Sorry for the long hiatus... combo of skiing and writers block and being busy. And maybe a little big of crisis.
Okay, gang, we have some things to clear up.
Number one: Despite the title, THIS STORY IS NOT A KE$HA REFERENCE! I named this way before she started singing that ridiculous song. Gag.
Number two: I have severe writers block in regards to the next chapters, "Tell Me Why" and "You're Not Sorry". If you could comment or PM any thoughts, I'd love to use them to brainstorm.
Number three: Y'all keep telling me that this chapter or that chapter wasn't totally what the specific song was about. I know. If I did a literal translation, this story would get borking really super über mega foxy quickly because you would know how the chapter would go just by listening to the song. I'm mixing it up, young grasshoppers! Plus, half of Taylor's songs are about break ups, the other half is about happy relationships... so theres only so much I can do with that without getting repetitive. And then once in a while theres a song like "Best Day" or "Innocent" thats not about a relationship at all, and I just dont even know what to do with that. If you will remember the "Hey Stephen" chapter, Taylor herself specifically says that she is inspired by them, but doesn't necessarily accurately portray them one hundred percent. That was the whole point of that chapter. It's called a creative license people... If I want 'A Perfectly Good Heart', a song clearly about a breakup, to be about a miscarriage, then dammit it will be about a miscarriage. Stop hounding me! Love you.
Number four: I have been receiving a ton of questions on why I changed the story to M rated. This is a result of two things; one, Percy and Annabeth's fight in White Horse has some pretty vivid vocabulary, and I'm sure they will in the future... we all know they both have a temper. Two, as Taylor Swift gets older, her themes get more mature, as will the stories. This is more for the future, since Red has some hinted sexual references. I just want to cover all my bases; don't worry, I promise no explicit sex scenes, but it's going to be implied. I mean, come on... It's Percy and Annabeth. They're happily in love and are demigods so they have to seize the day, if you know what I mean. Carpe Diem. YOLO and shit. And while I don't necessarily support sex before marriage, I just think Percy and Annabeth would, going back to the whole carpe diem thing. Think about it; you could die any second from a monster attack, Hera snatching you away, the Earth swallowing you, looming prophecies, one of Leo's inventions gone awry, Athena skewering you, and you have the love of your life right next to you. Not to mention ADHD. I'm sorry, but some canoodling is bound to happen. Plus, they have kids, so sex is somewhat inevitable. And by somewhat, I mean totally.
Because believe it or not, all of you ended up here on this earth reading these words because two people had sex. Unless you're an alien, on which case I apologize. Or from a sperm donor. Or in vitro. #factsoflife
And on that note, here is a new chapter with absolutely nothing sexual in it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson or the song, "Breathe". Although I really wish I did, because then I'd have money to buy more shoes. I like shoes.
"And you put the raisins in the sun, and the pie on the sill, mashed potatoes in the morning and hot dogs on the grill!" The fat saytr hopped about, looking thoroughly ridiculous. "And where do we put the marshmallows?" he asked us, his face illuminated by the roaring bonfire behind him.
"In the yams!" the crowd shouted back, clapping to the rhythm.
"Up your ass," grumbled Percy, quiet enough so that only I'd heard. I nudged him in the ribs, though I too was feeling similar sentiments for this particular campfire song.
"And you put the watermelon in the basket and the jello in the bowl..." I laced my fingers with Percy's and leaned into his shoulder, trying to shift positions as best as one could on a log. One bad thing about campfires were the logs we sat upon; twenty minutes later, your butt would fall asleep, and you'd be left to sit there and wiggle absurdly while the rest of the campers got up and went to thier cabins.
"And the cheesecake in the cooler and the jam on the toast..."
"This," said Percy, "Is the weirdest camp song ever."
"I think it's new," I whispered, wrapping my coat around me tighter as the wind tore at me. "Looks like the younger campers like it though." I surveyed the pack of kids across the campfire; ever since the Gods had made the oath to claim all of their children last summer, Camp had been subjected to a constant stream of newcomers. Seeing as that night was the first night of winter term, there were a significant number of newbies.
Winter term was held the several weeks surrounding Christmas, giving half-bloods without homes a place to stay and celebrate the New Year with their friends and Olympian family. Or, in my case, a great excuse to spend three weeks with my boyfriend.
"I like the song about the different pieces of armor," Percy said, frowning.
"Yeah," I said, absent mindedly taking a bite of my s'more as the fat saytr continued to trumpet about various food items.
"Hey love birds," said a seemingly disembodied voice. I looked up to see Grover sitting down on the other side of Percy, winking at us mischievously.
"We are not love birds," objected Percy, puffing his chest out defiantly. "If anyone's a pair of love birds around here, it's you and Juniper."
"Naw, we aren't as bad as you!"
"Are too!"
"Are not-"
"Will you two shut up?" I said. "I'm trying to listen to the song." Percy rolled his eyes knowingly while Grover perked up, quivering with excitement.
"Oh yeah, it's a great song!" Grover enthused as he took a bite of paper plate. "I helped write it in fact," he said proudly, his voice muffled by the plate.
Percy and I exchanged glances.
"It's really... catchy," I offered.
"Chart topper for sure, G-man," nodded Percy. Grover beamed at us.
The song finally ended with putting the quiche in the oven. Gratefully standing and stretching, Percy and I witnessed several younger kids fall as they try to stand, their butts no doubt numb from their extended perch on the logs.
"Every year," Percy quipped, shaking his head in mock disappointment. I grinned at him. Gods, I was happy he was mine. It literally took us an entire war to figure out, but hey... better late than never.
And hey! Going strong since August 18. Not bad for your first relationship, eh?
I thought not.
Still holding hands, Percy and I set off across campus toward the cluster of cabins, barely visible in the darkness.
"So," said Percy, looking down at me. "No looming prophecy anymore." He grinned at me, his plaid scarf ruffling in the breeze. Since the end of the war, Percy had seemed lighter, happier, as if a huge weight had lifted off his shoulders. The tuft of gray hair he had earned holding the sky had grown out, leaving his locks glossy black in the complete. He had grown a ton during fall, and added muscle on to boot.
Basically, Percy looked good.
"Looks like we may have a normal stay at camp for once," he said, kicking a rock to the side as we walked on. "Well, as normal as possible at a camp packed with half humans."
"Don't jinx us, Seaweed Brain," I warned playfully, hitting his side with my hip.
"Trust me, this Christmas will be perfect," Percy promised, drawing to the halt outside the Athena cabin. Taking both of my hands in his, he pulled me closer. "We'll watch movies, and roast marshmallows, and eat tons of unhealthy food, build snowmen-"
"And teach combat classes and file paperwork and do permitter checks..."
"Annabeth," he said, tugging me closer to him. "Why are you such a pessimist?"
"Not a pessimist," I said as Percy drew nearer and nearer. He tucks a stray curl behind my ear, his fingers brushing against my cheek. "A realist," I whispered, and I closed the distance between us.
I really missed kissing Percy.
"Annabeth!"
Percy and I broke apart, and I turned to see my half brother Malcolm standing in the window of the Athena cabin, lips pursed in obvious distaste.
I sighed and looked apologetically at Percy, who just shrugged. "Don't take any crap from him," he said. "He's just upset because he's still single."
"Probably," I admitted, though I suspected it had more to do with parentage conflicts.
"See you at breakfast," Percy said, pecking me on the lips one last time. Giving Malcolm a triumphant glare, he loped off with his hands in his pockets, waving whenever someone called his name. After watching him go, I turned and climbed the white marbled steps to the Athena cabin, the door slamming behind me as I entered. Nobody said anything to me, except for my half sister Jenna.
"Girl, you got it bad," she said with a wink.
"Got what?" I asked, somewhat defiant as another one of my sisters rolled her eyes with a smirk.
"Don't try to deny it!" said Cassidy in a singsong voice.
"Deny what?"
"That you are so in love with Percy!" squealed Payton, yet another sister to join the conversation.
"Just admit it," said Jenna, grinning.
"I have nothing to prove to you guys," I said, and mature head of Athena Cabin that I was, stuck my tongue out at them and turned on my heels toward the spiral staircase that rose to my loft.
"Who 'ya think you're kidding?" said Payton playfully.
"He's the Earth and heaven to you!" called Cassidy, and the girls descended into a fit of giggles, madly singing a round of 'I won't say I'm in Love' from Hercules.
"That movie isn't even mythically correct!" I yelled down. "It tries to pass Hercules off as Hera's son!"
"Annabeth, you're so pessimistic!"
"So I've been told," I muttered darkly, pulling on a sweatshirt and going to brush my teeth.
I was out as soon as my head hit my pillow; the first day back was always a tiring one... especially when the whole camp was gawking at you and your boyfriend, who had recently saved the world.
Apparently, that sort of thing was pretty exciting.
I met 7 am with a grimace. I had never really been a morning person... coffee was a necessity. Dragging myself up and out of bed, I pulled my rag tag curls into a semi-presentable ponytail and slapped some deodorant on. After a short debate on wether or not I should put mascara on, I decided to skip it and donned my parka and boots once more. Leaving soft footprints in the fresh snow, I trudged over to the big house for the counselors first meeting of the winter term.
"Morning," I said sleepily to the room at large, and helped myself to a cup of black coffee. Plopping down at the ping pong table, I let caffeine work its wonders and sipped my coffee. More alert now, I noticed the Aphrodite counselor sitting importantly in a chair across the way, flicking lazily through a fashion magazine and nibbling on what looked like a very depressed and dehydrated English muffin. She looked up at me, expertly lined eyes narrowed cynically.
"So... you're Annabeth?" she said disdainfully.
"Guilty," I said with as much friendliness I could muster at that time in the morning, pouring a cup of coffee for Percy as well. She tossed her perfectly straightened hair behind her and pursed her flawlessly glossed lips.
"I'm Silena's replacement," she said smirking slightly. "My name is Drew."
Shaking her manicured hand, I took a quick inventory. Even for a daughter of Aphrodite, this girl was dressed to the freaking nines as far as 7am went. Tight leggings, designer boots, cashmere scarf and expensive looking vest. She looked nothing short of perfect.
Damn her.
"Are you the one dating Percy Jackson?" she asked, taking a dainty bite of her breakfast.
"Yep," I said, liking this girl less and less as I helped myself to the pile of pancakes at the end of the ping pong table. "Do you want any pancakes?"
"No," Drew said, wrinkling her nose. Do you know how many calories..." She trailed off in horror as I drenched my pancakes in syrup. "I'll stick to my rice cake."
Ahh. That's what that was.
"Suit yourself," I said shrugging.
I sipped my way through a second cup of coffee as the rest of the counselors filtered in. As they started to gather around the table, they kindly left the seat next to me vacant for Percy, who was yet to show up.
"Late for the first meeting of term," said Travis Stoll. "Typical Percy Jackson move." We all laughed.
Fifteen minutes later, nobody was laughing.
Even Mr. D had shown up before Percy.
"Okay, I have a class I have to teach in ten minutes," said Clarisse. "Either we start this pow wow without Jackson or I won't be here for it."
"We can't start without him," said Katie. "He's Head Boy. We can't have a meeting without him... can we?"
"Maybe someone should go get him while we start the meeting," suggested Rachel. They all looked at me.
"Well, Annabeth has to stay, she's head girl," said Drew, suddenly sweet. "We need her." Her white teeth were bared in a dazzling smile that looked beyond fake to me, but seemed to be having quite the effect on Connor. "I volunteer to go get Percy," she said, voice practically dripping with honey. She batted her eyelashes at all of us. Clarisse rolled her eyes.
Sending that bombshell to wake my boyfriend up? Yeah... I don't think so. I wasn't born yesterday.
"Nico, please go drag Percy out of bed please," I said authoritatively.
"But Drew said she-"
"Go,"
"But-"
"Di Angelo!"
"Go, Nathan," commanded Mr. D lazily. "And here," he said, handing Nico the pitcher of syrup. "Feel free to pour this on him to wake him up." Suddenly eager to fetch Percy, Nico strutted out of the room as Drew sank back into her seat bitterly.
"Right," I said. "First item of business: Border Control."
"We need another dragon," someone said immediately.
"No! The one we have freaks me out already," said someone else.
The meeting continued with us discussing various issues such as marshmallow quality, the date of capture the flag, placing bets on Percy and my relationship, and if we should put in a wasp booby trap on the rock climbing wall.
We were just about to move on to the topic of the new egg salad recipe when Nico ambled back into the room, thoroughly Percy-less.
"Where's Percy?" I asked, eyeing the tureen of syrup, which was suspiciously full.
"Wasn't there," he said, taking his seat.
"Wasn't there?" I asked, surprised.
"Yeah, I couldn't find him."
"Couldn't find him?"
"Nope. He wasn't in the pavilion either."
"Wasn't in the pavilion?"
"Are you gonna repeat everything I say?" snapped Nico, helping himself to bacon. "I told you, I couldn't find him. That's it."
"Oh," I said.
"Well, maybe he went for a run or something," said Rachel. "He's bound to turn up sometime."
"Right," I said, though I wasn't convinced.
"Anyway..." said Connor. "I personally found the egg salad rather lackluster."
I watched the steam from the cup of coffee that I had made Percy spiral up towards the ceiling as the others complained about the egg to mayonnaise ratio of the new salad. I wondered where he could be; the hands on the clock seemed to mock me, spinning onward as Percy became later and later.
"Well, I for one think that we should go back to the old egg salad," said Chris as I tuned back into the conversation. Immediately, his remark was meet with chaos, the counselors obviously split.
"Ugh, shut up!" I shouted above the din. "It's just egg salad, nobody really eats it anyway. They all go for the mashed potatoes, as do I. Can we wrap this up?" I cast an anxious glance outside at the pavilion, hoping to spot the unruly black bed head that should have been seated next to me right now. "Meetings over, guys. I'm going to go find Percy."
Everyone shuffled to their feet as I made a beeline for the door, pulling my coat on as I went.
It wasn't unusual for Percy to miss meetings. In fact, he was late more often than not. What did concern me was that he wasn't sleeping. I had a horrible, gnawing feeling in the lot of my stomach, sending adrenaline pounding through my veins as my body kicked itself into DEFCON level 1.
People gave me odd looks as I literally raced through camp, gulping the icy air as I went. I checked the training arenas, the track, the attic, and I even stuck my head in the frozen lake to see if be was at the bottom. I Iris Messaged Tyson in Poseidon's kingdom. He was no where to be found.
I tore into his cabin. I searched every goddamn room. Nothing. The sweatshirt he had worn last night was laying innocently on the sofa. I snatched it, and held it close to my face, breathing in his scent.
By lunch time, I was full on panicking, and everyone else was starting to worry as well. While campers dug into their noontime meal, I went around from table to table, asking; Have you seen Percy?
No.
The answer was always no.
"Chiron," I said, barging into his office in a fluster. "I can't find Percy, and-"
"I know," he said, holding up and hand and looking at me sympathetically.
"We need a search party."
"You know camp procedure," he said sadly, avoiding my gaze. "We aren't allowed to send out emergency search parties until twenty four hours after a reported missing person."
"But-"
"Sweetheart, if we sent out a search team for each missing camper after three hours of not seeing them, we'd be in total chaos." I looked at him numbly. "Trust me," he said, sighing. "I'd rather send one now too. But wait it out; I'm sure it's just an unexpected trip to Olympus or to see his mother." Even as he said the words, Chiron didn't look too convinced.
"But he didn't tell me."
Chiron just patted me on the shoulder. "Tomorrow morning, I promise."
Nodding stiffly, I left the room at went into the front room of the Big House, retaking my chair at the ping pong table. There sat Percy's untouched coffee, no longer steaming. Stone cold. I waited, glancing up at the door every so often, half expecting Percy to burst through it any second with his silly lopsided grin.
Hey, Annabeth!
I was going to punch him for sure. When he came, I would give him a piece of my mind.
But he didn't come. Not when dinner was served, not when the campfire started, not when I almost started crying.
When the last rays of the sun disappeared behind the horizon, I dragged myself up to fall back on my last resort. I made my way to the expansive kitchen that the Big House had. There, in the back corner, shoved between a cook book entitled Demigod Diet; Fit into your Armor by Summer, Guaranteed! and an orange Kitchenaid mixer was a device rarely used by half-bloods... a telephone.
Blowing dust off the phone, I was engulfed in a cloud of dust while I wracked by brain for the number I needed.
I dialed the digits slowly. I didn't want to hear what I knew Sally would say, but yet I needed to hear her say it. I didn't want my worst nightmare confirmed, but there was that sliver, that small chance that he was there...
"Hello?"
"Hi Mrs. Jackson," I said, my breathing shallow with nerves.
"Annabeth!" she exclaimed. "What a lovely surprise! Are you and Percy having a good time together?" My heart sank.
"Mrs. Jackson... Is Percy home?"
"Um, no... he's at camp. With you," Sally said, perplexed. "Isn't he?"
"No," I whispered. "No, he's not. Oh my gods." I took a deep breath, letting the reality wash over me. Somehow, the finality of it all was oddly reassuring; I knew for sure now. Certainty was all I had right now.
"Annabeth?" Mrs. Jackson's concerned voice floated through the phone, snapping me out of my trance.
"What?" I said stupidly, my mind no longer with the conversation.
"Annabeth, what's going on?" asked Mrs. Jackson urgently. "Where's Percy?"
"I- I don't know." I filled her in best I could, but I was itching to hang up. I had to go find him, I had to go track him down. This was definitely something more than getting lost somewhere- my demigod instincts were screaming that this was a plot, cleverly planned out.
After hanging up with a distraught Sally, I shoved the phone back in its lonely corner and practically ran out of the room. I was suddenly filled with this sense of purpose, my focus completely on finding Percy.
I raced through the Big House, past Chiron's office, past the ping pong table, past the cup of coffee that stood alone still, forgotten. The campfire had been diminished to nothing more than glowing embers, sizzling as new snow fell from the heavens. Camp was was still buzzing, huddles of campers forming to have one last chat before curfew. I dashed past them all.
In the Athena Cabin, I pulled on jeans over my leggings, put on the sweatshirt I had taken from Percy's cabin, strapped my dagger on my belt and put a scarf on over my parka. On my way out, I snatched a pair of silver mittens and went back out into the rapidly thickening snowfall.
I slipped into the stables, the hot smell of hay and animals hitting my nostrils. Feet swishing quietly on the straw-laden floor, I halted in front of the stall housing a regal black Pegasi, who looked down at me haughtily, as if to say, Don't even think about it, blondie.
"Hey, Blackjack," I said quietly, tentatively reaching out a hand to touch his velvet nose. I quickly recoiled when I sensed Blackjack lunge, his gleaming teeth crashing together in the very spot my hand had been seconds before.
"Hey!" I yelped, stepping backwards and fleetingly rethinking my plan. However, a glance outside told me I had no choice; no other Pegasus was strong enough to fly through the storm that was brewing.
Mentally cursing Zeus for his oh-so impeccable timing, I squared my shoulders in preparation to face Blackjack again. Walking toward him, I tried to smile friendlily as I reached out to pet him.
He reared back angrily, his midnight black wings snapping open defensively. I didn't care what Percy said to me; this animal hated me.
Thinking quickly, I reached into my pockets and produced a handful of sugar cubes from Percy's sweater. Blackjack immediately backed down, his eyes glued to the white blocks in my hand.
"Hey boy," I tried again, softly, slowly stepping toward him with my palm outreached. His black eyes met my grey ones, and I tried not to blink as I approached him once more. Inches apart, his breath fluttered on my skin as the tension mounted. I held out the sugar cubes, and after a while, watched in amazement as Blackjack lowered his muzzle into my palm. I shook my head; no matter human, demigod, or pegasus, the quickest way to win over a male was with food.
Blackjack's velveteen lips barely brushed me as be delicately ate the sugar cubes, eyeing me suspiciously as he crunched. I felt a mutual bridge of trust form between us. A thin, rickety bridge that was barely stable, but in my time of crisis I didn't really have time to become best chums with the beast.
Praying to the gods that Blackjack wouldn't decide to chomp off my hand, I moved in closer to him slowly.
"Okay, Blackjack, I need your help." He withdrew his snout immediately and snorted, clearly a Yeah, right, statement.
"Just hear me out," I pleaded. He huffed and tossed his mane, but remained facing me. I took this as permission to proceed.
"Percy's missing," I said, and instantly Blackjack's ears perked up, eyes wide. "Camp can't send a search party out until sometime tomorrow morning, probably not until noon. But I'm worried it might be too late or..." I trailed of, not wanting to think about it. "Point is, Percy needs us. If he's anywhere on Long Island, we've got to find him." I looked up into his inky eyes that seemed to go on infinitely. "Will you please help me? For Percy's sake?" He looked at me for a moment, considering. We stood there, each wondering if it were wise to trust the other.
He stepped forward. My heart leapt.
"You'll do it then!?" I asked, giving a bounce of delight. Blackjack rolled his eyes and jerked his head as if to say, Yeah, I guess I'll help you.
I pulled the door of his stall open, excited fingers fumbling with the latch. Finally getting it unhooked, I yanked it back to allow Blackjack to walk out. He looked at me expectantly, and then nodded to the barn door.
"Oh, right." Letting the doors blow open, Blackjack and I were rewarded with a face full of snow.
This would not be fun.
"Okay, boy," I said, pulling my coat around me tighter. "You're going to use whatever telepathy connection you an Percy have to try to find him, and I guess I'll just look for signs of him. Got it?" He neighed in agreement.
"Good," I said, and fed him several more sugar cubes before clumsily clambering onto his back. After several attempts to scramble into Blackjack, I finally managed it, and had only pulled out a few feathers.
"Okay, Blackjack, you know I didn't really ride pegasi that often, so if you could just go easy on-" the words were tore out of my mouth as Blackjack broke into a sprint, thundering down the aisles of stalls. After clearing the barn doors, he ran straight for the cliff on the edge of camp that dropped off to the beach below.
"Blackjack!" I screamed against the howling wind. "Please don't jump off that cliff!" But he did, his wings snapping out at the last possible moment, causing the tips of his hooves to drag in the sand.
Cursing, I gripped his mane firmly as we soared upward, sending me sliding backwards on his glossy black. Trying not to scream, I closed my eyes and saw Percy's face in my mind as I flew away.
Within minutes we were miserable. Silently congratulating Zeus on whipping up such a terrible storm out of freaking nowhere, I gave up on trying to see through the onslaught and burrowed my face into Blackjack's warm body. Though his skin was still hot to the touch, I could see ice crystals forming on his impressive wings.
Every so often we would touch down and Blackjack would sniff about for Percy's scent while I searched for any sign of a traveler, a fight, or even just a campfire. I knew it was a lousy way of searching for someone; with the blizzard, we were searching random places without method. I think Blackjack knew it too. Percy could be a twenty yards away and we would have missed him. But even though I knew we weren't getting any closer to finding him, it felt good just to be doing something rather than just laying around at camp, worrying. It was something to keep my mind off of terrible things.
For when we took the sky and I buried my head in Blackjack's mane, my thoughts wandered to such things, speculating. Calculating the chances of his survival. Disappearances were a small part of demigod life. Sure, they happened. But they were rather unusual, especially given we were in a time of peace.
I strayed to the campers who had vanished during the Titan War, faces and names that were slowly beginning to blur with time, though I could recall the pain clearly. It was never simple, never easy, never a clean break. But taking away Percy from me after all this time seemed too cruel, even for the gods. Well, most gods anyway.
After hours what I had called searching, but was probably us flying in circles in the freezing cold, I motioned for Blackjack to land near the sea. Dismounting, I leaned up next to him and offered him a few more sugar cubes while unchecked my watch. It was two AM, and my boyfriend was lost. I was on the beach with a Pegasi. My finger tips were tinged with purple.
Whatever sense of drive I had felt earlier had vanished; I was weary, feeling like I had aged forty years in the past twelve hours. I sank down onto the sand, finally giving into the sobs I had tucked away all this time. I let the hot tears freeze on my windburned cheeks.
How could this have happened? Percy was the only thing I had known like the back of my hand, the only one who was able to look past my many flaws and love me.
Now where was he? I needed him, I needed him right now to scoop me up off the ground and kiss my forehead and tell me that everything was alright, that we were going home and that I would be able to sleep in my warm bed.
But he wasn't here. There was no one here to save me this time. No, I was the one who had to do the saving. But was I strong enough to do it alone?
Over come with grief, I curled up on the sand, positively howling by now. I didn't know what to do, who to go to, where to start.
"I'm sorry," I sobbed. "Percy, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry..."
I couldn't breathe without him, let alone find him. But I had to.
I felt the thump of the ground next to me, and looked over to see Blackjack folding his legs underneath him as he sat in the sand next to me. He nudged me softly with his nose.
"I don't have anymore sugar," I sniffled.
He shook his head. That's not what I want.
"What?" I asked.
Gingerly, he extended a wing, wrapping it around me like a large, feathered blanket, shielding me from the wind.
Then, he did something that surprised me even more; he shifted his feathers closer to his body, moving me up against him more. I realized this creature who had tried to amputate my hand hours earlier was hugging me. I was touched.
"Thank you," I said, resting a hand on Blackjack's muzzle. "Don't worry," I said. "I won't tell anyone you like me know. I know you've got a reputation to uphold."
The damn horse actually laughed.
Not sure what my next move was, I decided sleep was a good idea. I woke up the next morning to Blackjack whinnying agitatedly. I was still cuddled up to Blackjack. Blinking in the sunlight, I looked up to see quite the assembly before me. Bitterly noting that they all wore expressions of pity and judgement, I looked up as Blackjack retracted his wing to face six rescue pegasi, a small team of camp medics, and several huntresses.
"How long have you been here?" I asked the group, ignoring the fact that they had just found me sleeping on the beach with a pegasus.
"Over an hour," said a medic, slightly irritated. "Blackjack tried to bite us every time we approached you. We've been trying to get you the medical attention you need."
"Ah," I said, raising an eyebrow at Blackjack, who I swore shrugged somehow.
"Well, it's a miracle you're alive," said a huntress. "There's no way a mortal would have survived outside all night like this in the winter."
"She still probably has a little frostbite," said a medic.
"She won't be able to walk for sure," said another, eyeing me as I stood up shakily.
"I'm fine," I said, seconds before I face planted into the cold, packed sand. I groaned.
Looking at me with a superior I told you so look, the medics came over and helped me onto a tawny pegasus to get me back to camp. Another one of them stayed back to look after Blackjack.
Thank you, I mouthed to him as we trotted off. He winked at me, and then proceeded to bare his teeth at the poor medic who was in for an appendage-endangered morning.
Waiting for me in the hospital ward was none other than Thalia and Chiron, looking happy and pretty pissed to see me.
"Annabeth!" said Thalia, throwing her arms around me and rolling lower me onto a bed. "I can't believe you just traipsed out into a storm like that, what were you thinking?"
"I was thinking I had a missing person to find," I snapped. "Which, by the way, if its a twenty four hour wait to send out a rescue squad, what do you call the bunch that found me this morning?" I turned my gaze to Chiron, not caring in the slightest that I was being sassy.
"That's just for unexplained disappearances. You had a motive to be missing," Thalia said quickly. "Now come on, I want you looked at."
Several painkillers and an examination later, Thalia and I were alone in the wing.
"I'm sorry about Percy," she said, taking my hand and squeezing it. All I did was squeeze back.
"Although he must not have been a good cuddler if you could replace him with a pegasus." I glared at her.
"Still, nobody thought I was gonna end this way," she mused. "We all have money on how you guys would break up. Mysterious disappearance was never one people bet on..."
"That's not funny," I said sourly. "And we aren't broken up!"
"Right. I'm sorry." We sat in silence for a bit.
"If he's de... If he doesn't come back, I think I'll join the hunt," I told her.
"Really?" she said skeptically. "You don't think there's another guy out there you'd like to try besides Jackson?"
"Try? They're boys, not pieced of meat. And no," I said. "There isn't."
"He'll turn up," she said reassuringly.
"You think so?" I said, my voice cracking.
"Know so," she said, rubbing my back. "Oh, sweetie, let it all out. It's okay. Breathe."
If only I could.
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