"Who am I?"
Percy shuffled in his saddle, looking back at Aika. She had been near catatonic since they had rushed back to Neapolis, staring at her hands like they had betrayed her. And in many ways, they had. Who knows how long Aika had been searching for a clue to her heritage, only to stumble upon her demigod powers in a fluky scenario like the Dolos encounter.
That fight had freaked all three of them out. Zoë had been silent on what illusions she had seen, and Percy could tell she wasn't urgent to divulge them. Percy was freaked as well - fighting Aika and seeing Zoë almost die in front of him was…
It was traumatizing. No way else to put it.
But he had to stay strong.
None of them were comfortable staying the night in Neapolis. As much as they needed sleep, they couldn't rest. Percy didn't know if Dolos was following them or not, but if he was on the hunt, he didn't want to stick around. They had snuck to the outskirts of Neapolis, scouting for a stable, before Percy found a few horses he convinced to take them to Eion. He didn't know where to find the carrots he bribed them with, but the stallions insisted it was an honor to serve a son of Poseidon.
The trio had opted to take the long way, passing the mountain Pangaion from the north, as opposed to the southern path they had tried earlier.
Now, they rode through the night, Zoë in the lead, moonlight shining down after the final rain clouds had dissipated.
"Percy?"
Percy blinked. Right. Conversation. He yawned.
"Sorry, Aika. I… I've been trying to think. Hard to concentrate."
She nodded. "Definitely."
"You doing alright?"
Aika shrugged. "Yeah, I guess. Confused, still."
"Yeah." Percy gestured with his hands, imitating the movement she had made fighting Dolos. "How did, well, how did it feel?"
Her hands stayed open, palms facing the night sky. She looked to the stars, sky blue eyes swimming in confusion, the pressure of the world on her shoulders. "It felt… my arms were shaking. Not from emotion but from the… from the power. I mean, obviously it was the first time I had done that, so my arms probably didn't expect it."
She shook her hands, like shaking off water.
"But, Percy… It was like I had found a part of myself that I didn't know existed. I don't know if I should be excited or terrified."
Percy remembered the power he felt atop the wave during the War Games of Hell at Camp Jupiter. He had an inkling he knew how she felt.
He nodded to Aika. "You've never used your powers before?"
She laughed, a bit spitefully. "Never could. And you can be damned sure that once my mom told me I was half-god, I was trying everything I could think of. Swimming, archery, you name it. And I swear I tried with air. But it was never like that."
"Like wind? Maybe your dad's Aeolus? Or one of the other wind gods?"
Aika shook her head. "I know it essentially was wind, but it felt like more than just… wind. I don't know. That's weird to say, but I don't know how to put it." She motioned with her hands, pushing them forward in the same motion she made fighting Dolos. "It wasn't wind, it felt more like manipulating the air itself. I think."
"You sure it isn't Zeus?" Percy asked with a grimace. Something told him he really hated Zeus.
Aika sighed. "I mean… I can't rule him out, I guess. It adds up, especially given my feelings for water… but I feel like I'd be more confident if I was a Zeus kid." She waved her arms. "All the Zeus kids, they flaunt around, like they're the best thing to happen in millennia. Fuck those guys."
Percy laughed tiredly. "Yeah, that tracks."
He racked his brain for any kind of information… he didn't know any kind of wind or air gods other than them. Maybe Hecate? It was her father though… although gods probably had the power to genderbend. So that could still make sense.
But why hadn't they claimed her yet? A demigod was a powerful thing to have, especially in ancient Greece. An Olympian could absolutely use Aika as their mortal representative, spreading their teachings and bringing the gifts and sacrifices of their heroic deeds back to their parents.
So why not Aika?
Percy's horse whinnied as they crested a hill.
"Hey, I was wondering, did Do-that guy show you anything? That pushed you to do whatever it was you did?
Aika didn't respond for a moment, before shaking her head. "Let's just… another time, Percy. Another time."
They rode in silence, the full moon shining over their heads, Artemis watching the world from her chariot. A soft wind blew, the cool air soothing Percy's mind. As Percy pushed forward, pulling ahead slightly of Aika, he caught a whisper of Aika's voice.
"I miss you, mom."
She said it under her breath. Percy figured he wasn't meant to hear it.
Percy nudged his horse, a stallion who insisted on being called his horse, and pushed forward, pulling level with Zoë. Her head was down in prayer, hands clasped together. Hopefully Artemis wasn't busy.
Zoë looked up, her copper skin shining in the moonlight. "Hey, Percy." Her voice was faint.
"I just wanted to check in on you. I know that must have been tough."
Zoë took a shaky breath. "You have no idea."
A spiteful laugh echoed from Percy. "I wish I did. My memories, I think I knew you before. I saw you a couple times in my dream-memories. I think you may have told me already at some point."
The archer raised her eyebrow. "I… don't remember you."
Percy face-palmed. "Oh, right. I told Aika this, but I should've told you earlier - I'm basically a time traveler, I guess?"
She twitched, right hand moving to her scabbard. "Go on."
"When I sleep, I wake up in another time." Percy swept his hand through his hair. "The future. My memories are gone there, too, and I've been slowly getting them back. Mostly in these memory-dreams. I saw you in one - we were talking in a forest. And I remember I had your sword."
Percy didn't really want to tell her about her death.
Zoë's eyebrows were now fully raised. "My sword?"
"Anaklusmos, right?"
Zoë nodded, her mouth dropping open a bit.
"I still have it when I wake up in that time. It feels like a part of me."
She reached to her hair, pulling out the hairpin. The celestial bronze xiphos transformed in front of her, a glow shining from the divine metal. Percy could sense the power of the seas within the blade.
"This becomes yours?"
Percy let out a wistful smile. "You said you were honored I carried it."
Zoë took a long look at the blade, her eyes staring at her own reflection. She seemed to have a mental battle with herself, before the obsidian orbs stared into Percy's. "Take it."
"No, no, Zoë, that's yours. I don't want to take it from you."
Zoë held the hilt out to him. "Trust me, Percy. I don't need it. I prefer to use my bow or my daggers anyway."
Percy's mouth hung open. "You sure?"
She looked up at the moon. "There's a history with that sword already. I wonder what its future looks like." She pushed it to him, closing his fingers around the hilt.
"Take it, Percy."
The sword thrummed with energy. He felt more attuned with himself, Anaklusmos giving him a surge of energy he had been missing since arriving at Aegospotami. He smiled at the familiar feeling, his trusty sword returned once more.
"Thank you, Zoë." He doubted he had ever said that with more conviction.
The horses continued their trek. Percy figured they had to be close. He gave Anaklusmos a few swings atop his horse, feeling the thrill take hold once more.
"What was I like in the future?"
Percy looked back at Zoë. "I… I shouldn't say too much. You did speak with a pretty thick Old English accent. I could barely understand you half the time."
"What's English?"
Percy laughed. "I mean… our language, right? I'm actually surprised you don't talk like that now."
Zoë pinned him with a serious look. "Percy, we're speaking Greek."
"What do you mean?"
"Do you really think we haven't been speaking Greek?"
Percy focused. She had pronounced Greek like 'Ellinika.' Oh. Percy facepalmed, hard enough for his horse to turn his head to check on him. The horse snorted.
Zoë started laughing. "Demigod thing, huh?"
"Demigod thing, I guess," Percy grumbled. "Can't believe I've been speaking Ancient Greek this whole time."
Zoë raised her hand, fingers splayed in confusion. "Ancient Greek? How far in the future are you talking about?"
Percy shrugged, giving the sword another test swing, before touching the tip of the sword, reverting it to a hairclip. He'd have to figure out how to change its hidden form to a pen. "Long enough for the Gods to become simply myths, nothing more. To mortals, they were never real."
Zoë whistled. "Wow. Sorry you wound up back here."
"I like it here, to be honest." Percy smiled, gazing at the surrounding trees as a brook bubbled to their right. "I'm a city boy at heart, I think, but here, it's more… free. Wild. Less responsibilities. And I don't have to hide being a demigod anywhere. It's really nice."
They began trotting up a hill, green grass seeming to reach towards the horizon. Apollo began to wake, the orange sun's furthest reaches illuminating the sky at their backs.
"You have to hide being a demigod? As in from invaders?"
Percy chuckled. "The world grew up, Zoë. It didn't need us anymore. But we were still around."
The roar of the waves and the call of the gulls caught Percy's ears. They had to be close to Eion. Finally. Sleep was desperately needed. He could barely keep his eyes open.
"We're almost there, Aika!" He shouted back, catching a glimpse of a nod of assent from their third companion.
His horse let out an angry whinny, tossing his head back for good measure. Percy bent down, caressing his neck, patting him to calm. "Shh, buddy. You can rest soon."
I'm not even fucking tired.
Percy sighed. "Are you all this vulgar?"
Fuck yeah.
He pinched the bridge of his nose. Why did Poseidon create horses to be so insolent?
Percy shut his eyes before opening them and rapidly blinking, slapping his cheek for good measure, keeping the darkness at the edge of his vision at bay. Right now, he'd do anything to stay awake. It wasn't his time to see Hazel and Frank again - he needed to make sure Aika was safe.
Aika and Zoë were safe. Right.
And Aika.
"Wake up, Percy."
Not yet. They were almost there!
"Percy!"
No!
"Percy! Aika! It's Eion!"
He jerked his head up. It was Zoë, pointing in front of them. Aika nudged her horse faster, pulling up beside them as Percy scanned the landscape, and the city of Eion.
Or, what was left of it.
"What…?" Aika was shocked, her mouth open and eyes wide. Percy didn't blame her.
Eion was flooded.
The ocean had swept far beyond its shores, the waves breaking against the marble of the structures still standing. Wood, cloth, and bodies floated atop the sea, the remains of a once-proud city. The ships that were moored once upon a time now lay strewn about the city. One particularly large trireme rested upside-down on a marble temple, oars poking out of the water like reeds.
Vegetation was visible atop the remaining buildings, roots clinging to whatever cracks could be found. A layer of seaweed and barnacles hung to the columns of marble that marked the power of Eion, as if it had been forgotten. By the people and the gods. Wreckage had spilled out into the sea, up on to the hillsides, and as far back as the Strymon River.
But the bodies were still present. The smell of decomposition reached their nostrils as Percy pinched his nostrils together. The waters were littered with not only fallen soldiers, but civilians and children. He saw one body, its legs already missing, floating with a scared look permanent on its face. A seagull poked at its chest.
Percy tore his eyes away.
The gods had to have something to do with this.
A flood.
Poseidon.
"Aika…" Zoë offered. "Was Eion in the war?"
Aika slowly tore her head away from the destruction of the city. "Uh…" She shook her head. "Right, yeah. It was an Athenian ally. Strategically important for supply lines."
Poseidon supported Sparta.
"Perhaps Poseidon picked Eion to unleash his wrath after Aegospotami?" Zoë posed the question, seeking any other possibilities.
Percy shook his head in disbelief. "My father wouldn't do this."
"How do you know?" Aika snapped. "He's still an Olympian. Who knows what they do up there."
"I… I don't think he's been this violent."
"You said it yourself that you didn't remember most of your life, Percy," Zoë spoke up. "Maybe he's not the man you remember."
Percy took a long look down the hills into the former city. He couldn't deny the Aegean Sea itself invading Eion seemed to be the work of his father.
"Maybe."
If his father was prone to these outbursts that killed thousands of people, what did that mean for Percy?
Aika dismounted her horse, tightening her quiver and bow slung across her back. Her blue arm guards caught the light of the rising sun, Apollo shining down on the carnage of Eion. She caught Percy's eye.
"What do we do?"
Percy yawned before raising his hands. "What can we do?" He gestured towards the carnage. "We're too late."
Aika turned and sat, facing Eion, plopping down onto the grass. She sat there, staring out over the horrific scene, anger evident on her face.
As Percy and Zoë dismounted their horses, Aika took a heavy breath, hands clutching into fists. She spoke with a determination Percy had yet to see in her since their first meeting.
"I won't let Eion become forgotten. The people will know what happened, and remember the truth. Not like Tirida."
Percy and Zoë sat down on opposite sides of Aika, the trio staring at the wreckage of the once proud city of Eion. It made Percy feel small, honestly. To know that one man could cause that much destruction on a whim, to take that many lives without a shred of compassion… It hurt him.
How could a living being have that little compassion for other life? How could they consciously choose to commit an action so heinous, so vile, that it would tear so many lives from the earth?
Why would his dad do this? Was it truly just due to a human conflict? Or was that an excuse for him to let loose?
The sea was wild, but this was intentional.
Percy put a hand on Aika's shoulder.
"Don't worry Aika. We won't let them forget."
She turned and gave a small smile, her hand coming up to her shoulder, covering his hand with hers. Her fingers were smooth, and Percy almost shivered at their touch.
But those shivers were nothing compared to the goosebumps to follow.
"They'll forget nonetheless."
The voice came directly on his left, soft, as if it was being carried away by the wind. But it felt close - so close, in fact, that Percy could feel the breath of the mouth that had spoken on his ear. It was feminine, and held such a range of emotions within - the resignation of old age, the acceptance that comes with old age's accompanying wisdom, the sadness of watching the world around you age. It sent chills down Percy's body.
He turned away from Aika, observing the new arrival, sitting to his left. She was old - the wrinkles up and down her body had fully enveloped her, like a grandmother on her deathbed. Her white hair lay atop her head like newfallen snow, pine needles and maple leaves poking through as if they grew from her head. Her eyes were green, a dull green like a group of pines in a boreal forest. A wooden cane lay next to her with a look reminiscent of a pine tree trunk, bark and all.
But despite her aged condition, she had a slight smile on her face. She wasn't much focused on the carnage that had befallen Eion - from what Percy could tell, she was absorbing the sounds of the soft wind and the feeling of the grass beneath her toes. She was one with the nature around her, fully at peace with herself.
Percy could feel Aika reaching for her dagger, and he saw Zoë already had her hand over her shoulder, prepared to pull her bow at the drop of a hat. He put up a hand, motioning for them to calm. Whoever this was… she would have attacked already if she was violent.
"What do you mean?" Percy faced the woman, eyes questioning.
"Ah, young Perseus." Percy stiffened. "The boy out of time… you still have much to learn, young one." Her statement was accompanied by a grandmother's smile, endearing and caring.
"Who are you?"
The woman didn't answer immediately. "Percy, have you heard of the Great Flood of Eion?"
"No ma'am." Percy shook his head.
"That's what I mean, son. That is my point. By the time the world has reached your day, and even long before that, no one will care about this place. In nary two centuries, it will be but myth and legend."
Aika spoke up. "But we can change that!"
The woman only chuckled. "No, young woman. Fate has declared its demise, at the angry whims of an Olympian. That same god will cover it up until none remember the brutality of his actions. Not one survivor's story will be told."
No one spoke, as the heaviness of the woman's words laid upon them.
After a moment, Percy spoke. "I don't mean to be rude, but what's your name?"
She smiled at him. "My name is Koma, son. Short for Komawenteia."
Percy's eyes lit up. "Pan mentioned you in one of my dream-memories. You're his mentor or something, right?"
She laid down, her hands clutched behind her head, as the wizened woman took in the first rays of sunshine. She had a small smile still etched on her face, one not even troubled by his lack of familiarity.
"I'm glad to hear my young satyr still had his wits about him. He was always worried about not being healthy at the end." She looked at Percy. "You're right, son. Not just a mentor, but his predecessor."
Aika took her hand away from her scabbard. "What do you mean, predecessor? I've never heard of you."
"Ah, Aikaterina. A true ally of the natural world, and I thank you for that." She coughed. "I am exactly that - I was the prominent nature deity before Pan came along. During the Mycenaean days, before Pan had been born. Great tales and stories were woven about me - the Mycenaeans prayed to me to bless their farming and fishing, protect their hunts, save their children. The good days."
"Why haven't I heard of you?" Zoë asked, confused. "Wouldn't I know you?"
Koma laid her head back once more. "That is why I talk about being forgotten, young Zoë. We may have our highs, but it is inevitable that we have our lows. And for every life, there will come a death." She smiled wistfully. "I am close to fading - the world passed me by a long time ago. I am no longer remembered, even by the Olympians, and that is alright. I lived a long and fulfilling life, and I am curious to see what fate has left for me."
"Koma…" Percy began. "Why are you here? Is there nowhere else you could be?"
She sat back up, putting a hand on Percy's head. "Son, as hard as it may be to believe, you're the last person in Greece to know me. It hurts, knowing your people forgot about you, but I have accepted it. You have to be able to move forward, and I chose to talk to my final believer before I pass."
She looked at Percy. "I was told of this meeting many years ago, and I have thought of what to say for much of that time. But anything I came up with boiled down to one simple idea: be true to yourself. So often you will face immovable odds, but you must stay true."
He nodded. "I promise."
"And that goes for all of you." She gestured at Zoë and Aika. "You each will face unique challenges that I could not come close to preparing you for. But remember why you fight and what you're fighting for, and all will be well."
Zoë stood, moving closer to the wizened deity. "Is there truly nothing we can do for you?"
Koma turned around, gesturing for the trio to do the same. As they turned towards the sun, a fox appeared from the treeline, jogging to Koma before curling into a ball against her side. She started stroking the fox, smiling at its actions. "Just watch the sunrise with me, heroes. I've lacked good company these past decades."
And there they sat, the warm rays of the sun shining upon them. A squirrel darted across the grass. A deer grazed near the treeline. The birds began to chirp.
Say hello to sweet old Koma for me.
"Pan says hello, Koma."
She gave one, last, final smile. "Thank you, friend."
Percy looked at the sunrise, smiling slightly. "We won't forget you." He turned back to her, a soft breeze caressing his face.
She was gone.
The birds cried.
The flowers wilted.
The tears fell.
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
Maya Angelou
Percy was slow to wake up.
His heart felt like it had been hit by a sledgehammer. Witnessing the peaceful death of a goddess, one who had the time to accept being forgotten by the world, desperate for even a bit of human interaction… It shook him. No one should have to be forgotten like that.
He shuddered at the thought of being forgotten himself.
Percy hoped whoever he knew before he lost his memory was holding up alright. He hoped they didn't think he forgot about them by his own choice.
Adding on to his emotional exhaustion was the physical tiredness of his last day. Being up for nearly 24 hours, with a brutal battle with a god of trickery in the middle, would tire anyone out.
He yawned as the drone of the engine hummed in his ears while the wheels spun against the asphalt. The clicking of the indicator came and went as the car started to move.
Car?
Percy jolted up, eyes blinking rapidly as his right hand moved to his pocket, clutching Anaklusmos. He could see the trees flying by through the window, sycamores left behind as the car speeded forward.
Who's car was he in?
"Percy!"
He turned, seeing Hazel seated right beside him. She gave him a quick hug, before pulling back and slapping him.
"Why the heck did you sleep so long?"
Percy rubbed his eyes. He had a bad taste in his mouth, and just felt groggy. "How long was I out?"
Frank's face appeared from the passenger's seat, eyebrows raised as he turned his head backwards. "Nearly twenty hours, Perce. It was like you were in a coma. If you hadn't woken up by the time we got to Redding, we were going to bring you to a hospital."
He winced. "Sorry, guys."
Percy took a look around the car. It wasn't anything special. Percy had no idea who the driver was though. He looked like a college student, with running clothes on and an airpod in his right ear.
He turned to Hazel, a questioning look on his face. She leaned over to whisper in his ear. "Just a mortal we convinced to help drag you off the beach and drive us to Redding. So, no myth talk until we're off."
Percy nodded. "Where do we go from Redding?"
"We can buy train tickets to Seattle." Frank handed Percy a map. "It'll take us through Portland, and I guess there will be a few hours in Portland that we'll have to kill - Jeremy called the office earlier." He gestured to the driver. "They said they'd need to switch conductors or something."
"Ok." Percy adjusted the seatbelt, which had dug uncomfortably into his shoulder. "You guys ok?"
Hazel shrugged. "Yeah. Just… still recovering from last night."
Gods. She had almost died to a turtle, and Frank had battled basilisks with an undead warrior that came from the tip of his spear. That whole encounter had felt like forever ago, even if it was just last night for Frank and Hazel.
Jeremy spoke up for the first time since Percy woke, holding his airpod away from his ear. "We'll be there in just a few minutes."
As the car pulled up to the Redding Amtrak station, which was admittedly a rather small building, the trio gathered their things. Frank and Hazel got out first, popping the trunk to grab the bags they had been able to salvage from their previous encounter.
As Percy leaned over to open the door, he paused as he heard the driver's voice, deeper than he had expected. He turned.
A grown man sat where Jeremy had been sitting, salt-and-pepper hair underneath a brown UPS hat. His eyes connected with Percy's in the rearview mirror, and Percy knew he wasn't mortal.
"Good luck in Alaska, Perce."
Percy blinked. The front seat was once again occupied by the college student, airpods in and all. He shook his head. The constant time travel must've been getting to his psyche.
Shouldering the backpack sitting at his feet, Percy stepped out of the vehicle, breathing in the cool air, now relaxed. The fear of Dolos sneaking up and sending him into an illusion was still present, but minimized. He couldn't cross timelines, right?
But he did mention Gaea. That was worrying. Hopefully Dolos wouldn't trick Percy into thinking the train crashed or something.
Before Percy could turn towards his friends, Frank ran past him, nearly wrenching Percy's arm out of its socket. He dragged Percy towards the train, Hazel's wrist being pulled along by his other hand.
"Frank, wha - "
Frank's voice was unnerving, steady as steel. "Get to the train. Don't look back. Trust me."
"Frank, what is - " Hazel sounded equally confused.
"Not. Now. Get to the train."
Percy didn't think, turning his head to try and get a glance as to whatever might be behind them, but as he turned, Frank slapped him. It stung his cheek.
"Ow, Jesus, Frank!"
"Percy. Please. Don't do it, goddamnit."
A growl sounded from behind him, but it sounded far higher than Percy's ears.
Percy put his hands up in the air, an apologetic look on his face. "I'm sorry. Let's go, let's go."
The three rushed to the platform, Frank hurriedly buying the tickets while ushering the two towards the train. Frank made sure to follow them from behind, keeping an eye on Hazel and Percy while embarking.
As Percy climbed the steps, he risked a quick glance over his shoulder. To get a tactical edge on whatever might have been following them.
His blood ran cold.
Standing over the train station was… well, big Bigfoot. That's the only way Percy could describe it - the creature was a hulking mass of follicles and flesh, looming far over the Amtrak station. Hair covered all parts of its body, even its head, which was looking away from Percy at the moment. Percy could hear it growling, like a dog trapped behind a fence in a yard too small. It had to have been nearly forty feet tall, but no one seemed to be the wiser about him. The mist had to be fully charged to hide a creature like that - its own actions seemed to help as well, carefully dodging cars at its feet.
Frank pushed Percy into the train car. "Go! Don't look at it, Percy!"
The trio darted into the car, blue seats nearly completely empty, with the exception of an older couple at the front. Hazel took the seats in the far back, and they dumped their bags on the seats in front of them. As soon as they were seated, Percy and Hazel rounded on Frank.
"What the hell is that?"
"Frank, what the heck?"
The son of Mars put up his hand, shushing the both of them. "I… I think that was a boq."
Percy tilted his head. "A bog?"
"No, a boq. With a q." Frank shrugged. "My grandma, she was superstitious, and she read all sorts of mythological stories. She had assumed the Roman gods were out there, even before she met Mars." He pointed at the window. "But she didn't just believe in them; she believed in everything. From Roman to Egyptian to local stories, like from the Chinook. And if her stories are to be believed, that thing is from the Chinook myths."
Hazel shook her head. "I'm not familiar."
He sighed. "Boqs were sometimes called Sasquatch, if that helps."
"Well, ok," Percy said. "But aren't they human-size?"
Frank's voice trembled. "Usually, yeah. But my grandma said they could grow as tall as the trees could grow… and given we aren't too far from the Redwood trees, that could be pretty damn tall."
Hazel's voice shook as she got her first look of the Boq. "Why is it here?"
The cab was quiet as Frank thought. He had a worried look on his face, like someone trying to remember if they left the stove on.
"I have no idea. Just… ignore it. If it notices you looking… I doubt good things would happen."
Percy leaned back in his seat. "Easier said than done," he muttered.
The train whistle let loose, the shrill filling the air announcing the impending departure of the Amtrak. Soon enough, Percy could feel the car lurch forwards, and within seconds they were headed north, away from the building-size boq and towards the great white north.
The roads of Redding soon faded away, the trees of the Pacific Northwest dominating the view. Percy could see sparrows and grosbeaks flying above the trees, while mule deer jumped through the trees, mostly evading his sight.
Hazel had started reading a book she had brought, some story about ancient Roman emperors, while Frank was content with fiddling with his bowstring. The train car played some jazz music, a pleasant soundtrack that unfortunately repeated every half hour. Percy sat, bored. His stomach rumbled.
He hoped Koma was ok.
"Hey, guys? Have you ever heard of a nature goddess called Komawenteia?"
Hazel looked over at him, but shook her head. "Doesn't ring a bell."
Frank gave a short shake of his head, before returning to his string.
"Any reason?" Pluto's daughter gave him a look.
Percy shrugged, although the corners of his lips turned down in disappointment. "Ah, nothing. Just had a weird dream, I guess."
What happened to gods after they faded? Did they have their own afterlife? Or did they just… dissipate into the void? Percy shuddered. Being forgotten by others was bad enough, but forgetting everything you did, over an entire life, especially one as long as Koma probably had seemed awful. All those memories, and emotions, lost in one gust of wind.
Percy wouldn't forget her.
Koma's memories might be forgotten, but his wouldn't be.
He needed to record his memories. Maybe in a journal? He wasn't great at writing, but he would try.
"Hey, Percy?"
Percy looked up from his lap, facing Hazel. "What's up?"
"Who's Zoë and Aika?"
He blinked.
"How do you know about them?" His voice might have held a bit more urgency than he had hoped it would.
Hazel cocked an eyebrow. "I don't know, Perce, you were muttering their names in your sleep. You yelled Aika's name in Pluto's Crypt, too. There was a point last night where I woke up to you yelling their names, like you were seeing them die or something. We tried to wake you."
Oh.
Percy looked down at his feet. "Just… I think some old memories of people I knew started to come back to me. I don't really know why I was screaming."
That was a blatant lie. It was Dolos.
He hated lying to his friends, but if their driver was any hint, the gods were watching him closely. He couldn't divulge his abilities without risking losing access to Aika. Aika and Zoë.
Do not draw divine attention.
He snorted. Nice job, dumbass.
Hazel turned back to her book, a suspicious look on her face, but Percy could tell she didn't want to push it.
"I'll tell you another time. Promise." He tried to talk as apologetic as possible.
She nodded, satisfied.
The sky grew dark as the train chugged along, minutes turning to hours as the Amtrak climbed the Pacific coast.
Percy certainly got on his companion's nerves. He didn't bring anything to really do, so he mostly just stared out the window or paced up and down the aisle, or fiddled with Anaklusmos in pen form. He wondered if it would write with it - he didn't think he had ever tried, but he didn't have any paper to test with.
By hour five, the blue on the back of the seats had gotten on his nerves. Hazel and Frank had both fallen asleep, no doubt exhausted after the long day of hauling Percy around. He gave a sheepish smile to himself at that. He didn't think he'd be up for that long in one stretch ever again. He hoped not, at least.
He was still hungry, too. They had lost most of their rations in the Sea Turtle Incident, and Percy was hoping to find some fresh food before they got on the train.
Wait! Snack car!
Percy nearly bolted through the door to the car, making a beeline for the snack car. He'd give anything for some snacks. He couldn't believe he had forgotten it.
He made his way through the train, careful not to disturb any of the other passengers. Finally, he made it to the snack car, tables largely empty and one waitress leaning against the wall, scrolling on her phone, bored as anything. She had an apron on, embroidered with a R.O.F.L. logo, the letters in different colors of the rainbow, hovering over a cloud.
As Percy entered, the waitress stood up, pointing Percy towards a seat. "Finally! About time you got here."
Percy halted. "Uh… sorry?"
She rolled her eyes. "Aw, how polite. Wait there, kiddo. I'll be back in a second."
"Ok?"
She disappeared, not before sending a smirk towards Percy. He shook his head.
He took a seat, and a mere minute passed before another woman appeared in the train car, a burst of rainbow light announcing her arrival. She had long, black hair, with brown eyes and olive skin that seemed to glow. Her clothes were loud, to say the least - she had a Hawaiian shirt that seemed to have more colors than the entire rainbow, over a pair of cargo shorts and tall, rainbow boots. Her nametag read, 'Iris, CEO.'
She sat down opposite Percy, shooting him a brilliant smile. "Welcome to the Rainbow Organic Foods and Lifestyles sponsored snack car, Percy! What can we do for you today?"
Percy looked around. "I'm sorry… Iris? I was just hungry."
"Ah, of course. Here, hero, have an organic twinkie." She tossed the aforementioned treat across the table, ignoring their close proximity entirely.
Percy looked at the treat. The cream was green, and it looked nothing at all like a Twinkie.
He placed it on the table slowly, mostly out of confusion. "I… honestly, I could go for a full meal. I haven't eaten since I woke up."
Iris looked offended. "Oh my goodness, you poor soul! Just give me one moment. I'm sure we have something here!"
She hopped up from the table, darting back to the cabinets lining the back of the car, until she miraculously pulled out a cooked chicken. How she had cooked a chicken before finding said chicken, Percy could only dream of.
It smelled heavenly. "Thank you so much." He dug in, his hunger only increasing as the smell hit his nostrils. It was delicious. Almost… godly. He chuckled to himself. As if the teleportation via rainbow wasn't a big enough clue.
"How are you holding up, Percy?"
He shrugged. "Eh. Just fine. Already had a few encounters."
Iris leant back. "Well, we here at R.O.F.L are sure glad to see you've made it this far, that's for sure!"
"Iris… why are you here?"
She chuckled. "Ah, Percy. I'm just here to make sure you keep fed! With your constant trips back and forth, you'd think you would eat more, but you really are running on fumes. Eat your cereal, as Demeter says."
Percy leaned back, instantly wary. "How do you know?"
Iris shot him a grin. "Well that confirmed it! But don't underestimate me, hero. I may simply be a messenger, but I take a special interest in demigods. Especially those who may have bigger parts to play."
"Does anyone else know?" Percy reached for Anaklusmos.
Iris laughed, waving him off. "Of course not! Why would I tell anyone? I get to sit on my rainbows, watching your story unfold in front of my eyes. I've already watched one half of it, I wouldn't want to ruin the conclusion."
"Right…"
"I swear on the Styx I haven't told anyone, Percy."
Thunder rumbled in the distance. Percy relaxed in his seat a bit, going back to eating the chicken, albeit cautiously.
"How is your memory holding up? Any bits coming back?"
He shrugged, still wary, but a bit more relaxed.. "I see flashes of bits here and there, but nothing substantial. The biggest clue I have is a photo Nico left me at Camp Jupiter, but it didn't trigger anything."
Iris seemed sympathetic. "I'm so very sorry, Percy. I wish I had known what Hera was doing before it happened, I would've tried to talk some sense into her - "
"Hera?" Percy interrupted the goddess. "What did Hera do?"
Iris's eyes widened. "Oh, goodness! I'm sorry, that's not my information to divulge. You know how messengers are with their messages, that was a terrible slip on my part!" She laughed, standing up. "Percy, go back to your friends. When the train stops in Portland, seek out Phineas. He'll give you some clues."
"You can't just leave me hanging like that! Come on, Iris! What did Hera do to me?"
She smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry, Percy. It's not my story, it's yours. Phineas will give you some needed clues."
She saluted him, rainbow shirt glowing. "Good luck, hero!" Percy turned away as Iris rainbow-ed away, the flash leaving spots in his eyesight. He cursed.
Goddamned Gods and their 'limitations.'
He stood to leave, ready to head back to his friends and give them the good news, when he saw another plate of chicken on the table beside him.
"Well…," Percy grabbed the plate. "Don't mind if I do, huh. Thanks Iris."
The plate shimmered in happiness, something Percy didn't think was possible.
He was just about to head back to his cabin when he took a look outside the window. Just one glance at a hill they drove by had him stumbling back.
For on that hill was the tree from the beach. The skeletal, unearthly, shadowed tree, dead as a corpse from a graveyard. The shadows curled into the bark, radiating a malice Percy could sense as far away as he was right now.
And on that damned branch was that damned bird. Pitch-black, still hanging upside-down, still staring straight at him with soulless, predatory eyes.
And when it cried, Percy could still hear it clearly, ringing in his ears. That scream, that goddamned scream, that scream of a toddler burning alive. It was suddenly all Percy could hear.
And he collapsed to his knees, the plate shattering on the ground as it slipped from his hands, which now covered his ears. Percy screamed, and screamed…
But as soon as it started, it stopped. The tree was gone, and that Hades-bound bird had gone with it.
Percy took a deep breath, looking around at the snack car. It was empty, just the shards of the plate and the shards of Percy's sanity left to pick up.
He staggered to his feet, gripping Anaklusmos tighter than he'd gripped anything in his life.
Percy had to stay strong. He would not fall to that damn bird. He would not fall to Dolos. He would not fall to that boq, or anything.
For Frank.
For Hazel.
For Zoë.
For Aika.
He had to stay strong. No matter what.
A/N: Going to keep this short today. Sorry I uploaded a bit late - a lot of weird life stuff happened at the end of Finals. But now it's the summer, and until I start my job, I don't have much to keep me occupied... looks like I'll be writing a good bit! As always, please leave a comment, follow, favorite, or anything else! Internet recognition helps my self-esteem.