I'm 1000000000000% sorry for the megapause

PERI'S POV

Did I mention that Festus was a badass? Because he fucking is.

The two of us worked like a well-oiled machine. Anytime a giant eagle would come close enough to the ship, I sent a golden arrow flying in their direction, and the bronze figurehead blew flames onto the projectile. The flaming arrows kept the enemy eagles on their toes- er, wings. However, no matter how many arrows fired into the sky, the golden eagles kept coming. Festus and I couldn't keep this up forever. This ship had to take off. And fast.

Hooves pounding on the deck caught my attention, and I shot an arrow out randomly as I spun to see Coach Hedge sprinting up the stairs, Hazel at his heels.

"Where are they?" he demanded. "Who do I kill?"

I snorted. "At least somebody's got the right idea."

"Actually, contrary to popular belief, killing everyone who immediately stands in our way is not the right idea," Bonnabelle said. "No killing out of either of you." She folded her arms, and her tone turned dark. "I promise, we'll all get our chance."

Piper emerged from below before things could get anymore ominous. "I got a message through to Jason. Kind of fuzzy, but he's on his way. He should be- oh! There!"

Soaring over the city, heading in our direction, was a giant bald eagle. My first instinct was to send a spear through its heart, but on closer inspection I saw that it was unlike the other golden Roman birds.

The corner of my lip upturned in a smirk as it sped closer, and I put my hands on my hips. "Well I'll be damned."

"Frank!" Hazel cried, her eyes twinkling.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, and let me tell you, it was a challenge.

As Frank the Spectacular Eagle came speeding towards us, however, my smirk began to fade. Leo was holding onto the eagle's feet, and even from the ship, I could hear him screaming and cursing up a storm. Behind them, Jason flew, riding the winds.

"Never seen Jason fly before," Percy grumbled. "He looks like a blonde Superman."

"Forget that!" Piper scolded. "Look they're in trouble!"

Sure enough, the Roman flying chariot had descended from a cloud and was diving straight towards them. Jason and Frank veered out of the way, pulling up to avoid getting trampled by the pegasi. The charioteers fired their bows. Arrows whistled under Leo's feet, which led to more Spanglish screaming and colorful vocabulary. Jason and Frank were forced to overshoot the ship and fly toward Fort Sumter.

"I'll get 'em!" yelled Coach Hedge.

He spun the port ballistae. Hedge fired. A flaming spear rocketed toward the chariot.

I had a vice grip on the bronze railing, and my mouth hung open in a silent scream as I watched the scene before me in horror.

I blame myself. I blame myself. I blame myself. I should have been faster. I should have stopped him. This is my fault.

The projectile exploded over the heads of the pegasi and threw them into a panic. Tragically, it also singed Frank's wings and sent him spiraling out of control. The chariot shot toward Fort Sumter, slamming into Jason.

Leo fell.

Jason - obviously dazed and in pain - lunged for Leo, caught him, then struggled to gain altitude. He only managed to slow their fall, and the two disappeared behind the ramparts of the fort. Frank tumbled after them. Then the chariot dropped somewhere inside and hit with a bone-shattering CRACK! One broken wheel spun into the air.

"Jason!"

"Frank!"

"Leo!"

"Sammy!"

Hold up.

Did Hazel just yell Sammy? Because that's the equivalent of Leo, and if she said Leo when I said Leo, then we've got a problem. Hazel and I glared at each other. Yeah, I'm starting to think we have a problem here.

"Coach!" Piper screamed.

"What?" Coach Hedge demanded. "That was just a warning shot!"

"Coach Hedge," I said, the buildup of negative energy driving my voice sharp, "if they aren't okay, I'm going to turn your furry hindquarters into a freaking fur coat so help me gods!"

He growled at the mention of his little faun legs, and I balled up my fists. A hand squeezed my shoulder, and I turned to face a pair of steely gray eyes. To my surprise, the blond girl's eyes sparked with intelligence, not drowning in fear. I think that's what I liked about Bonnabelle the most. She was ready for anything that anyone had to throw at her.

"Peri, don't argue with animals," she said confidently. "Just defend the ship with Percy and the others until I get back."

"Get back?" I questioned. "You're going to Fort Sumter, aren't you?"

She nodded. "It's where the map is, and I'm betting that's where the boys are. I'll find them and bring them back."

"The fort is crawling with Romans," Percy warned. "You'll have to fight your way through, find our friends - assumong they're alive - find this map, and get everyone back alive. All on your own?"

"Just an average day." She kissed him before running off. "Whatever you do, don't let them take this ship!"

"You got it!" I called after her.

Yeah, basically easier said than done.

Romans were coming out of the woodworks, okay. Eagles dropped onto the dock in waves, Imperial gold armor glinting menacingly. They were intimidating, that much I could definitely say about the Romans. They marched up the wooden dock below us, and we did our best to protect the Argo II.

And I don't mean to brag, but we were doing a damn good job.

I wasn't sure if I was ever going to get used to Percy being so amazing. Time after time he swept the Romans away with his control over water, slapping and scattering the enemies as they came at us. From the safety of the ship, I was still good to use my powers and sent an array of weapons out into the crowd.

But my thoughts were elsewhere.

I kept looking over my shoulder at Fort Sumter. Columns of smoke sprang up from the building, and an endless supply of purple-clad people went inside. But I saw no sign of our friends.

I gulped. "I gotta go in there."

"What?" Piper called from the other side of the deck. "Are you talking about going into Fort Sumter?"

"Piper, they fell out of the sky, and now the place is being swarmed by Romans." I shook my head. "I don't care how strategic that daughter of Athena is, there's no way she can manage to get them all out alone."

"But Annabeth said to guard the ship-"

"You guys can manage while I'm gone, right? I'll be five minutes, tops."

"Peri," she warned.

"Pipes, I have to go." My eyes were pleading. They needed me. He needed me. I could just feel it. Something bad was happening in there.

She sighed. "Fine-"

"Thank you!" I was already halfway down the stairs. "I'll be in and out before you know it."

I'm coming. Please be okay.