Hey guys.
OKAY I'M SURE MOST OF YOU HAVE BUT HAVE YOU SEEN THE NEW COVER ART? AND READ THE FIRST OFFICIAL CHAPTER OF MARK OF ATHENA? I HAAAVVVEEEEE!
They posted it on the official Percy Jackson Facebook page if you haven't seen/read either. It's so good! GAH!
Alright, now with that out of the way, I just want to say that this is just a simple filler chapter. Nothing exciting really happens, but it's Annabeth, so...she rocks.
And...yeah. That's pretty much it. Cool.
Okay, you can start reading the real thing now.
I waited a bit longer for the sun to come up before I would climb out.
When I finally decided it was time to try climbing up the hill, I walked around and picked up all of my supplies that I had flung all over the ground during my spider episode.
I grabbed my bedroll, grimacing as I shook the spider webs off of it, and then gingerly rolled it up and attached it to my backpack. I shoved smashed granola bars into the pack as well, and the flashlight. What was left of the sugar cubes for Blackjack was now glittery dust lining the bottom.
I took one last look around the gulch and when I decided I grabbed everything worth saving (Grover would probably kill me that I left some wrappers down there. What he doesn't know won't hurt him.) I turned to face the weeds jutting out of the sides.
If I had my adrenaline rush from the night before, this looked be possible. But now I wasn't so sure.
"Blackjack? You up there?" I yelled up the side.
I heard a responding whinny. He probably didn't even know what happened to me last night.
"Okay. Uh, I'm going to try and get out of here."
My mind flashed to an image of the climbing wall at Camp. At least this hill didn't have lava rolling down the side.
I looked up the side of the hill. It was about thirty to forty feet high before it crested.
I checked to make sure my pack was on tightly, my hat wasn't going anywhere, and that I had my knife.
You're stalling, I thought to myself.
I scowled and grabbed the closest weed.
"Ah!" I gasped in pain and jerked my hand back, staring at a red welt across my hand.
Stinging nettle. Perfect. First spider bites, and then a stupid plant.
Darn, I left my good pair of gloves at Camp, I thought sarcastically.
I pulled out an extra t-shirt from the backpack and my knife from the sheath. I shoved my knife through one of the sleeves and ripped it off, and then the other. My t-shirt was now a tank top.
I took the ripped sleeves and wrapped one around each hand, and then tentatively grasped the weed again.
I didn't feel anything, thank the gods. I probably would have thrown my backpack in anger if I got hurt again.
I braced one foot against the dirt, searching for a foothold. I reached my other hand up and grabbed another plant, and gently pulled myself up, one foot dangling in the air. I put both feet on the hill and started to carefully scale the hill.
At one terrifying instant, the shirt-gloves slipped on a weed and my left arm flailed in the air and my foot slid several inches on the dirt. I was about two-thirds up, and I definitely did not want to fall from this height.
I grunted in pain as I instinctively grabbed the weed again, only to sting my other hand in the process.
Ignoring my screaming muscles and my throbbing hands, I scaled up the hill.
My head poked over the edge, and I saw Blackjack grazing on some grass. I put my arms on the ground and tried to get my feet over.
They suddenly slipped and I was hanging over empty space, my feet scrabbling against the hill. Panic filled me.
"Augh!" I screamed, feeling my arms losing their strength.
Just as I was about to topple over the edge, I felt myself get hoisted up and I sprawled on the ground, breathing heavily.
Blackjack had grabbed my backpack with his teeth and had pulled me over.
I used my arms to push myself up, and they trembled as I got my feet underneath me. I staggered and fell against Blackjack.
Once I got my strength back, I pushed off of Blackjack quickly. He smelled.
"Okay, now that I've gotten out of that—" I kicked a rock over the edge, watching in satisfaction "—we need to figure out where we are. Do you think there's enough room for you to fly above these trees?"
He bobbed his head and I clumsily climbed on his back. He spread his wings, and after a few heart-stopping moments where we almost hit a few trees, we broke free.
I swiveled around on his back, looking around. I saw the sun slowly climbing the sky, which meant that that direction was east, toward home. I wanted to go west, to California.
I traced the path of the sun with my finger, and ended up with the general direction of west.
I pointed so Blackjack could see my finger.
"That way," I said.
The end. Short and sweet.
Oh! Not the end of the story, just the chapter. Don't fret.
Let me know what you thought of the official first chapter of Mark of Athena! Did you like it? Hate it? So-so? Rick Riordan never faileth?
What about the cover art, eh? Super cool! I especially like the bit with the owl in the background.
I JUST LOVE ALL OF IT!
*SPOILER IF YOU HAVEN'T READ IT*
Disappointed about ex-nay on the Percabeth reunion? I was!
*grumble grumble* stupid year go faster so i know what happens next *anger and more grumbling*
I CANNOT WAIT FOR OCTOBER 2ND.
Well, I think that settles it.
Leave me a review, about the MoA chapter, my chapter, or both! Whatever makes you happy :)
OKAY BYE.