Percy Jackson a Hunters tale c10

Cara woke with the sun like she usually did and exited her tent find both Annabeth and Percy asleep on the beds she folded up her tent and sat on the floor and waited. They woke up an hour and a half later where they got ready for the day they left with their back packs grabbing breakfast from the diner from last night where Percy introduced her to waffles, he did note that she had chosen a strawberry milkshake again. They had made a plan last night where they had made a search grid that will be the most likely place for this relic to be. So they began their search, walking through the early morning air as the city became alive. Cara remained alert as she walked behind Annabeth and Percy as they seemed in their own little world talking to each other as they walked, she did know that both of them were on alert and saw how Percy kept brushing his hand against his pocket where he kept his pen. She scanned the surroundings once again, she couldn't sense any monsters close enough to be a problem but she could not shake the feeling that they were being watched. They continued walking through the streets heading to an old antic shop when Cara felt it. She moved up closer to Annabeth intending to warn them but she didn't need it. She was already alert and Percy's hand was in his pocket. Cara however grabbed a hold of her shoulder and pulled her back as she felt something brush against her back.

'What was that?' Annabeth signed to Cara but she was shaking her head looking around.

'Not good.' Cara signed back

"Where did it go?" Percy asked

'Not interested in us.' Cara said as it had ran past them heading down the street.

"The shop." Annabeth said and ran after it with Percy and Cara behind her. They weaved in and out of people some of them shouted at them but they were ignored. Percy was tackled to the ground making Annabeth and Cara stop as he rolled rather close to the road. Cara jumped after him grabbing hold of the monster that tackled him turning it to ash as she pulled out her hunting knife as she pulled him back up.

"Thanks." Percy said but Cara did not respond instead she shoved him in the direction that Annabeth was waiting for them.

"Are you okay?" Annabeth asked as they kept moving towards the antic store.

"Yeah, it caught me by surprise. Won't happen again." He said as he scanned the area. They made it to the antic store without any more trouble from any monsters but they were all still on edge as they entered the store. Annabeth was walking in front as she scanned everything on the shelves but nothing was screaming out at her that it was the relic they were after.

"Can I help you kids find something?" An old lady asked moving out from the counter looking over the three of them.

"Just looking around." Annabeth replied giving her a small smile as the lady started moving closer to them. Cara placed her hand on Annabeth's shoulder pulling her back as she assessed the lady, stopping Percy from moving closer to her.

"Now young lady I do not like hoods up in my shop." She added looking directly at Cara who was pulling Annabeth back. The old lady continued moving closer to them and Cara shoved Annabeth to the side into the shelf as a ringing was echoed throughout the store. Annabeth turned to see Cara face to face with the old lady but they had daggers locked in a hold. As Cara went to push the lady back she reached up and yanked her hood down. "I told you I don't like hoods on in my store." She croaked but something was different about her as Cara ended up punching her in the face forcing her back.

"Cara." Percy exclaimed it was not nice to punch old ladies, but his exclamation died when he saw the old lady's appearance seemed to change. Before it could finish though Cara stabbed it turning the monster to ash. Placing her dagger away before turning to look at them.

'Monster.' Cara signed at him before apologizing to Annabeth for shoving her before pulling her hood back up.

"Split up look around see if it is here." Percy said so they split up taking an isle each, but it seemed there was no order to everything in the store. It was messy and unorganized it was going to take time for them to look through everything so they began their search. The doorbell rang meaning someone had entered the store making Percy and Annabeth go tense as they each held onto a weapon looking up at a tall blonde man, he was well muscled in a purple tshirt wearing a leather jacket they had been in the store for an hour and a half.

"Hey Martha…oh hello." The man said eyeing the two teenagers in a fighting stance.

"Hello." Annabeth said standing straighter looking over the man with caution.

"Martha?" he called out looking them over. "Have you seen Martha?"

"Martha?" Percy asked

"The little old lady who owns this store kid." The man stated but he now seemed to be on alert around them. Cara came out from the back holding a greek puzzle box in her hands and froze when she saw the man. She looked to Annabeth and lowered the box so that it was by her side and out of his sight. But his gaze snapped to her with accuracy before scanning the room once again. "Listen here kids, you do not want to be robbing this place." He said watching them carefully.

'Who is this?' Cara signed to Annabeth.

'Someone looking for Martha.' Annabeth replied

'Who is Martha?'

'The lady who owns the store.' Annabeth stated and watched as Cara grew tense she went to take a step towards him but Annabeth stepped in front of her with her back to the man she signed. 'mortal.' To Cara before claiming the box, it looked identical to the one that Hermes gave her.

"Right well, I think Martha was out back with you right?" Percy asked looking at Cara which Annabeth signed to her. Cara nodded her head looking over the man before looking to Annabeth and Percy.

'We should go, I am sure Martha will be happy to see you.' Cara signed before starting for the exit noting that the man tensed as they walked past him heading for the door as he ended up sprinting for the back. Annabeth, Percy and Cara ran out the door and down the street not looking back. They made it three blocks before they slowed down. Percy led them to a diner seeming it was lunch time and it would give them time to look over what Cara had found. Percy ordered food and drink once the server was gone he turned to Cara and Annabeth. Annabeth pulled out the box and placed it on the table the three of them looked at it closely.

"You know how to open it?" Percy asked Annabeth as she fiddled with it.

"I couldn't open the one that Hermes gave us, I don't want to ruin whatever is in it. This box looks older and the greek letters are almost indistinguishable. But I do know that we need to find one more… it is definitely part of a set." She stated looking at the boxes closely as she now had them together.

"Alright any idea on where we should start looking?" Percy asked

"No…what is this?" Annabeth asked as Cara had pulled out a piece of paper handing it to them.

'From Martha's book, figured it will come in handy seeming this was the page with greek writing on it. I scanned through the others, mainly numbers.' Cara signed

"We need that book." Annabeth said

"We can't go back, that guy probably called the police."

'Why do we need the book?' Cara signed to her

"Encase it holds something important those numbers could have been important." Annabeth said looking at her.

'Do not need the book, I saw it.' Cara signed

"Yes but you might not understand…what do you mean?" Annabeth asked

'Pen and paper, I will write it down.'

"You remember?"

'I have a good memory.' Cara shrugged taking the box off the table as their food arrived.

"After this we will go to a shop to get a diary so you can write it down." Annabeth stated so Cara nodded as she began to eat.

AN: So who do you think the blonde man was? Until next time thanks for reading.