Hey there, it's been over a week since I've updated but I have been writing other stories in that time. In fact, I started another multi-chapter fic - an unfortunately exciting new dimension. Taking place after last olympian, Percy essentially gets pulled into a dimension other than canon. Where his alternate self is a villain. It's a few chapters few so far, consider checking it out? I'm hoping it will eventually be an improvement over this story, so I'd love a few reviews for advise or just to hear it's not going to terribly?
Anyway, here's this chapter!
"Do you have any letters of recommendation?" Reyna was asking Percy whilst the entire camp watched.
"Letters? No." He seemed a little nervous, unsurprising given such a large crowd and questions he wasn't sure how best to answer.
"Well then, will any legionaires stand for Percy?" Reyna projected her voice to the crowd.
I glanced around and was unsurprised to find that no one looked interested though Frank looked in two minds about the idea. Unfortunately he wasn't even allowed to do it because of all these rules though he'd undoubtedly do it perfectly; he was a good legionnaire.
"I will stand for Percy Jackson as I know he'll make the camp proud," I announced seriously. It wouldn't get others to like him but he'd endure.
As expected murmurs broke out in the crowd but for once I completely ignored them. "…Very well. Percy you are now on probatio," Reyna said, looking slightly troubled.
Percy was oblivious to the mutterings going on around him and looked grateful just to stand with me in the crowd. A minute later the camp was dismissed for dinner, and soon forgot about me and Percy. They were discussing war games that would take place in a few hours.
Before I could leave however, Reyna called the pair of us back. "Percy, Zoe could you come with me? I'll provide food," she said, in a voice that indicated no refusal.
"Alright sure," Naturally Percy didn't see anything out of ordinary as it was his first day but this was an odd request. Could she be angry about me standing for Percy?
"May I ask what is wrong?" I asked though I still followed her.
She didn't reply but quickened her pace down the road that lead to her private quarters. We followed and Percy seemed to have realised something was amiss judging by the worried expression on his face.
"Reyna," he muttered, deep in thought. I glanced at him inquiringly but he shook his head with a pointed glance at the girl in question. Something interesting on his mind?
We were soon standing in front of her as she sat at her desk. She gazed at both of us with concern though it quickly morphed into a stern expression.
"Zoe, it would be improper for you to stand for anyone whilst your godly parent is not known. You completely fail to fit in at this camp so I don't know how you can expect to take the role of guide." Reyna spoke coolly to me, but with authority.
Harsh, very harsh. "You're concern is gratifying but rest assured that I am willing to take responsibility," I replied coldly. The underlying message was that she didn't trust me.
She sighed. "Are you truly asking me to get political so you will learn your place?" She asked rhetorically, apparently determined enough to break the arrangement I'd barely made with Percy.
"Do you have a problem with Zoe too?" Percy inquired, looking unhappy with the idea.
"She is clearly a foreign spy here to destabilise the camp!" Reyna roared angrily, concealed fury suddenly let loose. I hadn't realised she'd felt that way. But then she was a good actor, as evident by her face immediately becoming placid again; emotionless.
"I am not a spy and have no intention of harming the camp," I said, speaking directly to Percy. I had nothing else to say to Reyna.
Reyna's voice became icy, cold controlled anger now. "You're some sort of trained hunter and your first act was to remove Jason, since then you've converted Octavian to your side, I've noticed your secret meetings! Since then you've won everyone over with your fighting skills and even what you call a quest, if you're not here to destroy us then it's to take over!"
I blinked. How had I not noticed this?
We stared at each other, stony gazes. The accusation hung in the air and I was hesitant to say anything else while I was in such a precarious position. But I couldn't leave until I'd at least denied it; there wasn't any way to change Reyna's mind at this point.
"How do you know she's a hunter?" Percy queried, breaking the silence, he was looking at me in confusion and I realised that may have sparked some memory. His tone was so uncertain though that it indicated that he was sceptical of the idea however.
"Archer, hunting bird, survival instincts, good outdoors, works well with animals, a fighter," Reyna listed. I raised an eyebrow, how closely had she been watching me?
This meeting was going as badly as could be expected. "You're ridiculous, and I don't care for your politics any more than Octavian's! I will prove to you that I'm trustworthy – just wait and see," I declared. Then I walked away, before she could reply.
The war games were regularly a good opportunity to prove myself as capable. It was nowhere near enough to convince Reyna of anything but I was in the mood for a victory nonetheless. Of course, it was a game of teamwork and my cohort hadn't been inspired to win in forever. We'd won the occasional game when I had the chance to make a difference but the win ratio was dreadfully low for my high tastes.
Still, both Frank and Percy were strangely optimistic so I joined them and together we came up with a plan. Predictably the fifth cohort left me to my own devices, knowing I was not much use in a formation but solid when following my own strategy. Gwen smiled at me from where she stood, looking eager. We got on well when it came to war games.
"Percy, do you think you can stop those cannons?" Frank was saying. I was impressed with his plan and thought it had a reasonable chance of success with how it incorporated the element of surprise.
The fight started and the three of us ran forward; it was my job to get us to the wall, from their Frank and Percy would pretty much take over. Fortunately stealth was one of my strong points and darted ahead of them, unseen from the wall in my dark green clothing.
Most of the legionnaires wore red and gold armour but I never bothered. As a huntress, blending in with my surroundings was far more useful than armour and the trees provided all the protection I could desire. Both Frank and Percy were clearly visible but I watched the walls like a hawk, and picked off defenders who looked in their direction with carefully aimed arrows from where I was. The downside to this was that they would be aware if where I was but I just kept on the move.
It probably wouldn't be enough on its own seeing as how there was too many defenders for me to target and I wasn't really providing them the proper defence by hiding. So my bird, Fudge, provided extra distraction by flying by the walls and a few specially made foam arrows provided a better distraction. Shot from my bow, they created a thick wall of foam, which flew into the defenders. Didn't really hurt but it did upset them and distract them from the two legionnaires right in front of them.
All this lead to Percy approaching close enough for him to make all the water cannons simultaneously explode. A few interesting grapple-arrows provided us a way up into the chaos and from there the three of us charged. It just made the chaos into absolute pandemonium.
We worked together, all of us slashing away at the confused opponents. They had been expected this battle to be a smooth victory and it was anything but. Percy was particularly demonic with Riptide in his hands and it was a dreadful surprise for those trying to knock him out. Distantly, the rest of the cohort was cheering as they charged the gate. I smiled, rarely had a victory gone so well; I resolved to keep a greater watch on Frank; he was a potential tactical genius. I'd seen shades of it before but this was proof.
We'd just taken the enemies' flags with little resistance and the whole of the fifth cohort was cheering, (they were so accepting of me when it came to victories). Then everything went wrong. It was Gwen: lying on the ground in a pool of her own blood.
That's it. I think next chapter they'll prepare to actually get going on the quest! Hopefully anyway. Thanks for reading and I'd appreciate it if you left a review.
Also should I spend more time on this or my new fic, an unfortunately exciting new dimension? I won't abandon this or anything (hopefully) but I'd love to know what you think! Only other thing of note is that I rewrote an impossible relationship so it sounds much better, I think. Thanks for reading again!