New Set of Scars
"Are you going to join us or...what?" Thalia asked as we walk through the small camp.
"Hm? Um..no, i was told to come here because...well, i was told to." I responded looking back at her. Suddenly, a little girl came up to us and handed me back my shield. Actually, i helped her because she was struggling to carry it towards us, and i felt bad for leaving it outside, so i helped and said thanks. She nodded and ran back to her tent.
I held it up for Thalia to see, funny how it weighed like a feather to me but a ton to others, i thought to myself as i let her carry it and watch her huff the weight on her arm.
"Jeez, how heavy is this thing?!" She said struggling under the weight. I quickly took it off of her sore arm and held it.
"Feather-weight," i said examining it, "I noticed how the trident loses it's glow when someone else handles it. Maybe that has something to do with it?" I said tapping on the glowing piece of stone. Thalia only shrugged and continued her little tour. This place was protected by wolves and ravens, in which i found out when Thalia fed one of each. She then showed me to a grey tent farthest from Artemis'.
"And here...is where you'll be staying in for two nights," she said lifting the tent flap, "if you need me, my tent is there," she said pointing at the one five tents down. After she left, i put my bag down and had a look around.
There wasn't much, of course, since i was the only one in there, and that the only thing i brung with me was my bag. It was simple. A sleeping bag, a lantern, a shelf, and some toiletries. Pretty much it. That is, if you count the grey hoodie and jeans folded neatly on the sleeping bag.
"That won't be necessary," I jumped as Artemis gave a little smile from the entrance, "hand that over, please." I gave her the outfit and snapped her fingers, making them disappear. "A shame, really, that you cannot join. You seem to have a heart of a Hunter," she complimented before hesitating, "but if you like, you could drop everything and join us."
"It would have been an honour," i said looking down at my pen-sword, wondering if i should drop out of this and join them. Don't be stupid, Luna. You'll never meet your family ever again, i thought to myself, what about Joseph? What will he think? Finally, i came to a conclusion, "I'd love to join but, i must do this quest." I looked back up to her, "and i need to train."
She nodded in agreement, indicating that she knew what i meant. I needed her to train me her ways of fighting in order for me to survive. "What will be the tasks?"
"There'll be none, child," she said nicely, "you only came here to know how to shoot a bow, and close fighting with those swords but...you seem to have no problem wielding them, so we'll skip that one," she said before before taking out her own daggers, "for now, rest. You will need strength for tomorrow." She was right. As soon as she said it, my whole body became tired, so i decided to clean up once she left and prepared to got to bed.
It felt weird laying down on a comfy sleeping bag thousands of miles away from home. I couldn't sleep no matter how tired i am, i get anxious about the quest, and i can't just go out an go for a walk because the whole freakin' place is surrounded by wolves and ravens!
But then again, i would do anything just to go to sleep without the wild thoughts my brain comes up with every now and then. Like brain? Please shut up? My brain won over. Sighing, i got up to put on my boots and my jacket to go for that little walk.
• • •
I seem to enjoy the night more than the day. Sure, wild animals or monsters that want to bite my face off may be lurking around, but that's just how my brain works. If i want something, it tells me to go get it, no matter how dangerous it is. And taking a walk in a place surrounded by vicious wolves and immortal man-killer girls is a perfect example.
You're such a sucker for pain, i thought to myself as i head over to the outskirts of the camp. Like i said, i enjoy the peaceful night more. The moon was high above the night sky, casting a dim light over the darkness of the Siberian mountains. Nothing but the sound of crickets were heard, until, that is, i heard a twig snap. I quickly looked behind me.
"You can come out! Just taking a walk, that's all!" I said taking out my pen just in case. A familiar figure came out of their hiding spot and walked out. Of course, i thought.
"Care to explain why you are taking a walk in the middle of the night?" Thalia asked, joining me.
"I couldn't sleep," i shrugged, "besides, i find it the best time to do so. I'm not used to the surroundings yet either so..."
"Uh-huh..." she replied, "and do you even realize how dangerous it is to be out at this time of night?"
"Yeah, i'm well aware of it," i replied, "that's why i brought Hùracan with me."
"You brought who?" she asked looking around. I laughed as i clicked my pen.
"Hùracan, my sword. I finally figured a name for it," the pen transformed into the celestial bronze sword, giving off the faint gold glow as i raise it up, "i was thinking of a name for it when i was laying down. I mean, if i'm a daughter of Poseidon, doesn't it mean that i can also have some power over the water, right?"
"You should have," Thalia replied, "Percy had some as well." We stopped.
"Percy? Jackson, right?" I asked turning the bezel of my watch.
"Uh...yeah, why do you ask?" She said looking over to see what i'm doing.
"Alice, find me Percy Jackson," i talked to the watch. There was a little ping as a hologram lit up and showed me a GPS location, "show camera view." The hologram zoomed in and accessed a camera view of, what i believed to be, Jackson residence from a street light.
"Amazing..." Thalia awed, looking over and touching the screen. It zoomed in further to the point that we were just outside the place. The camera switched to an indoor camera view of the house, completely invading their property. There, watching TV on a sofa with an old woman, was Percy.
"Will they be able to hear us?" Thalia whispered. I shrugged. I never tried it. Invading someone's privacy was more than enough, but letting them know that—
"Hey, Kelphead!" She shouted. Percy jumped and looked around frantically as the old woman try to calm him down. I gave her a look of annoyance as she smiled wide.
"Percy, what is it?! What was that?!" She said holding him.
"Up here, Perseus!" Thalia said again waving her arms. The old couple looked up as i ducked from camera view to hide from humiliation.
"Tha-Thalia?" Percy said squinting his eyes to the camera's direction. He put on his glasses as they approach the screen. I came back to camera view slowly and waved sheepishly at them. They waved back as Thalia grinned and looked at me.
"Well, what do ya know, they do hear us!" She exclaimed.
"Yeah, we can hear you clearly," Percy said in a husky voice, "try not to shout next time, i haven't got used to these hearing devices yet," he rubbed one of his ears as the old lady chuckled and he kissed him on the cheek.
"Thalia, where are you? Why is it dark?" She asked, "and who's the girl that is with you?" She pointed her finger on me as she addresses Thalia.
"She is a friend, Annabeth, she's on a quest. And the Hunt is here to train her for a couple days. She won't be long," she replied as the Annabeth studied me, "as for where we are...we are in Siberia."
"Uh...nice to meet you, Mrs. Jackson," i greeted, "i'm guessing you know my grandfather, right?" I asked.
"And what is your name, child?" She asked as Percy sat back down on the sofa.
"I am Luna, Mrs. Jackson, Luna Valdez." One of her eyebrows raised as i look back at her.
"Did i hear that right? Valdez?" I nodded, "well then, nice to finally meet you, Luna. I assume you received the present your grandfather requested?" Present? What present? The aviator jacket? That was from her?! I thought for a second.
"The aviator jacket, Mrs. Jackson?" I asked politely. She simply nodded her head, indicating that i should show it. I took it off and held it for her to see.
"That's the one. Do you like it?" She asked clapping her hands, "i made it myself, you know."
"Of course i do! I am very grateful for the gift, Mrs. Jackson, thank you!" I smiled as she walks back to sofa, the camera zooming on the old couple.
"Hey Percy, did you know that Luna here is a child of Poseidon as well?" Thalia piped up, "and she has a sword similar to yours!" Percy raised an eyebrow as he waited. I took off my watch and it floated to our eye level. I took out my pen and clicked it, extending it to the sword as they watched.
"It does look like my sword," he said pulling his out. Unlike mine, he had to uncap it, and it had a bronze pommel instead of an aquamarine pommel. He showed it to us, but i pressed my sword's pommel, splitting the sword into two of the original. Annabeth looked at Percy, Percy looked back at Annabeth, then the swords. He capped his sword back as i did the same.
"Have you tried getting four of them?" Percy asked as Annabeth face-palmed herself. He chuckled as Thalia wondered if the weapons, in fact, can split into four.
"No, unfortunately. Already tried that," i said smiling.
"So, another child of ol' Poseidon, huh?" I nodded at his statement, "well, i can't say anything else but don't die. Lots of horrible things would want to kill you if you're not careful, ya know."
"Thanks, i guess," i said rubbing my head, "well, it was nice to finally meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Jackson."
"The pleasure is ours, dear," Annabeth said.
"Oh, and uh, one more thing," Percy said standing up, "i wouldn't mind being called 'big bro'," he winked before waving good-bye as the camera flickered and disconnected.
• • •
"What was that all about?" Thalia asked as we walk a little further ahead. We stopped at a rocky cliff to check out the view.
"I don't know, to be honest with ya," i said sitting down. Wait, Leo and the rest haven't known that i made it! I better send a message back to camp, i said to myself. Thalia sat down as well as i turn my watch's bezel to the vlog feature. I straightened my back as i put it on the ground and recorded.
"Hey, grandad, Calypso, just here to inform you guys that i, uh...made it. Yes, i made it, believe it or not. I'm not dead, yay!" I said to the camera, "as proof, i have the forest in a valley behind me, along with one of the Hunters of Artemis here to say hello," luckily for me, Thalia got in camera view and waved & smiled. "No, i did not join them, if you're wondering. I'm just here to train for a couple of days and i'll be back before you know it. Say hello to Chiron for me!" I waved my hand and the camera disconnected, picking it back up.
"We better get back, Lady Artemis will want you fully rested for your training tomorrow," Thalia said getting up. Knowing me, i didn't listen. I just kept walking deeper into the forest, with her following and urging me to go back. I soon got annoyed of her nagging.
"Tell you what, i'll make sure you-"
"You could go back you know," i said, "i just wanted to go for a walk alone." I stopped to turn and look at her, arms spread out.
"But i can't just leave you! What if you get attacked? I will be held responsible!" She protested.
"I can defend myself!" I said testily, "i know how to fight!" We were both stubborn, that's a fact. I know this won't end well, but i'm not going to let anyone ruin my needs and wants. Like seriously, it's just a walk.
"What will i say then?" She said getting a little irritated as well, "that you wanted to leave and not come back?"
"No...you tell Artemis that i only wanted to go for a walk, and that you were bothering me!" I said raising my voice. As much as i appreciated her caring about me, i don't know why none of us backed down.
"I'm not leaving you alone. So you either come back with me, or i'll report you to milady for deserting and disobeying my command!" She said, reaching her breaking point. Did she just threatened me? I think she just threatened me! Who does she think she is bossing me around?
"For the last time, i'm not going back until i'm done my walk!" This is ridiculous! I just wanted to go for a walk! "How is that so hard for you to understand?"
"It's hard to understand because you're acting like a little kid! You're not taking how serious the situation we are in right now!" She shouted, pointing to the forest.
"I can handle them! Like i said, i know how to fight! I gave you the choice to go back, but you're making this harder for both of us!" I argued.
"AHHHH!" she took out her bow and shot at me. I was quick enough to dodge it as she nock and shot again, hiding behind a tree as i look for the shield feature. I didn't have time, because the tree blew up, and i was launched forward into a muddy slide.
Where the heck did that come from?! I thought as i was barreling down. I hear Thalia shout something but i couldn't make out what it was. I didn't have my armour on, unfortunately for me, so i felt everything that came into contact with my skin. I tried straightening myself before i land whatever is at the bottom, but failed when my head hit a rock. I fell unconscious of course.
• • •
I woke up at the bank of a river. It was dawn and my head felt light as i saw some of my own blood on the ground. What a ride, let's not do that again, i thought as i try to get up. My body was aching from all the falling, and a new collection of scars is on the way thanks to the cuts i received on the way down.
I then took a look around me for Thalia, in case she wants to sneak up on me and shoot at me some more. It would've gone better if she just left me alone, i thought to myself as i examine my wounds, wouldn't that be something? I sighed in relief as i wash myself. Wait, what if i do have power over the waters? Curious, i got in the water and dipped my whole self in.
It. Felt. Awesome. It felt like my whole body was getting a massage, feeling the wounds close up as i dive deeper into the river. Another thing i noticed. A bubble formed around my head when i dipped my whole body. It abled me to breathe and see my surroundings clearly underwater.
That's so cool, i chuckled as i swam. Except, it felt weird, noticing how the temperature was just right. I looked at my watch, as i scroll to the temperature of the area i'm in. 46°F, it read. That's obviously cold as hell, but i'm guessing if you're a child of the sea god, it didn't matter. The water will adjust for you.
I felt the day go by as i stayed underwater. In which i spent most of my time testing out possible abilities i could have. Such as that i can shoot myself straight up like a torpedo, which was confirmed when i felt an urge of excitement and i got blasted, i don't know, 15 feet into the air?
I landed back in the water, thankfully, as i let out a sigh of relief. Another is wether or not i can walk on water. In which, the second i thought about it, i was launched again, except i landed on the surface this time. That was pretty freaking amazing. Wait 'till i get back to Camp Half Blood for is, i thought excitedly being shot straight up again and landing head first into the water.
When i got out of the water, i found myself surrounded by a familiar set of people.
"I hope you had your fun, Luna," Artemis said as her Hunters pointed their bows, once again, at me. "Time for your training," she smiled as all of them nocked an arrow, all pointing at me.
