Percy's mind yet again flew to the moment it had happened. The small yelp that came from behind him sent shivers down his spine. The small of his back tingled, threatening to explode in pain. Percy had only one thought in his mind as he spun around to see Annabeth crouched on the pavement, her shirt roiled in blood. There was a greenish tinge to her shoulder, and Percy felt like he'd been the one who had just fallen down.
Rage filled his system, and he looked up to see the familiar but unwelcome face of Ethan Nakamura, a mixture of guilt and fear in his remaining eye. Percy slammed the hilt of his sword as hard as he could into the traitor's helmet before turning back around, making sure no one else dared to get near her. His sense of panic had only receded a little when Blackjack had come to take Annabeth to their base, away from the battle.
But he still felt the same acute fear as he looked at her now - blonde curls looking duller than before, as if the poison had drained the life out of her. He didn't know what to think - it was simply unimaginable for him that Annabeth might be taken away from him, or ..worse. The terror that had gripped his throat like a vice only loosened his hold when Annabeth spoke, and despite all the casualties and injuries, he felt that there was still something to fight for.