Chapter 46: The Travels.
One Day After Drake's Departure.
Ashley POV
Big Brother Drake is gone…I remember that lunch as it just happened. Everyone seems bummed. I try to keep everyone happy, I'm also depressed. Drake used to help me train with a sword, sure he got into the training, but a harsh teacher really makes the lesson stick to your head.
Coliseum 2 days before
"No Ashley!" Drake yelled at me. I was swinging carelessly at the dummy. "You have to keep your stance so you can dodge at anytime. Imagine the dummy as a monster or your opponent, swinging like that will get you no where!" I flinched. Drake was standing a few yards away, his half gold half blue eyes focused on me. "Try again." He said, frowning. Drake is nice, but I guess when he teaches someone new, you have to be strict about it. So, I followed his instructions. I bent my knees a bit, leaning on one before I side stepped slashed the dummy.
"Good. Keep at it, switch feet, roll if you have too. Remember, you don't know what your opponent has." He said, smiling proudly.
This went on for a few hours that day, even after supper he had me training, using daggers and swords.
"Your weapon might get disarmed, it's best to keep a secondary on you." he said, so, when he unhandled my weapon, I took out my knife and started fighting back. Over those hours I gotten better, I became like an assassin, so he told me. Fast, small, and hard to hit. Perfect for my fighting style, he recommended two knifes, three just in case.
"You might get disarmed again, a third weapon is a bit much, but it works out in the end."
~Day Before, arena~
"You little-!" My opponent, said, I got behind him, aiming my two knives at his neck, we were breathing hard, but Drake called us off. I had disarmed his sword and got the 'kill' another win for me.
"Good job, that's your 10th win. Keep practicing so you can't get it wrong." Drake complemented, I saw the sad look at his eyes, he opened his mouth to say something, but was cut off by the lunch bell, he frowned as we made our way towards lunch.
~After Lunch, Camp Blood Hill~
"Are you really leaving, teacher?" I asked, Drake. He kneeled down to meet my eye level and patted my head.
"Just keep practicing… Never know, you might have to fight me one day…and not for practice. Ask Chiron to get some monsters to train on. I'm leaving you with the lesson…Got it?" He asked. I nodded, tears streamed down, I didn't even know, but Iwrapped my arms around his neck, and held him there. He hugged me gently back, I cried into his shoulder as we let go.
"Take care of yourself, Ash." He said, before walking off.
~Present Day~
I stood on Half-Blood Hill, looking over the road where the buses and cars of demigods parents were usually parked. There weren't any today due to the fact it was June. I missed Drake. Its only been a day since his leaving. Everyone was slightly better, but George, Ajax, Lizzie, Veronica and I are still a bit depressed. I frowned a bit. Soon, Ajax came to me
"Miss him?" He asked as I nodded. I turned towards him. He opened his arms as I went into them. He rubbed her back as I sniffed softly. Ajax and Lizzie were probably going through this tougher then anyone else. Drake more or less 'adopted' Ajax as his son, as Lizzie grown to be the mother of Ajax. I cried softly as he stroked my hair and back, not saying a word which I was thankful for.
Veronica's POV
That stupid messenger boy. He left. Without saying a word. I just couldn't accept it. He didn't know he was leaving, my Athena part said. But he knew about it since he woke up in the Big house. We even made new plans with Annabeth in CTF.
~2 Days Earlier; Athena Cabin~
"No, knowing Perce he'd attack head first." Annabeth argued. Drake, Annabeth and I were the 'captains' on the up coming CTF game, having it be Team Poseidon against Team Athena. We got Drake to be on our side, unfortatally, Poseidon got to Apollo.
"No. Percy has Apollo. He'd have Archers here, here and here." Drake pointed on the map of the area. Each cabin had a map of the woods, which was the CTF grounds. It wasn't unfair due to having every cabin having one. "Let alone Archers near their flags." Annabeth pondered for a moment.
"Why don't we try this?" I asked. I grabbed a pencil. "Drake and some of his siblings can lead a decoy front assault, while some of us can sneak around both sides, if the Decoy assault somehow makes it through the archers, we can have the flag on all sides. I recently found out Drake's been teaching his siblings some archery. It might come in handy. Having archers here." Circled an area. "Here" Another. "and here." I circled on last one.
"That's not a bad plan, Veronica." He complimented. Annabeth grinned.
"Athena always-" I started.
"Has a plan." Annabeth finished as we high-five one another as Drake shook his head.
"Lets make a defensive plan now…" Drake said, drawing the pencil marks in red for offensive.
~Next Day; Docks~
"Drake!" I yelled as he laughed. It was our canoe time as he so happened to 'accidentally' splash me with his paddle.
"Sorry there, Veronica." He chuckled a bit. "You missed a spot."
"Ha-ha." I glared at him, sticking my paddle under his canoe as I pushed down, making his flip. "You have a little something, Drake." I giggled a bit as Drake surfaced, spitting water out in a stream as he rolled his eyes.
"Yeah yeah." He said as he chuckled. With team work, we flipped his canoe upright as we got to shore, he said had to go teach Ashley before lunch as we parted ways.
~Present Day~
It's been 25 hours, 31 minutes and 9 seconds since his departure of camp. I was sitting on a rock we usually shared to discuss some plans for battle and what not. He was smart like that, but he guessed he was a commander for Kronos, he had to make the plans.
I sighed as Lizzie joined me. Lizzie and Drake came here a lot if not on Artemis Tree. She smiled at me sadly as I noticed tear streaks down her cheeks. She must've been crying. I guess I would be too if my boy friend suddenly left.
Drake POV
Alone. Traveling. Déjà vu all over again. Except this time, I ain't so alone.
I traveled the woods of Illinois, going to small towns for bathroom breaks and 'buying' some snacks. I stole peoples wallets for money, but not the credit cards. I'm not that bad. I was walking down a forest trail, looking down at a flyer I grabbed from a gas station. It was Mount Saint Helens. I didn't know why I picked it up, but it sure sounded like a good place if any.
I recently avoided mortals over all. Something about them that irritates me. Maybe because of their stupidity? I don't know. I recently started looking for monsters. Being alone with no one to talk to is boring, a monster is even acceptable to talk to. But I have to move forward. Away from the civilization.
Away from cause of my curse.
