Hey guys! Well sorry for the wait but I finally got this chapter up and don't worry this one is longer (or at least I think it is...) then the last chapter and theres more going in this chapter as well!
ESMT: As much as Tatsuya would love to keep Nico and Percy away from the came for years that's not going to happen lol, and yep the water manipulation was due to an angry immortal half-sibling! Tatsuya is going to have his hands full keeping a constant watch on Percy.
Shinigami: Oh thats fine don't worry about it! I was just afraid it was a different person since you weren't logged in and sometimes people have similar screen names, and yep...Nico isn't going to be in a forgiving mood for a long while after what the others pulled on him. You're right about Poseidon going to throw a fit, he's going to be especially unhappy when he finds about how involved Triton is with this organization and eventually Percy and Nico WILL be at the camp.
Not much for response for reviewers but other then that I hope you enjoy this chapter of Forlorn Ocean!
In a private estate somewhere in Upper Eastside New York, a meeting was taking place in the grand hall of a mansion, as figures lined up on the sides while the leader sat at a chair in the front.
"Aquarius report, have you made any progress with our little hunt?" the leader asked as he swirled a glass of champagne in his hand while the other leaned against his head.
Aquarius stepped out from her place in line and bowed to the leader.
"There has been some progress master, we are getting closer to figuring out his patterns so we may trap him. We already know where he resides but the house is put under protection so we are unable to enter." Aquarius replied keeping her head low.
"I see, what else do you have to report?"
"I have made an ally of one of the immortals here and he is willing to help us, all he asks is to have one child for himself to deal with." Aquarius replied.
"An immortal here? What did you have to bribe him with to get him to agree? Another one of your lies?" Sneered a deep male voice from the line.
"Do not speak out of line Scorpio!" the leader barked angrily making the man cow at the leader's angry tone, "Aquarius has done well in her given tasks and having an ally that is immortal is beneficial. But please explain how did you get him to agree."
Aquarius turned and smirked at the scowling Scorpio who just glared angrily back at her while she continued reporting.
"It seems our prey has taken an interest in a child with…different powers, but similar to his own in a way. Not as strong but its definitely there." Aquarius replied.
"Hmm I see, do you have any idea how a child could have gotten such abilities?" the leader asked.
"I do not know sir but our ally says that the child is his 'disgusting half-brother' quoted from him my lord." Aquarius reported.
"Wait, how is it possible for an immortal to have a half-brother?" a confused voice asked from the line, "wouldn't that mean that his immortal father must've mated with a normal human?"
"That would be the case." Aquarius replied, "I do not know if he is the only one but all that he asks for is his half-brother."
"I see…good work Aquarius keep up the excellent work." The leader said as Aquarius bowed to him once more before taking her place in the line.
There was knocking on the door and the leader signaled for the doors to be opened, allowing the figure who had knocked to enter. It was an older looking teen with dark green hair that swept along his back that was tied into a ponytail as he wore a white regal outfit lined with green, with an emerald colored sash tied around his waist and a fang in one ear. He walked up close to the leader and got one knee bowing.
"I apologize for interrupting sir but I don't have good news." The teen said apologizing.
"Stand up Serpens, what is the news you bring me?" the leader asked.
"It seems that two of our prisoners escaped." He said, "the guards were knocked out and they have long fled the mansion."
"Which two prisoners were they?" The leader asked.
"Canis Major and Canis Minor." Serpens replied.
"Minor isn't a problem since he was just a bratty kid, but Major he knows things." A sophisticated voice said from an older looking man with long brown hair with white tips with a thin headband with two feathers around his head wearing red robes with white on them and a brown sash around his waist.
"Aquila makes a good point, Canis Major knows enough about what our goal is and who knows what he can do with this information." Serpens stated, "I'll send out a search party to capture and bring him in."
"Hmmm I'll allow it but do not take too many of our forces with you, he'll have to come out some time." The leader replied, "take Aquila with you he can be an asset."
"Yes Sir." Aquila and Serpens replied bowing before they left the grand hall.
"Is there any other business matter?" the leader asked.
"No sir." Was the unison reply of the room.
"Then dismissed, I'll be in my quarters do not disturb me." The leader replied as he stood up and walked off.
Once the leader have disappeared most of the others left for their own devices as some of them came up to Aquarius.
"So who exactly is this immortal you chose to help us?" a woman with snowy white hair flipping her hair over her shoulder as she placed her hands on her hips looking at Aquarius.
"He's an immortal son of the Roman sea god." Aquarius replied, "he's not that bad looking really. What are you worried about Cygnus?"
"I'm worried that you may be getting too close to this guy." Lyra replied folding her arms,
"I've known him only for a few days…and he's just a pawn for our master's grand scheme, once he has his little brat of a brother then we're done with him." Aquarius retorted rolling her eyes, "just because you've had bad luck with guys doesn't mean I'm going to be falling for him. Now if you'll excuse me I have to get back to my post."
With that she disappeared in a flurry of bubbles leaving Cygnus and Lyra to look at each other.
"Do you really think she'll actually fall for this pawn we're using?" Cygnus asked.
"I just have a feeling, come on we have our own duties." Lyra replied as Cygnus followed her.
oOo
Back with the group from Camp half-blood they made sure to get as far away from the beach as they could before they finally caught their breathe.
"Well now what oh glorious leader?" Clarisse growled looking at the child of Hermes.
"Iris message…we Iris message Chiron and tell him what we found. Its better to have some news then no news." Luke replied as he wiped his forehead.
"Great just tell the whole freaking camp we lost the brat." Clarisse scowled as they walked off to find a place to Iris message without catching others attention.
It didn't take long before they got to a park and found a good place where there wasn't a lot of people. The group split up to find a source to message Chiron and it was Thalia that found a water hose that was used to tend to the flowers in the park. Clarisse and Charles were put on guard duty in case a work came by while Thalia and Luke talked to Chiron.
"Chiron of Camp half-blood!" Luke said as he tossed a drachma into the rainbow.
The rainbow blurred before Chiron's face appeared.
"Luke is everything okay?" Chiron asked, "you look exhausted."
"Something things came up Chiron…" Luke grimaced and went on to explain what had happened from their encounter with Nico at the pier to finding Percy on the beach, the battle that ensued then finally the mysterious figure that saved Nico and Percy.
"This is troublesome not to mention with this new figure its going to be difficult getting Percy safely to camp." The centaur said.
"Do you have any idea on who this guy could be? He seemed to know us." Thalia asked moving Luke aside to talk to Chiron himself, "because he also had similar powers to Lord Poseidon."
"Are you completely sure Thalia?" Chiron asked as his eyes widened when he heard that part.
"Trust us it was very obvious that he had control of water." Luke replied giving Chiron a strained smile, "not to mention Clarisse knows first hand when she tried to force Percy away from the guy."
"I see, I want you and your group to stay right there." Chiron said finally surprising the two.
"Why Chiron?" Thalia asked.
"Because I'm coming over with Grover and the van to pick you up and bring you the gods. With what you just told me it'll be understandable to let you go up there with me since this concerns Percy." Chiron replied, "not to mention this will help them figure out who or what exactly this man is."
"Why are you bringing Grover though? He wasn't with us." Thalia pointed out.
"It is because awhile back Grover had the scent of a particular monster that may help the gods." Chiron replied, "if that's all I'll see you campers in a bit."
Thalia and Luke just nodded mutely surprised at the sudden trip as the Iris message ended and they walked back to Clarisse and Charles.
"Well? What'd he say?" Clarisse asked.
"We are to stay here so he can come picks us up." Luke replied.
"Exactly why does he want us to stay here instead of returning to camp?" Clarisse asked frowning.
"Because with what we had just found about this man we are going to be taken to see the council of the gods to report it." Thalia replied swallowing hard as Clarisse and Charlie's eyes widen.
"I don't know wether to be happy to see my father or scared at what's going to happen when they find out that we let Percy go and couldn't bring Nico back to camp either." Thalia said worriedly.
The others were sharing similar thoughts as seeing their godly parent and looked at each other nervously hoping that time would just speed up so that they could get this meeting over with. It doesn't take long for the van to come get them and they all pile inside, wave weakly to Grover and Chiron before the door slammed shut and they drove off to the Empire state building.
They head inside and head straight for the elevator where Chiron directs them to the 600th floor of the building where Mount Olympus is. The teens continue to exchange nervous looks trying to figure out how they're going to be doing this when Lukes asks Chiron a question.
"Do the gods know that we're coming?" he asked.
"Yes I informed them through Iris messaging earlier that we are arriving with information that is important." Chiron replied.
After that there was an uneasy silence as they waited for the elevator to stop and when it did they followed clearly behind Chiron as he wheeled into the main room where all the conversation stops when the gods see some of their children walking into the room.
Thalia is especially nervous when she stands not only in front of her father but Hera as well, and she knew that the wife of Zeus had a very clear dislike for her but doesn't dare back down when the goddess glares at her and she stares defiantly back.
"Excuse me, but I am following up on my message about the campers having information for you." The centaur said, "it concerns what you probably have been discussion for a while now."
"And what praytell could the brats of found that we couldn't?" Ares asked narrowing his eyes at the group as he folded his arms.
"It concerns the two missing big three kids and another matter." Chiron replied.
That had their attention when Chiron mentioned Nico and Percy as they all turn to glaze down at the fidgeting half-bloods huddled together.
"Why don't we do them a favor and become a more manageable size? It can't be good for their necks to have to crane up all the time to talk to them." The god of the sun suggested.
"Fine it would probably be easier to understand them as well if we were closer to them." Zeus added and a glow each surrounded a different god and before the camper's eyes the gods shrunk to the average height of normal adult.
The seats also shrunk with them so that they could sit down as discuss what the campers had found more easily.
"Thalia, please explain what had happened." Zeus asked as Thalia stepped forward with Luke getting an amused look from Hermes.
"Well it all started when Luke and I ran into Nico at the pier of all places." Thalia started.
"The pier? Exactly what would Nico be there of all places?" Hades questioned frowning.
Thalia folded her arms irritated.
"He had a surfboard and looked like he was going to have some fun, if that explains everything." Thalia retorted.
The irritating was clear on Hades's face as he was gripping the armrest of his chair tightly while Apollo was trying not to laugh as he tried to imagine the usually dark kid in swimming trunks and a surfboard.
"Seriously! He was wearing surf trunks and had a board with him!" he asked.
"Its true unfortunately," Clarisse grumbles, "not to mention it was me and Charles that ran into Percy."
Instantly when Poseidon heard Percy's name he sat up straight and started to barrage the campers with questions concerning Percy.
"Is he alright? Does he look healthy? Happy?"
The half-bloods could only stare at the somewhat hysterical god and just nod at all his questions.
"So is he at the camp then?" Poseidon asks a smile on his face at the thought of seeing his son after so long but then he sees the nervous looks exchanged the campers, "what's wrong?"
All the other gods noticed the sudden silence about Percy and probably Nico being at the came and they all frown concerned on what exactly happened at the beach.
"Is there a reason why he and Nico aren't at the camp by now? You said you found them didn't you Luke?" Hermes asked his son.
"We did but its all thanks to that man that we weren't able to bring them back!" Clarisse raged as she started ranting, " some smart ass man that had control of the water threw us aside like it was nothing and broke a water cage surrounding the brat when he was unconscious."
"Why was he unconscious?" Poseidon cut in.
"He exhausted himself Lord Poseidon, its seems your son has been training in controlling water and he wasn't use to fighting that long and fell over tired." Charles explained trying to calm down the god of the sea.
"Okay so continue." Poseidon sighed as he rubbed his head, the water trap sounding familiar to his ears for some reason.
"He came up to the cage and with one single punch got rid of the trap that we were unable to open freeing him. Then when we tried to get the kid." Clarisse started again but Thalia coughed.
"You mean when you out rightly threatened him," she coughed out getting a dark glare from the daughter of Ares.
"you want to explain it then princess?" Clarisse hissed.
"Fine I will! Clarisse went and threatened him saying that we're going to be taking Percy with or without his permission and he manipulated the water until tendrils was wrapped around her body and started to squeeze her tightly." Thalia finished for Clarisse.
Poseidon and the others stare at both Clarisse who was hissing like an angry cat to Thalia who was growling back at the angry girl. They look at Charles and Luke for confirmation and they nod.
"This is the reason I thought it would be a good idea to have the children up here to explain to you face to face rather then having me play messenger." Chiron said.
Athena leans forward as she narrows her eyes throughtfully, "can you describe the man that took Percy away from you?"
Charles goes on and describes Tatsyua perfectly for her making the other gods look at each other before one of them speaks.
"So what exactly is the satyr here for since he has yet to speak?" the goddess of harvest asked.
Chiron pushed the shivering satyr forward as his knees were hitting each other showing just how nervous he was.
"Satyr explain yourself to why you are here since it was obvious you didn't go on the mission with these campers." Zeus demanded.
"I…I…I….a while ago…wh-when me, Nico, the Stoll brothers and Annabeth were bringing a..a…new ha-half blood to ca-camp he dis-dis-disappeared for awhile." Grover replied stuttering.
"Whatcha mean he 'disappeared'?" Ares asked
"I-it was part of…N-N-Nico's plan to g-give us so-some time to es-es-escape while he took…took care of the monster tha-that was chasing us." Grover replied still shaking, "w-we don't' know what happened w-with him but th-then when he-he came back he had a d-d-d-distinct smell on h-h-him tha-tha…that that was a dragon!"
"Are you completely sure about this satyr?" Artemis asked frowning, "its very serious if you smelled a dragon on a half-blood."
"P-p-p-positive La-Lady Artemis, I m-ma-may not have s-s-seen it but I k-k-know the smell of a d-d-d-dragon d-due to know m-m-monster scents." Grover replied and looked like he was about to faint from his shaking nerves.
Luke and Thalia calmed him down a bit by putting their hands on his shoulders and he gave the two an uneasy smile still nervous about the whole meeting.
"So lets state the facts we know about this guy, he represents water, from japan, obviously has the scent of dragon, and is taking care of two half-bloods" Aphrodite stated.
"Not just a scent its more likely he is a dragon…think about it Nico has had interaction with this man right? " Athena said looking at the kids who nodded, "he said that the half-bloods were thousands of years too young to be taking him on that implies he's probably as old as we are."
"What are you saying Athena?" Hephaestus asked.
"What I'm saying is that we are definitely dealing with another god here, a dragon god more then likely with similar powers to Poseidon here." Athena replied.
Zeus turned his attention to the half-bloods still in front of him.
"So what did this man, god…guy say about Peresus?" Zeus asked him.
"He said that he wouldn't let Percy or Nico go to the camp until he sees that they're trained enough and that the next time they threaten Nico and Percy he'll send them back to the camp unconscious."
"Just who does this guy think he is?" Clarisse hissed out clenching her fists and just itching to stab the man with her electric spear.
"He's a another water god that is apparently keeping two half-bloods happy child," Demeter retorted back to Clarisse.
"I should've shot him with an arrow when I first saw him….how do we know that this isn't a trick and he's just using those two for his own gain?" Artemis grumbled disapprovingly.
"That wouldn't have done anything and its too late for that now." Zeus replied.
"So what are we going to do? We aren't just gunna leave the kid with him? We're going to take him on?" Ares asked almost eagerly but was silenced by a withering glare that had the usual loud god of war quiet.
"It would be completely unwise and foolish on our part to do that. It would disrupt the world too much if two sets of gods were to start a war with each other, we cannot attack Tatsuya for no reason." Athena explained also glaring at her brother.
"No good reason! We have a good reason! The reason being getting my son back!" Poseidon roared angrily.
"Silence you stupid kelp for brains!" Athena hissed.
"Oooo another banter between Athena and Poseidon." Apollo said whispering to Hermes.
"I really don't think this is the time to be enjoying them arguing Apollo." Hermes whispered back.
"That would apply only if young Percy was in anyway unhappy or afraid of Tatsuya, but from what the campers have told us he is rather content where he is and it would be bad for them to just try and take him." Athena retorted.
Poseidon didn't have anything else to say but he just looked furious at not being able to get Percy despite being so close to him.
"Is that all you have to report?" Zeus questioned looking at the campers and Chiron nods, "good now return to camp but mention what we discussed to no one. We must talk about what has been discovered now."
Chiron gently urges the half-bloods to bow before they leave the presence of the gods as they can feel the tense atmosphere that is hanging around the room with the newest piece of information they had delivered. As the campers were leaving all the gods were talking on trying to figure out what to do save for Poseidon, the god of the sea had his head in his hands thinking about Percy, Tatsuya and wondering why he knows that cage sounds familiar like its at the tip of his tongue…
oOo Back at Camp Half-Blood oOo
Zacharias sighs as he sits on a hill over looking the camp, and can't help but chuckle a bit when he sees his Josh chasing after his 'little brothers' Noah and Eli, around the camp for dying his hair green.
"You little brats what have I told you about using me for your new concoctions!" Josh roared as he ran after them.
"Oh come on Josh! It's washable this time! Just dunk your head in the lake to get rid of it!" Noah laughed.
"That's not the point! The point is that I told you not to use me for your guinea pigs!" Josh angrily shouted back.
As much as Zach would love to go down there and join in the fun he wasn't feeling like his usual happy, excited self as he was deep in thought. So deep that he never noticed one of his more annoying half-siblings come up from behind him.
"Hmph, that horrid green hair actually suits that guy." Drew sneered from behind Zach, "actually makes him look marginal better."
"Drew if you don't stop right now and walk away the next time you open your drawers of designer clothes they will be dyed a bright orange while your hair will look like a rainbow." Zach threatened seriously without even truning around.
"You wouldn't dare!" She hissed at Zach.
"Try me you know I can be unpredictable." Zacharias replied hotly.
Thankfully before Drew could continue testing Zacharias's ire limit with her Silena comes up.
"Drew you should be in arts and crafts with the others." The cabin leader said.
"Fine I was leaving anyway!" Drew retorted as she spun on her heels and stormed down the hill to the arts and crafts area, leaving the two alone.
Silena sits down next to Zacharias and looked at him.
"What's wrong Zacky? You're usually so happy." Silena asked her half-brother.
Zacharias sighed and looked at his only favorite sibling in his cabin.
"Its going to be Joshy's sixteenth birthday soon and I want to get him something really special this year." Zacharias replied.
"Why are you thinking about this now? Usually you know exactly what to get him remember he did love that soccer ball you gave him." Silena pointed out but Zacharias shook his head.
"I really want it to mean something." He replied quietly.
Silena smiles at Zach and wraps her arms around him hugging her half-brother.
"I know you'll come up with something to give him, you always manage to do so." Silena replied grinning.
"Thanks Silena….you really are my favorite half-sister." Zach replies laughing a bit as they both stand up.
"Of course, I am!" she smiles before she looks down the hill, "oh Charles is back! I'm suppose to meet him at the entrance!"
"I'll come with you." Zach stated as he followed an eager Silenadown the hill, at a much slower pace then his half-sister right to the entrance of camp half-blood where Silena throws her arms around Charles happy to have him back.
The male Aphrodite child watches as Silena and Charles walks off together to talk and notices that Luke is looking a bit grim and walks up to him.
"Hey Luke did something happen while you were out?" Zach asks.
"Sorry I'm not suppose to say or discuss anything, but there were basically complications that we ran into for our mission." Luke replied sighing, "basically if we see him we aren't to approach him."
"That doesn't make any sense, aren't we suppose to bring him back here?" Zach asks confused but Luke just shakes his head.
"Its complicated and dangerous." He stated ending the conversation there, as he headed for his own cabin probably to rest up.
"I wonder what exactly happened?" Zach murmured to himself watching the group disperse.
oOo A Few Days Later oOo
"Dammit all to Hades, I only have two days left before Joshy's birthday and I still don't know what to get him…" Zach grumbled as he's trailing behind the group that's in the city today.
"Hey Zach why do you even bother when the guy barely responds to you?" one of his group members asked, a child of Athena.
Zach completely ignores him as he turns another direction, "I'll go searching on my own." He said and with that disappeared.
"Just leave him, he usually finds his way back to us one way or another." The leader replied shaking his head.
Zach walks a few blocks before he stopped in front of a post office and walked inside where he heads straight for the mailboxes. He pulls out his key from his pocket and opens up his box and smiles when he sees an envelope there, and opens it up as a debit card falls into his hand along with a note.
Zacharias,
I hope you are doing well at your camp, I'm sorry again that I couldn't allow you to stay with me but I hope your camp is treating you fine. I'm always happy to receive your letters and know what's going on. I put some extra bonus cash in the card for you since you keep telling me about this person you're interested, good luck son and hope to hear from you soon!
Love Your Father
PS: Send me a photo of them soon I want to see who exactly has caught my son's interest!
"Papa de remerciements (Thanks dad). " Zach said to himself as he closed his mailbox and carefully slipped the card into his wallet and decides to window shop to see if anything catches his interest for a gift.
While he's looking he glances at a reflection and blinks when he sees a very familiar face. Swerving around he stares when he sees Percy, Nico and Amelia walking down the street heading for the grocery store, but he mostly keeps his eyes on Nico. Instantly relief floods into him and breaks out into a huge grin as he shouts Nico's name trying to get his attention.
"Heeeeeyyyy! Nico! Over here!" Zacharaias shouts loudly making the trio stop and stare at the French boy across the street.
Making sure the light was okay for him to cross, he sprinted across and surprised the son of Hades but practically tackling/hugging him tightly, pinning the other boy's arms to the sides as Amelia and Percy just gawk at the two.
Zach pulls away but keeps his hands on Nico's shoulders as he starts talking rapidly.
"I was so worried! I'm so sorry that I was out on a mission that I wasn't able to stop Bianca! If I had been there I would've dyed her hair pink, covered her in blue spots and put her in a clown outfit!" Zach blabbed on.
Nico awkwardly pats Zacharia's back trying to get the overly-excited magician to calm down and breath with how fast he was talking.
"I'm fine Zach, I'm just staying with some friends." Nico replied indicating over to Amelia and Percy who clumsily wave back not quite sure what's going on with Zach and Nico.
Zacharias finally takes a good look at the other two that had been walking with Nico and blinks when he gets a good look at Percy.
"Is that really Percy?" Zach asks looking back at Nico once the goth boy had pulled away from him.
"Yes and you're not from the camp are you?" Percy asks suspiciously.
"Why yes I am." Zach replies but then is surprised when Percy takes a defensive stance.
"I am not going back! Tell the camp to stop sending people to look for me and drag me there! I told that group already! Nothing is going to change my mind!" Percy hissed but was taken back when Zach just laughed.
"Oh don't worry I'm not going to bring you back, I'm not one to force someone into something." Zach replied.
"What about trying to get your 'boyfriend' to talk to you more?" Nico teased as Zach's face went red.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Zach coughed while Nico snickered.
"So you really aren't going to drag me back to the camp?" Percy asked again wanting to be sure.
"I promise Percy." The French boy replied smiling back at the younger boy.
"So what're you doing out here anyway?" Nico asked curiously as he folded his arms behind his head.
At that Zach sighed, "I'm trying to find a birthday present." He replied.
"For Joshua?" Nico asks and Zach nods.
"I don't know what to get him! Its his sixteenth birthday and I know that's an important number!" Zach groaned but he felt his shirt being grabbed and he looked over to see Percy staring at him.
"D-did you say Joshua? Does he have messy brown hair and amber eyes, like soccer and I usually seen with a serious look on his face?" Percy asked.
"Yeah, you described him perfectly do you know Joshy?" Zach asked as a wide smile broke out on Percy's face.
"Yes! He was my surrogate older brother when I was in the orphanage with these twins, Noah and Elijah!" Percy replied.
Zach's mouth dropped as he listens to Percy explains how he grew up with Josh and the twins in the orphanage and how they were separated. Suddenly Zach is hit with an epiphany and turned towards Percy, Nico and Amelia.
" I just got a brilliant idea! Would it be alright if I could video tape Percy having fun and send Josh a message for a birthday present?" Zach asked grinning, "he could see how you are and be comforted by the fact that you're okay!"
Amelia clapped her hands happily.
"That's an excellent idea! You could record Percy at his school festival the day after tomorrow! He'll be performing in a play along with doing a duet on the violin as Nico plays on the piano!" Amelia said grinning.
"You play the piano?" Zach asked surprised turning to Nico.
"Yeah…I guess I was taught how to play it when I was younger thanks to my mom…I was surprised too but then again that hotel messed with my memories." Nico replied grimacing.
The group headed to the grocery store talking about all the ideas they could do for the video to really make it good for Josh and the twins since this was important. As they were getting food Percy remembered a question that had been bothering him.
"Hey Zach? Exactly what are you to Josh?" Percy asked as he put a carton of milk in the cart.
At that question Nico actually laughs.
"Zach is Joshua's self-proclaimed boyfriend." Nico replied.
"That's adorable!" Amelia giggled, "I'm sure when he sees the video he'll be really happy!"
"I really hope so Ms. Amelia, I just need to go pick up a video camera and then we can get started." Zach replied sheepishly, "I was so happy to see Nico okay that I forgot about window shopping."
"Its not like you know what to shop for though." Nico pointed out.
"Yeah good point." Zach replied as he stayed with the family.
"I can't wait to hear about Josh's reaction when he sees the tape." Nico chuckled.
"Oh tartarus… I just realized how am I going to leave camp to record Percy's play and duet? I can't exactly leave if I'm not part of a group." Zach said.
"I'll come by and pick you up," Nico replied easily.
"You sure? You might run into Bianca." Zach replied.
"Just meet me behind Poseidon's cabin and it'll be fine. No one hangs around there so its safe for me to appear and disappear there." Nico replied.
"Alright! Josh is going to have the best present ever!" Zach cheered.
Soon the group got the groceries and was carrying them out of the market and headed back to Percy's home. On the way Percy was trying to desperately talk Nico and Zach out of recording him singing in the first part of the Swan Princess play that he was in.
"Naahh that's a crucial part that's necessary. That way you can show Josh you can sing." Nico laughed as Percy pouted.
Suddenly Zach stops when he hears a low whimpering sound from some cardboard boxes in an alley. The others noticed that the magician had stopped as he puts down the groceries he was carrying and slowly makes his way into the alley.
"Zach what are you doing?" Nico asked frowning as Zach doesn't reply but just gets closer to the whimpering.
The French boy moves away some of the cardboard boxes and soon sees some dirty sheets which he throws off and then stares at what was making the sound. It was a dirty, mud-matted pure white husky puppy. Zach frowned when he can obviously seen its injured with how its paw is obviously broken. He sees the puppy opening its eyes and sees beautiful pure blue orbs staring frighten back at him.
"Its okay little guy…I'm not going to hurt you…" Zach says soothingly but the puppy musters up some strength and growls out but cowers quickly when he sees Zach's hand moving closer to him. The hand stops a few inches from the puppies face allowing the puppy to sniff it.
"Zach…the dog could be dangerous…its injured it could bite you…" Nico hissed as Percy watched curiously.
"He's too scared of me, look he stopped growling as soon as he saw my hand like I was going to hit him or something." Zach replied frowning but let out relieved smile when the puppy timidly licked Zach's hand and allowed the French boy to take off his coat he had been wearing wrapping it around the puppy picking him up.
Zach frowned when he felt how light the puppy was and walks back to the group and sees that the puppy is scared of the group as he curls up and shields away from them preferring to stay close to Zach.
Amelia picks up Zach's discard groceries as she looks concerned about the puppy as well.
"Come on let's drop the groceries at home and then we can take him to the vet to give the poor thing a check up." Amelia said quickly as they hastened their speed to get back to the house as soon as possible.
Once they get home they see Tatsuya coming out of the house with Celeste bouncing at his heels.
"Hey Amelia, how was grocery shopping?" Tatsuya asked but he didn't receive an answer as Amelia quickly dropped the groceries in his hands as the kids did the same taking Tatsuya by surprise as he fell backwards onto the ground. He just watched confused as his wife, adopted son, Nico and some strange teen with a bundle in his arms run off.
Celestes walks up to Tatsuya and licks his cheek.
"I wonder what that was all about." He muttered as he looked at the discarded grocery bags and hoped nothing was broken, picking the bags up and heading back inside.
oOo
The group managed to make it to a nearby Vets office, completely out of breath as they enter. While the teens collapsed into the chairs Amelia walked up to the counter.
"Excuse me, I'm sorry to bother you but we found this abandoned puppy and it looks like it could use a good cleaning and check-up." The woman asks.
"Of course! We're open to any pets, lets have a look at the patient please?" the woman asked and Zach stood up heading towards Amelia and the other woman. Immediately she frowns when she sees the condition of the puppy.
"Hmm this doesn't look too bad but we'll just have to be sure. Come into examination room B, we can give the poor thing a nice bath and check him." The vet said as she walked out from the counter and opened the door.
"Percy, you and Nico please wait for us here okay?" Amelia called as the two nodded and just rested from their sprint here.
Amelia and Zach walk inside where the woman starts a warm bath for the puppy and soon all the dirt, mud and grime were all off of the husky's fur.
"Hey he actually has a collar, I couldn't see it earlier because of the dirt and mud…" Zach said as he removed it so that the puppy could get washed around the neck. "Canis Minor? That's a strange name to call a puppy…"
"It must've been given to him by his old owners." Amelia said as she helped the vet dry the puppy off making Zach scowl a bit as he tossed the collar into a trashbin.
"He's not going to be called that anymore, since I doubt they're coming back for him." Zach huffed as the puppy was put onto the examination table so that they could bandage his paw and give him a check up, "he was completely frighten of me especially when I reached out to him, he flinched like I was going to attack him."
The vet did a standard check up on the husky puppy, weighing him, taking his vital signs, and checking it for any other injuries. About fifteen minutes later the vet was done as she put away her stethoscope.
"Well he is under weight but not by a lot, but he hasn't had a lot to eat from what I could tell." The vet sighed looking sadly at the puppy who was snuggled in Zach's arms, "I'd say he hasn't had a good meal for at least a week."
"That's it then you're not going back to them you're going to stay with me." Zach said determined making the puppy look at him curiously as they walked out of the room, "you're going to have a new name, home everything. First things first you're not Canis Minor anymore you're Saphir because of your eyes."
The puppy gives a weak bark but seems happy with his new situation.
"Well its obvious what we're going to do, I'll fill out the paperwork for you Zach." Amelia said smiling.
"Thank you Ms. Amelia." Zach said as he walked back to Percy and Nico who ran up to thim.
"So you're going to keep it?" Nico asked.
"Saphir, his name his Saphir." Zach stated.
"Right, Saphir, Zach I don't think the camp allows animals inside….well besides the pegasi and the satyrs." Nico mumbled.
"I'm not just going to leave Saphir alone." Zach replied.
"He can stay with us! Celeste could help him and she wouldn't be lonely when she's by herself!" Percy chirped.
"Its really okay with you?" Zach asked.
"Uh huh don't worry! You're friend of Nico and he trusts you so you must be good." Percy replied smiling.
"You're a good kid Percy." Zach chuckled as Amelia finished up the paperwork and the group left the vet's office when their new pet back to Percy' place.
When they walked inside the house they were greeted with Tatsuya giving them a look as he stood in front of the door as they walked in, expecting an explanation. Canis Minor or Saphir looks up from Zach's arm at Tatsuya and suddenly starts whimpering as he tries to hide himself from the man.
"Hello sir! Its nice to meet you I'm a good friend of Nico!" Zach introduced cheerfully as he patted Saphir's head trying to calm him down.
Tatsuya just raised an eyebrow at the teen and turned to the trio.
"Explanation…now." He stated.
"I'll explain sir, since this is all because of my involvement." Zach replied and explained from the moment he ran into Nico and Percy in the streets to their current situation. Once the explanation was done everyone was waiting on Tatsuya's decision. By this time Zach had put Saphir down as Celeste curiously sniffed the puppy before licking his head, trying to encourage him to play.
"If I allow you to record Percy's activities at the festival and give a message to this Josh person are you going to tell the camp where Percy lives?" Tatsuya asked.
"I promise sir the only people who will see the video are Joshua, Noah and Elijah since they're family to Percy." Zach replies.
"Are you two okay with this?" Tatsuya asked Percy and Nico.
"Zach is a trustworthy person," Nico vouched for the magician, "he's nothing like the group you ran into the beach Tatsuya."
"I don't mind if I can ease Joshua from worrying too much about me then I'll be happy to do so!" Percy added.
"He's sincere Tatsuya, Percy even asked him outright if he was going to be brought back to the camp but Zach stated that he wasn't going to force Percy to do so." Amelia stated, "they can even get started on the project now."
"Uh I still have to get the video camera first Amelia." Zach laughed sheepishly as he rubbed his neck as Saphir started to look more energized and batted at Celeste's tail.
"How long do you have before you have to get back to camp?" Nico asked.
"I have a good few hours," Zach replied glancing at the clock.
"Good, then I can help you look for a camera. I think I may have one around here though we'd just have to get something for it to record onto." Tatsuya said, "follow me to the garage Zach."
"You two do that, I'll get some snacks started while Percy and Nico talk about what they want recorded." Amelia said heading to the kitchen, "Come on Celeste you too Saphir we can get food for you too as well!"
Zach followed Tatsuya out to the garage and the older male started looking through several plastic bins with the magician for the camera.
"Thanks again for helping me with this sir and allowing me to hang out with Percy and Nico." Zach said as he looked through some stuff.
"I don't mind but I have a favor to ask of you." Tatsuya replied as he went through a plastic bin full of old electronics frowning a bit.
"Yes?" Zach asked curiously.
"I know about the camp and that they're looking for both Nico and percy." Tatsuya stated.
"Yes, that's true. Luke and his group came back a few days ago saying that they had found the two but there were complications." Zach replied.
Tatsuya couldn't help but smirk when he heard that, feeling rather satisfied that his threat had gone through to the campers.
"I found it." Tatsuya said taking out a digital camera and looking it over, "still in good condition, we'd just have to check it later and get something for it to record onto. Anyway I was going to ask that since Nico is staying here with us if you could give me any news or progress that the camp has regarding the two."
"Exactly what do you plan to do with this information? No offense sir but I don't' know you that well." Zach replied cautiously.
"I understand but I'm not going to attack the camp or anything I just want to make sure I'm at least three steps ahead of them to protect Nico and Percy." Tatsuya replied.
Zach nods at that as they head back inside the house.
"Yeah, I want to protect Nico but I failed in that because I was sent out in a mission and wasn't able to help him when his sister yelled at him, but for Nico and Percy's sake I'll help you." Zach replied.
Tatsuya grinned at Zach as he patted the magician's back as they went back inside.