HAZEL
No one could say when it had gotten there, but there it was indeed. A silver trident, lying in the sand at the waterline. The handle was swirled with what Hazel recognized as abalone, and pearlescent stones and pieces of glass were imbedded along its length to form intricate designs of waves and various examples of marine life.
All in all, it was beautiful and unmistakably meant to act as a weapon.
"You can't be serious," Percy muttered as he took measured steps towards the surf, picking the trident up gingerly as if it was alive before looking it over carefully.
"Whoa," Leo said. "Percy, I didn't know you had a trident too. That's like, a whole new level of cool."
"Well, when I get one I'll let you know. This is Triton's."
"Oh," Leo said meekly.
"But why is it here?" Frank said. "If it belongs to Triton - "
"He must have left it at the Palace," Percy said. "According to Amphitrite, it didn't seem he was going back, and if he's turned against Poseidon - "
"A little minor-god rebellion," Annabeth said.
Percy nodded. "Poseidon sent it," he said, turning it to grip it better.
"How do you know that? Is there a note? A hidden message?" Leo said, eagerly leaning forward to better make out the swirling designs along the metal like they might hold some clue.
"No, but he's the only one who could have. He gave this to Triton, and it sounded like my dad wasn't too into the idea of his son turning like that. He probably wants me to try and change his mind too." Percy sighed. "Because that went so well."
"Or he wants you to use it," Nico said, sounding more hopeful than usual. "Maybe it belongs to you now."
"Something tells me no, but maybe it won't be so bad to have around. Just in case." Percy walked to Blackjack and stowed it carefully in the side of the saddle, securing it in place with a bungee and checking it over to make sure it wouldn't come loose.
"Now, about that transport," Apollo said, crossing his arms over his chest and plopping down comfortably on a rock beside the group. "I agree with Jackson, waiting a day and charging in last minute might work in your favor. Therefore, I'll be back. In the meantime, however, I'd keep a watch. There's some weird stuff going on, mer-wise out here. Wouldn't want anything to happen before the big showdown." He flashed a smile. "But on the other hand, I see that Eugene is nice and at home with you guys. Glad to hear it. He's a hard working hippogriff if I do say so."
Eugene bowed his head and did what Hazel supposed was the hippogriff equivalent to a blush.
"Yeah, he's great. Though you know, that whole rhyming thing - " Leo began.
"I know! It's great, isn't it?" Apollo grinned, patting Eugene on the beak. "I find it very inspirational."
"Uh, yeah. Inspirational," Hazel said.
"Hey, listen. I really gotta fly," the sun god said suddenly, standing and looking around. If Hazel didn't know better, she'd have said he was a little on edge. "Good luck and remember - I'll be back." The last part he said with a strange, strained huskiness and a heavily exaggerated German accent. And with that, he poofed away.
Leo looked extraordinarily conflicted like maybe he'd missed something important. "Wait, so Apollo is an Arnold Schwarzenegger fan?"
Time wouldn't move quickly enough that night or the next day, and Hazel was not the only one having trouble standing still. It felt a little like waiting your turn in some competition and worrying every second that you've both forgotten something and are going to miss the start.
Then, finally, after hours of waiting and checking the pegasi for the fourth and fifth times, Apollo reappeared in a funny little orange ball of flame.
"Ready, folks?"
He was far too cheery and received a grumbled chorus of ready's in response.
"I'm surprised," Hazel heard Percy mutter.
"'Obviously I faced the possibility of not returning when first I considered going. Once faced and settled there really wasn't any good reason to refer to it'," Apollo said loudly as he walked among the cluster of demigods, pegasi, and Festus the dragon who was watching the god intently.
"Really?" Piper said. "Amelia Earhart?"
Apollo shrugged and threw her a wink. "All demigods and lady," he said, glancing and smiling covertly at Calypso. "Please take your seats, Air Apollo is now preparing for departure."
Hazel made herself as comfortable as possible atop her pegasus and held on tight. Eugene stood beside her as he had volunteered to accompany them on his master's behalf, and looked at her reassuringly. She couldn't tell if she was more worried about their chosen form of transportation or the uncertainty about what they were going to see when they arrived, but she forced herself to banish those thoughts from her head and concentrated instead on keeping both hands around the reins.
"And remember: please no smoking and, as always, enjoy your flight!"
And the eight demigods, a goddess, pegasi, a dragon, and a hippogriff all disappeared in smoke.
