PERI'S POV

As I ascended, I could feel - and hear - the ship's landing gear extending as we landed. We were a few miles outside of Topeka, and the sun shined down on the bronze warship brightly.

I grabbed some yogurt from the mess hall before climbing on deck and joining the others. I watched as the Argo II settled in the middle of a field of sunflowers. The oars retracted, and the gangplank lowered itself.

The morning air was nothing I was used to. It smelled of irrigation, warm plants, and fertilized earth. I'd lived in big cities all my life, and the all-natural scent was foreign to me. But I liked it nonetheless.

Percy was the first to notice me. He smiled in greeting, which for some reason surprised me. We hadn't exactly gotten off on the right foot, but I suppose he was like me in the sense that he wasn't one to hold a grudge. He stood at the helm with his arm around Bonnabelle.

Farther down the deck I saw Leo at the controls, Coach Hedge right behind him barking orders. My blood ran cold when the curly haired boy turned around and spotted me.

To my surprise, there was no cynical look in his eye as if he knew something I didn't. Instead there was something else there.

Pity?

But for what? He didn't know anything that would cause him to project such feelings.

Leo quickly wiped his face clean of any emotions resembling sorrow and instead wore his usual impish grin. Leo had gone back to being Leo.

Burying my doubts, I waved at him. As he returned the simple gesture, a feeling of relief washed over me. I let go of a breath I didn't realize I was holding. I relaxed, putting the uncomfortable morning behind me.

Leo and Hedge walked up, meeting the rest of the group as I finished the last of my yogurt. Bonnabelle grabbed a banana out of a nearby fruit bowl, peeling it leisurely as she sat in Percy's lap.

Well we very well can't pass up this opportunity, can we?

Leo smirked. "How's that banana, Annabeth?"

I snickered. "Would've thought you'd be good after last night."

Leo shrugged his shoulders comically. "Guess she's a hungry girl!"

Leo and I burst into laughter. Percy and Bonnabelle flushed crimson, but Coach Hedge was obviously confused.

"What?" He buzzed. "What are you two laughing about?! I don't get it! What's so funny?!"

Even Hazel was blushing now. "N-nothing, Coach Hedge," she murmured.

Jason coughed, suggesting silence. "So we're here in Topeka. What's the plan?"

"Well I want to check the highway," Piper said. "Find the sign that says Topeka 32."

Leo wiped his eyes, trying his best to recover from the laughing fit that had just ensued.

"P-Peri," he managed to say, "Can you lower the sails?"

I grinned, happy for the opportunity to use my powers. "Yeah, sure!"

I connected with the ship, faintly noticing how much easier it was becoming for me to channel my abilities. Once connected, I fluttered my eyelashes, and the sails descended gracefully.

"We shouldn't be far," Leo said. "Festus calculated the landing as best he could."

I turned to Piper. "What are you looking for at the mile marker?"

Piper explained to the group what she'd seen in the knife - a man in purple with vines on his head and a goblet. She left it at that, but judging by the look on her face there was more to her story than she let at on.

"Purple shirt?" Jason asked. "Vines on his hat? Sounds like Bacchus."

"Dionysus," Percy muttered angrily. "If we came all the way to Kansas to see Mr. D-"

"Bacchus isn't so bad," Jason said. "His followers are a bunch of douches. . . . but the god himself is okay. I did him a favor once up in the wine country."

Percy looked absolutely appalled. "Whatever, man. Maybe he's better on the Roman side. But why would he be hanging around in Kansas? Didn't Zeus order the gods to cease all contact with mortals?"

I snorted. "They haven't exactly been following that order."

Frank grunted. "Besides, if the gods have gone schizophrenic, then who knows what's going on with the Olympians? Could be some pretty bad stuff out there."

"Sounds dangerous!" Leo agreed cheerfully. "Well. . . you guys have fun down in Kansas with the Wizard of Oz. I've got to finish repairs on the hull. Hedge is gonna work on the broken crossbows. And, uh, Peri and Annabeth - I could really use y'all's help. You're the only other two people who even sort of understand the ship."

I beamed and replied instantly. "Of course! It'll be fun!"

Bonnabelle looked apologetically at Percy. "Leo's right. I should stay and help."

"I'll come back to you." He kissed her on the cheek. "Promise."

I snorted. "Yeah, he'll be coming to her alright!"

Leo covered his mouth and laughed, elbowing me giddily. Percabeth scowled at me, and Coach Hedge was once again left in the dark. Hazel blushed fiercely, shying her face away away from the two, and I noticed she hadn't been able to meet their gaze all morning. Her innocence was almost painful to the eyes.

Frank slid his bow off his shoulder and propped it against the rail. "Um, I think I should turn into a crow or something and fly around, keep an eye out for Roman eagles."

"A crow? Why a crow?" I asked.

Leo nodded in agreement. "Man, if you can turn into a dragon, why don't you just turn into a dragon every time? They're the coolest."

Frank's face looked like it was being infused with cranberry juice. "That's like asking why you don't bench-press your maximum weight every time you lift. Because it's hard, and you'd hurt yourself. Turning into a dragon isn't easy."

"Oh," I nodded.

Leo shrugged. "I wouldn't know. I don't lift weights."

Frank's frown deepened into a sour glare. "Yeah, well, maybe you should consider it, Mr.-"

Hazel stepped between them, and my eyebrows shot up at Frank's sudden hostility. The guy always struck me as a gentle giant before. But whenever he was around Leo he became as much a ball of fire as the flames that danced in the curly haired boy's fingertips. I wondered why.

"I'll help you, Frank." Hazel said, shooting Leo an evil look as if it was his fault. "I can summon Arion and scout around below."

"Sure," Frank muttered, still glaring at Leo. "Yeah, thanks."

Leo crossed his arms and huffed. I didn't know what was going on, let alone what to do. Frank just kind of snapped. Further investigation was definitely needed.

Hazel turned to Percy. "Just be careful when you go out there. Lots of fields, lots of crops. Could be karpoi on the loose."

"Karpoi?" Piper and I asked in unison.

"Grain spirits," Hazel explained. "You don't want to meet them."

I didn't really see how bad a couple of grain spirits could be, but Hazel's tone convinced me not to ask.

"That leaves three of us to check on the mile marker," Percy said. "Me, Jason, Piper. I'm not psyched about seeing Mr. D again. That guy is a pain. But, Jason, if you're on better terms with him-"

"Yeah," Jason said. "If we find him, I'll talk to him. Piper, it's your vision. You should take the lead."

Piper shivered, but then quickly changed her tune, trying her best to sound upbeat. "Of course. Let's find the highway!"

The trio departed, Frank and Hazel leaving right after. Coach Hedge grunted and headed belowdecks.

Leo turned to Bonnabelle and I. "Come on my blonde builders! It's time to do some repair work!"