Annabeth's POV:
I couldn't bare staying cooped up in the train. Nor could anyone else for that matter. Everyone was jumpy and tried their best to hide their emotions. It was futile, but it seemed that they weren't doing it for themselves. There isn't exactly much to gain by doing it, so why do we do it? The only one who has the decency to stay normal throughout it all is Bianca. She has perfect reason to be like that so it's not like I can actually blame her anything. Sometimes I wish I was in the same boat. I- I didn't even know about Luke, things with my dad are shaky, and now Percy is holding the sky for his own sake.
Everyone made a beeline to get away from anyone else. For obvious reasons of course. We all just want to be alone for a little while. A full day and a half absolutely cramped together, we needed some air.
After the news Blackjack vanished with a ferocious tailwind disappearing into the clouds above. The storm only slightly lightened up, leaving us stuck in New Mexico of all places! Plus with the winter pile up it would take forever for us to go anywhere, or hitch a ride of some sort. Last stop and we are still a ways away from saving him. Can't I save anyone?
The prophecy started swirling around in my head. Six of us; hunters, demigods, and god. Check. Percy withstanding the curse and as the the prophecy entailed, only he knows why. What is it? 'A sake known to one' He wouldn't just give up. He is clearly doing this for someone. So who? His family? No, he would sooner kill than let anything happen to them. Is it someone unknown? It would have to be. Ugh, this isn't getting anywhere.
Triton knowns of Olympus's bane and his reasoning was well thought out. It's not like the gods have a shortage of enemies as much as I hate to admit it. If word got out then who knows what kind of third party crap we'd have to deal with before the solstices end.
...What do the last two lines even mean? The sea can be either Percy or Triton at this point. Artemis is clearly the moon. Yet, sharing the tides? Would that be literal? Metaphorical?... I don't even know where to start with that. It hardly even makes sense.
I continued to ponder when something clicked. The prophecy never mentions that Percy is saved. It only mentions that the sea survives. That is a different than living or saved. The sea may not even be him! And with how Thalia mentioned things were going... I'm getting a very bad feeling about this.
Not much time has passed, maybe thirty minutes, and I'm already wondering when we'll be on the move again.
As I walked all huddled up and cozy in my jacket the fates finally decided to smile upon me. Or sneer. In a perfectly straight line about fifty meters away the trees cut perfectly revealing exactly where Triton went. I walked ever closer trying to stay quiet, but as I got closer the look on Triton's face was a mixture of rage and confusion. And he was talking to someone out of my line of sight. I put on my baseball cap and starting making my move.
Stealthily I began to approach the outer edge of where they stood. Hopefully staying away from earshot. I stood by a clump of wide pines, listening. I heard two voices; a female and Triton. Whatever it was, it was hushed and Triton was seething. I listened intently. The voices stopped for a moment then began up again a few seconds later. I quietly peaked around my tree. The area was occupied by some tall feminine figure I'm sure I recognize and Triton with his arms crossed over his chest. I climbed up a little and jumped from branch to branch much like Percy... did. I sat directly above them careful to not any snow fall or branches rustle.
"-I've told you before, this isn't the time. You're just gonna have to resolve the issue yourself or wait until this quest is over. I will not be repeating myself." Triton held his ground. What did I walk into?
"We had a deal. Sworn on the Styx. Two favors and I'm cashing in on one of them now. So tell me where I can find dear old Perseus..." Oh. My. Gods. Circe. Is here. She is here. And she wants Percy. She is here now and wants Percy.
"Percy is gone. Or have you gotten short of hearing? He can not help and that stupid oath won't help you. Not in his current predicament. So for the last and final time. Leave." Triton clearly threatened, but Circe didn't seem like she was going to.
Until she sighed and rested her arms on her side, "Just tell him to hurry. Please." Triton looked to be taken a little back at that with how his arms sagged a little, but otherwise he didn't move or waver. With a wave of her hand mist began to gather and swirl around her before dissipating. She was gone. Triton visibly relaxed.
"You can come out now, I know you're there." Triton threw into the wind. I didn't move, what if he's bluffing? "Annabeth, this isn't the time. That cap won't do you much good if it's attached to corpse." Okay definitely not bluffing. I jumped down and landed softly on the semi-packed snow. I took off my cap and materialized right in front of Percy's brother. My intention was to stare him down, but he beat me to the punch and began by asking, "How much of that did you hear?"
"Enough to know that you've done nothing to alleviate the situation with Circe thus far." I scoffed and took a minuscule step back.
"Ah so you only managed to get the tail end of it. Good." Triton waved me off completely, turning his back towards me and starting walking back to camp.
"Good!? You're having secret meeting with a goddess that wants to have Percy! How can any of that be good!?" I shouted rushing to get in front of him. As I did so he tilted his as if confused.
"Aren't you jumping the gun a little bit?" He asked
"Of course not. Nothing good ever comes from it." We are mortal after all, it's not like they care all that much about us.
"Clearly you know nothing of Percy and his dealings with deities. So stop grasping for the tiny fragment of information. It's be best if you simply dropped it and focused everything on the quest." His actions are nothing short of suspicious. Why would Circe show up now of all times?
"I thought you were supposedly some awesome brother who looked after his family. Guess I was wrong." I was hoping to get at least a flinch from him, yet all I managed to do was get a hearty laugh deep from his chest. He didn't even seem slightly bothered by the fact.
"And tell me my dear, how did you possible draw that conclusion?" Triton practically sneered as he stared me down. His towering figure over my collapsing one.
"You say you care about Percy, yet everything I've seen so far has led me to believe otherwise. In the Sea of Monsters you hardly showed any sign of remorse towards Percy's position. Even on your war path at camp only proved that you care only about yourself. Percy would never have done such a thing." I tried to compose myself yet his aura kept trying to push me down.
"What exactly would he do wise girl? You hardly know the fella and yet you're trying to preach to me what my brother would do? Please do tell."
"Don't call me that," I spat back, "Percy would put other's above himself always. It's his fatal flaw after all!" Triton didn't seem to be taken back at all, but his silent pose gave me all the confirmation I needed.
"..." "Got him, " "...When is his birthday?"
"I'm sorry?"
"Come on surely his friend knows when his birthday is. Or perhaps his favorite color? Who his first crush was? His mother's name? What did he sacrifice to become this strong? I'll take an answer to any of these. A true friend or someone as close, or closer, is bound to know at least one of these. Especially when it comes to Percy... Don't be shy, any answer will do." He spread his arms out wide kind of showing off.
When was his birthday? Come on, I have to know that at least. September? No that definitely wasn't it. August? I'm not sure. Come on Annabeth, you know this. After all the time we spent talking with him, he had to of mentioned his birthday at some point. Or even his favorite color. We talked plenty on his first quest. Granted we did talk about me a lot. Thinking back on it he somehow steered the conversation flawlessly back around to me. That is... unsettling. What do I even know about him? I didn't even know he had a crush. And what sacrifice? He... never actually mentioned his mom. I must know something.
"Perhaps that isn't the right way to go." Triton sighed and put his arms back down, "Perhaps your actions speak louder than your ill advised words. You wouldn't mind proving me wrong, would you?" Triton extended his arm and in the briefest moment his face fell completely stoic. His armor glistened even in the clouded weather. I jumped back on instinct and drew my dagger getting into my own stance.
Triton didn't even give me a chance before he dashed forward in the blink of an eye, swiping at my feet. I barely managed to jump up and back avoiding his second attack slashed at my chest. I myself may have dodged, but he managed to nick my jacket. I managed a glance up seeing that his face was as stoic as ever. His stance was frozen in the same position as his second strike. No hint as to what his next move would be.
He shifted his foot slightly and I couldn't help flinch at the miniscule movement. One eye twitch to my left sent my right guard on high alert, for all I knew it was a misdirect and it forced me to choose. Any blow from him would very well be calm and calculated. Four moves and he already has me dead set on fighting a defensive battle. If I didn't know any better, I'd like to believe that he was actually trying. Yet, everything instinct is screaming that he clearly isn't. That he is holding back a tsunami worth of skill. Much like...
I snarled just thinking about it. He wants me to play his game? Alright, but it'll become mine before long. I just need enough time to find his weak point and properly exploit it. That is the only feasible option at this point. So, playing defense it is.
I took in a deep breath of the icy air and changed my stance to something that maximized my defense. If I leave anything open, I know he'll exploit like no other and that is something I can not afford to happen. A small plan formed. Triton's expressionism's didn't waver, that was making it hard to guess what he would do next. Good thing I didn't have to wait long. The god before me lunged forward crossing a good distance, thrusting his spear aimed directly at my heart with such grace I barely managed to deflect it. Another graze on my jacket.
Now that he got closer Triton spun around kicking across my chest that tossed me further back. My forearms stung like hell and it was definitely gonna bruise. This time I pushed forward swiping across his face. He did exactly what I wanted and leaned back to dodge. I spun the handle redirecting the swipe to a kink in his armor and drove it down.
It felt like a good course of action at the time.
It didn't get far, as he caught it gripping my forearm and pulled me toward him. Next thing I knew my head snapped back and black spots starting dancing across my vision. He let my arm go, but not before grabbing my collar and throwing me away. I felt weightless for just a second, like I was a free floating cloud before my back slammed into something hard, snapping my head back. Everything around me blurred and spun. My head felt like hot lead and my back didn't want to cooperate. Every notion of movement sent a wave of pain swimming through me. Even my throat felt dry, letting a slight whimper escape, my lips.
I can get through this. I forced myself to stand in defiance. He was not going to win that easily. I resumed my stance and evened out my breathing. Just hold on until the chance arrives.
This time Triton took his time and began circling around me. I don't know what his plan was, so there is no chance I'm gonna take my eyes off of him. There was also no way in hell I was gonna take the first shot. Wait. Be patient and wait. It'll come. About a minute passed without so much as rustle of branches or a spur of movement. I was getting angsty, yet I know that I have to wait. The pain slowly subsided to a dull ache.
He launched forward swiping in a wide arc from the left which I jumped over. He then attempted to punch me in the face, but I sidestepped and ducked underneath. He sent his knee up forcing me to bring up my forearms. The impact rocked my bones and pushed me back further than I wished it had. Triton spun his weapon of choice around his body as he kept on stepping closer. I shuffled back staying on my knees all the while eyeing the spear before he inevitably attacked. Every time I tried to stand he forced me back down. That little- *Pang!* He stabbed the ground I was on just a millimeter from my current position.
There!
I grabbed the shaft using it as leverage. My body rushed forward giving my body that little bit of strength it craved right now. My legs made contact right at the crease of his armor. My knees caved and it felt as though I hit a solid brick wall with a paper weight. Triton didn't flinch. Instead he took the opportunity to grab my ankle and twist it around. "AHHH!" I screamed at the sudden pop of the joints. Yet he didn't relent. He knelt down and grabbed both the sides of my face. Headbutt!
Everything swam black for a second with a wave of nausea. I stumbled backwards on my forearms. Falling flat on my back.
How humiliating.
Hearing footsteps move in, I dredged up whatever was left and propped myself up. The headache was building up fast, "Is this how you're planning on saving my brother, wise girl?"
"Sh-shut u-uppp." I creaked. He dug something up and gently placed it against my lips. I drank. In an instant relief made a gratifying entrance.
"You can't account for everything. Any plan that can fail eventually will fail. That's why Percy isn't dead yet." A wave of pain quickly overcame me. I didn't want to think about it. Not the 'yet' part especially. Triton sighed deeply and maybe? ran a hand through his hair. I am not sure, "I'm not your friend, I'm on a mission. I'm here to get my brother back by any means... I don't care what happens to you lot. I don't even care about any of you." His time was stern with no chance of deception. The meaning behind that was all too clear.
"What changed?" I mumbled.
"Everything." Triton was quick to respond. He stood up ad stared off. A bit dramatic for my taste. But it didn't seem too far fetched. I wonder, what would I do if the roles were reversed.
"What do you mean?" Triton didn't get a chance to respond. Where he stood were a couple silver arrows sticking out of the snow. Triton stood unaffected about ten feet back. How he got there so fast was beyond me. My body still aches and my head was still spinning. Not very fun.
"Stay away! Or I swear on all that is holy, I will strike you so hard that not even an immortal could heal from it." Thalia screamed from a couple of feet away. I am so glad that she is here. That she decided to come along.
"Just what do you think you're doing!? We have a mission to complete and you're picking fights!? What in the hell is the matter with you? Have you no sense of chivalry or common decency!?" Zoe shouted from a little further behind, though I can't really see her. I didn't expect her to come to my rescue.
"Hmm always quick to assume. How you believe that women have no faults is beyond me. You haven't even questioned if it was her who began it." Triton spoke casually as he starting coming in closer. Two bow strings were tightened and I heard Thalia shift next to me.
"Not any closer!" Thalia threatened. Her proximity left a small ringing in my ears.
"Don't patronize me. We need to move. We've wasted enough time as is." Like hell that's gonna happen.
"We're not going anywhere until we get an explanation." This time Bianca practically hissed. Which got me to wondering, where is Grover?
"You called us a team, so why in Hades would you attack one of your own!?" Zoe took charge and pulled back just a little more on her bow.
"Things changed. The circumstances changed. The cost changed." Triton still spoke as calmly as possible though his eyes gave him away. His growing worry and flashes of anger were obvious. But below that, hidden past the obvious was an underlying tone of fear... Percy... "Right now, all I care about is getting my brother back. I don't care about you lot. Any delusions you hold about my him, it would be best if you move on. It would do you no good if we're late."
"What exactly do you mean by that?" Thalia spat.
"We must hurry... Percy may very well die if we save him." Triton's hand clenched while my breath hitched.
...
...
...
"GUYS! YOU BETTER RUN!" Grover's panicked voice screamed behind along with the thundering of the snow covered ground.
I'm so sorry about not posting sooner. I've been out of town for vacation and attending my sister's wedding. I hope you all enjoy this chapter.
Also I don't know if any cares or wants this, but if anyone wants to chat I'm open to listen. Things are hard now for a lot of people so my pm is open if anyone wants it.