As always I do not own Percy Jackson series and Chloe is my OC.
"Ah, there he is." Chiron said as Percy walked into the Big House. "We were about to send someone to get you. Take a seat."
"Have I missed much?" Percy asked, taking a seat next to Will, across from Chiron.
Will shook his head. "No. I was just telling Chiron that I don't think we need a third person for this quest."
"You sure?" Percy asked. "Quest are traditionally done in groups of three."
"Yeah I am sure," Will said, fidgeting with his figures. "The prophecy clearly stated that it's meant to be just you and I."
Percy nodded, swallowing his disappointment. He had been hoping to bring either Annabeth or Grover with them. Annabeth's brains would be able to help them figure out any clues and how to get out of bad situations. However, Grover's nose is able to smell monsters before an attack, which is a priceless thing to have on a quest. He did miss spending time with his best friend as well. For a moment he felt back for not even considering Thalia; she couldn't stand not being in charge.
"It's your quest. Your choice." Percy said instead of arguing.
"Do you know where you are going?" Chiron asked, his hands folded neatly in front of him on the table. "A quest with no destination is doomed to fail."
"The prophecy said to travel westward and described a Mist covered mountain. Last night I did some research and think we are to go to Mount Tamalpais outside of San Francisco." Will explained, pulling a book from his lap, opening it to a booked marked page. "According to this that is the current location of Mount Othrys, where Atlas holds up the sky."
"The prophecy did say something about finding those being crushed by the sky," Percy added, impressed by Will's research. On his two previous quest they never did any extensive research, brainstormed a bit but never actually looking up possible clues. Maybe that was because Annabeth had it all in her brain anyways.
Chiron nodded. "I would agree that Mount Othrys is your destination. However, I warn you it is a dangerous place and not easy to reach. The Mist is very thick around that mountain. It is also well guarded as it was once the Titians stronghold."
"Well by the time we get there we should have meet with those rescuing Lady Artemis. We should have enough of us to break through the defenses." Will said.
Chiron frowned but nodded. "Very well. When do you leave?"
Will looked at Percy. "In an hour?"
Percy nodded. "I will be ready."
"Then it's best you both go pack." Chiron said. "You will have open access to the camp's store for any resources you may need."
* * Line break * *
"Do you have extra arrows?" Lee asked. "I'm going to get you more!" He disappeared into their cabin's storage room below the main part of the cabin.
"Don't forget your medical books," Michael said dropping no less than eight books next to Will's backpack before going to the bookshelf. "You probably need a few history books. Oh! You need this book of monsters!" Michael threw it on the bed as well.
Will rolled his eyes slipping only three books into his bag; one traditional medical, one full of healing chants/hymns and the book of monsters. His brothers have been like this since they came back from breakfast and saw him packing. Will mostly ignored them and packed light. He had packed two shirts, a pair of jeans, the two books, a medical kit, toothbrush, and of course his bow with spare arrows.
Slinging the bag and his bow over his shoulders Will took a deep breath. This was it. His first real quest and he was going to rescue Chloe.
"Wait! Are you sure you are packed?" Michael asked wide-eyed seeing Will with his bag on his back. "Do you need me to double-check you got everything. As your older brother, I really should make sure you are packed properly. You got those protein bars, right?"
"Michael," Will said, pushing his brother's hands away. "I know how to pack for a quest. I got everything."
Lee frowned returning. "Here, have this." He said holding out his golden quiver. It was a gift from their father from Lee's 16th birthday. It was enchanted to replenish with arrows as it is used.
"Lee, father gave that to you," Will said, wide-eyed. "I can't use it."
"And I am lending it to you. Once you return you will give it back." Lee said placing the quiver in his brother's hands.
Will stared at the golden quiver with wide eyes. "Thank you, Lee."
"Anything for you Will." Lee said softly, hugging him.
"You better come back," Michael told him before hugging him as well.
"I will. I promise." Will vowed before leaving the cabin.
* * line break * *
"I thought we were friends!" Annabeth shouted. "We are a team! Or have you forgotten that?"
Percy angerly zipped up his backpack. Not caring to check if he got everything. Thalia and Annabeth have been furiously arguing with Percy since he started packing. Why are they doing this? Don't they understand it's not his quest?
"Do you not want to go on quest with us anymore?" Annabeth asked, her grey eyes full of anger and hurt. "We are your best friends."
"I told you. It's Will's quest, not mine. He gets to chose who goes and he decided not to bring a third." Percy said tiredly, leaning against the counter of the Camp Store.
"Will has never been on a quest before. He doesn't know what he is doing!" Thaila argued. "Face it. You need those with experience. Neither you or Will have much in that department. You need us." She crossed her arms, holding her head high.
"Percy, I understand you want to find Chloe however I worried you are not thinking this through properly." Grover said twisting his shirt in his hands. "You are walking into strong hold for the Titian's army. This dangerous!"
"Every quest is dangerous!" Percy snapped. "Us being live is dangerous! Maybe I am thinking clearly or maybe I'm not. But can any of you honestly you want to save Chloe or do you feel so entitled that you must be the only ones to go on quests?"
Annabeth and Thalia stumbled back as if he had hit them. Grover belted; his eyes going wide. Percy felt bad for a moment. Only a moment though. Chloe was not friends with Annabeth or Thalia, everyone in camp knew that. Percy believed Grover was honestly concern for Chloe but they weren't close. Grover was Percy's best friend so Chloe made efforts to be Grover's friend too. But this wasn't his quest and he knew Grover knew that. They all did.
Percy looked down at his watch. "I got to go meet Will. I will see you guys when I get back." Wordlessly he slung his backpack on his shoulders and pushed back his stunned friends. Were they even his friends after that? The Son of Poseidon pushed those feelings away to the back of his mind. He had a quest to focus on. He will worry if he has any friends left after Chloe, and Artemis, is saved from Kronos's grasp.
* * Line Break * *
"Bus or train?" Will asked looking at a map of bus routes from New York to San Francisco. They were currently at Grand Central Station eating lunch and planning how to go out west. It took all of Percy's self-control not to go into Sweet of America. His mom hasn't worked there in over a year but just the smell of it will always remind him of her. A knot in his chest formed as he remembered tell her about Chloe's kidnapping. He didn't need to tell her about the quest: she already knew Percy will do anything to get his sister back—official quest or not.
"Bus is going to take three days and several stops."
"What about train?" Percy asked, frowning at the thought of another bus ride. He remembers all too well the bus ride from his first quest that ended when the three Kindly Ones attacked. Percy became a wanted criminal for supposedly blowing up the bus and fighting three old ladies. Even though he wasn't found guilty Percy was sure he is still on a no-bus-ride list somewhere.
"Also, about three days." Will said after a moment of searching.
"I say we take the train."
"The bus is cheaper though." Will said frowning.
"I already tried the whole take a bus across the country and it ended with me becoming a Nation wide wanted criminal." Percy explained, wrapping his hand around Riptide. "I don't want to repeated that."
Will nodded in shock. "Then we need to go to Pennsylvania Station."
"That's just around the block." Percy said. "We better hurry if we want to make the train."
Wordlessly the pair raced through the busy streets towards Peen Station. Just as with everything in New York Penn Station was bustling with tourist and locals all hurrying form one place to another. Percy and Will went to the nearest ticket booth.
"We need two tickets to San Francisco." Will told women behind the counter.
The women stared at the two teens before typing on the computer. "There is no direct train to San Francisco. However, there is a train to Chicago. There you will transfer to anther train to Emeryville, CA and then take a bus into San Francisco."
"That is fine. We need two tickets."
The women side eyed the blond teen. "That will be 523 dollars."
Will's shoulders dropped. They only had $200. The Son of Apollo looked at Percy in panic.
"Is there anything cheaper?" Percy asked hopefully.
The lady shook her head. "That is the cheapest. Look kids if you can't afford it you need to step out of line."
Percy gapped Will's arm and pulled him over to a set of benches.
"What are we going to do?" Will asked.
"I can try to call some Pegasi," Percy suggested.
"I thought you can't fly."
Percy shrugged. Flying with Pegasi didn't seem to upset Zeus but there was always the risk of Zeus being a bad mode (not that hard) and shooting Percy out of the sky. "It's a gamble I am willing to take."
"Well lets brainstorm for a moment, then if we can't figure out a different way to get to California, we will try that." Will said.
The two sat in silence after that. Percy ended up people watching while Will couldn't sit still and went to go speak to someone else about ticket prices, bus or train at this point. The Son of Poseidon watched as a family with three little kids hurried past them. The mother was trying to keep a hold of the kids while her husband complained about New York traffic. Suddenly a flutter of small white paper caught his eye. Bending down he picked up the paper. His eyes widen when he saw it was two train tickets for Washington, DC. He looked up to hand them over to the family but they were lost in the crowd.
Train tickets.
"Will!" Percy shouted, running off to find the Son of Apollo.
"What?" Will asked, when Percy pulled him out of the ticket line and way from ear shots. The other people in line just stepped forward to take their place, not pay attention to the two teens.
"I just found us a way out of the city. It's not going west but south but it's our way out." Percy explained excitedly.
"What are you talking about?" Will's eyes narrowed in confusion.
"These!" Percy said waving the tickets in Will's face. The blond snatched them from the Son of Poseidon's hands and read what was written on them.
"How did you get these?" He asked, his eyes wide. "Did you steal them?"
Percy shook his head. "No, I found them. On the floor."
Will stared at him for a moment to see if he was lying but the Son of Poseidon was happily bouncing on his feet. "This doesn't solve our problem to go out west."
"No but it's our way out of the city. We can figure step two when we get to DC."
Will handed Percy one of the tickets. "Then let's go catch that train."
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