I would just like to apologize for the late chapter. I would have had this up sooner if it weren't for a small bit of trouble with fanfiction and with getting a new laptop and having to transfer everything from my old one to my new one. Other than that, I hope you enjoy.

Chapter 21:

The Silent Eagle

By the time night fell across the alley, Jaden was ready to drop dead, regardless of what was going to happen to the world if Zeus wasn't calmed. His arms and legs were aching like never before. Not even when he was training back at Camp Half-Blood did they feel so lifeless. And here Jaden thought that the training back at the cabin was hard. With a clatter, his sword slipped from his grip at the same moment as his legs gave way.

Pick up your sword, Jaden Castellan! The eagle ordered, now in the guise of an ancient Greek swordsman in full battle gear.

Thinking that ignoring the bird would cause less pain, Jaden began to slowly rub his arms and legs down. He though that he would be able to ease the pain a bit more by doing just that, but he didn't expect the eagle to come along and step on his more tender right leg.

Stop ignoring me and pick up your sword, Son of Kronos!

" I'm done with fighting for the night!" Jaden growled back. " I'm tired and sore! Let me be in peace."

A soldier is never left in peace and neither is a demigod. I'm actually surprised that no monsters have come after you. In fact, that gives us more if a reason to train and perfect what is not perfect. Now get up and wield your sword!

" I said no! I'm done!"

Buddy rose to his feet and began growling at the bird soldier, the tone in Jaden's voice having set him off. But something sounded different about his growl than usual. Jaden couldn't quite put his finger on it, but it sounded like it was deeper than usual. Before he knew what was going on, the eagle had returned to its pendant form.

As you wish… Time Keeper.

If Jaden wasn't so tired, he would have been confused about what the eagle had said. But as it was, Jaden had only to close his eyes for a second before he realised that it was morning and he had fallen asleep. Without a thought of breakfast – despite not having any dinner the night before – Jaden got up and grabbed one of the bundles he had packed the day before. His target, as he hurried down the street, was the local lost and found.

The man at the lost and found was more than a little uncomfortable about serving a street urchin, but he accepted the rag bundle nevertheless. It was also clear to Jaden that he didn't want to see the boy when he returned from the back room. As soon as the man's back was turned, Jaden left the building and returned to his alley, snatching some hotdogs from a nearby vendor.

Buddy was more than excited to see Jaden return, especially when he realised that the boy had food in his hands. With a laugh, Jaden threw one of the hotdogs into the air and watched as his dog did a backflip before finally catching it. He then took his seat under his shelter and waited – taking a bite out of one of the two remaining hotdogs – for the eagle to realise that it was breakfast time.

It wasn't long before a still hungry Buddy hurried over in an attempt to gain either Jaden's or the eagle's breakfast or quite possibly both. Unfortunately for the dog, no amount of tricks was going to win him that contest. Almost as soon as Buddy had hurried over looking for more food, the eagle emerged in bird form and quickly started to peck at the sausage.

Once breakfast was done, however, Jaden quickly found that he had the day all too himself. With this knowledge, he hurried down to the nearest pawn shop. Of course, he had to have trouble with the guy behind the counter; but the main thing (to Jaden at least) was that he had already handed in the wallet, mobile phone, ring and the watches to the lost and found. He was just having a hard time getting rid of six of the seven pocket knives and the electronic pocket game.

" Look, kid." The guy said in a gruff voice. " I can't buy these things off ya. I've told ya that."

" Why not?" Jaden asked.

" There's jus' sumpin about ya that I don't trust… and about da stuff ya trying ta get rid of."

" But…"

" Ya better off jus' takin' this stuff ta the los' 'n' foun'."

" You don't understand. My uncle couldn't get out of the house this morning. He sent me here with this stuff saying that I had to sell it." Jaden lied.

" He pack't in a rag for ya?" The pawn dealer questioned.

" I packed it. The rag was the only thing I could find. I was in a hurry and I wasn't about to go around with knives and possibly hurting myself or someone else."

" An' why can't ya uncle come out later on?"

" Because he's in a wheelchair and one of the wheels is flat and I don't know how to change it. My house is only around the corner so he sent me here early so that I could be home quickly in case he needs me for anything. Please, sir. Even if you take them for only a few cents. I don't care. Just, please, I need to sell them. My uncle doesn't like it when he tells me to do something and I don't do it properly."

The pawn dealer, clearly not buying the lie, thought for a few minutes. It was clear to Jaden that the man was stalling for time. In fact, Jaden was almost certain that the man had called the police with a silent buzzer hidden somewhere under the desk. However, the boy played his worry well and easily made it look like his lie was the truth and that he was anxious to be home and rid of the items in time to miss a beating from his crippled uncle.

" Ya drive a hard bargain, kid." The pawn dealer finally broke the engulfing silence. " I'll buy these things off ya. How much do ya wan' for 'em?"

" I don't care how much I get, just as long as I can get home to my uncle with proof that I did sell them like he told me to do."

After some more thinking on the pawn dealer's part – and a fair bit of scrutinising of the items in question – some money was brought before Jaden on the counter. " I'll give ya dollar each for da knives an' seven, twenty-five for the da game. That gives ya thirteen dollars an' twenty-five cents." On those words, the pawn dealer slipped a ten dollar note, three one dollar notes and a twenty-five cent coin across to Jaden. " Now get outta me shop!"

Without question, Jaden hurriedly grabbed the money and ran out the door. Once he was around the corner and out of sight from the pawn dealer, however, he decided to spend the rest of the morning as he pleased. His first stop was a barber's shop where he waited and paid for a desperately needed haircut.

The whole two weeks passed by without a word from the eagle. Not even when he entered the house that belonged to the son of Apollo and daughter of Hephaestus did Jaden hear a peep out of the immortal bird. He was actually beginning to wonder what was wrong with the bird. What he didn't realise was that it was his fault that the bird had fallen silent.

That is… until he blacked out.

Oh, so now you realise that there's something wrong. A clearly annoyed voice grumbled from behind Jaden, making the boy turn around in shock.

It was no surprise that he stumbled backward when he saw Zeus' eagle behind him and in its gigantic bird of death form. The only difference from the last time he had seen that form was that this time the bird's eyes were no longer bronze; they were a flaming red. With a snap of its beak, the giant eagle spread its wings and knocked Jaden to the ground with one of its talons.

Do you know how long it's been? I've been trying to get you to realise what's happened this entire time, you son of a titan! The bird continued once he had captured the young demititan.

" Um… if that was meant to be a curse, it didn't really work considering I really am the son of a titan." Jaden replied aloud, forgetting for a moment that he was talking to a giant angry eagle that belonged to Zeus.

I suppose it was a bad choice of words. But that doesn't stop me from becoming angry with you, you insolent little worm!

" Can I just ask what it was that I did?"

You and that heritage of yours trapped my soul back in that dreadful skeleton! Reverse the effects! Now!

" I did what?"

Must I explain everything?

" Yes."

Just get your dog to growl deeper. I don't feel like explaining anything.

" What does this have to do with Buddy?"

Let's just say that the two of you were meant to be together.

With that said, the bird opened its beak and bent towards the boy as if intending to eat him.

When Jaden woke, the first thing he noticed was that it was dark. The next thing he noticed was that someone was carrying him somewhere. The final thing he noticed was that Buddy wasn't with him. In an attempt to get back to his dog, Jaden began struggling in the arms that held him… the only problem was whoever was holding him was stronger than he had first thought.

" Easy there, son. Don't strain yourself." The person said quietly.

" Who are…" Jaden tried to say.

" Never mind that now. Just close your eyes a little bit more."

Unfortunately, Jaden saw no harm in what was going on around him or doing what the stranger told him, so he did exactly that and closed his eyes.