The cot was not very forgiving on Percy's back.

He groaned as he sat up, the morning bell ringing in his ears as other members of the Fifth Cohort arose from their slumber. Percy wiped at his face, trying to wipe away the general feeling of disgust that falls after a long sleep. He had waited to sleep until after the emergency Senate meeting and his subsequent meeting with Reyna, and his body hadn't appreciated that - his body had been exhausted. But while he felt a bit grimy, he felt much more refreshed.

After the last day, he needed it.

His thoughts turned towards the dreams and experiences in Thrace of his past sleep travels. He hadn't expected to just… tell Aika that he was a time traveler. Well, that seemed to be the closest approximation to whatever he was doing, at least. But straight-up telling her seemed like a very sudden thing, and yet it felt perfectly natural to say. In hindsight, Percy didn't really understand why he was apprehensive at all.

The thing that bothered him was meeting Zoë Nightshade, and the implications of the rest of his dreams. She seemed nice enough, certainly; but the dreams of him as a younger teenager interacting with her on what seemed to be a quest, in the modern day…

That really pissed him off.

Younger Percy didn't have the experiences of Current Percy. Zoë was dropping hints left and right that she knew him in the past - asking about the Mare, whispering about seeing him again - and why would the younger Percy know any better? He hadn't experienced any of the time Percy spent in ancient Greece yet. He wouldn't have met Zoë yet.

And Zoë died without being able to reconnect with him. That's what hurt the most. She clearly remembered him from her old days, and Percy couldn't imagine what it must be like, to have an old friend not remember you. To not recognize you. zoë died trying to find her friend again, and Percy didn't know until now.

A whisper of a memory, lost in the loud cacophony of the world's sounds.

It was unfair. A terrible loop had emerged; Percy knew Zoë in Thrace, and Zoë knew Percy in the modern day. But neither remembered each other.

It was a cruel joke. Oh, the Fates could be dicks.

Percy ran a hand through his hair, sinking back into his pillow. His interpretations of his dreams, and the content of his dreams themselves, were getting far too heavy for him to balance. His life was just one cruel trick from the Gods, wasn't it; dropped in the middle of a new world with no memory, cursed to live in two times at once, friends dying before he can find them. He wished there was a way… wait.

And, Percy… I wish I could see thee again… come find me when thee wake.

Percy jerked back up into a sitting position. His hands clutched the bedsheets, eyes open. His breath had caught a little bit as he realized the gravity of that quote.

Come find me.

zoë knew she was going to die, and still told Percy to find her. Did he have to go to the underworld? Where was zoë now?

Could he save her?

Percy needed his dreams to come faster, his memories to return. He knew that whatever happened after her final words in his dream, it would clue him in to where zoë was. Hopefully he would find out soon. He needed that information.

She knew who he was, and that made her important to him.

Percy's musings were interrupted by Frank, who stood in a way to block the light from the window, his shadow falling over Percy's eyes. He was visibly nervous; his legs seemed a bit unsteady, his clothes were thrown on hastily, his hand rested on his sword. He had a purple sweatshirt over a similarly purple t-shirt on, a pair of cargo shorts on as well.

"Let's go, Percy. We leave for the quest soon." Frank's voice was wavering. He was nervous. He had only come into Camp recently, after what was likely a traumatizing journey down south from Canada to get here. Who knows what monsters had attacked him. The outside world wasn't a particularly kind place to demigods, and if the world was like how Frank remembered it… no wonder he was nervous.

Percy swung his sheets to the side, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed as he reached for a shirt on the aligning cabinet. "Frank. Don't let your fears get to you - no monster got shit on us, yeah?"

Frank gave a shaky nod. The newly christened son of Mars was in no way battle ready, but Percy was confident he'd find his proper footing soon. A child of a war god had to be a quick learner in the art of war, right?

Fingers crossed, at least.

Percy leapt out of bed, ready for a journey. He may have spent a hell of a lot of time walking over the past few days, but it didn't bother him. It must have had to do with his ADHD, as Frank had called it. He constantly was looking for new things to do, new challenges to overcome - a quest was just an extended period of motivation and stimulation, as far as he assumed. Percy looked forward to that. A lot.

His companion turned to start heading to New Rome, grabbing a packed bag off his cot, slinging it over his shoulder. Percy looked around at his meager belongings, grabbing Heracleia out of the table drawer. He patted his pocket, ensuring Anaklusmos remained with him, and felt the pen dance around at his touch. It brimmed with energy, and Percy felt happy just to be with it once more.

Percy stuffed the book into his backpack, loaned to him by a vendor in New Rome the previous night. He had some extra clothes, camping supplies, snacks, and some godly food. He also had a scroll of introduction and a silver ring that Reyna had given him the previous night, after the emergency session of the Senate.

Work with me, Percy. For the future of this camp, let's work together.

According to Reyna, the scroll would help them get help if they ran into any former legionnaires, and the ring… Well, hopefully the Amazons wouldn't flay him alive.

On to Seattle, Percy supposed. He shuddered, thinking of what could be there.

Percy stood tall once more, turning to exit the barracks with Frank, before he stopped. Frank was looking at the spear, given to him by his father. It lay across the mattress in front of him, and he seemed conflicted. He stepped up next to him, staying quiet. The spear seemed to gleam in the morning light, while the dragon tooth shined with power.

"I… I didn't want to be who I am… that spear is a constant reminder. I don't need to notice it with every step I take." Frank had a note of distaste leaking through his lips, like a poison seeping through the veins.

He didn't like Mars. At all.

Percy could tell, and hoped the residual anti-Mars feelings wouldn't impair his judgment while on the quest. But he grabbed the shaft of the spear, handing it to Frank, whose eyebrow was quirked up.

"Well, you aren't him! You're your own guy, who cares what he thinks? Let's go free Death and rub it in his face!" Percy started laughing, while Frank gave a shy smile before grabbing the weapon. The duo set off for the city limits.

The whole camp was buzzing. Demigods and legacies were darting about, readying themselves. The quest had many people hopeful, but as far as camp was concerned, this was pre-wartime. Food needed assorting, swords needed sharpening, resources allotted. Percy could see a wall being constructed on the banks of the Little Tiber, readying for the possible collapse of the camp's defenses.

Percy could see some dirty looks sent their way as they entered the city limits, remembering the chaotic atmosphere of the emergency Senate session after the end of the War Games. In the aftermath of Octavian's arrest and the declaration of Mars, much of the First Cohort seemed hesitant to throw their support behind them - they were nothing but loyal to their fellow Firsts, and some thought the events of the previous evening had been greatly exaggerated. They didn't trust Percy as far as they could throw him.

Still others were wary of the sudden good fortune that had happened since Percy had arrived. His powers, parentage, and attention had been intimidating to a lot of senators, and Octavian's arrest within a day of his arrival seemed suspicious to them.

The lares constantly calling him a graecus certainly didn't help matters either.

"Frank!"

It was Hazel, waving over to them. She was dressed for travel, her bag packed to the brim with warm clothes and other necessary supplies. She had a pair of blue jeans over a pair of hiking boots, a deep purple sweatshirt hiding her dagger's holster. She held her sword, using it like a walking stick as she stood, likely waiting for them. Percy hoped they hadn't kept her waiting too long.

"Hey, Haze." Frank pulled up next to Hazel, a genuine smile on his face. That smile turned to one of confusion and panic as Hazel leaned forward, engulfing him in a hug. Like he didn't know what to do.

Percy chuckled. He probably didn't know what to do.

She stepped back, pointing at Frank. "Frank, head over to the market around the corner - the Senate wouldn't give us much, but we at least get some free rations."

She turned her golden eyes towards Percy. "And Percy… Reyna asked for you. At Octavian's cell."

Percy gulped. "Oh boy."

"Good luck, Percy. See you soon!" Hazel waved as Percy took a right, headed down towards the golden-domed senate building. There wasn't a full prison anywhere in Camp, but there was a small collection of detention cells underneath the senate floor. As of now, Octavian was the only one to have been kept in a cell in nearly fifteen years.

Hopefully Octavian wasn't completely speaking in riddles today.

He reached the dusty, shoddy door that led to the cells, pushing it open with a loud creak. The spiderwebs were plentiful, and there was considerable rust, even on the door handle. It was not a pleasant atmosphere. Reyna's voice cut through the oppressive mood, a cold tone dropping the temperature another five degrees.

"Come in, Percy."

Percy stepped into the detention wing, the dank air clinging to his skin. He told himself to take a shower as soon as possible. A spider crawled over his shoe, making him shiver just a tiny bit. He wasn't Athena's kid, but spiders weren't exactly a gift to Earth either. He reflexively kicked the spider off his foot, before scanning the room.

His eyes fell on the furthest cell - Octavian sat on the bench, his head down, hands clasped together over his lap. Reyna stood directly across from him, barely past the bars, staring daggers at Octavian, who would not meet her eyes, staring at his hands.

Percy stepped up, next to Reyna, who didn't move. Percy was aware of the insinuation that Reyna was making by calling him - this was them working together. This was his trial for becoming the next praetor; the Camp looked towards the quest, but Reyna looked towards this interrogation. This was his test as much as it was a necessary interrogation.

"He won't say anything to me. Give it a shot?" Reyna maintained her cold demeanor, unwilling to waver in front of the attempted murderer. She flicked her eyes over to him, waiting for his response.

Percy nodded. He grabbed his water bottle, holding it in his left hand as he brought his right palm skyward. The water floated through the neck of the bottle, balling into a sphere pulsating with energy over his hand. Reyna's eyes widened for a fraction of a second, but neatly schooled her features back to a calm facade. Octavian didn't move.

He splayed his fingers, water streaming forward from each of his digits, narrow streams winding through the air between the bars of Octavian's cell. The streams coagulated in front of Octavian, forming a hand of liquid, which cupped the prisoner's chin, forcing his head upwards. Percy locked eyes with him.

"Octavian."

The prisoner's eyes shone with unrequited hatred. Percy needed to get to the bottom of this.

"Reyna, can you give us some privacy here? I think this… augur has some private words for me."

She nodded, slightly miffed at Percy's request, but understanding nonetheless. Percy didn't take his eyes away from his attacker the whole time, while Reyna's footsteps echoed through the room. No sound was made until the door slammed shut following her exit.

The two stared at each other. Neither spoke.

Tension.

Octavian unclasped his hands, pushing up from the bench to stand. Percy withdrew the water from his chin, bringing it back to his outstretched hand. Octavian stepped forward, slowly, machine-like, steady.

He came to a stop nary six inches from the bars, face-to-face with Percy. The augur may have been scrawny, but his features seemed more gaunt than anything, like Voldemort rather than a scarecrow. His blonde hair held an unseeming quality to it, sticking to his forehead. His skin was pale. Octavian wasn't healthy, that was obvious.

Octavian raised his head, locking eyes with Percy, letting loose a wicked smile as he stared into Percy's eyes.

"Son of the sea god… leaving so soon?"

Percy didn't react. "You know why we have to, Octavian."

Octavian smirked. "I know… so much, Percy Jackson. Things you wouldn't believe. But you will."

Percy clenched his fist. "You don't know shit."

Octavian didn't move, that annoying smirk permanent on his face. "Oh, but I know, Percy Jackson. I know your future. I've seen it, and I've read about it. I've seen your future in your past, and your past in your future. I know you better than you know yourself."

Percy changed topics. "What's in the book you were reading?"

Octavian's tirade continued, ignoring the question. "I know…" he drew the word out, the vowel lasting more than a full second, "...what it is you are searching for. I know who she is. I know what you will do. I know, and I won't tell you. I do not control fate - I had my chance, and I missed. It's out of my hands now. But I know when the next juncture is. I know the next time you might die."

The water in Percy's hand shimmered in restlessness. "You're lying. You don't know shit."

Octavian stepped back once, not out of fear, but signaling the conversation was nearly over. "This camp will survive what is coming. I can't say the same about you."

"Oh, shut up, Octavian! I'm trying to save people, what would I try to destroy?! I want my friends to live well, not be slaughtered in some god-awful war!"

Octavian stared directly into Percy's eyes. "Exactly. Your destruction will start when your friends fall."

Percy stepped back.

"Whatever, Octavian. Death cannot remain un- "

Octavian let loose a laugh. "Death?! You think you know death, Percy Jackson? You do not know death. I know you don't." He moved next to his bench, preparing to sit.

Percy was quiet for a moment, before smiling, staring into Octavian's eyes. "That's where you're wrong, Octavian. I've already died - this is my second life."

Percy turned, walking away, letting the water splash on the floor. Octavian was being deliberately obtuse, and Percy was just wasting time that could be used to head north. He wasn't worth the time of day.

As Percy reached the door, reaching out for the rusty knob, Octavian spoke once more, his voice haunting.

"Percy Jackson… beware the River Styx. You won't like it."

Percy slammed the door without responding. He wasn't happy.

Reyna stood on the other side of the door, arms crossed. Her black hair was messy, while her clothes were rumpled; she barely looked like she had slept recently, and Percy had a feeling she hadn't. She rubbed her eyes, scanning Percy's face.

"No luck, huh?"

Percy nodded. "That asshole really knows how to get under my skin. Damnit." Percy walked up the stairs, anxious to put some difference between him and the augur. Reyna joined him in step, walking with Percy before he left north - to Alaska, as Hazel had deduced.

Reyna was nervous. Percy could feel it, the nervousness radiating from Reyna. She did a good job of hiding it, and he doubted most of her constituents could tell. But he knew the feeling.

And he understood it. An invasion felt imminent over the next week or two. The dark clouds were rolling into the valley, and the immediate fortification efforts of the camp were weighing down Reyna. Everyone in the Camp was her responsibility - her sole responsibility too, given Jason's disappearance. He hoped she could last long enough for Percy and the quest to succeed.

"Percy… stay safe, ok?"

He nodded, looking at the praetor. "I will Reyna. I'll be back. Promise."

Reyna sighed. "Don't make a promise. It'll hurt more if you fail."

Percy gave a small smile, before giving her a quick hug. "I can't afford to fail."

With that, he walked off, eager to find Frank and Hazel and get going on their journey. He sent a quick wave and a smile back to Reyna, before jogging off. It was time to get going on this damn adventure.

Reyna hadn't moved.

"Thence mayst thou pass to where the better gate of horn o'ercomes the envious ivory, and in the semblance of a dream teach me what thou wert wont to teach."

Silvae, Publius Papinius Statius

It had taken the new questers about two-and-a-half hours to get to Alameda. Percy had convinced the Roman Senate to lend them a ship from their navy, so the trip to the docks was the first necessary stop. It had been a rather quiet trip, something Percy was thankful for - no monsters, no delays, nothing. Just a quick train ride and some walking.

The trio had disguised as much as they could. Frank had stored his weapons in a long bag, similar to one hockey players would use for their gear, while Hazel's sword was wrapped up in a bedroll. All three had personal backpacks, stuffed to the brim with food and supplies. They just looked like they were on a camping trip, and combined with the Mist's interference, no one batted an eye.

As they approached the docks, Percy breathed in the salty air. He felt fully alive once more - the sea air reinvigorated him, a burst of energy filling his body. He was confident, something that was missing in a lot of people nowadays.

"See anything guys?" He was scanning the moored boats, trying to find something unique - maybe a trireme, or some mythical Roman craft. He saw nothing.

"Hey, Percy?" Hazel spoke up. "Do you… do you think it's that?"

She had pointed towards a rowboat. Sure, it had a tarp over it, purple with S.P.Q.R. emblazoned on it, but it was just a rowboat. An absolutely filthy, aged, peeling rowboat, one that looked like it hadn't been touched in thirty years.

"Well… shit." Frank didn't seem very enthused with the given vessel. And Percy wasn't particularly happy either - would he be able to pilot it easily? Absolutely. But the level of protection wasn't really present.

"We'll have to make due, guys. Give me a sec."

Percy pointed at the boat, dipping into his demigod skillset. Something within him called to him, speaking to him. The ocean was his domain, so wouldn't ships fit that domain? As soon as he pointed, the ship started cleaning itself. The water that had flooded the rowboat jumped out, leaving a fully dry flat bottom. The garbage leapt out of the boat, landing on the dock. The paint job stopped peeling, the barnacles fell off, and soon enough it looked shiny new.

He turned, looking back at his questmates. Both sets of eyebrows were raised, and Percy laughed.

"Show-off," Hazel muttered.

Percy helped stabilize the boat, calming the waters on the sides for Frank and Hazel to step in and load up their gear. As he took one last breath on the dock, staring at the sun rays peeking through the clouds, a voice rolled over him.

Are you sure, young hero? You'd be safe at camp, I promise.

Percy whipped his head around, searching for a speaker. He saw nothing - no people, no vibrations, nothing. The voice just echoed in his mind from nothing.

You step on that boat, and your life will just be pain and misery. I can guarantee it. Step in and you become my pawn.

Percy held his head. "Shut the fuck up, whoever you are."

The voice laughed in his head. Good luck, Perseus.

"Percy? You good?" It was Frank, whose face painted a feeling of concern. Hazel mirrored his reaction.

Percy nodded, stepping into the rowboat. "Sorry, someone was talking to me. I think… I'm not going to say her name. But our enemy."

He shook his head, clearing it of the confusing thoughts coursing through his head. As much as he wanted safety, he couldn't waste time - he needed his memory, and he needed to save the Camp. He didn't buy Gaea's promises for a second.

"Let's get going."

In no time, they were speeding north, hugging the coast. It was freeing, truly - being able to wherever they wanted, however fast. The ocean was free, wild, and uncontrollable - just how Percy liked it.

Free if you ignore the capture of Thanatos, of course.

Soon enough, the rowboat became a speedboat. Percy kept his powers at work almost subconsciously, clearing the waves in front until the ocean seemed like glass. The rowboat sped up to 70 knots, facing nearly no wave resistance and with the power of Poseidon behind it. He could see Frank and Hazel initially get worried about the speeds they were going at, but the lack of any kind of violent motion or harmful spray put those fears to rest quickly.

Soon, the three relaxed. Frank popped open a can of Pepsi, while Percy somehow had a blue Coke. Hazel grabbed an iced tea, and soon the three were lounging against the benches.

After a good hour or so of laughing about Terminus and War Games the others had participated in, Hazel was the first to bring up what Percy assumed might have been the elephant in the room.

"So, Percy… Did Octavian say why he tried to kill you?"

Percy sighed. "Well, I've had a weird few days and… and Octavian seems to know more than he tells me. He keeps flaunting about how he knows my future, and knows some… other things about me. And he thinks that when you put what he sees together, I'll be the end of the world."

"Do you know, like, how you might do that?" Frank seemed baffled. "There's got to be some context, right?"

Percy thought about it. He felt comfortable telling Aika about his traveling, but they were far from the Olympians' attention. But here, on a sanctioned quest for the Olympians issued by an irrational war god… Percy would tell them another time.

"I really don't know. He keeps talking in riddles. The only thing that seemed to be genuine at all today was a warning about the River Styx."

Hazel shuddered. That was a shudder of recognition, Percy knew it. Had she been to the Underworld? It was certainly possible being a child of Pluto, but he hadn't heard about her making it down there at all.

Frank seemed confused. "Like, in the Underworld? Because we aren't going there, right? Alaska is scary enough."

He shrugged. "No idea. I think the Underworld is south, anyway."

Hazel raised her eyebrow. "What makes you think that?"

Percy blanked.

Huh.

"I… don't know."

Where had that come from?

Percy leaned back, taking a long swig of his blue soda. That was new.

New information! Percy was always a fan of that. He had a feeling his intuition wasn't just random, but was informed by his missing memories. And if that was true, that meant there was just a mental block, not complete erasure of his memory. He'd get them back, he just needed to break the block.

Interesting.

Now, he didn't really know how to go about it himself. But he'd be on the lookout, certainly. Maybe somebody they met on the quest, perhaps an Amazon, could help? Percy didn't really know where to look.

Percy brought his attention back to the present. Frank and Hazel were talking about Pop Tarts or something equally ridiculous, and Percy coughed to draw their attention. He brought out a map from his backpack, one with a couple spots marked already.

"Ok, planning time real quick. So, we're going to Seattle, that's part of a side quest from Reyna with the Amazons. We've got… somewhere in Alaska too, even if we don't know where exactly. Anywhere else to add?"

Frank put up a hand. "Well, my Grandma lives in Vancouver, so we could stop there?"

Percy cocked his eyebrow. "Your grandma? She's… she doesn't live in New Rome?"

"Yeah?" Frank seemed confused. "She doesn't have to, it isn't required or anything."

"Huh," Percy shrugged. "I thought if you had any family they'd live with you there. Just didn't expect it. But yeah we can definitely - "

He paused.

There was something in the water.

Hazel was alarmed. "Percy? What is it?"

He willed the boat to start heading inland. Whatever it was, it was big.

And coming up from below.

Fast.

Percy stood up. "Grab your bags, we gotta go. Now!" He practically barked the last order.

Hazel and Frank rushed around the boat, slinging their bags over their shoulders, before looking to Percy. The boat sped up, touching 80 knots, gunning for the shore. Percy could see a beach of black sand straight ahead.

But whatever was underneath them, it was advancing too fast.

"On my count, jump overboard! Monster underneath us. Swim to shore as fast as you fucking can!" Frank and Hazel nodded their heads frantically.

"Three!"

It was huge. Percy could tell from the water displacement that it wouldn't be an easy fight in the slightest, if they were forced to face it.

"Two!"

The water around the boat started visibly sloshing, whitecaps choppy against the navy blue sea.

"Never mind, NOW!"

Shit, he fucked that countdown up.

Hazel was slow to jump. She wasn't ready for the sudden change in the countdown, and it cost her. Hazel lost her grip on her bag, sending her backpack far into the air. And Hazel herself was sent flailing into the air, crashing into the water.

The boat splintered, an explosion of force sending small pieces of wood into the air like a grenade explosion. The head of a massive sea turtle burst from the surface, the leathery skin of the head radiating anger and hunger in the afternoon air. The turtle's green eyes were a sick green, and Percy could tell there was murderous intent.

Big angry turtle. Got it.

Percy could feel Hazel not moving, starting to sink. Shit.

He uncapped Anaklusmos before channeling his power, a tug in his gut accompanying a pillar of water rising underneath his feet. It helped to get a lay of the land.

The turtle really was massive. Its head rivaled the size of Hannibal the elephant, a being Percy only saw on the Via Praetoria (he had heard it was sometimes used in War Games, and Percy shuddered to think of how it could be used then). The shell of this monstrous creature had to have been a quarter of a mile wide. It was doom-inspiring.

FOOD.

And it was hungry, apparently.

He could see Frank, beelining it to the beach, swimming like his life depends on it. Well, it did, so that made sense.

Percy scanned the water, trying to find Hazel. As he scanned, he located her body, adrift in the water. Unconscious.

And the turtle was making a beeline for her.

FOOD!

Fuck.

Percy leaped off his pillar, summoning a wave to push him as fast as he could to Hazel. He dove towards the water, the wave's momentum providing him with enough power to jet through the water, nearly the speed of sound, pushing water behind him from his soles like a rocket booster. He glided over the turtle's shell, reaching out, racing to beat the turtle to Hazel.

The turtle was moments away from eating Hazel, its mouth just beginning to open, when Percy rocketed into frame. He stopped between them, dropping his sword as the turtle closed in. He braced himself against the water, before jetting himself against the upper lip of the turtle's mouth, pushing with all his might against it, desperately heaving the turtle away from Hazel.

It became a war of attrition - Percy's power over water against a nigh-immovable monster turtle. He got a real up-close view of the sheer amount of spikes in its mouth, sharp as the most dangerous dagger at Camp. Percy shuddered, thinking of the poor souls who wound up in its mouth.

Push!

He angled his feet, letting them drift towards the surface, before pushing down with all his might. The turtle's head dipped, down towards the depths, below the level that Hazel was floating at. It took as much strength as Percy could muster, pushing with every ounce of muscle and water pressure he could muster. It was tiring.

As it sank lower, Percy disengaged, flipping around before jetting over to Hazel's body. He grabbed her, arm around her waist, before shooting for the beach.

He could hear FOOOOOD… coming from the turtle, and had one tiny pang of sympathy.

A very, very tiny pang.

The two shot out from the ocean, landing on the beach. Percy knelt next to Hazel, breathing heavily. He put his hand on her throat, coaxing the water out of her system. Soon, seawater came spitting out of her mouth, accompanied by her coughing and coming to her senses.

"Hazel, Hazel! You ok?" Percy was worried, she had been submerged for a couple minutes - as bad as that is for a regular person, it had to have been worse for a Child of the Underworld.

Hazel kept coughing, turning her head and throwing up her lunch onto the sand. She gave a weak thumbs-up, before collapsing onto her back once more.

"Hey… Percy… thanks for saving me… I'll be fine… just… give me a minute."

Percy grinned, before standing up, still catching his breath, scanning the beach. "Thank the gods. Ok, where's Frank… what in the blazes?"

Frank was standing across the beach, holding the spear Mars had given him, but the tip was gone - it was just an imperial gold stick at this point. But next to him stood what Percy would describe as a skeleton, but with skin and clothes, all a grayish coloring. The… ghoul?... stood in a fighting stance, holding what looked like a rib bone in its hand like a dagger.

In front of the pair was some kind of green snake. A collar of white spikes seemed to surround its neck. It reared itself off the ground, eyes set on the warrior, before sending a blast of fire at it. The ghoul's arm was set on fire, but it showed no reaction, only leaping forward and grabbing the snake.

It stabbed the snake with its rib bone dagger, and the snake let out a cry, plumes of flame scorching the sand around the snake, turning it to glass. Soon enough, as the rib bone was ripped out of the snake, it scattered into golden dust, the gold a sharp contrast against the black sand.

Percy rushed towards Frank as the ghoul began disintegrating, giving Frank a salute before disappearing into the sand, no trace of it left above ground.

"Frank!"

Frank whipped his head up, a look of repulsion on his face replaced by one of relief. He dropped his spear - which had a new dragon-tooth - before rushing towards Percy, giving him the manliest hug he could muster up. Which wasn't much, to be honest. He had just escaped death twice in ten minutes.

"Thank the gods you're alive, Percy. Is Hazel alright?"

Percy nodded, patting his back. "She'll be alright, just coming to. She's a bit further down the beach."

Frank sighed in relief, dropping to his knees. "It's been like three hours, tops. How the hell are we making it to Alaska?"

"I don't care about that Frank. What the hell was that?"

Frank winced. "Uh… my gift from Mars, I think. He told me the spear has three charges… I think I just used one of them to kill that basilisk."

A basilisk. Percy had vague memories of what he assumed a basilisk to be. Weren't they way bigger?

Eh, no matter.

Percy clapped him on the back. "Well, glad to see you still alive, Frank."

Frank snorted at that. He grabbed his bag, getting to his feet slowly, before making his way to Hazel. As he and Percy approached her, Frank knelt down, engulfing her in a hug. "Thank god you're alive, Haze."

Hazel laughed, although it was a weak one. "You too, Frank. You too." She reciprocated the hug in full.

Frank turned to Percy. "Any idea what the hell that turtle was?"

He thought. "The only turtle I can recall was… I think there was a robber that fed people to a giant sea turtle. I don't remember the name though."

Percy dropped the bags he had on the sand. They had lost Hazel's backpack, but her sword and mattress protector were still on her back, somehow. Frank had been ready to jump, and was able to keep all of his belongings. And Percy's backpack stayed on his back, dry as a bone.

"Let's take a break. We need some time, I think. We'll get moving once Hazel recovers." Percy plopped down, breathing out. They had lost their boat, and Percy couldn't just… summon another one. They'd have to start hiking, trying to find a nearby town or city. But they were tired. Now was no time for backpacking through the California countryside.

Now was time for rest.

He turned around, intent on laying out the bedroll that had been surrounding Hazel's sword, before freezing.

There was a tree in the middle of the beach.

But not any tree. This tree was unearthly. It was fully dead - there were no leaves, no fruits, nothing. Just wooden.

And it was pitch black. It was skeletal, like something that only existed as decoration in Hades' palace. There was no place for this tree in the natural world. Trees shouldn't even be able to grow in sand; Percy doubted this tree even grew at all.

The darkness of the tree seemed to radiate outwards, a malevolent force that pulled whoever was unlucky enough to be near into its bark. It almost seemed to glow with power. But that darkness was confined to the wood itself.

There were no shadows. It would have been creepy enough with shadows, but the lack of shadows cast a terrifying picture across the sand.

And on the largest branch was a bird. Staring directly into Percy's eyes. It looked like an owl, almost, but it was absolutely not an owl - it hung from the branch like a bat, body hanging from its feet upside-down. It was also nearly pitch-black, although its wings seemed to be a slightly lighter color. It's beak seemed prime for ripping him apart, and its eyes…

Its eyes were terrifying. Percy could feel the emptiness of those eyes from across the beach. He wouldn't even categorize the eyes as black. They just seemed to stare into his soul.

Percy stood up, facing the creature. Its eyes seemed to almost call him, beckoning him from beyond this plane. Percy took an involuntary step, before stopping, rooting his feet to the sand. Nothing good would happen if he went closer.

And then it cried.

It was horrifying.

The sound wasn't an animal cry, but the cry of a child. A toddler, desperate for love and attention, wailing like its life depended on it. The owl thing cried like a human. Percy clapped his hands to his ears, trying to block it out. He squeezed his eyes shut, swearing he wouldn't, he wouldn't, succumb to this evil being. He swore it. He -

"Percy?"

Percy wheeled around, staring at Hazel. Frank and Hazel were both staring at him, shock evident on their faces. Hazel spoke, her voice tentative. "You started screaming."

"Did you not hear that? That bird, its sound…"

Percy wheeled around once more to point towards the bird, but it was gone. The whole tree was gone, in fact.

He sank to his knees. The level of despair and doom he had felt in that moment… had it not been real? Had he imagined the whole thing?

His shoulders sank. "I think I might be going crazy."

Frank stepped behind him, resting his hand on Percy's shoulder. "Let's rest. The sun is going down. Let's spend the night here, and get going in the morning. Sounds alright Percy?"

Percy nodded, mute. Rest was good.

Rest was good.

A/N: So, a full disclaimer - before this chapter, I wasn't entirely sure where this story was going. Sure, I had loose thoughts and ideas in my head, but I didn't have the plot mapped up. So, before I wrote this chapter, I sat down and mapped it out fully. The first book/arc/whatever you call it will be roughly 20-22 chapters, and I'm so much more excited to put pen to paper (or, fingers to keys) now. Y'all are going to be in for the ride of your lives with this arc I have planned. Seriously.

A couple things in this chapter: The turtle is from the myth of Sciron, the robber Theseus encountered. Sciron used to force people to clean his feet, and as they bent down he would kick them off the cliff, whereupon the turtle would eat them. I wanted a sea monster, and that fit the bill. The bird is also something from real myths, but that's all I'll say for now.

I hope you all enjoyed the chapter! I'll try and get Chapter 8 out by next Saturday, but I am entering Finals Week, so it may be just a couple days late. I'll start working on it soon though!

Also, huge shoutout to Mark Andrew, thelordoptimus, 7ove (The MVP of the comments so far!), and all others who left reviews. You really help me find the concentration needed to sit down and write, and I owe y'all a lot. Thank you!

As always, please leave a review, or even just follow the story! Your support means everything :)