blood? If he's not a demigod, then how could he be a hero? However, the words that scared Daedalus the most were hero's soul, cursed blade shall reap and a single choice shall end his days. Daedalus couldn't lose his son. Percy was a mortal, so could he be a half-blood of some other type? The Fates had given him a second chance at being a father and a mentor. He wouldn't squander it.
"I won't let you die," he said to no one before he shut off the computer.
Alaska – three days later
Percy walked through the dense rainforest of southeast Alaska. He was on the Island of Prince of Wales; Molly, Arion, Leora and Phelan followed him. Overhead high above them flew Aldara and Peleus. The group had been given the name the Monster Force by the demigods of Camp Half Blood. Percy wasn't happy about it at first, but he had grown to understand the name. It wasn't given as a slight; in fact it was given to the group because of the way they fought monsters and protected camp when Thalia had lived there. Since Thalia left the attacks on the camp had slowed dramatically, but just in case the gods placed a protective barrier around the camp. It kept all monsters out, but it would let in any demigod or any being the camp deemed safe. Percy had never been in the camp. He had only seen it from afar.
Percy sniffed the air. The fresh scent of spruce and cedar trees filled the air. The sky was cloudy and a light rain fell to the ground. Percy smiled at the sensation of being in the wilderness. Alaska may be beyond the gods, but Percy felt at home here. This wild place with all its beauty and danger made the boy feel alive. He loved his father, but the Labyrinth was quite confining to such a free spirit as the boy.
Percy stopped walking. The others came to a stop behind him. Percy's body began to glow, until a giant wolf stood in his place.
Phelan was about to say something before Percy darted off into the forest. He ran at such a speed that only Arion could out run him, but in the forest, Percy was too maneuverable for the immortal horse to catch. Percy ran through the forest the feel of the air blowing through his fur and in his face was exhilarating. He couldn't stop. The feel of freedom was like a drug to the boy; he could never get enough.
Percy raced through the forest; he jumped over felled trees and around underbrush on the forest floor. No obstacle could impede his run. He could sense weak spots in the forest floor and jumped over them to keep from falling to his death. His speed and grace was unmatched by any wolf or monster for that matter. He came to a halt at the edge of the forest. He felt a strange presence; one that he never felt before. This entity was powerful, but foreign. The creature could be a god, but it wasn't like any god he had felt before. Percy stepped out of the woods and into the clearing. A small log cabin stood in the middle of the field. Percy eyed it warily, but for some reason his senses were vague and blurry.
The sound of a bird squawking broke Percy away from the daze he was in. A coal black Raven landed in front of the cabin. The bird had a wingspan of twenty feet. Percy had never heard of a Raven that large before. The bird stared into Percy's eyes. The bird's cold black eyes unnerved the son of Daedalus.
The bird opened his mouth and said, "Welcome to my home young one."
Percy just stared at the bird in awe. "You spoke," he said dumbly.
The Raven laughed strangely. "That is a strange question coming from the mouth of a wolf," the bird said in amusement.
"Who are you?" Percy asked.
"Maybe we should discuss that in our other forms," the Raven said. A black aura appeared around the bird. The bird disappeared into a black shadow and then a boy about fifteen years old stepped out. He was a Native American boy with jet black hair, but his eyes showed that he was more, his eyes were completely black.
Percy stared at the boy for a moment before he willed his body to change. A golden light appeared around the wolf until a twelve year old boy stood in the clearing.
The Native American boy smiled. "That is much better Perseus, or should I call you Percy?" the boy asked.
"Percy is fine," Percy replied. "Who are you?"
"You can call me Raven," the boy said.
"Okay Raven, what are you?" Percy asked warily.
Raven laughed at the worried expression on Percy's face. "No need to fear me Percy. I'm a friend to you and your family. I have watched your exploits here in the great land," Raven said.
Percy remembered his studies about Alaska. The name Alaska meant the great land. "Are you some kind of native god?"
Raven smiled. His white teeth shined in the sunlight. "You are indeed a smart child," Raven said. "Yes, I am a spirit of the northwest. The natives here call me Raven. I have two personas like your gods have. You see your Olympians have their Greek and Roman forms. We have coexisted for over a hundred years with your gods. They stay in the cities of the northwest, while we stay in the wild places such as the forest."
"You said two personas like the Romans and Greeks?"
Raven smiled at the question. "I have two forms," he said as he transformed from the boy into an old man dressed in native clothes and headdress. "In this form I am called Grandfather Raven." The old man transformed back into the boy. "In this form I am Raven the Trickster."
"Why did you call me here?"
"I wanted to meet you. I sense a connection between you and the wild places. They are a part of you. That is very special for someone from your pantheon. I wish to be your friend."
Percy looked at Raven warily. "Is this a trick?"
Raven smiled at the question. "I swear by the great spirit that I am sincere."
"I would be happy to be your friend, but there is something else you wanted to discuss?" He gave Raven a curious glare.
Raven grinned at the boy's incite. "Yes, there is a stirring here in the northwest, both in your land and here in Alaska. The enemy of Greece and Rome is rising."
"What enemy?" Percy asked worriedly.
Raven looked down at the ground. His black eyes shined in the light. "I don't know, but I believe your gods know or at least suspect something. Your father is wise, maybe he knows something," Raven suggested.
"My father has not mentioned any such danger to me."
Raven nodded. "He tried to protect you, but I can sense that you shall play an important role in the coming strife."
"What can I do to prepare?" Percy asked.
"Train your mind and body in the ways of battle, but never forget what makes you strong," Raven instructed.
"What is that?" Percy asked.
Raven stepped close to Percy and placed his hand on the boy's shoulder. Percy could feel the power of the god or spirit in front of him. "You are a free spirit; a wild force of nature. Never forget what makes you strong," Raven said as he let go of Percy's shoulder.
Percy heard the snap of a twig behind him. He turned and was met by Phelan and the rest of his family. Percy turned to look at Raven, but the spirit was gone and so was the log cabin that stood in the middle of the clearing. Percy eyed the spot curiously.
"Is something wrong Master Percy?" Phelan asked.
Percy turned to look at his protector. "Nothing, I just thought I saw something," Percy replied.
The fluttering of wings broke Percy away from his thoughts of Raven. He looked up to see Peleus and Aldara land in the field. They both smiled at their brother.
"Should we go home?" Phelan asked.
Percy looked at his family with a happy smile on his face. "Yes, I feel a little tired," Percy said. He walked back into the forest followed by his family. He was lost in thought as he made his way back to the entrance of the great maze.
Once Percy and his family had left the Raven landed on the ground. A moment later a bald eagle that was twice the size of the Raven landed.
"Are you sure it is wise to befriend the boy?" the Eagle asked.
"You worry too much my friend. Percy will be needed both in our domain and in that of the Olympians. He must know of both worlds, if he is to be prepared," Raven explained.
"A wise plan Raven, but I will be watching the boy and his family. If needed we shall fight to preserve our lands," Eagle said before he extended his wings and flew off into the grey Alaskan sky.
Raven looked up in the sky as Eagle faded into the horizon. "I'll do what I have to do as well, brother," Raven said before he flapped his wings and flew off into the afternoon sky.
AN: I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. This was my introduction to some Native American folklore of the northwest. This story will center on the Olympians and the spirits of the northwest with Percy in the middle. The war with Kronos and with Gaea will both take center stage in the story, but with a twist. Stay tuned more to come.
