Triton's POV:
The utter ignorance that was displayed tonight caused my head to spin. I should have set them straight right then and there. Tch, I'm surrounded by incompetence. I should have known that this would be the turn out. Ever since the first morning it's been nothing but arguments and headaches followed by impulse decisions. Those should have been enough to finish us off, yet here we still are arguing over something so trivial. And yet again I'm the center of it. "We need to keep moving." I tried keeping my demeanor calm, but these kids are wearing my patience thin.
"How do you expect us to do that when we can't trust you. Especially after the stunt you pulled." Zoe Nightshade. That little she devil thinking she has enough leverage to get one over me.
"No, the only reason you don't trust me is because I'm a male. Only a fool would believe it'd be anything else. You care not for the fight, only the fact that it was I who partook in it." I turned my back to her and continued to tread across the desert. Yeah, we're still on the same damn argument even after storming off the mountains on that blasted hog. At least it managed to not sully the silence. I swear I'm going to kill that beast the moment I get some time on my hands because it wasn't worth it.
"Do you even know where you're going?" Bianca snipped. How precious, the new girl is even achieving the same mannerisms as her leader. I wonder if all huntresses act this berating.
"West, numbskull. And water." I tried playing nice and look where that has gotten me. I don't care if they are Percy's friends, I've had enough. Plus I doubt he'd let them roam around so clumsily if he and I had switched positions. If only that was the case right now.
"Oh is the little god missing home?" Thalia tagged in.
"'Olympus's bane to show the trail'. And the Ohpiotaurus just so happens to be aquatic. Not much water in a desert, now is there? Or has your mind shriveled over the past few days due to lack of brain function?" I was never any good at insults.
"You don't have to be an ass about it." I am beginning to see why Percy was so adamant on leaving and having some time to himself. Also they seem awfully calm about the bomb I just dropped. Or they are not as dumb as I was led to believe. Hmph, doesn't matter anymore.
"How hypocritical of you." I mumbled continuing my pace. It was getting dark and we needed to cover as much ground as possible if we are to reach where we are headed. Leave it to a monster to drop us off in the middle of nowhere with no signs of life for miles upon miles around us. And leaving me to deal with whiny children. I heard some scuffling of feet and a pair that jogged up right next to me. I didn't bother looking down. They must have come to the realization that I can successfully navigate towards a source of water.
"Why'd you heal me if you don't care?" This little weasel is trying to force some empathy out of me. Annabeth, do give up.
"You're right," Her head snapped up so fast, I thought she may have got whiplash, "It would have been much faster if I hung you over my shoulder after knocking you out."
"So why did you-?"
"It wasn't for you." Like I mentioned before, I couldn't give a single damn about this squad's well-being.
...
Silence. Finally. Never before have I craved such ambience until now. Percy? How did you manage to stay sane with nosy children constantly seeking attention? Hm, I bet you'd probably say something along the lines that you were never really sane to begin with. Yes, I can see how that would be the case.
"How can someone in your grandness care so much about a demigod? It's not like you guys cared before." And just like that Thalia cut off the joyous ambiance of silence. How fun.
"I'll tell you what, if the eldest huntress can explain to me why she carries Percy's flute I might feel obliged to answer that ridiculous question." I made no move to turn around and acknowledge them. Why should I? Nothing is gonna change because of it.
Mumbling. Ha! As if they'll ever agree on anything.
"No? Then shut up and walk." Perhaps I was too quick to discern that conclusion.
"...I was ordered by Artemis herself to safely guide its return. I, myself, have no other obligation or motive for his wellbeing. Merely an order to fulfill." Yeah, too quick. Her intentions are way too obvious. It's going to get her killed someday. It surprises me that it hasn't happened yet. Perhaps her warrior prowess is what's been keeping her from falling into the deep end. Surprising. I wonder what lengths she'll go to please her mistress? As far as I? Or further? Hn, now that poses an interesting answer.
"And here I thought you were doing me a favor by volunteering to be a good person." I quipped.
"I do good. We save people and we don't draw lines between who they are. Mortal, demigod, spirit, it matters not." This child with her need to defend herself and her people astounds me! Every little details needs to be attended to.
"Doing good and being good are not one and the same thing." If you can't even realize that then doing that good will ultimately end up as selfish. A moral booster. A façade aimed to please the beholder. "It is al too easy to confuse doing a good deed and being a good person."
"Okay then! Moving on!" Grover nervously jumped in. Good, I was hoping to get some peace in before our next obstacle.
"What kind of person does that make you?" Zoe asked. The underlying tone was all too clear.
"I don't have any delusions of my personal standing. I don't know what kind of person that makes me and frankly I do not care. It's not my problem." That was something took me a long time to figure out. What I do and why I do it doesn't concern anyone else. For the most part at least.
"How is that not your problem? It's literally you and yourself! Who's problem would it be then?" Annabeth jumped in after a couple minutes of mulling my response over. Again, they can't seem to leave anything alone.
"I don't see myself fretting over it. Only you. Therefore, it is a you problem." I never planned on a teaching philosophy. I guess life still has plenty more to offer.
"Sooo?" Thalia hummed a few seconds after me.
"What?"
"You said you'd answer my ridiculous question if Zoe over here answered yours. So, come on, get on with it." Persistent little one.
"Right, that I did... I never had a brother that I could act so care free with. Nor someone who trusts me enough to confide with me personal information; nightmares, trauma, crush, even dealings in his past. Father is always far to busy and I don't want to bother my mother-"
"Wait. Crush?" Someone interrupted. A female, but I failed to notice who. It won't matter anyway.
"Yes, keep up. Anyway, Percy has also done something that no one has done. He befriended us minor deities with the intent of lending us his ear and granting us acknowledgement. He didn't turn out selfishly like plenty of the major gods, monsters, and mortal alike. He has caught our attention so we'll give it. It's that simple... Now if you'd be so kind, I'd like some peace and quiet. We all need it. Or we'll never stop talking and sooner or later say something that'll set someone off." If the way this quest was going by was anything to go by then by all means someone is bound to kill another if we don't keep our yaps shut.
"Uh actually, I have something to say. It goes with how you said Percy lent you his ears." Bianca spoke up. Strange, why her?
"What? Did he tell you something? Or did you tell him something?" Grover quickly asked.
"No. It happened on the boar. I don't know what exactly happened, but one second we're riding that steaming hump of awfulness and the next I'm stranded alone on a mountain top with a statue. At least, I thought I was alone at first. The statue moved with monsters in tow. Then, I heard Artemis's voice. It was similar to what Thalia described, but it felt more strained off it seemed. And a little soft. I don't know. I couldn't find Percy though. Again, much like Thalia did before. I heard her in my head, but it was muffled and jumbled up."
"Do you have any idea what she was saying?" Zoe perked up. If she was talking then that usually meant a good sign.
"I think she was telling him a story."
And just like that the silence I wanted, vanished. No matter who Percy manages to converse with, he always manages to return the favor and simply listen. It's not in my interest to know what she was saying. I'm not one to intrude on somebody else's story. So the only way for me to obtain any peace is to shut everything out and walk.
Walk through a mortal's view of a wasteland. In nature there is no "wasteland," so why ever do humans have such a concept? If they pried their eyes away from themselves, they'd see that the desert is full of life. The desert stood as Chaos's own example on how to do so much with so little, to adapt and overcome in a way that brings life. A way to overcome the harshness of reality and move forward to brave a new life.
I didn't stop. The path ahead was dark and suddenly alive with the squeaks and squeals of small birds chasing rodents rt insects attempting to gain a chance for tomorrow. I grinned. Ordinarily I would take the chance and waltz past without so much as a glance, but right now I need the distraction. Continuing to walk westerly, I focused on every shuffle in the brush. "Funny," I thought, I hadn't considered myself to be one to drain everything and dream on as if nothing is wrong in life. I opened my eyes a little wider, allowing the late night stairs to grace me. Percy always adored them and I have yet to figure out why. Of course they are magnificent, but that level adoration is not something one gets by simply staring.
With each stride my mind became more clear, more resolute, as if the growing physical distance achieved paved way to a higher degree of peace. As the nascent moonlight poured through the desert, though faintly dim, with whiny children, I continued to move forward. Ignoring any signal to my attention by the following party. They have their own discussion with theories while I just continue to move forward. Where the answer truly lie. Then, abruptly closing my eyes I took in a deep breath of fresh air, I steeled myself to only think of the truth because that is the only thing we'll get. Even if it'll hurt. Cause in the end it will be our only comfort. Not the what ifs.
I continued my pace for hours. Until the sun rose. My eyes welcome the sunrise, that iris of fire so pretty in its mascara of pure light. A welcome change. Another day gone by with little to show for it. As far as I can tell we're nearing the water source. Not too long now. I know they are still chatting because I am getting a constant nagging feeling from behind my skull. They've been talking for hours. How have they managed?
Annoying is in the eye of the beholder, for it says far more about the one being reactive instead of responding with calmness. That said, we all have limits, and when we react as a cornered beast feeling the attack, we need a time out, we need to relax. And these kids have just kept rising the bar towards my limit. Seriously how has Percy managed? All things considered he had a very short stay with them, as have I, shorter even. Yet, I never heard him complain about them. I swear Percy has the patience of a saint.
From here I can see the jagged scar left in the earth after millennia of work. We're close. Thank the heavens.
After another half hour of walking we stood on the edge of a magnificent work of art. These noble walls carved by a singular force of nature that I can help command. A testimony of my lineage's power. Sandstone flanks chipped away by tunneled wind forced into the gorge. A river like a thin silver ribbon flowing with an eerie calm. The very same river winding in a dusty bed fringed by green trees amongst red cliffs. A flash of arid grandeur in a sea of desert. Aged amber-gold rocks spotted with alcoves. To some a rugged rugged canyon while to others a somber gateway to paradise. This gorge filled with soft-tinted rock, barren rock, and even color blasted rock. With these waters a spring in these canyon walls crowded with green leaves, walls of clay and silt, with clinging bushes, and roots. The Colorado River striking with force miles from a very grand canyon park down river. Though we need to head upriver.
"Let's go." I said trying to keep the smile from appearing on my face.
"How? If you haven't noticed this rockface is sheer. Only a goat would be able to get down. No offense Grover." Thalia mentioned while throwing a rock over the edge.
"None taken." Grover replied with slightly parted lips. Probably because he needs water. It looks like they all do.
"Simple." I said grabbing all five of their shoulders, rounding them up like a school of fish, "Like this!" I shouted with glee and pushed them all over the edge with me using a high degree of strength. The shrill screams came from a place or terror, telling of a mind lost in absolute fear. Were it in any other situation this may have been an immediate cause for concern, empathy, perhaps the help of a counsellor; not for this though. This was a small chance for payback. "AHAHAHAAHHAHA!" I laughed as we plummeted hundreds and hundreds of feet. My laughter was my serenity, for in this moment I was most alive. Ah, it felt good.
The bottom neared and the little moment of liveliness drizzled into something else. I willed the water to crawl up the side and catch us in a gentle embrace. Another chorus of screams. That's right, the water isn't exactly warm. Whoops, my bad. The water cocooned around us and placed us lovingly along the shore.
"YES! That was magnificent! Never do you feel more alive then when you're rapidly approaching death! Yes! Very welcome! Hahah!" I enjoyed the adrenaline pumping, spreading my arms in victory. I may be immortal, but enjoying the moment is very key. Percy taught me that. He would have loved this.
"WHAT IN THE HADES IS THE MATTER WITH YOU!?" A number of colleagues shouted in protest.
"Nothing! heh!" I smiled brightly now that we're down here.
"You're insane!" Bianca shouted looking far more pale than she did. Which I didn't think could be possible.
From the corner of my eye I saw him. Our guide swimming upriver. We need something there, I just know it. "Don't be so brash. It wouldn't have worked if I was! NOW onward! We must hurry if we are to reach Percy before the deadline!" We didn't have time so, I gave us some. Traveling by water will be much quicker.
"How!?" Zoe questioned.
"Oh yee of little faith." I mock bowed. I snapped my fingers and before they knew it, a few water spirits came forth. Each illuminating the mood with a flashy smile. "Would you be so kind as to help us get upriver swiftly. Please." I asked. They nodded and swam off. Not even a minute past by they returned with a partially damaged wooden raft. This should do. I didn't even have to say anything as they hopped on. "Hold on." I warned as I stood carelessly near the front. For a split second they were confused then realization hit them. They grabbed the sides and held down tight until their knuckles turned white just as the raft lurched forward launching with some impressive speed. We were gonna get there in no time.
All the while I beamed with glee. Finally things turned in my favor.
Zoe's POV:
I'm going to kill him. I swear on all the good I've witnessed; I'm going to kill him. Slowly with agony. And just before his essences fades away, I'll bring him back. Just so that Artemis could turn him into a Jackal for us to hunt for all of eternity. A fitting sentence for someone as asinine as this male.
Yes, a punishment suitable for the lowlife happily standing on the edge of the raft as we speed up river. Oh, I pray to the gods for us to come upon something just to let me watch him break. Alas, that'll never happen. If it were to be he would not be needed on this quest. All of us must work together in order to save Artemis... and perhaps the boy that's been accompanying her all this time.
His strength is indeed commendable. Holding the Titan's curse for this long is an impressive. All things considered, I'm surprised he hasn't perished. Actually the curse wouldn't allow such an easy way out. No, Percy is sure to be stuck there until someone takes his place and by now... things aren't exactly looking well. If what Zeus's daughter and Bianca said were true.
Only a pure of heart mortal can withstand the sky, but with such a heavy curse the mortal body and mind are surely to shatter under such duress. He may live, yet saving him would most definitely put a target on his back yet again. Poor boy.
And then there is Artemis. Zeus's daughter mentioned that he said that he was going to free her. If he already did so, then why hasn't she made her move? Or escaped? Why does she insist on talking to Percy? Telling him stories? That is absurd. Perhaps Bianca's vision was a simple dream. Nothing more. Yet again, instinct is telling me otherwise.
My thoughts swirled over and over in my head. Almost anxiety inducing because there is far too much that I do not know and it is killing me. It would be far easier if we could skip all the way to end so things can go back to the way it was. My brain dawdles for the time being as we approach whatever the Fates have left unto us.
I shift my gaze down and the Naiads that are helping us. So carefree with no burden. Other than a human burden that muck up the waters. Suddenly a shadow overtook us and for a second my mind thought it was the cliffs edge. No that couldn't be. The facial expression of the Naiads shown disgust and aggravation.
"The Hoover Damn." Annabeth spoke in awe. "Woah! Did you guys know-" *BANG* A bullet flew by my head and stuck itself in the bed of out raft. The Naiads instantly vanished. My instincts kicked in forcing my gazed upward seeing a few figures high on the cliffs edge. I couldn't make out exactly who or what. I couldn't risk shooting without getting shot, so without a second to fret I dived into the water while the raft flipped over. The current caught me and dragged me to an air pocket Triton must have made directly underneath our cover.
"Ambush. We need a plan. I don't know how many or even what shot at us. Huntress, did you see anything?" Triton asked and I mentioned a few figures that were out of our reach. He cursed, "Damn it, we'll just have to improvise." Sure, that is one way to get us killed. We need a plan.
"Wait! I have a plan." Athena's daughter mentioned. As we listened intently more shots rang out. The wood started to splinter and the thuds of the bullets echoed in our safe bubble. Not a pretty sound when my life is being threatened. Annabeth's plan had some flaws, but those could be overlooked if we manage to get out from under here. I don't appreciate the odd stalking up against us.
We all nodded in agreement and I merely hoped that we can pull this off without a hitch. First up was Triton, I hate that we have to rely on this piece of filth, he willed the water to form an air bubble for Bianca and myself to get clear and find a perch to snipe the sniper. I myself am a very proficient swimmer though it seems the new addition is having some trouble. We'll have to work on that. Anyway, I swam about hundred feet up river and found a rock outcrop that should provide some effective covering. The shots continued to ring out, but not exactly how we hoped it would. Somehow they continued to track my movements which just proves Athena's daughter's hypothesis. The skeletons are back and still have my scent. Thank the gods that Bianca is further behind and thus out of danger.
I swam around the corner thus beginning my climb hearing the tell tale signs that the skeletal monsters were tracking my movements. Gods, those things are irritating. It's seems that they are hoping for a lucky shot through the rock.
And do they really have to use a weapon with so little class? Using a firearm is far beneath the huntresses. As if we'd actually need to use a low class weapon such as that in the first place. It would be demeaning. I guess that has no affect on monsters.
The rock falls away beneath my feet. I know there is a ledge, otherwise I'd be falling, but I can't see it at all. If I turn my head too far I could unbalance and the drop is further than I can see. Already the adrenaline from being a target has warn off leaving me with a sense to continue calmly. Sure my muscles are stronger and I'm more awake than I've ever been, but this isn't a situation where running hard for a long time is going to help. I need to give the other's more time. So to keep in them in the same spot I'll fire off an arrow or two every dozen feet or so so they don't move. They are closer than before and still have yet to move, I know it. I wouldn't have lived this long if my instincts were top of the line. It's so easy that I haven't even worked up a sweat. Out here there's no safety rope, no soft mats to land on. Though that's hardly an issue for one such as myself. However... Bianca. I look down and analyze her situation. She moved farther away from the corner and took far more time climbing. Good. She thought fives move ahead and kept in check her holds. She's doing well. All I have is the rock, the wind and a long way down.
I reach their level finding a clever ledge for Bianca and myself to camp out until part three of the plan commences. As I wait, I don't waste the chance and count between their shots. Waiting for the perfect opportunity to shoot back. Some time has passed and the newest addition has finally managed to arrive. And not a moment too soon.
From our position I spotted the Satyr flying past them with the grace of goat. It was... amusing. Somewhere else were the other three finally getting on with it. I was getting tired of playing victim.
Another couple minutes past and for some reason their ammunition wasn't running out. That's intriguing. I spotted Grover waving frantically giving Bianca and myself our queue. I took in a deep breath and forcibly relaxed. I withdrew a singular arrow and notched it. A couple bullets flew past with a whistle giving me a short window. I peered the edge followed closely by Bianca and pulled back on the string. The same motion I've done so many times before. It made me feel at ease. No longer do I need to think about my shots, it flows right out of me. A repeated process so similar that my brain doesn't even need to function, like walking or breathing.
I shot watching the arrow sail. It hugging the wall like an old acquaintance. Right before piercing the scope of the rifle. Bianca hit an arm and knocked away a second rifle. A surge of pride flushed through me. It's always satisfying when things come together. I sighed in relief when small chunks of rock starting raining down on them. That coupled with a strike of lightning caused their perch to collapse beneath them. They fell hundreds of feet. I know it won't kill them, but it should keep them away for some time.
Phase three: unarm and distract while the other's make their way above and rain hell upon them. Simple, crude, yet effective.
Now all we have to do is find out next clue atop the damn.
Bianca and I put away our bows and starting yet another climb to the top. I have to say, that was enjoyable. With this we're one step closer to getting my mistress back.