Somewhere in California
Ehaustion; complete and utter exhaustion was a feeling that he was well aquianted with, albeit bregrudididly and not through his own violition. Though to be fair, he had brought it upon himself more times than naught, but such was semantics not worth devolving into a discussion on. It was a simple sensation when one's muscles screamed out in protested, his skin itself turning all shades of pink and red as his muscles ripped themselves appart in their struggle to grow stronger. He knew the heat that rose up through the body as sweat poured out from ever pore like an unending torrent of water in the a hurricane. There was the feeling of limbs turned to lead, unable to be lifted save for the simply movements of shuffling like a possessed creature back towards whatever place would serve as refugee for rest, if he hadn't outright simply collapsed on the ground from overwork. And eventually it was the sweet release of a soft bed or at the very least a hamock, when upon simply touching it's welcoming embrace his mind would collapse upon itself and render him unto the realm of dreams for hour on end until he stirred groggy and sore. It was something that was expected when engaging in countless bouts against his mentor or brother to grow, or after racing after a praticularily agile and crafty beast.
That's why when such respite did not befall him, he had cause to worry. Sure, the normal signs of exhausting were all there, he could tell as much. His muscles ached and burned and it seemed the very action of having blood flow through them caused untold of pain that he would probably feel for days if not weeks. A prospect he wasn't very much looking forwards to, naturally. Arms and legs were dead and the blood flowing through them might as well have been made of molten lead for even attempting to push all his effort towards lifting them resulting in nothing but a stagger headache, worse than any hangover he had probably had in his life so far. That's when he noticed it; the fact that he was still thinking. This was not the first time he had pushed himself to the brink of self-destruction with his actions nor training, but it was the first time he had not passed out afterwards. Or at the very least not completely passed out, for he was far from functioning at fall capacity. Had it not been for the pain and fatigue rolling through his body in wave after wave he may have had the thought that his mental fortitude had increased. He was, however, far too busy focused on other things.
While his mind had seemingly survived being totaled from whatever stunt he had just pulled, what it was he was still only aware of the fact that his legs were skrieking at his head in what he could only assume was a fit of outrage from the fact the pain was so numbing he couldn't feel his own lower limbs. It was almost as if they had simply been severed from his torso, the lingering burning sensation being the only reminder they were still attached. Well, hopefully still attached, he had no way of knowing. His mind may have still been able to process thoughts, and unfortunately pain as well, but his other senses had been dulled completely, leaving him quite literally in the dark. The smell of sulfur, ozone, and hints of burning wood clogged his nose up to the point it wouldn't have been any different had corks simply been stuffed up his nostrils. Elsewhere a ringing persisted in his ears as if a bullhorn had been placed cuffing them and then let loose for an hour straight, destroying any semblance of auditory awareness. Taste was out of the question, having suffered the same fate as his nose and the fact his jaw was locked tight. And given the fact that most of the nerves on his body were constantly roaring at his mind with the constant pinging of pain, they were more or less completely out of the question. Such left him blind, deaf, and largely dumb, lost in the literal dark of his own creation unaware of what was happening around him. It probably wouldn't have mattered much if it wasn't for the fact that his mind was left to wander and run through countless scenarios.
However, to say he was left entirely unaware would not be fair to him, and he himself knew it. In the back of his mind he held onto something well known among those who took up the sword and shield. It was a sixth sense, though he simply referred to it as his intuition and instinct, neither was wrong per se. If asked, he described it as sort of a fuzzy feeling that came from his gut, often times that something was wrong, or simply what seemed the most logical. It was this feeling he would be forced to rely on. Though his eyes were locked shut and his other senses still reeling from his earlier stunt, his mind and therefore his intuition was still running, albeit in a limited capacity. He did his best to drown out the feelings of pain and smells of sulfur and ozone to give his body a chance to focus. Already, something was beginning to become clear. A prickling sensation rippled up along the hairs on the back of his neck. A feeling that was much too familiar for his likely. The feeling of anger and blood-lust. It was shaky at first, and for some confusing reason it seemed to emanate all around him. Was he surrounded or was it simply that thick? Neither option sat well and if he could manage to move his face, an anticipating smirk would likely be his expression of choice.
He would get his answer soon enough when a jolting shocked raced through his body, starting at his heart and pulsing outwards like it was blood being pumped through his veins. The shock traveled out to the fringes of his body, cracking his finger and toes, before rushing back to his chest with twice the power as before. Already he could feel the shock and pain flushed out of his system as copious amount of adrenaline bloomed out across his body. The smells of Ozone and deafening ringing were replaced by the sounds and smells of a forest. Crickets chrurped in the nearby grass, owls gave their calls and the remnants of a soft rain rose up from the ground and intermingled with a rich earthy aroma. His other senses heightened too, and without being swamped by numbing pain he became aware of a presence next to his body and instinctively shot a hand out to intercept the person, his grip falling on what he only assumed was an arm, and clamping down with force. Not as much as he wanted, but even if his body had been given a notional shot of morphine, the lingering pain and apparently damage, was not so quick to let its prescense escape from his being.
As his eyes shot open, a single thought was all that passed through his mind with a silent sight, This is just my luck, isn't it?
Glancing around quickly laid eyes on those who had found him. Firstly it was of a girl some number of years his junior who had collapsed down to her knees next to him. Her features were contorted and a look of intense pain was painted across her face as he eyes stared down at her wrist. The reasoning wasn't hard to find, as his own hand was locked around her wrist. Already he could tell that that hand would be useless for at least the near future, such only being confirmed when his eyes locked with her own. The contact only lasted a minute, but he had learned enough to know she wasn't about to be a threat. The others standing around him, however, were far from the condition of the kneeling girl.
Around him on all sides, though there was only five they attempted to surround him as best as possible, stood girls of all different varieties and ages. The youngest he wagered was perhaps about ten years old and the eldest was probably around eighteen or so, not including the sixth one who was at present injured. Despite their differences in age and appearence, there was a uniformality about them present in the clothes they wore. Each had on the same silver colored sweater which seemed to glisten like the metal of the same name in the light of the moon. The jackets seemed to be a perfect fit for every girl, as if it had been specifically tailored for the individual, despite the fact each looked to have been cut from the same cloth, quite literally he thought. More curious was the remainder of their outfits, which were a simply set of camouflage pants anyone could buy from the local surplus shop and a pair of black leather combat boots to boot. A very militant group of young woman stood around him, and thus is was only natural he should draw the connection immediately. After all, who else besides of the Girl Scouts of America romps around in the woods in the middle of the night? And the silver bows they held, notched with arrows, didn't exactly speak to him of a more aggressive cookie selling campaign.
"...The Hunters of Diana..." he croaked out in a calm manner that surprised even himself, "Fuck."
Immediately after speaking, he regretted it. Just attempting to speak had caused his throat to protest violently and and burn his tongue as he spoke. Evidently whatever move he had pulled earlier had taken everything out of him, including the very water in his body. Both his tongue and throat felt as if they had been left to dry for hours in the sun and were reduced to but pieces of beef jerky. And, as he had no learned, attempting to form words with beef jerky for vocal cords was not the easiest thing in the world. However, he still had largely problems to face, such as the five angry teenage girls sporting bows aimed right for himself. As much as he knew it to likely be futile given the company he was in, he elected to try diplomacy at least once. Even as the words spilled forth, he could only wonder if he managed to knock-up his head as well.
"Ladies...is there any chance we can sort out this misunderstanding?" he said, the words barely crawling out of his arid mouth.
"See I told you he was a womanizer, Phoebe." called a girl outside of his sight.
Well, that's a bit unfair, he retorted inside his head, but had at least enough of a grip on his sanity not to say anything of the like.
Instead, he simply sighed aloud. Things were not going his way, but then again, what had really gone his way in the last couple of hours he reminded himself.
"Be what it may," began the girl he assumed was Phoebe, who was off to his left. "He has just attacked a fellow member of the Hunt and is quite clearly a threat. It must be restrained till Thalia and Lady Artemis arrive. Render him unable to move!" Was the order called aloud.
"Hey now, there's no need to get rash..." He began only to be cut short by the subtle sound of creaking wood as the strings of five bows were simultaneously pulled taut.
The girl on the ground next to him whipped her head up towards the one he had guessed was Phoebe, intent on saying something, her eyes wild and pleading. Her lips quivered and moved, but for some reason nothing came out but empty and staggered breaths. Was it perhaps the pain of her wrist or the futility of the situation that had rendered her mute, he was unsure. Nor was it going to matter. At the very least he found her attempt to revolve the situation admirable, but he had already known from the moment he laid eyes on the silver parkas how the encounter would go down. He sighed heavily and longingly at the implication.
"If that's what you want, so be it!" he challenged, half heartily, at the six maidens around him.
For all intents and purposes, Phoebe had been shocked at the events unfolding infront of her, yet all the same it was expected. Just not in the way she had thought it would. Originally she assumed the boy to simply lunge at the closest hunter whenever he awoke, yet the subdued reaction was definetly not the one she had been expecting. She too was curious of the strange male that they had found laying in the woods, but it just so happened that Naomi had beat her to the punch by approaching him first. Personally she would've have prefered him to be permnantly asleep before such was tried by herself or anyone, and was half tempted to call out to Naomi as she moved closer to the boy, but the whole situation unfolded before her quicker than she could imagine.
Next thing she knew she was standing with a bow drawn pointed at the mysterious stranger that lay in front of her. At first she would have been happy to simply relieve him of function of his limbs, a well placed arrow at the palms and shoulder blades should have been more than enough for her to accomplish such, espicially with the help of the other four Hunters who stood around her. That had been the plan until she had heard the challenge from the foolish boy who lay still on his back just ahead of her. In some part of her mind she had recognized the fact there was no passion and drive behind the statement and it had simply been empty. Yet, at the sight of Naomi kneeled over in pain from the young boy, at least compared to her as physical age meant little in the eyes of a Hunter, all logical thought had gone out of the window. Over come was her mind by thoughts of pain and regret she had seen others she knew suffer at the hands of males in the past. Both those who had tried to be palatable and those who were foolhardy and full of hubris, and in that moment, the boy in her line of sight seemed to be exuding both of those. With a quick glance up she silently confirmed her intentions to remainder of the Hunters, ignoring the silent pleas of Naomi who rested next to the young boy.
The moment the arrows were loosed from their strings, she immediately came to regret her foolhardy descision and ignoring both her own logic and the pleas of her injured sister. Whether it was shear intuition, unforeseen reaction speed, pure luck or some combination of the three, it was an impressive and shocking action to witness. Just as the Hunters released their holds on the arrows, the boy yanked with all the strength his tired body allowed, pulling the startled form of Naomi over top of him like she was some sort of blanket. In the next instant the once quiet forest night was filled with five load thumpings of pierced flesh and six deathly screams before silence once again filled the clearing, if only momentarily. Phoebe was helpless to watch as four of the five arrows fell upon the form of their once comrade, two piercing her shoulder blades, a third going clean through her bicep, and the fourth, her own arrow, slicing clean through the chest of her friend, driving itself in so deep that only the feathered end of the shaft was still portuding from Naomi's chest. Not all was in vain, for a singular arrow from Emilia had pierced the young boy's thigh and the scene of his whole body shuddering from the impact lightened the situation a bit, but not by much.
Whatever embers of hope still fluttered within her own mind were quickly stomped out. As if an arrow stuck half way into his thigh was simply not there, the boy sprang to his feet, throwing the lifeless body of Naomi with such a force that when it collided with the small frame of Emilia it sent her reeling back several feet and into a tree, putting her out of commision. To shocked to move, she was hopeless as the form of the boy rushed her. For a moment she regained control of her body, the adrenaline finally finding its way into her system as she fumbled for one of the daggers on her belt, but she was a moment too late. Before she could even unsheathe the blade, the fist of the boy collided with her stomach, sending her flying back into a tree as all the air escaped from her lungs. Already she could feel the grips of darkness overcoming her vision as her conciousness began to falter. Even attempting to move her body was for not as she was left helpless to watch as the boy, no that thing, advanced on the remaining three Hunters.
Through half closed eyes she could only helplessly watch and silently cry out in pain in her mind as each one fell. The first, a clean punch to the throat caused her to slump like a bag of bricks. The second caught a swift kick to the knees before a fist to the temple. And finally, as the darkness began to envelop her vision completely she heard a deafening crack as an elbow swift collided with the chest of the final Hunter. The last sight she would see was the lips of the pale eyed boy mouthing something indescribable as burst of wind kicked up through the forest and her body and mind went limp.
The Big House; Camp Half-Blood
Elin could understand why 'The Big House' was called, well, The Big House. Compared to the rest of the buildings, and the surrounding valley at that, it was by far the largest building in the area, save for perhaps the large stone construct she had noticed from atop the hill they had passed over on the way to the valley. What it was, she wasn't exactly sure. Maybe an amphitheater or an arena of some sort given the construction. But most of it was hidden in the night, and she was already running off of fume from the weird crackers that the Gorilla girl had given her after she passed out. At least Tanya had woken up, those she was awfully confused and she nearly had to slap the young girl silly just to get her to calm down. The strange disappearance of Ardal had seemingly gotten to her, as had their arrival in the strange valley the Gorilla of a girl had called 'Camp Hall-Blood' if the sign was anything to go off of. There had also been the incident with the strange tree gaurding Dragon attempt to bite Elin's hand off, but seeing as even their escorts were confused, it would have to wait.
When they had first arrived in the early light of the coming morning, the young boy and his fur covered friend had scampered off somewhere, an older boy with striking blond hair offering to help the boy get settled into his cabin. That left the trio of Tanya, the Gorilla Girl and herself sitting on an old outdated couch in the middle of a cramped living room in the Big House. The center of the room was occupied by a singular ping-pong table serving as a substitute for a proper table, though it was so clean she had trouble imagining that it was actually ever used for anything, whether or not it was it's originally designed purpose. Tanya and herself sat on the cough alone, the former sitting awful close and seemingly put off by something in the room they were in, though what it was she was unsure. It could be the terrible decore that seemed that it hadn't been updated in years, or it could quite possibly be the intense stare they were receiving from the muscular girl sitting across from them, who was no doubt sizing them up. She was a warrior after all, Elin could easily tell as much.
Granted, she could've been completely off, and instead she was simply taking in the sharp contrast between herself and Tanya. Despite being of the same age, they were immensely different, espicially in appearence. Tanya was shorter and leaner than herself, with an atheltic body fit of a runner, making the girl across from them, Clarisse was her name of the blond boy outside was anything to go off, look like some sort of hulking body builder. But all the same her lean figure and fair skin, though nowhere near as pale as Elin's own made her quite beautiful in her own right. It wasn't quite a rich caramel colored pigment, but more akin to that of a sweet honey, with a light shade of darkness and an innummerable amount of freckles plastered across her face and exposed limbs. Her hair was of a rich ebony color which would have made for the perfect centerpiece of furniature in the house of any royal estate, though her locks were cut short, only just falling to the nape of her neck, with the only orderly bit of her hair being the simple braid of hair that wrapped around the crown of her head from behind the ears like a tiara. Though most of a rich black a streak or two of smoky grey was evident, primarily in the braid, though a single group fell just over her face. The biggest contrast between the two girls, and the one that Elin was forever jealous of, though she would never admit, was the difference in their eyes. While her own were nearly opaque, Tanya's were of a brilliant dark blue color that seemed to almost border on being a regal purple, and in the sun would shift and change to a color like the sky just after dusk. Her outfit was pretty much the same, though she wore loose fitting cargo shorts instead of jeans and forgone the sweater in favor of a simple grey t-shirt.
There was also, of course, the difference in the way the two girls had held themselves. Tanya was cautious and aware of her surroundings. She sat in a guarded position and stature, nearly shielding or perhaps being shielding by Elin, it was hard to tell the difference. It wasn't lost on Elin on how her body was tensing and full of energy as if ready to leap at the slightest anomly to their current situation. She would have attempted to say something, but was much too tired to even bother. Which brought her to her own stature, as she leaned deep into the welcoming embrace of the couch, allowing her tired muscles to be comforted by the softness of the pads below her. No doubt Tanya too was feeling fatigue of her own,but at current she was more focused on her own recovery, knowing full well both were far from the proper condition to fight back against the Gorilla sitting across from them, much less what was supposed to be an entire camp full of warriors all around them, if the small introduction given by their brooding companion was truthful. Which she didn't doubt, even if it was very much the abridged version of the whole ordeal. Instead, it seemed they would have to bide their time. Especially with Ardal missing as well. In the meantime though, she was going to enjoy the gift of some warm tea and a comfy couch. However, just as she seemed to notice Tanya relaxing a slight bit, the door of the house swung open and in walked the blond boy from before accompanied by blonde girl with strikingly grey eyes.
The past few days had been the most hectic they had been in a while for the daughter of Athena, and she was beginning to feel the drain on her, though the hope for what was coming was enough of a stimulant to keep her going. In the recent days their scouts had begun to close in on the location where he was thought to be and the Argo II had begun to inch closer to completion. She could see the finish line just within her grasp. Yet, something else seemed to be still nagging at the back of her mind. It wasn't the same worry she had over the fated reunion that would come in a week or so, nor was it that of the Great Prophecy that hung high above her head like a blade waiting to fall, as much as she tried to convince herself otherwise. No, she could tell something else was there was well. There was something else at play, and she couldn't quite put her finger down on it, and it was getting to her. Just like all those months ago when they had encountered 'The Stranger' at the Hoover Dam, as Leo had dubbed him, she was at a lost, and it was not an enjoyable feeling to have. She had hoped a night of sleep, despite the nightmares that often plagued them, could potentially provide insightful, but such was not to be when she was roused from her sleep by a worried Jason and Malcom waking her from her slumber.
"What is it now?" she asked though a slur of half sleepiness.
"Uh, well, we're not exactly sure what to make of it, so Malcolm suggested we get you..." Jason replied, seemingly ashamed of having to wake her.
She simply raised an eye brow at the Son of Jupiter and turned to her half-brother, hoping for a more straight-forwards answer. It would appear it was not her lucky night as he simply shook his head in agreement with Jason, leading to her to release a sigh of desperation. She simply motioned for the pair to lead the way and followed them away from the cabins and towards The Big House, where this mystery supposedly resided. Though before she could even reach there she was confront by a worried looking Nico sitting on a chair outfront. She turned to Jason and Malcolm for clarification but both seemed as surprised as she was. There the boy who they had not seen in months sat, looking worse for ware. Bags hung under his eyes and he wore a deep agitation on his frown.
"Nico?" she called calmly, "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, Annabeth" he replied suddenly, as if surprised, despite the fact he likely had the best ability to see in the dark out of the group assembled, "I came to talk to Chiron about...something. But it seems that he's busy, so I've decided to wait, you see."
Immediately warning bells went off in her head. If it was so important that he needed to see Chiron in the middle of the night, surely he would've simply just pushed his way in, knowing full well Chiron would listen to the boy. Something was definetly off. What was so important to him that whatever news Nico, the boy who was rarely ever at camp unless it was important, could bring would have to wait. Then there was also the strange situation that Jason and Malcolm had mentioned. And on top of that...all the interlacing and conflicting thoughts were beginning to take a toll on her troubled mind and rather than attempt to fight through it, she elected to take a play out of Percy's book and just go with it.
"Alright, well, I'll let you know when we sort out the current issue going on and then you can explain everything to Chiron and I, okay?"
He seemed like he wanted to protest for a moment, but eventually relented and just nodded his head in an almost defeated manner. Yes, it certainly was going to be a strange night.
Her thoughts were only confirmed when she opened the door and was greeted with the sight that awaited her. That being of the trio of girls who were seating in the meeting room around the old ping-pong table, or rather on opposing sides of it. On the right side, she immediately recognized the form of Clarisse, still fresh off her patrol as was evident by the bronze chest-plate dotted with slashes and knicks, still hanging from her torso. On the table sat her helmet with the same fur plume she always wore during the capture the flag tortuments still sticking up, though a few twigs were stick in it here and there. It was then she was reminded of the recent arrival of the newest member to the Apollo Cabin, and the search party that had gone out to retrieve him when they encountered a giant. She was still too busy going over last minute details with Leo regarding the interior of the Argo II to bother checking out the report on what had happened or to hear the story from any one. It was after dinner, but apparently the boy had been claimed just as he crossed past Thalia's old pine tree out on Half Blood Hill. Perhaps the incident the boys had spoken of had something to do with that? Her thoughts were all but confirmed when she glanced to the other side of the table and the two girls who were seated on the same couch the Stoll brothers had often claimed as theirs during meetings of the councilors.
At first she was struck with surprise at them, having never quite seen a pair that looked like them, but the feeling only lasted for a second when several all to familiar details began to flood into her mind. She first locked onto the closest girl, possibly the younger one, though the two both appeared to be roughly sixteen or so. Her skin was a ghastly pale color that reminded her all too much of a certain Son of Hades she had just passed on her way into the Big House, but her hair was much different, being an earthy mix of browns, blond, and reds that reminded her of the bark of an oak tree in the late fall. That was about where the simularities ended, as her eyes were the total opposite of the dark abyss that he called his own, though she couldn't shake the feeling that perhaps some of her apperance had lead to his hestiation to enter, although she doubted that was the full story. The third guest was also a curious one. She too was completely foreign to Annabeth's eyes with a richer color of skin, not unlike her own, but what was most startling to her at first was her ravenous coal colored hair. Though it wasn't the dark color per se, but rather the two streaks of grey running through it that reminded her all too much of a certain highlight she and another had once shared.
Surely its impossible... She thought to herself in disbelief from looking at the grey strands of hair. How could another have replicated the task that she had? And if it was still present it would've had to been recently given her own streak had faded long ago. Her mind immediately shifted to other possibilites, not wanted to believe that another had suffered the same as she had. Not to mention the questions that would answer about the possibility that there was a Titan on the loose not so long ago. It made her shutter slightly.
However, she had little time to think about it when her own grey eyes suddenly fell on the deep purple eyes of the second girl. For the briefest of moments she found herself drawn into them as if she was almost drowning, and was unable to look away. She couldn't describe it afterwards but there was something in those eyes she couldn't quite grasp. It was a power and a saddness? She guess the latter, that she had never seen before. They weren't pleading with her, but rather were studying her as if judging something about her, but she couldn't feel any malice from it. It wasn't the way she would size up an opponent when on a quest, or look at the artitwque of a building like an appraisor. No, it was different. But it was still familiar. She then realized she had seen the look once before. A long time and another life ago, but she couldn't remember why she had such a look. And any chance of it was to be quickly removed when the purple eyed girl suddenly nearly leapt from her seat on the couch and made a beeline for Annabeth who didn't even move. Both Clarisse and Jason sprung into action to attempt to do something, Jason with his sword and Clarisse simply with her hands, but they stopped dead in their tracks, watching the sight in front of them.
The young girl had wrapped her in a hug, leaving Annabeth standing akwardly in the entrance of the Big House. Admittedly she was not expecting it at all, but couldn't bring herself to push the girl off of her. There was a warm and comforting feeling to it. She wouldn't openly say it but she had desperately needed it. It was then she realized why it had appeared to welcoming. Though it was in a different form, the feeling the young girl gave off was like Percy all those months ago in Manhattan when she had taken a knife for him. The genuine worry and desire to protect that had poured off of the dumb kid at that time was emanating off this stranger of a girl she had just met for the first time. Why it was, she had no idea, but at the moment she didn't feel any need to question it.
Such a strange moment was interrupted when a certain centaur, though at current in the form of a wheelchair bound middle aged man, made his prescense known in the room, carrying with him a large saucer with a just enough cups of tea for all in attendence. Seemingly a few thousand years of experience grants some wisdom to a person. But so does having large windows facing out towards the ring of Cabins laying just beyond the Big House.
"So, children, I believe there are so matters at hand that need attention." He said guesturing over at the pair of young teen girls sitting next to one another on the couch, the purple eye girl having returned just as soon as she had left her seat. Everyone in attendance turned to face the pair, and after the pale skinned girl took a deep breath she began to relate the tale.
There was a long silence in the room after the girl who referred to herself as Elin had finished speaking, her friend, Tanya, having not spoken a single word during the whole ordeal. Most likely it was due to the fact that she had been passed out for a vast majority of what had happened prior to Clarisse arrive on the scene, but something told Annabeth that she was perhaps just simply a shy person. She entertained the thought, for what reason she wasn't exactly sure, that it had something to due with those eyes of her. Everyone else was still visibly digesting the strange tale, from their sudden appearance to the arrival of the Giant and the disappearing act of the boy named Ardal who was implied to be Tanya's brother. Or at least that's what the girl has stated the boy referred to her as. She was sure there was a little more than she was letting on, considering the boy's description was nowhere near the same as his supposed sister, from the color of his hair to that of his eyes. Which lead her onto the more important question, and the one the others likely still had; the Godly parents of the two sitting on the couch in the living room of the Big House. Before she had a chance to press the issue Clarisse spoke up.
"Oh yeah, I just remembered. These two call the Gods by their Roman names."
For an instant Annabeth felt as if she had been hit by whiplash and was experience a sever bout of Deja Vu once more. Instinctively she, as did everyone else in the room aside from the two guests, turned to face a confused Jason.
"Hey, don't look at me" he defended. "I don't recall either of them being in the Legion back before, well, this happened. But they could be new members who became lost, or legacies, I don't know though."
All Annabeth could do was sigh. The two on the couch not being of much help. Whether they were playing ignorant or were simply ignorant, she didn't know. Though she failed to consider the fact they were simply tired, as the two were showing signs of drifting off to sleep. She turned to Chiron next who was simply stroking his beard, deep in thought. Having noticed the eyes now falling on him, he elected to speak up.
"I...I have heard of a technique that sounds similar to what the young lady has described, though not in a long time." He paused, unsure of himself, "Though I'm unable to say if its the same technique, as I have never personally seen either..."
At this all eyes in the room, including the two guests perked up.
"Well, who did it?" blurted out Malcolm, his inquisitive nature getting the better of him.
At this Chiron grimaced for a split second before continuing, "Well, a long time ago I heard of Achilles performing similar feats..."
At this dead silence filled the room. All eyes were wide on Chiron, though this time the quests weren't as wide eyed. More so, they seemed confused by the mention of Achilles possessing a similar ability than by the fact a person they knew could supposedly pull off feats similar to the legendary hero.
"But then, again, it's different. Achilles was fast yes, but I never recalled anything mentioning a phenomenon such as they have described. Perhaps there is a connection, but we cannot be sure. Hopefully come tomorrow the Gods will feel it favorable to shed some light on this mystery. Besides," he began, "It seems our guests could use the sleep."
Truth to his word, there on the couch sat the two oddities of guests, doing their best to fight off the oncoming advent of sleep, occasionally bobbing their heads up with jerking movements as they realized their slumber approaching. Annabeth simply nodded towards Malcolm and Jason who grabbed the two and hefted them off towards the Hermes Cabin. She herself was just about to leave when the nervous form of Nico came into the room looking all around careful. Something had been off about the boy she knew as much, but this all but confirmed it. There was also the fact that he had come in through the back entrance, not the front where he had originally been sitting.
"Nico, my boy, what brings you here so late at night? It's been a while since your last visit." Chiron said, not a hint of ridicule on his voice. If anything it was sadness.
"It's about the underworld..." He began softly, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Ah yes, the issue with the monsters was it? Have you found out someway to fix it?" Inquired the old teacher. At this point she was more than contempt with buying her time.
"Ah no, well yes, but that's not why I'm here. Something, is wrong with the underworld. There's, well we don't know. The makeup of it is changing and my Father seems to think there's something forcing itself on it and disrupting things done there. We're not sure how it'll affect the surface, but I was sent to warn you to be prepared..." He trailed off, prepared to leave once more, but as a question formed in her head, she instinctively reached out and plucked his arm.
"I understand this is sensitive, but if you were worried about it, why didn't you just go ahead with it? The business with Elin and Tanya could've waited till the morning, and even then, there was no reason to come in through the side door. What aren't you telling us? Why are you avoiding those girls?"
He turned around in a sudden movement, and despite the height difference between the proceeded to stare her directly in the eyes. And for the briefest of moments she found herself startled before recovering as he began to speak.
"Because, Annabeth," his tone deathly serious, "They've been there. I can sense the underworld on them..."
Hunters of Artemis Main Camp
Thalia arrived at the entrance to the Hunters camp at a little past three in the morning, given the position of the moon as it made its downward decent towards the far western horizon across the Pacific Ocean, though at current she was much too far in land to even hope for a glance at the sea. Not that she would want to find herself there anyway given her lineage, but such thoughts were unimportant at the moment in her mind. Instead her focus was on the entrance of the Hunter's Camp. It was simple, to say the least, really only being the open portion of the semi-circle of grey tents arranged around a small clearing in a forest, albeit one much larger than the one she had just raced from. At the mouth stood two girls, each dressed in the same uniform as her, with a white furred wolf laying at their feet, half asleep-half watchful on the moor around them. Judging from their disposition they had likely been on shift for a few hours and were nearing the end of their watch, hopefully for a few hours of sleep before the hunt would resume in the morning.
However, at the sight of their lieutenant quickly approaching they straightened themselves up in an effort to look a bit more presentable, and Thalia couldn't help but be proud. She was knew to the Hunt but had made great efforts to show her position as Lieutenant wasn't simply won through heratige but sheer skill and ability, and given the response of the pair of sentries, it seemed her effort had not gone to waste with at least a few of them. What was different, though was the reaction given to her by the pair of wolves huddled by their feet. Normally the wolves, like the many other creatures of the forest, would act calm and almost docile and domesticated around a member of the Hunt. One of the many benefits of having a mistress who had authority over the creatures that called the wild home. Yet, this time the two wolves hissed and growled at the approaching Lieutenant, much to the surprise of the two guards who attempted to calm them. At least she had now confirmed that it was the Spear that had enraged the wolves, and not simply the teen himself. Or at least the Spear was partially responsible.
She didn't have time to waste pondering her findings, or mingling with the few Hunters who had awoken at the sound of the growling and barking wolves, curious as to what was transpiring. A few had even come out with bows and daggers drawn. A humorous sight she would've thought had she not been on urgent business. She was on a figurative war path, cutting directly across in the inner plaza of the camp where various supplies and equipment lay about, and approached directly the largest tent of the ten or so that had been gathered. She knew what it was intuitatively. She had, after all, spent a vast amount of her time in there. That was the command tent where her mistress resided when not on the prowl nor training her hunters. On a normal occasion she would've had at least knocked once before barraging into the room, knowing better than to show rudeness to a God, even if they were on good terms. At this time though, she didn't find it a necessary action and instead simply threw the flap of the tent aside with such force that it nearly ripped the magically reinforced fabric off. She already knew the Goddess would not be there, seeing as contact had been more or less shut off from the remainder of the world, but if any were to make exception, it would be Her. Thus she retrieved a small silver bead from her pocket, one of three, and promptly smashed it in her hand, closing her eyes as a flash of silver appeared before her.
"Thalia? What is so important that you call me down when you kn-" she stopped short when she glanced at the weapon resting in Thalia's hand as if it were some how both incredibly nature and extremely out of place. Thalia saw the opening and she moved to answer but was suddenly cut off by the Goddess once more.
"Where did you find That."
It was said like a statement but she was smart enough to know it was instead a question. What put her off though was the cold tone of which the Goddess delivered it. She easily recognized it as the tone she had used when scolding the various males they had come across, as well as the members of the Olympian Council. It sent a wave of shivers rolling down her from head to two and she wondered if there was ever a time in her life she had felt more scared. Even the battle in Manhattan paled in comparison to the aura rolling off the Goddess in front of her. She did her best to compose herself, but she could still tell she was shaking as she delivered her report.
"While on the scouting mission, we encountered a strange boy. He suddenly appeared with a clap of thunder and a powerful explosion. I've never seen anyone like him...Or anything like that Spear. It made the wolves go nuts when they got closed it. I didn't know what to make of it, so I thought I'd bring it to you..." she trailed off seeing her mistress staring intently at the Spear with the eye of a professional appraiser at some antique show. Catching on quickly she held out the Spear for the Goddess to take and stepped back, allowing herself a moment to catch her breath as the fatigue of sprinting several miles caught up to her.
"You said a clap of Thunder...?" The Goddess asked with a raised eyebrow. She already knew where her mistress was going and simply shook her head.
"He looked about eighteen or nineteen. There's no way we wouldn't know about him." She paused for a moment recall something, "And his eyes were a yellow color, not blue like mine or Jason's..." she trailed off. It had been sometime since she had met him, but she could already find herself missing him. But that wasn't helping them with their current issue and she fought off the feelings with a shake of her head, black locks of hair difting around her face. She was broken from her stupor by her Lady's voice.
"Yellow eyes?" The Goddess asked, though she could tell it was not a question requiring an answer. She simply waited.
There was a momentary pause as the Goddess looked over the weapon and pondered it once more. Then, something strange happened. Thalia could only watch as the Goddess placed her hand on the flat of the spearhead, and then immediately retracted as a surprised expression crossed the Goddess' face. It was an expression that she had rarely seen on her mistress' face, causing her to raise a flag of surprise on her face as well, as she too nearly jumped back. But that was only the beginning and her face slowly morphed from surprise to confusion before finally settling on pure dread as she glanced down at the Goddess' hand. The entirety of her palm was bright red color, a stark contrast to her normally fair skin, and already it had started to become misshapen as bumps and blisters began to form on her hand which was quickly turning pink and beginning to glisten. If that was not already terrifying enough, the look of fear on the face of her mistress, a literal Goddess was more than enough to make the Lieutenant's stomach drop.
Though, she would not deny that Lady Artemis was a person, or was it being, of discpline for as quick as she had shone her pained and surprised face, it quickly returned to it's usual familiar stoic expression. It was lost in those silver orbs that were her eyes when she turned once more to Thalia, catching her by surprise.
"I must return to Olympus immediately to report his. Perhaps with this the council may finally agree to take an active role once more..." she trailed off with a sad smile towards her Lieutenant.
It was then that the Spear in the hand of the Goddess began to shake violently, catching the Goddess by surprise and Thalia could only watch as it fell out of her hand towards the ground. However, yet again it would seem the Spear was intent on confusing the herself and her mistress, for instead of simply plopping onto the ground as she expected, it instead hovered in the air for the briefest of moment before rocketing off with such a force that it nearly caused her to fall down, and watched as it pierced through the top of the tent and soared off into the sky. Insticntively she peaked her head out of the flap and watched a brief flash in the moonlit sky as the spear flew off in a direction all to familiar to her.
Oh no. Oh shit Were the only thoughts that passed through her mind as she dashed out of the tent, ignoring flash of light and curious faces face turned towards the Tent she had emerged from.
"Hunters, on me!" She roared through the crisp night air before dashing off back towards the direction she had just come from, a dozen or so Hunters on her heels. Already her legs were screaming from fatigue, but she payed them no mind, running even faster than she had previously knowing those few seconds could make all the difference in the long run. Something she knew all too well unfortunately.
Garden of Hesperides
The Garden of the Gods was much like any other place that had a connection to the Olympian Council. Chiefly being the fact that while it rarely ever changed it's true form, it continued to drift across the world as the influence of western civilization and by extention the Gods did. At one point it had originally been on some peak of a rough mountain in Northern Africa. It shifted ever so slightly, but for a long while it had rested in the same spot, even as the seat of Olympus drifted to many different nations all across Europe. The biggest change, however, was when it had transitioned over to North America and had found itself routed on the Western Coast, far from the glory of Olympus in New York. Such was only the most natural course of action. Everything had remained the same, and it's inhabitants had adjusted well. The hundred headed Dragon and the maidens, once five now four, who called the Garden home, had found the ocassional mortal who visited the peak on a perlious journey of their own, ignorant to the greater happens of the mountain top to be an interesting dynamic. It had been many years after all since they had last seen the human world so up close and personal, even if they could no longer properly interact with them as in the days of old.
There was another person present too. The Prisoner of that great Mountain top; The Titan Atlas. For millenia he had held the weight of the world, literally, upon his shoulders, but even he could appreciate the appearance of humans and other mortals on the mountain top. After all, it had indirectly lead to his first resprite from his punishment for the first time since that arrogant Son of Zeus had tricked him. Though he could not entirely blame him, seeing as he too had tricked the poor boy. He would never admit such to a soul though, for he was much too proud. And while this place was his prison, it was still his home, and by extention after being the sole divine being there, his authority had seeped into the land. Not enough to possibly relieve him completely of his burden, but enough so that he could direct the small amount of strength not put towards his task to the world around him. Thus, he was quick to realize a presence beyond a normal mortal had made it's way onto his grounds even before he saw it.
"Has another fool come to boast about in front of a chained man to boost their own fragile ego?" He called out.
His voice boomed across the small moor on the peak, even going so far as to cause the trees and grass down below in the Garden to bend against the force. No doubt any mortal currently on the mountain would simply think it was a powerful gust of wind, as was common at such elivations. Regardless, a small smirked crossed the Titan's old face, happy with himself for scaring what he thought was some foolish Demi-god shitless. His smile would fade, however, when a voice rolled back in response, seemingly unfazed.
"No, I'm simply here to talk."
He scoffed. "Are you trying to anger me, boy?" He bellowed.
"Not at all. I have simply come here to talk" Came the reply.
By now He could see the form of the person who had come to supposedly 'talk' with the Old Titan. For what purpose, he was still unsure. Glancing up from his hunched over position he could make out the form of a young man in maybe his early twenties, but a set of long hair and a rough unkempt beard made it that much harder to guess his true age. His skin was tanned and his body was well defined, alluing to a life of hard work. It was the type of build he had become familiar with over the eons. That of a warrior or a traveler, more often than not one in the same. Already he could feel a bitter taste forming in his mouth. The 'boy''s eyes were hidden behind a pair of grey aviators sunglass, making it impossible to guess his thoughts against the stoic look on his sharp features, though his lips had cracked a slight smirk. His clothing was simple, being nothing more than a simple flannel shirt and a pair of sand colored cargo pants to boot. If he had been half the age he was he may have mistaken the 'boy' for a simple mortal who had stumbled upon him. But this was not the age of old, and clear sighted mortals were a rarity. Even fewer were brave enough to stalk up to a Titan of all things.
His eyes scanned the man's body for any sign of a weapon, but all he could spot was a simple bottle of some sort of alcohol, of which he appeared to be offer towards the Lord of Endurance. He could do little to stifle his laughter from booming across the mountain like an avalanche.
"Do you truly believe that the drink of mere mortals could satisfy me, boy?"
"Not at all" Came the answer, "But it would be rude of me if I didn't not offer it"
He cackled once more. Oh, this was certainly an interesting one he laughed to himself. Perhaps he would humor him, if only a little bit.
"So tell me, Boy, what do you hope to talk about with me?"
If the man had been upset by the way he had referred to him, he did little to show it. His sadistic smile wavered ever so slightly as he awaited the response.
"I was thinking I could relate to you some tales of my journeys and in return to could provide me with some information."
The Old Titan audibly groaned at the worlds of the stranger. He had heard such a claim ages ago from a certain spawn of the Sea, and thinking about it only reminded him of his recent encounter with another such scum. Just thinking about it caused his blood, if he had any, to boil and for a moment he could've sworn the weight on his shoulders increased. If the 'boy' in front of him had deliberate choosen such words to get a start out of him, he was unsure. His stoic expression betrayed nothing, though a raised eyebrow suggested that he was unaware of what he was currently doing to the Old Titan. Regardless of the 'boy''s intentions, he was now more curious as towards why he was here. Yes, he would play around with the theatrics. At least until he found himself bored. He may have been chained to the sky and earth, but there were other ways of destroying the 'boy' in front of him.
"What makes you think I can provide you with information?" He questioned. "As you can see, I have been chained here for some time. I don't exactly have the luxury of stalking around."
"Please, don't be coy with me. We both know your not that foolish." The frank response surprised the Titan, though he didn't let it show.
"The influence of the Olympians is weak in the West, even more so here." He guestered around the Garden, "It has only decayed in the past year or so, to the point it can barely be felt anywhere along the Pacific Coast, and it is only growing fainter. I know your body may be stuck here, but I find it hard to imagine your eyes and ears have not wandered."
He had to admit, he had not expected such from the 'boy' and could not resist the smile that crept across his face. It had been a long time since he had come across someone so perceptive. There was also the way that a trace of venom rested on the word 'Olympian' as he spoke them. Oh yes, this encounter was turning out far more interesting than he could've ever guessed it would. Still, something nagged at the back of his mind, though he couldn't quite place it and why it filled him with the slightest sensation of unease. Regardless, he was going to poke and prod at the 'boy' seeing has the situation had come to a favorable topic.
"Mmm, that is certainly true...However, why would I give information to you? Much less for a simple story? As you have said, my eyes and ears work well enough that I have need of hearing the current goings on of this age."
"Ah, but the last time I visited you, you found my stories to raise your temperament. And I've collect more than few new ones since than. Some good ones in there I'd wager."
He could only cocked a single eyebrow, "You speak like we have met before, yet I do not recall you. Surely I would remember a character such as yourself."
The 'boy' standing across from him merely shrugged his shoulders as a sigh escaped from his lips. He watched as the 'boy''s hands reached up towards his face and carefully removed the pair of sunglasses he was wearing. The change was almost instantenous and admitily, the Old Titan was unable to prevent the expression of surprise from rippling across his face, much to the smug delight of the one standing across from him. Noticable at first was the hair of the young man which had shortened considerably, no longer being in a pony tale and more closely shapped his his head with longer strands combed back and parted to the side at the top of his forehead, putting his full face on display. His beard also cleared up, and while still quite thick and full, it had a more refined and trim look to it, more closely following his sharp jawline and no longer unkempt and shabby. The color had changed as well and was no longer a pale brown like dried tinder, but was a rich brown like freshly tilled soil with the ocassional streak of sandy pale brown like roasted chestnuts.
What was most striking, however, were the eyes of the one across from him, which were now on full display. At first he was unable to make sense of them, they being a swirl of colors that never quite seemed to settle on one particular color. However, he could recognize two distinct colors that fell about each other in his eyes like waves would upon the shoreline of a beach. One was a rich green color. It wasn't like the deep color he had seen in the eyes of a certain Spawn of Sea, no this was more Earthy. Rather than looking into a sea that was deep enough to drown him, he felt himself looking into a forest in full bloom, rich hues of green complimenting each others like the leaves of many varieties of trees, shrubs, grasses and all manner of plants upon the land. The other was an equally rich purple which reminded him of the color of the sky where the last rays of sunlight meet and combine with the darkness of approaching night. Dusk was what it was called. They were the sky just as dusk began to settle on the land, and they swirled against the green of the earth creating an ever shifting horizon.
Atlas recognized them at once. His face shifted from the intitial look of surprise into one of calmness as he look out across at the man who was taking a swig from the bottle of alcohol in his free hand.
"So what do you want to know about?"
"Hmm, what's been happening with the factions in the area. I've heard the Romans have set up a Camp somewhere near here?"
The Old Titan released a loud, friendly laugh. The first he had done in a long time.
"Heh, you better have brought a good story with you..."
The man with the multi-colored eyes could only smirk.
Entrance to Camp Jupiter
So far Alec had spent the last three of five days on guard duty outside the border of Camp Jupiter, only having a day or so of rest before each shift, and even then, an early wake time and other duties had gobbled up most of that time. He was deperately low on sleep, and going on a week of the horrid schedule he found himself half supported by his own Pilim like a coat hung upon a rack. The armor was wearing down on his broad shoulders and already he could feel the uncomfortable welt becoming agitated again. Soaking in the baths for hours on end could only do some much against conintual ware on his body. Something he had found out after the large Campaign a year prior. He shouldn't have even been on the duty in the first place, but he was the one who decided to ignore the words of his peers and speak his mind. And thus, he would reap what he had sowed whether he wanted to have planted such in the first place.
At the very least he had found himself an ideal partner for his current bordedom filled week; the stocky form of the boy standing to his right on the other side of the door they were guarding. He was a stocky fellow, wide shouldered and strong, though for some reason he had elected to carry a bow with him rather than a Pilim or Gladius, but Alec could respect someone who stuck to what they believed in. It was how he arrived in his current perdicament, after all. The oddest thing about him though was his face; a chubby kid face and a sheepish personality to boot. Definetly not fitting for a man of his stature, but everyone was unique in their own way. He had only been on duty with him once before, but they had hit it off quite well. The boy, Frank was his name, accepted the fact that Alec didn't want to be there and in turn he accepted the fact that Frank, was, well, Frank. A skiddish kid who looked like he punch through a brick wall. Maybe it was that sheepish personality that had brought him to like him in the first place. He laughed internally at his own terrible joke before turning back to his companion.
"I know your disappoint you have to spend your Friday with me, but you could at least talk to me instead of day dreaming." He teased at the boy.
In response Frank's face immediately lit up like a fire, and he could tell it was bright red even underneath his helmet. Teasing him had become one of his favorite past times, but the fact that it was barely sunrise and he had already started did not bode well for the rest of the day. It was probably going to be a long one the boy imagine. He didn't know it at the time, but he was most certainly right.
"I-uh, what do you mean A-Alec" he stuttered out.
"Oh, come on. We both know there's a certain curly haired Legionnaire you'd rather be stationed with..."
If it was possible for Frank's face to glow even more red, it seemingly had. Alec had to do everything in his power not to flat out laugh.
"Hey, I told you man. It's not like that. It's just that it's easy to talk to her, and stuff...And having you around is nice too!" He added at the end.
At this Alec couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Sorry pal, but I don't swing that way!"
Frank only just shook his head with a sigh and shifted his focus to the other side of the highway. A few minutes of silence passed as the mood between the two returned to the tired sluggish feeling it had before. Much to the dismay of Alec. That would certainly have to change if he had anything to say about it.
"I spy with..." He began.
"Oh no. No!"
"With my little eye..."
"Alec, let's not." Ge pleaded to his friend
"Someone that looks..." He paused as his gaze shifted to the small hill on the other side of the highway from where he was. "...Like their fighting for their life..."
"What?!" Frank exploded as he turned to follow his friend's line of sight up to the top of the hill.
There at the crest of hill, just above the steep lightly wooded slope that lead down towards there highway were four figured outlined against the glow of the rising sun. The one that had caught their interest was the smallest of the figures, and the one at the center who was on the back foot partially down the hill. He was evidently a tall figure, likely being around the six foot mark, but compared to the hulking figures surround him, he might as well have been a measley four feet tall. The figure in question was dressed in simple work clothes; a flannel shirt and a pair of slick tan workman pants, accompanied by a worn out pair of boot, that even from a distance they could tell were beginning to fall apart. His clothes were ripped and torn and his main of auburn hair glowing in the morning sun, was going wild as he twisted and turned, avoiding the heavy handed strikes of the three figures closing in on him from all sides. What really caught his attention, however, was the long rod the guy held in his hand, which he immediately recognized as a spear, but not of any design he had ever seen in the Legion. There was that, and the long shaft of an arrow sticking out of his leg, though it was evident it had been partially broken off. Even more surprising was the fact that despite his injuried leg and the clear size difference of about thrice, the guy was parrying and even striking at the three with ease. The three, lumbering, one-eyed beasts that he knew too well.
He wanted to rush from his spot, dodging the lanes of traffic and come to the aid of this strange guy, as he knew full well that those beasts weren't going to be dying any time soon, and their stamina would last far longer than the Spear-Guy on the hill. However, he never even got the chance. In what he could only call some sort of strange coincidence, the stranger must've had the idea he was being watched and turned his head for to make eye contact with himself, and even though the distance was large, he could feel his body involunteerily tensing up from the brief contact. Likely assuming he had a better chance with the highway and the two legionnaires, he decided to make a decisive move. With all the grace of a professional pitcher, not that Alec himself was any expert, he watched the guy wind up his Spear are and loose it from his hand with such a force that it effortlessly pierce straight through the chest of one of the Cyclopes, pinning it to a tree. His jaw would've likely dropped from the sight if he had not realized the guy was now unarmed facing two Cyclopes. And he knew it would no doubt be three soon enough once the other Cyclopes relieved himself of the Spear and rejoined the fight.
Though, it would seem the show wasn't quite over yet and if the previous act had caused his mouth to drop, what he witnessed next most certainly did. At least that's how Frank would explain his reaction later on.
No doubt enraged by seeing one of their brethern skewered, the middle of the three Cyclopes rushed at the guy on the will, bringing down a large club on wood towards him like a hammer towards an anvil. All he could do was wait with baited breath for the blow to drive the poor guy up to his neck in the Earth, but it seemed he had other plans in mind. In a simple swift movement he watched as the guy stepped inside of the Cyclopes relatively open guard, and rather than simply dodge the blow, reached up and grabbed the arm of the Cyclopes, stop the blow mid swing with a resounding burst of wind that rippled out through the hill with enough power that it ruffled the hair of the two watching Legionnaires. In the next movement he drove an elbow deep into the gut off the Cyclopes causing him to topple over. Such a move seemed to stun the third Cyclopes just as much as the two boys down below, who all looked towards the first Cyclopes the Spear-guy had engaged, only to find him still pinned to the tree with a look of anguish painted on it's face, as it slowly slumped down to a sitting position, spear still lodged through it's chest and tree.
Seemingly not wishes to waste his window of opportunity the Spear-Guy began to rush down the hill, haphazardly, eventually catching himself on a root and tumbling a good thirty or forty feet down the side of the hill. As his already tired form crashed against tree, and shrub, and rock alike, the two sentries could do little else but grimace at the new bruises they were sure the guy would have upon waking up in the morning. And that wasn't even counting the arrow still lodged in his leg and what were no doubt other injuries he had acquired from who knows how long of being chased by Cyclopes through the forests of California.
They had half expected the guy to simply lay still once he rolled to a stop at the edge of the highway, but they should've known better from a guy they had just watched hold off a Cyclopes, unarmed and injured. Instead they merely watched as he slowly pushed himself up from the ground, taking deep breathes. Even despite his condition his eyes were still locked with Alec's own, but he now realized he wasn't simply look at him but at the door beyond him. He shouldn't have been surprised he could see it, given he had just been fighting Cyclopes of all things. But for somewhere a nagging feeling in the back of his mind told him something about that was wrong. He pushed such thoughts out of his mind as he watched the figure of the man cross the lanes of highway with surprising speed considering his fatigued condition and bandaged leg. Thus, he wasn't the least surprised when the guy simply collapsed into his arms upon reaching the other side of the highway. Not wanting to waste time, seeing as the other Cyclopes was busy attempting to save his impaled friend, to little avail he might add, they hurried inside the protective walls of the entrance to New Rome. With the collapsed guy now on his back, Alec turned to his friend with a smile.
"So...You want to explain this one to Command, or should I?"
So that's Chapter 2, and it's definitely a lot longer than the first one. The next few chapters will probably be closer to the length of the first one, and mainly focusing on Ardal's time at Camp Jupiter [Percy has yet to arrive, but will soon] and Tanya and Elin getting used to their stay at Camp Half-Blood amidst suspicion from Annabeth and Nico.
The story lines involving the Hunters and Mr. Sunglasses will make appearances occasionally, but for the moment they're more on the back-burner and will see less development as they're not super relevant...For now...
Quick notes: 1). Uploading once a week is a bit tough, with work and such, but I'll try to keep it up for at least a little. 2). No, Ardal will not be a part of Percy's Quest, and said quest won't really be focused on. But the two will interact.