Percy's POV:
I spent the a little bit of time to listen to the stories her grandfather told her. Definitely interesting and I can definitely make the comparison to the Greek gods and myths. But I needed to leave, Piper is in a lot of danger if I stay. I can't let that happen. "Hey Pipes?"
"Yea Percy?"
"I need to go... No matter where I am there is always trouble." Piper just stayed silent, I'm guessing she just wanted for me to stay a little longer. Great, now I just feel like a butt face, "But I promise I'll visit you when I get the chance. So don't worry."
"Ok..." Without thinking I leaned over and gave her a hug. The hug was a simple enough gesture - affection, it simply felt right. The arms that held me were soft, yet strong. The feel of her body so close to mine soothed me more than I had expected. But within seconds I pulled away. To be honest, Pipes was a lot of fun to hang out with. If my life was different then I wouldn't mind spending some time with her. If only.
"I never break my promises." With that I hopped up and waltzed into the woods. I felt her eyes follow my figure as I weaved through the bushes. Sinking deeper and deeper into the unknown. I have no idea where I'm headed, not right now anyway. The canopy is too thick to see the stars, so I can't use them to navigate. But if I keep going, I'll definitely find something.
I kept on walking. No thoughts plaguing my mind. Right now I don't have the energy to think. I have been up for over forty-eight hours and it's starting to get to me. I need sleep. That's when my mind became flooded with scenarios. I kept on imagining her lying in a pool of blood because of me. I can't sleep yet. I'm still too close to Pipes... there is something about her that is off. If I stay close by- NO! Do you want her to die? Just keep moving. You'll be back to see her. You promised.
In the distance I heard the sound of waves slapping against the shore...
Dad! I can see him! I can finally see him! Tears blind me and I turn, running as quickly as my legs can carry me, bolting down the narrow path in-between the trees; quickening my pace to an all out sprint. The pounding noise of my bare feet resonating off the walls of the packed dirt with a echo that matched my heart throbbing inside my chest with the thick excitement and joy I felt as I ran.
Tripping through the last of the roots, I burst through the canopy full throttle. Sliding to a painful stop through the sand scraping my face. Turning over I lay flat on my back and stare into the sky. The moon under siege by stars seemed to lighten the night bringing forth stars that shone and hung in the blackness. The never ending blackness consumed everything. Except the stars which stood out like pebbles in front of a storm. Ever enduring these shone with the night cowered in a inky black sky. It seemed like guerrilla warfare as the darkness controlled the sky yet the stars controlled the gleaming spots of where they originated. The war continued across the constellations.
The world turned into a blur, and so did all the sounds. The taste. The smell. Everything was just gone. I paused trying to hold back the strange feelings rumbling inside me but I couldn't. A lone tear traced down my cheek, and just like that, the floodgates opened. So many tears burst forth like water from a dam, spilling down my face. My chin trembled as if I was a small child. I breathed heavier than I ever had before. I was gasping for air that simply wasn't there. My throat burned forming a silent scream. When was the las time I cried so hard? A part of me dying inside yet, relief…
I can't... I can't see my father yet. But why? I bet he thinks I'm dead. So? W-what if he doesn't want me? What i-if he's disappointed? You'll never know for certain until you actually see him. I know that... yet I can't. What's stopping you?... I'm not sure. So go. I won't. Why not? Because... I remember what my moms taught me. The gods can be cruel and unyielding. And since they made an oath not to have kids. I will only become more of a burden to him. It's better for him if the gods think I'm dead. And knowing that Zeus is paranoid. He'll probably send monsters after me. Or Hades.
My mood did a full one-eighty as I still cried. I like my freedom. No rules, no responsibilities and no parents. At least I have that going for me. I quite literally cried myself to sleep right there on the beach. Immediately escaping into my oh so vivid dreams.
Again I stood over a massive cavern with no end visible. The walls towering high above me and a steep, but narrow path behind me. Yet, my focus was only towards the hole in front of me. A feeling of malice and hatred seeping out. Like it was trying to crawl out, using me as an anchor. I tried to turn away, but my feet wouldn't work. An invisible force slowly dragging me towards the edge of the pit. "u'll e ine." A whisper so incredibly quiet, it was hard to make out the words.
Falling back, I began clawing on the ground. Struggling with desperation. I don't want to fall in there. That's for sure. The rough terrain scraping my fingers and tearing my legs as neared closer and closer to the edge. I wanted to scream, yet my voice would not work. I was slipping, my arms growing weaker and weaker. I was already a foot away. Please help. I couldn't believe his eyes. I didn't want to anyway. I never saw something like that even in my past nightmares. But that was only because my brain always woke me up before such a horrific image covered my mind. And now I was seeing something my eyes won't ever be able to erase. The adrenalin flew over my veins like a carp through the river, but I couldn't move a single muscle, not even to scream. The absolute horror completely paralyzed me, and the more I thought about running away, or simply moving a bit, the more I felt discouraged and utterly terrified. I don't remember ever being that scared in my life. And that was just the beginning. That idea only made it worse. If that was even possible.
The idea of falling. All alone. Every muscle in my body had knotted up as the realization flooded in, that if I were to slip and fall, I would never reach the bottom, and would tumble, screaming, through the godless sea of dancing blackness that filled the spinning darkness, for all of eternity. It had caused me to feel so small and insignificant, that I'd been terror-stricken, awestruck, and humbled, all at once. Such was the majesty of the vision that had overwhelmed me in the night. "haahahhaah" A silent laughter filled the chasm.
The last of my strength failing. I could no longer hold on. A small gasp left my lips as his arms flailed in the fading light, gravity taking him down into the trap. After a few moments I splashed into frigid water right up to my chest, the wind knocked from my lungs. After blinking the splashes of dirty water away I squinted upwards, the remaining sunlight barely a small circle in the distance. With my hands I felt the mud. I was in shallow water. On a beach. Somewhere.
I looked around and saw a man dressed in khaki shorts and a Hawaiian shirt. With a fishing cap covering his head. "If only I could've saved you. I'm sorry... You must hate me right now." I tried to scream I'm alright and I don't hate you. Suddenly he faced me, "You should get up." and threw his trident at me.
I woke up just before it pierced, grasping at my chest. Panting and sweating. That was easily my most terrifying dream. What in the hades was that?
Slowly relaxing I scanned the area. It was in fact a beach. The shore was a graceful arc of sand, glittering under the morning summer sun, a place for a placid ocean to lap. The waves rolled in with a soothing sound, the salty water a brief flurry of sand. Every few meters of so lay a shell, a treasure of the aquatic world just out of reach, and the footprints they left behind were soon erased. The ocean was calm today, not like last night. I wonder what changed.
*Rustle* a quick shake of the bushes got my attention and I hopped up. I grabbed the silver arrow and got into a low stance, ready for what's to come. Damn it! Why is always one thing after another? Can I get a damn break? "I sssmell him! He'sss clossse!" A raspy girls voice said. Hissing like a snake. "There he isss!" Another one of them shouted. Slithering out from the tree line. Their snake like legs were a dead give away. Dracaena. Five of them to be exact. Shouldn't they have weapons or something?
Ah f me. I'm stuck in the middle of the beach with an arrow as my only weapon. Would have been real great if I knew how to shoot a bow right about now, but noooo. I couldn't learn how to shoot one sooner. "You sssmell of the ssea and of nature. Who'ss ssson are you?" One of them asked. I guess my scent confuses them. Neat.
"Yesss, a ssstrong demigod sscent. A fine meal." Another said. All five of them closing in on me. Maybe I can try the water sword thing. It would great to know if it works. And I should know sooner rather than later.
Willing the water the gather in my hand, I began to transform the shape into a sword. Then forcing the temperature to drop below freezing. Thank the gods Asea taught me how to do it. Quite swiftly, when I'm a child of the sea. It was simple in design and just looked like an average everyday sword. Perfect to test out. Putting the arrow away, I held onto the sword with one hand. The tip of the sword pointed directly at the vermin. A challenge.
"DIEEEE!" One of them shouted charging straight at me. Followed closely by her friends. Swiping at me with her claws, I dodge with ease and swing my sword down. Slicing her arm clean off, the twisting the blade and swinging it through her stomach. Instantly turning to dust.
"It works! Haha!" The fact that I couldn't wipe the smile off my face, probably meant I was crazy. Yet, her friends didn't stop their charge. Two of them came at me, at the same time. Ready to kill. Bending my knees I tensed my legs and pushed off. Leaping as high as I could into the air, bringing my sword over my head. Swinging it in an arch slicing the one on the left in half. Ducking as soon as I land and barely dodging a swipe. Twirling my sword, stabbing her in her ribcage. Grabbing the arrow off my back, I threw it like I would my dagger. Penetrating one of the last two in the skull, only a couple of feet away.
That was a mistake. The last Dracaena stood behind me and stabbed my side. I swung my sword wildly and sliced her in the face. Blood seeping out from her wound blinded her and she tried to wipe it away. She was screeching in pain, so I stabbed her in her heart. Killing her instantly. I can't believe she got me. And I have faced worse, yet one stupid snake lady got a lucky hit in. It hurts and I fall flat on my stomach.
This is just ridiculous. This isn't even that bad. People say you can get used to pain... That's is a complete lie. One only learns to ignore it.
A feeling of lightheadedness and nausea took over and I felt like I'd pass out in a few moments. The pain subsided at times, only to flare up again and with seemingly increased intensity. I closed my eyes and relaxed my muscles. Taking in a deep breath, and then another. It was my best attempt to regain my composure. I grunted, determined to block out the pain and ignore the voices begging them to stop. But it was all too much for today. Even though I just woke up not too long ago. I might as well spend the rest of the day relaxing the best I can. Grabbing the wound with one hand, trying to slow the bleeding.
Water! Man am I stupid or what? Kicking with my feet and using one arm to crawl towards the waves. It hurt so much. I could feel the blood seeping out in between my fingers. A trail of blood following me as I inch closer to my savior. It felt like an eternity, but I finally managed to reach the water with my hand. The sea began to glide down my body. Easing my achiness. And pooling around the wound, healing it. Gotta love that power. My skin going back to it's former glory. No scar, no nothing.
Yet, I felt exhausted. Maybe just a little nap... Yea... I can close my eyes for a bit...
Next thing I know is I open my eyes squinting and the sun is high in the sky. Huh, I slept until the afternoon with no dreams. Lady luck must be on my side. Getting up, I began walking down the coastline. I should be heading east, but I just can't seem to turn away from the ocean. It's just calling to me. I guess never seeing it before and being a literal son of Poseidon does that to ya.
Maybe just a peek. Turning towards the ocean I begin walking in. Just before my head went under, I sucked in a big gulp of air. I know I can breath underwater, but I've never tried it in the ocean. I held my breath for as long as I could before gasping. Breathing like I normally would. What a relief.
Swimming deeper and deeper, the pressure and temperature having absolutely no affect on me whatsoever. Pretty badass. Prying deeper into the depths I saw a structure of some sort. Now that was interesting. Swimming even closer I saw what it was. A shipwreck. An old one. Surrounding by sea life. Once I showed up, they began circling me.
"All hail Son of The Sea!" Their praise engulfing my mind. Or saying things like it.
"Guys calm down, please. Just call me Percy. And all I want to do is explore. I'm just another dude." However that didn't stop them. In fact they began shouting things about me being nice and not being worthy. So I just floated there for a moment and listened to them. They actually got some pretty awesome stories. And sharks like being pet. Who knew? Too much drama, if you ask me.
Apparently the name of the of is the Celebes. A ship who had last been reported as stolen hundreds of years ago. She's not in what you'd call a good shape; there are gaping holes all along the hull. She's dead silent and eerily calm, but a plethora of lifeforms use her for housing, hunting grounds and more. She seems to have a calming effect on them. She's become prime real estate and many are eager to claim it all for themselves at any given chance. The Celebes doesn't make for the prettiest of sights from a distance, she seems more like a scar on the otherwise pristine, sandy floors. She has fallen over on one side and ropes dangle back and forth in the ocean currents. A whole bunch of crates are expected remains of an interrupted journey. Only a few have cracked open and nothing remains inside. A few bones can be seen here and there, but they're all remnants of a recent feeding frenzy, none of them are human remains.
I wonder what happened because neither the fish nor other sea life have any clue either. Every ship holds a tale, I wonder what hers is? Doesn't seem to have ended well. After an exchange of goodbyes, I propelled myself towards the surface at inhuman speeds. Flying out of the water and landing gracefully back onto shore.
"I guess now is a good as time as ever to head east." I said to no one in particular. Facing the forest I began my journey east. To be honest I was in no rush. I'm just confused on how I ended in California of all places. It doesn't make any sense to me. After all, wasn't I somewhere in the New York region?
I spent a couple of weeks just trekking through the woods. Just walking through with little to no incidents. Except for a couple small packs of hellhounds that were easily dealt with. During that time, I began practicing with my bow. The first time I ever shot the arrow... I spent a couple of hours just looking for the damn thing. Too bad I only have the one shot, cause if I had more I would be able to shoot more. And get more practice.
The more I shot, the worse it seemed to get the first week. Each shot bending physics and somehow I managed to land a shot in-between my legs. That was when I snapped. I felt so angry that the ground trembled before me. Tipping over a few trees. I felt pretty bad at that. I haven't even harnessed my earth shaker powers. Only when I get angry. It's either a storm or an earthquake... I have got to get better at that... I need to learn to control it. Or when I am very lucky can I use just a small fraction of it.
The next week I went back to the basics. Changing my stance at taking it as slow as possible. I finally managed to hit the tree, not the target, but the tree from ten feet away. Finally I managed to get some progress in. Slow start, but at least it's something.
As I continued on a rugged animal trail, the view stopped me dead in my tracks. I stood in awe as the great mountain loomed before me, cold grey crevices holding the blood of many battles. While the lower passes wore a cloak of greenery, the peaks were crowned with a headdress of ice. Without so much a word passing through my brain, my heart knew it to be a sacred place and stilled my mind.