*spins* okay so it was slightly longer than I claimed, in my defense I'm sick (again) and it's finals soon (stupid 3 essays, 2 writing pieces, 1 project, and 3 exams).

Anyways, I hope you enjoy the chapter 3 I'm having fun with this book 3 We'll also be seeing the stolen chariot short story in about... 3 chapters I believe!

Come yell at me on my tumblr: Percabeth4Life
Come chat with me on discord: h-t-t-p-s : / discord . gg / 3tGNJhu

OO OO OO OO

Unknown POV

The sea rumbled to life in a surge. Waves crested and crashed and sprayed free. Tides rose and fell. A ripple echoed through the water, the last of the sun sinking below the encircling river and returning to the Sun Palace.

The sun was set, the heavens lit only by stars. Even the moon was unseen, the Eye of Selene resting on this night of broken trust and shattered peace.

It was a night to be wary, a night to be afraid, a night that would be eternally remembered. Retemav Piruva'ku, Vako Povinir, Ert Pohur Waoit Tukaler.

Never before had a place of neutrality been so thoroughly demolished. Never before had the sea suffered losses on such scale.

Never before had the sea's Aipria-re'aia let his grief be felt to such a degree.

It was a day of firsts, a night of grief, a time of war.

I felt for those that suffered, those that fell, but this was war. War on an unprecedented scale. There was no such thing as neutrality, not anymore.

Not everything had gone according to plan. Divinities had been sent to counter the few that were traditionally there, but Triton-re'aia had been unexpected.

He hadn't been to the Riaptel Av Iyaniv since the death of Pallas.

Triton was not only a fierce warrior and Airpria-re'aia but also an immensely powerful, if often underestimated, God.

There had never before been devastation on such scale as He wrought this day. He was a God that knew to be at peace, one which kept His power on a tight reign. His power was something dangerous in a very different manner from His Metua and Wanrila. Poseidon-re'ore destroyed with fierce storms, shaking Earth, and unquestionable might. But Triton-re'aia… His power was insidious, consuming, inescapable.

And the sea had faced it on this night, Ert Pohur Ert Moare Valitavir.

Things may not have gone according to plan, but death and destruction was still wrought to the many generals, high ranking warriors and mages present. The declaration of war was declared loud and clear. And the attack had made a clear statement, if the Moare Taio of Neutrality was no longer neutral… well, there was no such thing as neutrality in the Ocean any longer.

War had come, and this was just beginning.

OO OO OO OO

Percy POV

My eyes opened to the ocean roiling. It wasn't the stillness that had stolen my breath, had frozen my chest, had clawed at Khrysaôr's shielding. had made me pray desperately for Triton to save us.

The ocean rumbled, water swished, the light of the surviving monisi and ponisi caught on shimmering gold dust, rippling gold blood. The water looked like stained glass, melted glass, rippling in golds, blues, greens, and reds. It was beautiful yet-

Yet I felt pained.

Yet I reached out, hands fumbling towards the figures drifting in the shifting colors.

Yet I knew that this beauty came from death.

I reached out and I ached. I hissed, hand dropping to my side. Annabeth groaned, low and weak, on top of me.

I peered down, blinking at her, and noted the blood.

Red blood stained us both. But mer didn't bleed red. Khrysaor definitely didn't, he bled gold. Why was there red blood?

My head ached, my gills ached, my tails ached.

My side hurt the most, a throbbing that consumed my torso.

I blinked, sank into darkness, and dragged myself back up.

The water was filled with movement. Figures swimming to and fro, with a familiar band on their arms. Blue stones around their wrists, silver bands around their upper arms-

"Per- Persi-aia," wheezed a familiar voice.

I rolled my head to the side, trying to follow the voice. Elei was sprawled nearby, several dead opponents around her. The water was too blue around her, strikingly so.

"Elei-" I coughed, my fingers scrabbling to catch Annabeth's form as she slid off me, tumbling to my side.

I blinked, the world dark, the ocean rippling and crashing. Crystals shone in the light of the moon. The sky blinked, stars twinkled.

I reached out to catch the falling forms.

"Stay down," Khrysaor hissed, hands pushing my shoulders down as I tried to push up.

I blinked at him, gold and bright despite the battle.

"Tatu-" I caught his hand, his forearms covered in bracers. They shone like stars.

Was it him I saw?

"Stay down, Tafahuv are coming."

"Elei," I mumbled, blinking as forms lowered towards us. "Elei-"

"Hush," Khrysaor said. "Hush, it's fine. Just stay down and let the Tafahuv work."

My head lolled to the side, his fingers tightening on mine. I drifted off to the sight of Annabeth's golden hair stained red.

"Persi, soha amrama, it's okay, you're okay-"

My eyes found His, green glowing. He was otherworldly, divine in a manner I was unfamiliar with.

Everyone was moving, hair drifting, tails swishing, armor and supplies clinking faintly in the water. But Triton, floating right above me, didn't seem to exist on the same plain.

His hair was still, His tails frozen in place, His eyes locked on me.

Yet all I knew was that He was here.

I was safe.

When the darkness tugged me down again I didn't fight it. I slipped away, letting visions of swirling currents, shining crystals, and deep caverns fill my mind.

It was okay now, Triton would fix everything.

OO OO OO OO

I woke to a familiar room.

Ponisi shone softly on the walls, the ceiling intricately detailed with depictions of Tafahuv and Tovhu. The water felt strikingly clean, pure in a way that was rarely felt outside of Tovhuv rooms.

My gills drew in fresh water and oxygen, my lungs filling. My gills fluttered and I turned my head to look around.

"Good morning, Persi-aia," said a gentle voice. A mer I knew, but couldn't place, swished to my side. "It's good to see you awake."

"Wha-" I cleared my throat, licking my lips. "What happened?"

She swept a taipanu into her hand and offered it to me. I sucked the tea from it slowly, letting it soak into my lips and tongue.

"What do you remember?"

"The tournament, match- then…" I tried to remember details, but it was all a bit of a blur. "An attack."

I knew there was an attack, I remembered battling someone, I remembered- pain. Pain and Annabeth's cry.

"Annabeth," I mumbled. "Is she okay?"

The Tovhu offered me a comforting smile, "She's still being treated. Her injury was pretty bad, but she is expected to make a full recovery."

I blinked, "injury? How was she-"

I remembered her crashing into me, my side aching, her cry.

Did she… did she push me out of the way?

"I need- I need to see her-" I tried to push up but the Tovhu quickly held me down.

"Persi-aia, you must rest. You received a bad blow in your side during your battle. We've healed much of it but you must let your body rest so the rest can heal."

"I'm okay."

"You're not, there was some internal bleeding from it. We've fixed that, but it would be easier for you to suffer a relapse still. Rest, let the Tovhuv do their jobs."

I slumped in my bed, unhappy with this.

"What about- the others-" I tried to think about who else was hurt. I remembered Khrysaôr over us, and- maybe Elei?

"Where's Elei?"

"She is doing well, most of her injuries were relatively easy to heal, just cuts and bruises."

I relaxed. Cuts were easy for healers, I remembered that from my lessons. The bruises would be harder, but knitting the skin back together was one of the first thing tovhuv learned.

Elei would be okay.

I just had to hope that Annabeth would be too.

"Rest, Persi-aia, your Metua and Papuav will be here soon."

I let the darkness claim my vision once more.

OO OO OO OO

I woke to a hand trailing through my hair.

Sleep stuck to my eyes but I blinked them open stubbornly, peering at the figure above me.

"Triton," I mumbled.

"Persi," he murmured, "Hello."

"It's good to see you awake," said another voice, strikingly familiar though not one I heard often.

I turned my head to find my Metua sitting on my other side, watching me with keen eyes.

He offered me a soft smile, "How do you feel?"

I licked my lips, taking a moment to catalogue my body.

"Achy," I decided. "My side feels… raw?"

"They had to heal your liver, it was damaged by the blow you received in your battle with the Imoteora. Luckily, it wasn't as bad as it could've been."

I nodded, then stopped nodding and pressed into Triton's hand when he started to pull back.

"What happened?" I asked again. "I remember an attack but- but I thought the Riaptel Av Iyaniv was a neutral event?"

Poseidon's gaze flicked away from me, over my head to Triton for a moment, before dropping back to meet mine.

"What do you know about how neutrality works in the ocean?" Metua asked.

I frowned, "It's… a big part of several holidays and events. No one breaks it or they're punished."

"You've learned a lot of the sea traditions, but one thing that Euphemia hasn't focused on with you is the realms we Gods of the Sea rule in the Sea. You're learning a lot about what the Gods rule on land, and that's generally enough."

I nodded, that was something Euphemia said was fine for me to learn on land.

"There are differences?" I asked slowly. "I mean, I know Triton rules the tides in the sea but not on land-"

"Yes, the tides fall under his command just like calming the waves do, in the sea this is known. On land it is commonly associated with Kharybdis, if it is associated with anyone."

"So, neutrality has something to do with that?"

Poseidon nodded, expression grim.

"In the ocean neutrality has a God. Okeanos has ruled neutrality since the time of my Father's rule."

My Metani, Kronos.

"He has always been neutral, has enforced neutrality when it was involved. And in the more minor instances of neutrality the mer would enforce it in his name. Neutrality in events such as the Riaptel Av Iyaniv has always fallen under Okeanos' purview to enforce. He is the neutral God of the Ocean, He who is eternally apart. Yet now…"

"He sided with us," I whispered. "So He's not neutral-"

"And thus, in a war where neutrality cannot truly be enforced by him, because he has chosen a side… well, it appears the other side has made their opinion on it clear. There is no more neutrality, not so long as this war wages."

I felt sick, horror clawing up my throat.

Neutrality, periods of peace where battle is not allowed, have been an intrinsic part of several oceanic holidays for thousands of years. If neutrality could no longer be enforced- what would happen?

There was no time, no place that was safe now.

"What do we do?" I asked, hoping my Metua would have an answer. "The attack- did it succeed?"

Triton sighed, making me twist to look at him.

He didn't look like I recalled from before I was here. He no longer felt- felt so otherworldly. So beyond everyone.

"What the exact purpose of the attack was isn't certain, but we do know that they were aiming to take out many of the high ranking and powerful figures. Those were the first targeted in the attack. They… well, there are survivors, but not as many as we'd like."

"We weren't expecting them to attack, not then and there. Our security was more to ensure that no one broke the rules rather than to protect from an attack," Metua said. "But they didn't expect Triton, so he managed to run them off in the end."

I remembered that, I thought. It was- it was distant, frozen. I didn't think I was remembering it clearly. I remembered praying though.

Triton hummed, fingers carding through my hair.

"Yes, they ran after I-" he cleared his throat "-don't worry, I handled it."

"Oh, you handled it alright," drawled another voice.

I pushed up, Triton fussing over me and adding pillows behind me to let me lean on them.

"Khrysaor?" I said, realizing that he was leaning against the wall next to another bed.

A bed with a familiar head of hair splayed out on it.

"Annabeth?" I squeaked, swinging my tails off the bed, only for Triton to put a hand on my shoulder.

"You shouldn't be moving yet," he chided. "Stay in bed."

"Frankly, it's a miracle you're alive," Khrysaôr chirped. "You're welcome."

"Khrysaôr," Triton murmured, a subdued version of his usual annoyance. "Enough."

"What? You went full fledged true form and wiped out hundreds in an instant, the only reason he's alive is because of me. I think I'm owed a thanks."

"You were thanked," Metua said dryly. "Several times."

"I think I deserve a thanks in front of my cute little brother."

"Thank you," I said. "For saving us both."

Khrysaôr faltered, blinking at me.

"There you are," Metua said, lips twitching. "Now, why don't you update Perseus on his friend's state."

He shook off his confusion and let out a dramatic sigh, but did as told.

"She was stabbed through the back, puncturing an organ or two, and had to have emergency treatment. Lots of internal and external bleeding, but they managed to mostly fix her up. She'll need to take it easy for a few weeks and will need some physical therapy, but she'll be fine."

I relaxed. It was bad to hear that she got hurt, especially since I suspected that she got hurt protecting me, but at least she would be okay.

"Thank you," I whispered. "I- she knocked me away from the attack and-"

Triton grimaced, looking away.

Khrysaôr smiled brilliantly, "Good thing she was here!"

"Khrysaôr," Poseidon chided.

He hummed, smiling sweetly at our Metua.

"So, we know what they're willing to do now," I said hesitantly. "What do we do?"

"We're officially at war," Metua said softly. "You will continue to learn, and remain on land-"

"I want to help," I said immediately. "I don't want to stay on land!"

"The ocean is no longer safe for you," Triton murmured. "Traveling to and from Atlantis is no longer safe for you."

I swallowed, sinking into my pillows.

"But-" I faltered, my voice coming out as a whisper, "This is my home too."

Poseidon closed his eyes for a long moment.

"There will be things you can do," he said finally. "There's quite a bit you can do, even. But right now, while we prepare for war and create safe currents to travel in… it would be best for you to stay on land. There are enemies there, but you do have the camp, and you won't have to travel like you do to get here."

I chewed my lip, fingers twisting my bracelet.

"But I can still come down again, soon?"

"Soon," Poseidon confirmed, "Just not immediately. Once you return to land you'll need to stay there until we can confirm that your route to return will be safe. You can always pray, or even Iris Message if you really need to talk to us."

I nodded, not happy but at least I wouldn't be kept out of the sea entirely, just for a little while.

"I'll check in on you," Triton promised. "And I'm certain that Kym and Herophile will as well."

"And me," Khrysaôr chirped. "Don't forget me."

Triton let out a slow breath, "And Khrysaôr."

"Don't worry," Metua soothed me. "You are a Prince of the Sea, this is your home. Right now, we just need to keep you safe."

I nodded, reluctant but glad that I wouldn't be kept away.

"Okay," I murmured. "Just- just tell me what I can do."

"Stay safe," Triton said. "Stay safe, out of danger. We will handle the war for now."

I let Triton wrap his arm around me, tucking close to him.

"Poseidon-re'ore," called a voice from the door. Metua rose, nodding to me and pausing to squeeze my shoulder as He swept out.

"Come Khrysaôr," He called, and Khrysaôr followed after with a huff.

"I can't lose you soha amrama," Triton murmured softly in the silence. "So, stay safe."

"I'll do my best," I promised him. "You too. You have to stay safe too."

"I will."

OO OO OO OO

Annabeth and I were safely delivered to land by Triton and several guards. Both of us were a bit tired, and had strict medical directions, but we were as recovered as we could be right now.

Herophile had tagged along as well, and when Triton and the guards left to return to Atlantis she insisted on taking us to get some ice cream.

It was nice, Annabeth and I got to chat with Herophile a bit and relax. Annabeth leaned close to me and stole some of my ice cream, asking about treats in the ocean.

She was a bit withdrawn, a bit quiet, ever since she'd woken. But we'd talked, several times, while recovering and she seemed okay.

I'd told her some of what I'd found out, mostly the big deal of the attack happening and the fact that the ocean was going to be at war now.

She was worried about it, so was I. There was so much going on, war on land and sea. I was afraid of where else war would spread. What else would this war take?

It wasn't all doom and gloom though, she got to meet Fetu and Lagi when they came to visit. Fetu had hovered over me while I explained my injuries to Lagi and him. They'd both been polite to Annabeth, overly so even. I hadn't expected it, not with how most of the sea tended to view Athena and Her kids.

But then, most were treating her far better than I expected. I had a suspicion that her pushing me out of the way had something to do with it.

Fetu and Lagi seemed worried too, I wondered what their parents were doing in the war. Both were important figures, from different kingdoms too. Depending on the sides taken- well, we didn't yet know who was on who's side yet.

They tended to stay in Atlantis while their parents worked as ambassadors. But that could change depending on how the war went.

I shook my head as Annabeth tugged me to the front of the line and we ordered, Herophile insisting on paying.

It was tasty and relaxing. I was glad to get to spend time with Annabeth, even with… everything.

"Do you think your mom will mind driving me to camp?" Annabeth asked for the third time.

"It's fine," I assured her. "My mom's excited to meet you outside of an Iris Message. She said she's making us lunch, it'll be great."

I was excited, Annabeth had only been over once before, after the mess at the end of the last school year.

And… oops. I hoped my mom had come up with an excuse for why I was out for a week, or maybe Triton handled it. I'd completely forgotten about school-

Avero, I still had gym, but I couldn't do anything in there for another week without my tovhu getting mad.

… I'd figure something out.

"What's she making for lunch?" Annabeth asked, sticking a spoonful of Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream into her mouth.

"I dunno, but she's a great cook so it'll be good no matter what."

"Her food is very good," Herophile agreed, gleefully eating her chocolate with chocolate and extra chocolate sauce on top ice cream. "I like the- um… eight letters- has beef and pita-"

"Fattah?" I wondered. "Wait no- that doesn't have eight letters… uh- oh wait, hawawshi?"

"Yes! Hawawshi. It was tasty. Will she make that?"

I hid a grin at Herophile inviting herself over. She did that a lot, so mom tended to make extra. It helped that Herophile made groceries appear periodically to cover the extra cost of food too. She liked to add little treats for us on top of whatever our normal groceries were.

"I dunno, maybe. She might just make pasta or something though."

"What's hawawshi?" Annabeth wondered, tilting her head. "And fattah?"

"Hawawshi is kinda like burgers? But they're like- Egyptian burgers. They're beef and stuff put into pita, it's super tasty. Fattah is a rice dish, with beef or lamb and pita and a sauce- we don't have it super often, mom tends to make it for special occasions, but I like it a bunch."

"Ooh, your grandma was Egyptian right?"

"Half," I agreed. "And half Native- uh, Cherokee, specifically. Mom has her cookbook, which was my great grandad's I think. Don't know much about them, mom was really young when my grandma died, but we do have their cookbook! It's mostly Egyptian recipes, but I think my great grandmother added a few in."

"That's really cool. It sucks you never got to know them, but having their cookbook is nice. Yewande liked to share her dad's recipes with us, she said that food was a good way of connecting to people."

I grinned, "Yeah, it's nice. How is Yewande? And the others in your cabin?"

Annabeth hummed, poking at her ice cream.

"Yewande is off at college now, she's probably not coming back to camp anymore. Most don't once they go off to college. Ava and Malcolm are doing good though. Ava has been spending a lot more time on her crafts, and she and Thalia are getting along. I think she's been showing Thalia how to add decorations to clothes."

"Oh, that's fun," I said brightly.

"Mhm! I've checked in on the Fiona and Carl too, even though they're not year rounders. With everything happening- I want to stay in contact."

I nodded, that was fair. I probably needed to check in on Leilani more often. I was her camp counselor and all. I'd IM her later.

"I've IMed Carl a few times. He said he did a ghost tour."

"Those are popular in Savannah," Annabeth confirmed. "It's called the most haunted city in the United States and a bunch of the buildings have stories of ghosts. I've never been but Fiona likes to tell ghost stories."

"There's a bunch of cool stores there, I kinda wanna visit sometime. He got some cool books from a store there, Olfactory?"

"Oh, Fiona mentioned the store. She doesn't shop there though, cause it's mostly focused on magic stuff and related. Wiccan and witchcraft stuff, which is against her religion I'm pretty sure."

I nodded, "I don't know much about Judaism, most of what I know I've learned from her and Valentina and Aria. I can't imagine having to figure out my religion after learning my parent is a Greek God."

"No for real, Fiona had a really hard time when she first arrived at camp and still hasn't figured it out. She said she was going to try to talk to a rabbi about it this year I think. I hope she figures things out, it must be hard. Especially for a Hasidic Jew, they're really observant and strict about their beliefs. The Greek Gods is a big thing to deal with for her."

"It's such a mess, I'm surprised our parents would get with people over other religions. I didn't think that was something they did from what Triton told me."

"Oh they don't," Herophile piped up. "But sometimes they convert after or- um, three letter word, loss-"

"Die?" Annabeth asked with a grimace.

"Yeah, die. Then the kid is taken in by family."

"That's what happened with Fiona," Annabeth said. "Her mom and dad died- uh, one was a step-parent. But they died when she was like three? So she was raised by her aunt and grandparents for the most part. I don't know the full family situation, but her parents weren't Hasidic Jews, or I guess converted from that to a different denomination? I don't know, Fiona hasn't told us a huge amount about that."

"That makes more sense. Religion is so complicated."

"So complicated," she groaned. "I'm glad I didn't have to worry about figuring all that out."

"Same," I agreed.

Annabeth stuck the last spoonful of ice cream in her mouth then stood to toss her cup.

"Ready to go?"

I nodded, tossing my own cup as Herophile rose.

"Off to lunch!" Herophile chirped.

OO OO OO OO

Lunch did actually end up being hawawshi, which I thought was funny. It was just as delicious as usual, and Annabeth enjoyed it a lot. Herophile was absolutely delighted and lavished my mom with praise for the hawawshi.

And of course, mom made blue cookies too, the best cookies ever.

Herophile left shortly after, letting me and Annabeth hang out. I showed Annabeth around a bit better than before, letting her actually see my room (and cute little Hippolyta, who was glad to see me. Mom made sure she was fed while I was gone which was a relief).

She asked questions about my altars and I asked questions about what she did at camp and it was nice.

Mom didn't actually have her own car, but our neighbor was super nice and didn't mind us borrowing his car the few times we needed to drive further than was preferred with a taxi. As long as he didn't need it, at least.

Mom must've gotten permission though because we had the car and Annabeth and I claimed the back seats.

OO OO OO OO

Mom waited in the car as I walked with Annabeth up to the camp. I was supposed to pass along some official communication for Metua and Triton, and Annabeth was staying in her cabin.

It was a lot emptier in the winter, something I knew from last year but felt all the more striking now with the war going on.

The walk to the big House felt quieter than it should've been, longer too. But Lord D was sitting outside, lounging with a can of Diet Coke in His hand.

"You're late," He drawled as we climbed the stairs. "Where have you been, Annabell?"

"Hello, Lord D," I said, pulling out the aipone from my Metua and Triton. "There was… an incident."

"An incident?" He asked dryly.

I offered the aipone to him.

He sighed grandly but accepted them, His eyes scanning the thin stone slabs quickly.

"Well that certainly is an incident."

I nodded, "I apologize for returning Annabeth so late."

"Her injuries have been treated?"

"Yeah," she said, chiming in. "I have to take it easy for a few weeks but I'm mostly better now."

"Better?" asked a voice from behind us. "Better from what?"

"Hey, Thalia," Annabeth said, turning to face the voice. "There was a thing in the ocean and I got a little injured, but I'm okay."

"What do you mean a thing?" the girl asked, eyes narrowing on me.

"There was an attack," I said. "And people got injured-"

"Annabeth got injured?" she asked, her head swiveling to Annabeth. "I thought you were just going to see a show?"

"A tournament," I corrected, frowning. "And it's more like a festival than just a tournament."

"There was a lot of cool stuff," Annabeth agreed. "Just sucks it got cut off. But I'm okay now! They healed me up."

"But you were injured," Thalia emphasized, eyes narrow. "Why didn't that guy who brought you protect you?"

"Khrysaôr," I corrected her. "And he did, but there were a lot of enemies."

"He did his best," Annabeth agreed. "He saved both of our lives."

"Yeah," I said. "And Annabeth saved mine too-"

"What?" Thalia interrupted. "She saved yours? Is that how she got hurt? Protecting you?"

Thalia's eyes narrowed and her fingers sparked.

"Thalia, it's fine, really. Percy and Khrysaôr-aia did their best to keep me safe and their tavhu fixed me up really well. I wouldn't be alive if they hadn't done that."

"You wouldn't have gotten hurt if they'd taken better care of you!"

Thalia stomped up, snatching Annabeth's wrist and scowling at me.

"Come on, I'm having the Apollo kids check you over."

I bristled as Annabeth was dragged off by Thalia, trying to explain what happened the whole way. She barely managed to throw me a goodbye before Thalia had pulled her out of earshot.

"Well," Lord D said, "that went well."

I huffed, "What's her problem?"

It wasn't enough that she got Annabeth all the time? Now she had to drag her away when we were spending time together?

"She's been a bit… overprotective since she woke up," Lord D said delicately.

I glared in the direction Thalia took Annabeth, "I think that might be an understatement."

"Don't let her get to you," He said with a wave of His hand. "All the Gods have heard a bit about what happened, Triton made waves… or I supposed he stopped waves from being made. Caught a lot of attention. I knew something had gone wrong."

I pursed my lips. Everyone had been a bit tense around Triton lately, I wasn't sure what had happened when everything went still. I didn't realize it was noticed outside the ocean.

"Whatever, she'll get over it. You did your best, it wasn't your fault that the war broke out when it did. Go home and don't cause me any problems till summer."

My lips twitched against my will and I nodded to Him. "I'll do my best."

"Shoo, I get to be the messenger for the ocean today."

I bowed and hurried off to the hill. It was time to go home and figure out what to do about school.

OO OO OO OO

Poseidon POV

I waited, Amphitrite by my side, until Triton was sitting in my office.

This wasn't going to be a fun conversation, but it was one that had to be had. What had happened couldn't be allowed to happen again. Triton was clearly not handling his closeness with Perseus very well.

"You needed something, Metu?" Triton asked politely.

"Yes, we need to discuss what happened during the invasion.

Triton watched me patiently, simply raising an eyebrow as if nothing was the matter.

"What happened?"

"You made the sea still, drowned hundreds of sharks, endangered millions of sea creatures all over the ocean, killed most of the invading forces, killed several allies, and caused a dozen tsunamis of varying danger. You completely lost control, Triton. That cannot be allowed."

"Others have done worse," he dismissed quickly.

"Triton," Amphitrite chided. "It is not common something of such scale is done, and certainly not for the reason you did such."

Triton studied us both, eyes sharp.

"It was unintentional."

"We know," I said. "But it cannot happen again."

"It shouldn't."

"It will," I corrected him, grim faced. "It will so long as you cling so tightly to Perseus."

Triton raised his chin, only my long experience with my son allowing me to notice his tension at that.

"Triton, this is why we do not get too close to our kids."

"He's not my son."

"Yet you love him as much as you did Pallas."

He looked away, lips pursed.

"Triton, this cannot continue. You cannot let yourself be consumed by all of this- it's not safe. Not for you and not for the world as a whole. We have a duty."

Triton let out a huff, "He's my brother."

"He is mortal," I said, unable to keep the pain from my voice. "I love him dearly myself, but this is why I cannot spend too much time with him. If you get to close this happens- and you are too close."

"I can't not be," Triton snapped. "Look at him! Look at what he must face!"

"The Thalia girl is back, the prophecy may be on her-"

"You don't believe that," he whispered. "I've seen the way you've been consulting the Noimio Imotev. He is the one that the prophecy clings to."

"Only the Fates could know," I said, though my son was right.

The Noimio Imotev couldn't see every possibility, but the various ones I'd spoken too all saw a war with Perseus leading. The daughter of Zeus had a role to play, but it was Perseus who commanded the battlefield.

The prophecy had identified it's subjects. It was not something that could be avoided, not without our active interference.

And we could not interfere, not with Fate. Not with our children's Fate especially. They had to live their lives, they had to be free to make their own decisions.

"He will stay on land for a time," I said, unhappy with the solution I'd had to settle on. "And you will stay in the sea."

"I said I'd check on him," Triton said, eyes wide.

"And you may, periodically. But Triton, surely you must understand."

His eyes narrowed.

"This cannot go on," I said softly. "I'm glad you care for him, I'm grateful you took care of him when he needed it. I'm relieved you were there to save him… but the world needs you to be a God, not his brother. It is the tragedy of divinity."

"Then make him a God."

"I cannot, you know it as well as I."

I could not make my son a God lightly. That was something done rarely. It was slightly more common, once upon a time. But still not common at all. And after several incidents with Ares trying to slide his kids a path to immortality, Zeus had put a law in place against it. The council had to make a full vote approving it and then Zeus had to approve it as well. There was no chance the council would, not with the prophecy.

It was a shame because I was fairly certain that Zeus would if it meant we could delay the prophecy more. He knew it was inevitable that it would come to pass, but it was His duty as the King of the Gods to do all He could to protect us as a whole. And the prophecy held ill tidings for our continued position on Olympus.

Triton was swimming back in forth, no longer sitting.

"Triton," Amphitrite said. "We don't want to separate you from your brother, we know you care deeply for each other. We are glad that you have found another to care for, after Pallas we thought-"

"I know you've worried," he said. "But- Mevu, Metu- I cannot-"

His voice was cracking, grief lingering in his tone.

"I can't lose him," he finished in a bare whisper.

Amphitrite and I shared a grim look. The sea did not like to be restrained, and Triton had always been one to love with his whole being. He loved the sea, he loved our people, he loved his family, and now he loved his little brother.

I did not know how to keep him from collapsing in grief when Perseus would eventually pass. He was mortal, unless he managed to do something to gain immortality he would die. It was the fate of all mortals.

But I wasn't sure that Triton could exist with that.

And I worried as well for my kingdom, for so many had come to love the youngest prince. I hadn't given a mortal child of mine such a title in over a thousand years, and Perseus was already far more beloved than Katherine.

Perseus had made a place in the hearts of his people, in the hearts of his siblings. Even Amphitrite has softened towards him greatly since her original anger at my hiding him.

Many would grieve his death, he had more contact with the Gods than any child in a long time.

It was by necessity, by chance of Triton's actions, by the nature of his dream swimming… but it had led to him being loved by many.

And it would lead to the world feeling his death.

Something would have to be done.

But I didn't know where to begin.

OO OO OO OO

Thanks for reading! Don't forget to leave a review, they feed my soul.

What do you think of the war? What about Annabeth and Percy? What about what Poseidon and Triton have to deal with?

Halmaheran
Retemav Piruva'ku=Retemav 28th (Retemav is one of the sea months, roughly aligned with September and October. This would be October 17th).
Vako Povinir=Blood New Moon
Ert Pohur Waoit Tukaler=The Night Peace Tore
Aipria=High Prince
Riaptel Av Iyaniv=Ring of Allies
Metua=Father
Wanrila=High Sea King
Ert Pohur Ert Moare Valitavir=The Night the Ocean Froze (Valitavir is not simply froze as in stillness but holds multiple implications: stillness/fear/weakness/beneath)
Moare Taio=Ocean God
Monisi=Sun pearls
Ponisi=Moon pearls
Tatu=brother
Tafahuv=healer mages
soha amrama=little kraken
Tovhu=healer
Tovhuv=healers
Taipanu=sponge cup
Papuav=siblings
Imoteora=mages
Metani=grandpa
Avero=shit
Aipone=thin stone slabs used for messages in the ocean
Metu=Dad
Noimio Imote=Seer Mages
Mevu=Mom

Suffix
re'aia=high Prince (utilized with Aipria it gives extra emphasis to his position)
re'ore=High King
aia=prince

Terminology
Fattah=Fattah is a dish complete with lamb/beef, rice, pita bread, and a garlic tomato sauce. Usually served for special occaisons.
Hawawshi=Similar to hamburgers, they're pita pockets filled with ground beef, onions, peppers, and a specific spice mix.
Ghost tours=a common phenomenon in Savannah, GA, as it is known as one of the most haunted cities in America. There have been many reported sightings of ghosts. The tours explain the history of various locations known for ghosts and the local lore surrounding them.
Olfactory=an occult shop in Savannah, GA, having a selection of books, incense, tarot cards, clothing, and other goods.

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