Today's second update- which features Percy proving that while she may be a chaotic dumbass she is not, in fact, stupid, also featuring our favourite giant puppy and Clarisse, who gives pretty good advice it turns out.
Percy let out a breath at that, "Ah, I might be able to help with that."
"Oh?" Chiron raised an eyebrow, "And how do you plan on helping?"
"I had a dream last night- if it was night, I dunno I kinda fell asleep while talking to dad. Anyway, I had a dream about Theseus and Ariadne. Of her giving him the string and Daedalus' advice... and of her leading him through the Labyrinth-"
"Leading him-" Chiron frowned, "What do you mean?"
"She was clear sighted." Percy explained, "She got Theseus through the Labyrinth-"
"Wait-" Annabeth's eyes widened, snapping towards Rachel, "Are you saying what I think you're saying."
"That's what Lady Hera meant. I already had the key to getting through the Labyrinth we just didn't know it-"
"Why are you looking at me?" Rachel's eyes narrowed, flicking between the two of them before they widened, "Oh." she blinked, "Oooh. You want- you guys want me to come with you?"
"We need you to-"
"Of course." Chiron leaned forward slightly, "It makes sense. Of course."
"I-" Annabeth looked hesitant for a moment as she stared at Rachel before she nodded. "Fine. It does make sense. Rachel will you come with us-"
"I mean- of course." Rachel looked incredibly nervous, "But I'm not a fighter-"
"I dunno, you have a mean throw." Percy smiled teasingly as she nudged her gently. "You're pretty badass-"
"It's true, I remember that time when you chased me around the house with Percy's shoe- it was scary."
"You kept calling me Merida, you had it coming." but Rachel looked slightly less nervous.
"Well, this is a good development at least." Chiron looked relieved, "At least we know that you'll be less likely to get lost travelling through the Labyrinth." he paused, "I suppose it could very well be a good thing that Quintus left when he did-"
"Quintus is gone?" Percy asked quickly, "When did he leave?"
"Three days ago. In the middle of the night, we believe he went into the Labyrinth." Chiron explained, "It appears he was a spy. We were lucky he left before you returned and recruited Rachel or Alabaster would likely try and find a clear sighted mortal"
"I forgot about the Ranch." Annabeth's voice was filled with guilt, "I forgot until he'd already left- I'm sorry-"
"Wait." Percy shook her head, "That- that doesn't feel right- Quintus knows."
"What?"
"Quintus told me that it's not the object that's special but-" she froze- her eyes going wide as a memory of her dream hit her- "Oh gods."
"What is it?" Luke frowned, "Percy you look like you've seen a ghost."
"People are more special than objects." different phrasing- Ariadne had phrased it differently, that was why Percy hadn't made the connection before. "Oh shit-"
"Percy-"
"He's-" Percy pulled away from Annabeth and Rachel, "Of course- of course it makes so much sense-"
"What does, Percy-" Annabeth's voice was confused, "Have you figured out something about Quintus?"
"He's your brother." Percy breathed out, "Annabeth- Quintus is Daedalus. That's how he knew so much that's why he was so weird-"
"Oh gods." Chiron sucked in a sharp breath, "Are you saying-"
"He was in camp all this time. And if he's gone into the Labyrinth-"
"He's gone to give Alabaster the string." Annabeth breathed. "We have to go after him-"
"We'll never catch up to him, even with Rachel." Percy's voice was tight, "Gods he knows the Labyrinth better than anyone it's his Labyrinth."
"But how?" Annabeth breathed out, "He- how is he still alive-"
"He stole his nephew's idea." Percy whispered, "Perdix- oh gods- but- he wasn't sure. When we spoke he wasn't sure-"
"Why help you." Chiron's gaze focused on Percy, "Why help at all if he was considering betraying us?"
"I don't know." Percy shook her head, "I don't know-"
"Let's just calm down-" Sally's expression shifted to concern, "Slow down a moment." she pulled away from Leo and moved to Percy, laying her hands on Percy's shoulder, "Breath honey." she very gently squeezed Percy's shoulders. "Look at me and breath. It's been a stressful day. You don't have to know
everything-"
"Your mom's right." Annabeth spoke up after a moment, "We can take a break for an hour and we'll figure out what to do after that."
"I think that would be a good idea." Chiron agreed. "Percy- I wonder if you'd be willing to go to the arena-"
"Chiron-" Annabeth frowned, "If I couldn't do it-"
"Quintus seems to have left Mrs. O'Leary-"
"What?" Percy blinked, "But he loves that dog-"
"And yet he has." Chiron shook his head, "She won't allow anyone approach, and I did not have the heart to force it into a cage. From what I was told you and Annabeth got closer to her than anyone else. Annabeth wasn't able to approach but I was hoping perhaps you would be able to."
"Right." Percy nodded slowly, "I- I can go down there and try-"
"Do you want us to come?" Rachel asked quickly.
"No." Percy shook her head, "I'll head down there alone. My head's kinda spinning right now. I think I need to clear my head."
"Are you sure?" Annabeth's expression was concerned, "If- if you don't want us there I guess we could go and pack ready to leave again."
"Should I pack too?" Leo asked hesitantly. "Do you still need me-"
"Yes." Percy nodded, "You're smart, inventive- when we find Daedalus' workshop you might find some useful stuff-"
"That does sound pretty cool." Leo admitted after a moment of thought. "I'll go pack."
And just like that the meeting seemed to be over, and Sally kissed Percy on the top of her head before Percy headed off to the arena, and sure enough when she arrived Mrs O'Lear was curled up in an enormous furry black mound in the middle of the stadium chewing halfheartedly on the head of a warrior dummy.
Percy approached slowly and Mrs. O'Leary lifted her head suddenly, barking loudly when she turned to look in Percy's direction after sniffing in the air- and then she was bounding towards Percy- and for a second she thought the worse before she was being bowled over and the huge dog was licking her face.
She let out a noise that was a cross between a yelp and a laugh, covering her face with her hands- getting dog saliva all over the jacket Drew had given her- she'd have to make sure to wash it properly later.
"Woah girl!" Percy pulled a face, "I can't breath girl, lemme up!"
This did not seem to do much good, the hellhound just seemed to get more excited, licking Percy even more.
"Mrs. O'Leary." Percy's voice was firmer the second time, "Stop!" and the giant dog stopped, whining slightly as she stepped back and Percy pushed herself up so that she was sitting, "That's right girl." her eyes were wide as she stared at the hellhound- which was listening to her. "Sit girl." and the ground almost shook when Mrs. O'Leary's butt hit the ground- but she was listening, and Percy got to her feet carefully, reaching up- and the god lowered her head so that Percy could scratch her between her ears. "There we go." her voice was soft, soothing. "It's okay girl, you just gotta calm down a little bit," she shifted, pressing her face against the soft fur covering Mrs O'Learys face. "I don't see why anyone would be scared of you girl- have you been trying to scare them all off?"
Mrs O'Leary whined and Percy frowned.
"I wish I could talk to you like I can talk to horses girl. You can't just growl at everyone who comes close. What's wrong huh?" she paused, "Unless- do you miss him? You miss Daedalus don't you girl? How would anyone leave you behind like this?" she could feel the tension easing from her shoulders as she soothed the big dog. She felt better than she had done for a while. "I bet you're scared too. He left you all alone didn't he?" she felt sorry for the huge dog- she wasn't so bad really- though she wondered why no one else could get close- Mrs O'Leary didn't seem that bad to her. But from what they'd said even
Annabeth couldn't get close and she hadn't minded Annabeth fussing her before they'd left on their quest.
"You're lucky she didn't bite your head off." the familiar voice had Percy spinning around quickly, her eyes wide as she focused on Clarisse- she was still pale, and skinnier than she probably should be, but she looked better than she had when Percy had last seen her.
The daughter of Ares was standing at the other end of the arena with her sword and shield. "I came here to practice yesterday- Chiron insisted I leave Chris and Will for a couple of hours. The damn dog tried to chew me up."
"She clearly has good taste. She likes me just fine-"
"Real funny." Clarisse gave a very faint smile as she walked towards them- and Mrs. O'Leary growled- and Percy frowned.
"Bad girl." Percy's voice was chiding, "Clarisse is a friend- kind of. No eating her." and Mrs O'Leary actually whined at that, butting her head against Percy's side, but she let Clarisse approach.
"The stupid hellhound wont keep me from practising." she muttered, "Seems like you have her under control."
"I don't know how." Percy admitted, "She likes me I guess-"
"Terrible taste." Clarisse shot back as she paced a circle around the arena. "But- I'm glad you didn't blow yourself up. That'd be a dumb way for you to die- though- knowing you..."
"Nah, I'll get killed in a much more badass fashion-"
"More badass than blowing up a volcano-"
"I- true." Percy let out a faint laugh before she faltered. "How are Will and Chris."
"Nothing Chiron is doing is working on either of them," Clarisse's voice was tight, "They're both getting weaker and weaker and there's nothing I can do to
help them. Give me something to beat up and I can do it all day but-"
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Clarisse-"
"Yeah, well. Sometimes things go wrong." Her voice was shaky. "Heroes get hurt. They…they die, and the monsters just keep coming back. I just- I thought Chris would be fine when he escaped- I thought letting myself get captured would buy us time- and Will- he only got hurt because they came to look for me."
"It wasn't your fault."
"I know that." Clarisse growled the words, "That doesn't make it suck any less." she glanced at Percy, eyeing her for a long moment- and she must have seen something in Percy's face because she stopped, turning to look at Percy for a long moment, "Something's on your mind Jackson. What is it?"
"Your- when Alabaster captured you-"
Clarisse tensed, "What about it?"
"Were you scared?"
And Clarisse stared at Percy in silence for several minutes before she spoke. "Okay. Before I say anything you've got to swear never to repeat anything I say right now."
"I swear."
Clarisse's shoulders slumped slightly and after a moment she spoke again. "Of course I was scared. I had no weapons, no way to defend myself- he kept me locked in this tiny room, only came to see me in person a couple of times but... .yeah, I was scared- one time I tried to attack him, claw his eyes out and-"
"And you couldn't." Percy finished quietly, "No matter how hard you tried you didn't even leave a mark."
There was a moment of silence and then Clarisse let out a breath that she'd been holding. "Well fuck. How long?"
"About a week. I was asleep for the first couple of days."
"How did you get out?"
"A daughter of Aphrodite. She broke me out."
"And I bet you got a lot more personal attention than I did." Clarisse moved forward- faltering when Mrs O'Leary growled protectively, though when Percy soothed her Clarisse was able to finish her approach and lay a hand on Percy's shoulder. "Being held like that was fucking terrifying Percy. Probably even more for you than for me given your history with the bastard."
"I-" Percy swallowed hard, "I couldn't even hurt him- nothing I did worked but he- he could hurt me just fine-"
"Don't let him win Jackson." Clarisse's voice was gruff, "You're one of the strongest people I've ever known- and if you tell anyone I said that I will murder you. Don't let him break you."
"Clarisse-"
"Seriously Jackson." Clarisse shook her head, "I get it. I- there were moments I wished he'd just kill me and get it over with. I felt powerless. But you know what? I am better than him- and so are you. So you never ever let him win. You hear? You deal with what happened- it traumatized you- fine, work though it- no matter how long it takes but do not let it break you. And Percy- don't be ashamed okay. I get it- I really do. But- don't be ashamed. Silena helped me work on that. If you keep it all bottled up it won't end well. You and Annabeth- you're the most ridiculously perfect couple in camp. Don't hide it from her or Chiron."
"Thank you." Percy gave Clarisse a small smile. "Thank you so much-"
"Besides- I'd like to see him get near you with your new pet-"
"Mrs O'Leary isn't mine Clarisse-"
"Hm." Clarisse snorted, "Seems like she might disagree."
And Percy blinked, watching as Clarisse got to work hacking up the dummies, and she turned her head to look at the giant dog.
"Are you-" she faltered, "Are you mine girl?"
And Mrs O'Leary's only response was to lick Percy's face and let out a happy bark.