AN: Hello :D So here's the 3rd Chapter, I hope you enjoy it! It's good to know you guys like my story(: This chapter, as mentioned in my AN previously, isn't as long as the other 2. It's done faster than the rest (I really apologise if you guys find it not as well done) and I only uploaded this because you voted for me to do so. The 'unexpected' was initially supposed to happen at the end of this chap, but I realized the chap will have to be quite long for that. So instead, here's the first half of Chap 3(:
PS: There honestly isn't much surprise here, more emotional scenes regarding Thalia.
Percy POV
I scribbled down short notes to the campers who supported me through the months, mainly telling them not to worry about me. I may have been out for a week but I knew they were busy searching for me then. I couldn't bear to put them through it again now, could I? And Chiron… The best and my favourite teacher. I know it's been hard on him the past few years since I came and the two Great Prophecies were fulfilled. I thought back to the time I got back from Ogygia and saw him staring into the fireplace sadly. I had wondered how many times he'd sat there, waiting for heroes that never came back. It pained me to leave for yet another time, only this time it's not for a quest or against my will. I wrote him a note of sorry and let a tear escape from me as it fell onto the paper. I would really miss him… With a sigh, I got on to the next person. Aphrodite. Granted, I didn't expect her to help me and a part of me wished she had interfered with the… recent incident… It would have made me feel better, but I know I would only be running from the truth. Funny how that's exactly what I'm about to do, only I'll be learning to accept it instead of avoiding it.
I thought about what to write. I can't write a particularly long one, or she'll end up getting the wrong idea, even if it's completely out of the question… "Thanks for the advice and truth Aphrodite. It means a lot to me to know that you care more than just building love. I would appreciate it if you spare my closest friends from such misery in the future. Thanks and bye." Short and sweet.
10 down, 4 more to go… (The 10: Clarisse, Grover, the Stolls, Katie, Rachel, Piper and Jason, Leo, Chiron, Aphrodite and Blackjack — I figured Percy wouldn't want to neglect and worry his loyal Pegasus…) I finished writing a heartfelt and sincere letter to Lady Hestia and my Dad, before I moved on to the remaining two.
Oh shoot how am I supposed to write a letter to Thalia without hurting her. This is going to prove harder than I thought… As I tried my best to phrase my words, I could barely push the image of an infuriated Thalia crying and having electricity shooting off in random directions. I know she would take the news worst seeing that we had become so close over the years. Being the only children of the Big Three, including Nico, we've come to understand and accept each other. By the end of the letter, I was already sobbing deeply, not bothering to keep the note dry from my tears. It would get wet and crumpled by a certain huntress sooner or later…
Artemis. I bit my lip and tried to craft a paragraph in my head. It's challenging to write a letter to a man-hating goddess after you hugged her a few hours ago. Oh dear gods she's not going to let me off… I checked the time. Wow, 2am already?! I had no idea how long I had spent writing until I saw the clock. She's probably going to check in on me a few hours later. Better hurry and get along with the letter!
I took the risk and wrote what my heart told me to. I remembered what the Nereid told me on my first quest to retrieve Zeus' master bolt; "Go with what your heart tells you, or you will lose all". Before I could regret or change my mind, I wrote to her, thanking her for being there for me and begging her not to send the hunt after me. I don't think I'd like to run from a group of angry huntresses though I was pretty sure Artemis would look for me anyway. It was worth a shot, so I figured why not? Without meaning to, I mentioned about us hugging. Oops. Too late… Ugh, whatever. I'm going to die by Thalia's hands if they find me, and right now, I think being turned into a jackalope by Artemis seems more appealing. I ended the note by swearing off the company of women in the romantic sense and decided to leave a gift behind as well. I asked Fleecy for a favour and she consented to it immediately. I got a spherical token I found near Atlantis and tried to spread my power into it. I squeezed and concentrated on the token, but felt nothing. I frowned and put in as much effort as I could, with the end result being a constipation face... And it worked, too. The token glowed a bright yellow and green before it subsided and I decided to leave it under my pillow. It was a brilliant shade of green merged with yellow, and the carving of two swords can be seen clearly on one side of it. I didn't know what the two swords meant, but I didn't bother trying to decipher it either. I told Artemis where it was in my letter and how it worked before sealing the envelope with the rest of the letters in them.
As I placed the pristine, white envelope on the bed, I felt an immense sense of guilt and longing. My heart clenched in protest as I fought against the temptation to stay. I turned a full circle, letting my eyes take in the surroundings. The unoccupied beds of the infirmary (which was everything else) were tidily made, and shelves of potions, medicine, godly food and scrolls were glued side by side to one another. The uncovered walls were dotted with golden suns and horribly disturbing haikus. I took a closer look at one and resisted the urge to bang my head against it. "I heal everyone, people want to be like me, I am so charming." (AN: Ok this obviously isn't good, but Apollo's aren't supposed to be good… right? :D)
At the very end of the room, stood an old cupboard that smelt of mould and dust. The golden knob was rusted and looked loose, as though it would fall off at the slightest touch. Being me, I walked closer towards it and put my ear against the door. Nothing. Seems safe enough. As the saying goes, 'Curiosity killed Percy'. Just kidding. I reached for the knob and though it looked fragile, it just wouldn't buck. Sighing, I turned back but was stopped by a creaking sound. I whipped my body 180° and was met with the sight of the open cupboard, and right at the bottom laid a rusted sword with a faint yellow hilt. Since I underestimated the cupboard's strength, I thought perhaps the sword would prove me wrong as well. And I was right! I mean wrong… Ugh you get the idea; I grabbed the hilt and it fitted just like Riptide did. The weight and balance of it seemed perfect and all it needed was some polishing and sharpening. I cracked a smile for the first time in hours, before shutting the cupboard and headed for my bed.
I noticed the wooden floor wasn't too extraordinary, but I could make out clouds beneath some cracks. 'Did I really jump off Olympus then?' I asked myself incredulously. I must have been pretty idiotic and insane… What can I say? She would've said only a seaweed brain like me would ever think of doing something like that. My mind flashed to the time when I was in the animal truck on my first quest…
"It only works on wild animals." Grover said as I asked him why he couldn't place a blessing on us like he did on the Zebra, Lion and antelope. "So it would only affect Percy," Annabeth reasoned.
Then, I saw it again. I don't know what grudge my mind holds against me, but it just loves to torture me with scenes of Annabeth and the other boy kissing. How could she… I wiped a tear away before I continued packing some ambrosia and nectar for my journey. I didn't know how long I would be gone, so I decided to take a whole flask of each and grabbed some blankets off as well. Sorry Apollo, I whispered. I thanked the gods silently for their help and support, before I vapour travelled to a random forest somewhere in Canada. I didn't want to be in the forests of America as the Hunt would certainly find me in less than a few days' time, but if they ever got close to Canada, I could escape into Alaska and stay there for a while. I desperately needed time alone and it seemed to be the best plan I could think of.
As I roamed the forests, I felt extremely vulnerable. Here I was, a lone boy walking through an unfamiliar and foreign forest filled with gods know what. I found myself on high alert and being vigilant, my head snapping in any particular direction when I heard a twig snap. I would love to say I was as stealthy and silent as the Hunt, but alas, I've hardly had any training in this field. It wasn't an easy task avoiding all the twigs while holding onto all my belongings, and having to keep a lookout for any potential danger ahead of or behind me. How Artemis managed to do so at elegant speed, I have no idea. Maybe there's a reason behind her 12-year-old appearance… Nah, she's a goddess. She doesn't need such age and size advantages. Focus, Percy! Focus! I shook my head groggily and went back to my surroundings. Vapour travelling this far drained me of my energy completely, but I knew I had to find a safe spot to set up camp or I'd just be eaten in my sleep.
Groaning in frustration, I gave up my stealthy approach and went ahead with stepping wherever my foot brought me. Crunch! Twigs snapped beneath my weight and leaves were squashed with a squelching noise. I couldn't care less about being spotted by monsters right now, as there hardly seemed to be a difference. Either way, I was tired. I swore monsters within a one-mile radius could hear me as I only made louder noises as more time passed.
Minutes went by, and not a single monster was in sight. Scrape that, not a single animal was here… This is odd. Too suspicious. I let my powers take control as I felt for any water, but my light scope was interfering. Can't I turn one off while scanning the other? It's impossible to try to find a source if light is shining on every object in the forest. Hold on… A light bulb appeared over my head as I focused all my energy on my light senses. A tingling sensation filled me as my head was clouded with random images of various angles of the forests. It was deserted with only a few animals here and there but nothing seemed out of place. I couldn't sense any particularly large monster group or camp but only the occasional dracanae or hellhound. My 'eyes' captured a specific scene, where a small lake was located some hundreds of metres away from me. My gut immediately identified this source as I started walking towards it automatically.
The pictures slowly faded until my vision returned fully, and I couldn't help but feel awed by this new power. I smiled as I felt a new surge of energy enter me. The forest was calm and peaceful, not that I was complaining, and for the first time since the incident, I felt free. Free from any burdens and thoughts. I took a deep breath and admired the surroundings. Initially, I was sceptical of the forest's nature but this was soon pushed to the back of my head as I found a beautiful lake exposed to the Sun. Double the advantage.
As I neared the lake, a wide grin plastered onto my face and I ran towards it at full speed, with whatever energy I had left. I dumped my belongings onto the banks and dove right in. My gut instinct was right; the lake was clean of any pollution and deep enough for me to relax. No dangers were imminent yet, but I decided to let the water lull me into paradise.
The water refreshed my body and I felt better than ever. It had been a long time since I soaked myself like this. I sighed in content as I lay down on the bottom of the lake, forming mini underwater hurricanes on my palm. All around me were aquatic plants and small fish, though I doubt you would understand all their names. To me, it was simple yet beautiful. I felt at home, and as I looked up towards the sky, I saw the glistening surface of the lake. It sparkled like a thousand diamonds and I could make out small leaves floating above me.
After revitalizing, I swam to the top and willed myself to dry. The first thing I did was take a good look at the rusted sword I found in the infirmary. I didn't know what a sword of that nature would be doing there, but something about it drew me towards it. As I picked up sword by its hilt, I started to notice carvings at the side. In Greek were the words "Shine and Blind". Weird. I shook my head and took off my shirt, dipping it into the lake. After making sure my shirt was damp to the right extent, I started scrubbing the blade, careful not to cut my shirt by accident. After a few strokes, the sword seemed to clear up a little. This was attributed to the lake water, for I put in some of my power to make sure it cleanses my sword.
I tilted the blade a little so I could scrub it at a better angle, but it was a huge mistake that would have cost any ordinary mortal or demigod their eyes. Even when rusted, the light it reflected off was blinding and I knew with a hunch that my sight was only intact because of my new powers. After years of training with water, I understood that I could control its degree and will it to benefit me with enough training. The light dimmed and was diminished until it was back to normal, but this time, the sword looked different. Its blade was no longer rusted and blunt, but looked menacing and deadly. The hilt though, was still worn out and edgy so I dipped it into the lake to recover its glorious appearance.
As I pulled out my sword, I couldn't help but feel awed and amazed by its sheer beauty. I increased the intensity of light and the sword shone brighter, doing justice to the carvings on the side. I twirled it around in my hand and did a few slicing and stabbing motions with it. It felt as awesome as Riptide did, only slightly unfamiliar. A little training would change that. I flipped the sword up, and wondered if it could be shrunk into a pen or some sort like Riptide. As if on cue, a button emerged at the bottom of the hilt that turned the sword into a pair of sunglasses. Damn, this is just getting better and better! I muttered a thanks to whoever the sword once belonged to as I put the sunglasses on. The effect it had was immediate and spectacular, as my surroundings brightened up under my gaze and seemed to tell me exactly what was behind those particular bushes or trees. Psssh, take that Nico! I smiled as I imagined his reaction if he found out about this. It would be priceless!
Not wanting to be distracted by this weapon–cum–sunglass, I took it off and clipped it onto my shirt after putting it on. I went ahead and set up a small camp by the lake, though I had not many resources to begin with. In fact, all I had were some blankets, a pillow, ambrosia and nectar, and… that's it… I frowned and face-palmed. Guess I'll make do with this for now. With that thought, I got up and gathered a few branches, building a mini fire.
I whispered to Lady Hestia and she appeared in the next second. The moment her eyes laid on me, she hugged me before I could bow.
"Hey Lady Hestia, sorry for leaving, but I just had to get away from all that… You know? And could you please keep our conversation and my location a secret? I won't ask you to swear, but I would appreciate it if I didn't have any gods or goddesses on my tail, at least for a while."
Hestia smiled and nodded before she spoke. "Of course, Percy. I'm glad you trust me enough to tell me your location, but rest assured I shall keep it a secret until you decide otherwise."
I was grateful for her decision, for I doubt it would do me any good if I couldn't set up a fire while living in the woods. I gave her a final hug before she vanished. Truthfully, I don't know how long I will be out here. It all depends on what I find and who I meet. But while I'm here, I might as well start learning some basic survival skills and train my new powers. It was the only thing I could do anyway, and it would no doubt keep my thoughts away.
Annabeth POV
"Come on, we're here already! It's amazing, isn't it?" I asked Jake, pulling him towards the borders of the camp. When we approached the sleeping form of Peleus, Jake was so awed that he didn't even bother checking where he was going. Snap! He crushed a twig so loud that caused Peleus to stir with a deafening roar. Sigh. Though I admire his curiosity and bravery (AN: recklessness, perhaps?), he needs to control his temptations more…
"Wow… This is magnificent! He looks just like a real dragon!" Wait, what?! Oh gods, did he think Peleus is an automaton?
"Um, Jake… Peleus is a real dragon..." I whispered to him softly, before he tensed up and stoned there for a couple of seconds. Seeing that Peleus didn't try attacking Jake, I took the opportunity and grabbed Jake by the scruff of his neck before he did anything dumb.
"Chiron!" I shouted when I saw the lovable centaur. He was like a father to me, and he never kept any secret from me. Except when Hera kidnapped Percy. Oh, bad memories. Moving on… I gave him a hug and introduced him to Jake.
"Chiron, this is Jake. A son of Hephaestus I met on Olympus. I don't know why he has never been to camp before, but he grew up there and even shares the love for architecture with me!" I chimed. I have yet to tell any of the campers, or even Chiron, about the two of us, and I doubt it was time. I figured perhaps we could act a little around the campers to make them think we only became a couple after he came to camp. It would prevent them from making any judgments or snide remarks.
"Well then. Welcome to Camp Half-Blood, Jake…" Chiron paused, waiting for Jake to tell him his surname.
"Davis, Jake Davis." Jake introduced, imitating James Bond.
"Alright Jake, you can head on to the Hephaestus cabin after your tour with Annabeth. Oh and Annabeth, meet me later in the Big House." That's odd, Chiron seldom asked for me without first telling me what is was about. I shrugged it off and asked Jake to follow along.
We went through the strawberry fields, archery range, Canoe Lake, the cabins, the rock-climbing wall, dining pavilion and arena, all the while explaining the rules of camp to him. To others, it would seem to be a normal tour, which it was. When Clarisse tried to give Jake his initiation, I gave her a stern look and told her Jake had been here before long time ago and she had already given him the initiation. She didn't buy it until Jake lied and told her he remembered getting dragged to the girls' toilet and how he was pushed face first into the toilet bowl. She frowned, confused, but left in the end. I let out a sigh of relief and told him to meet his half-siblings at his cabin to introduce him to Bunker 9.
"Don't worry, the Hephaestus cabin is generally out-going and they'll love a new sibling. Don't mind Leo though, he's a bit whacky. I've got to meet Chiron now, see you later!" I looked around, made sure no one was within sight and gave him a peck on the cheeks before I took off towards the Big House.
By the time I reached the Big House, my blush was well hidden and barely noticeable. "Chiron, you wanted to see me?"
"Yes child. It seems that we've found Percy…"
"Really? That's great! Where is he?" I inquired, a little glad that he was finally back.
"He left." Chiron left the sentence hanging there, as though not sure what to say next. Since he didn't continue, all I could say was,
"What! He just came back and left without another word?!" I shrieked, shocked by his actions. Why would he come back if he was going to leave anyway?
"He didn't come back, Annabeth. He never did ever since the weekend he finished his training with Lord Poseidon… Also, I wish to ask you, if you saw him that particular night?" He asked, raising his eyebrows a little. Was he testing me? Did he know? What exactly happened?
"N–No, I didn't." I stuttered a little, but covered it with a cough. All Chiron did was let out a sigh and shake his head by a small fraction, but I caught sight of it. He seemed disappointed by my answer and ushered me away. His usual cheerful and caring face was replaced by one of regret and he seemed very, very old.
When I left the Big House, I was penitent. I know I shouldn't have lied to Chiron, but I feared his reaction. I know that my decision to leave Percy wouldn't be a piece of good news to anyone but Jake. I don't regret it, though I can't say the same for the way he found out. I wanted to tell him in person, not show him. Sure, showing is much more effective and straight to the point, but the reaction and consequence it brings about would be much worse.
As I thought about that night, the logical sense of me told me that something bad must have happened to Percy. Something that caused him to disappear from… from the surface of Earth… It clicked. He was up on Olympus the whole week. All this time, when we spent every bit of our efforts searching for that lost hero, he was up there! That's why the gods knew but didn't tell us. I could have seen him last night if I actually knew. But… what was he doing up there?
The familiar sounding of a horn broke my train of thoughts. Nope, not one that indicated meal times or a battle, but more specifically, the Hunters' horn. The first name that popped into my mind was, 'Thalia'. I was ecstatic to see her. After all, I haven't seen her for weeks! All those emotions, however, were erased from my mind as I thought about what her reaction would be to my breakup with Percy, and the reason behind it. If she found out… Let's just say I wouldn't be seeing daylight for days… Only I didn't know she knew. She knew better than everyone else.
"Annabeth!"
Thalia POV
"Mi… Milady… Wh–What do you mean he's gone!" I screeched, failing horribly to compose myself.
That morning, I was rudely awoken by Artemis herself, saying she had an important news to share. After she flashed me to the infirmary, I looked around trying to spot Percy. But my newfound fear crept its way to me. Percy wasn't there anymore. His bed was untidily made and clear of its blanket, similar to those around it. One look and you could tell a flask of nectar and ambrosia was missing from the neatly arranged and organized shelves. I didn't want to believe it. I had hoped he was just taking a shower or a stroll in the gardens. Ever since his disappearance before the Giant War, I became wary of both his and Nico's presence as a whole. His whole 'suicide incident' only made things worse. If he left me again… A painful tear escaped from my eyes. He wouldn't just leave me alone like this, right? Please Percy, you're the only one outside the hunt who understands me… I can't lose my brother again.
I sat on the bed, trying my best to contain my tears. That was when a few others flashed in as well. I saw my uncle and aunt — Poseidon and Hestia, followed by Aphrodite and Artemis.
Artemis looked grave and sad, but she concealed it well enough. She wordlessly took out an envelope and passed us each a letter; a letter Percy wrote for us. It confirmed my fears as I let my tears flow, as though its dam just broke. The comparison brought me back to the time when we were trying to rescue milady and Annabeth. A dam snack bar, some dam French fries, the dam restroom, the dam water fountain… I cracked a smile, but it vanished as quickly as it came as I was brought back to the moment by the paper in my hands.
It was slightly crumpled and felt rough. I could make out some moisture and I immediately knew he had cried when writing the letter too. Though I should have felt better, all it did was make me feel worse. I broke down, as I clutched the letter in my chest and sobbed. What I didn't realize was that I haven't even started reading it. It didn't cross my mind then, but when I finally settled down enough to regain my thoughts, I took a look at the letter.
Though Percy's handwriting wasn't particularly neat, he had put in a lot of effort in making it legible, though some words were slightly untidier than the rest from his hand. Knowing that it wasn't very long, I read the letter slowly, my eyes resting on each word for a second before I moved on to the next. I didn't want it to end, for it would mean I would be brought back to reality, but it did anyway.
(AN: - denotes teardrops)
"Dear Thalia,
Please don't cry. - I know you're crying right now anyway, and I'm - sorry I'm the cause of it. I really don't want to leave - you, but I can't stand seeing the two of them so close - to each other right now. I promise I'll keep in touch with you but until then, please - refrain from hunting me down and killing - me. I need to be alone for a while to gather my thoughts. It's too - painful back at camp and staying on Olympus isn't an alternative either. I'm going to miss you, - our bickering and sparring with you. - I know you're mad at me, and you ought to be. I'll accept your… - punishment or torture when I return though I would appreciate it if you don't kill me then. - When I return, I promise I'll make up - for our lost time as long as you're not - busy with the Hunt. Speaking of the - Hunt, help me if Artemis turns me into a jackalope. - In the mean time, have fun with your huntresses. - I don't want to see you hurt and - torn when and if I visit or contact you. - Do it for me if not yourself. - See you, - Thals. -
Your - Kelp Head. -"
"How could she do this to him! The nerve of that bi—"
"Thalia, language…" Artemis warned. I looked up at her with my tear-stained face and bloodshot eyes, expecting to see the stern look on Artemis' face. Her expression betrayed her words as I could clearly see the rage behind her eyes. Her tears didn't go unnoticed as well, for I could just barely see the dried up trails on her face and her watery eyes. Milady is sad about Percy's leaving too… But since when has she ever cried?
I turned to look at my uncle's expression; only he wasn't there anymore. Confused, I looked towards milady, hoping to gain an explanation from her.
"Thalia, it's been hours since I called all of you here… While you… cried… Poseidon has already seen the letter and left. He told me he had sworn not to harm the girl so all he could do was sulk in his palace… Hestia left not long ago but Aphrodite flashed out immediately after seeing her letter," Artemis told me, saying 'the girl' distastefully and with anger. I have never seen milady angry at a girl before, and this was new to me. I was smart enough to know not to question her, but only nod my head in understanding.
"Milady, may we visit camp later? I would wish to have a… word with her," I gritted my teeth mid-sentence, bottling in my anger. She shall experience my full wrath for making Percy leave.
"Alright, though I do suggest that we speak to her in public and not alone." Did she just say 'we'? In public… Oh this is payback. I would love to see her face humiliation when we expose her deeds to the entire camp. I'll have to put on a show first, though.
I nodded and said, "I'll inform the hunters. Thank you, milady." I bowed before she flashed me off to our camp.
"Hunters! We're moving out to Camp Half-Blood. Let's get packing!" I instructed, before heading for my tent.
As I reached the camp borders, I felt a sense of nostalgia. It's been too long since I've been here. If only I spent more time with Percy… Maybe he wouldn't leave. Of course, he's Percy, so he'll still end up leaving, but it may have helped with some hesitation. A sudden thought hit me. What if Percy stayed with the hunt?! Milady told me he swore off the company of women, and the rest of the hunters are well associated or more able to tolerate Percy. I've got to ask milady later. Though how we would even find him was a problem. (AN: No, he's not going to be the Guardian of the Hunt in the later part of the story. He may stay with them, but even so he'll most likely be just a male hunter instead. No complications.)
I looked across the camp boundaries and saw the various 'attractions'. I caught sight of Chiron in the archery range, a few campers failing to climb the rock wall, and a few Ares demigods sparring or wrestling. The Hunter's horn sounded, almost bursting my eardrums. With a sigh, I shouted towards that lone figure walking away from the Big House.
"Annabeth!" I tried my best to hide the anger and frustration behind my voice, and thank gods I succeeded.
"Thalia!" She screamed back in happiness, but I saw doubt in her eyes as she ran towards me, giving me a hug. I could feel the sincerity behind it, but I didn't care about that at the moment.
"So… Where's Kelp Head?" I asked, pulling away from her embrace. Her eyes flashed in concern and only one thought came to me. Hyprocrite.
"Oh um, he's… gone." Here I go again, having to shout 'what', 'why', 'when' blah blah blah. With a bit of hesitation during which I could see her frown in concentration as she contemplated on her decision, she told me she didn't know anything.
"Really now? You don't know what happened and why he left?"
"No… I really don't know why he would leave without at least telling me after all we've been thr—"
"Don't you even dare finish that sentence!" I exploded, not being able to contain my anger any longer. The nerves she got to even say 'after all we've been through'. Oh pish posh if she knew about that why the heck would she even break his heart!
"You! Are the cause of this mess. You! Broke his heart. You literally crushed him!" I snapped, storms brewing overhead us. I knew lightning was flashing in the distance, and electricity was shooting out of me haphazardly, some occasionally hitting a foot or so away from her. My eyes flashed red in anger as she stood there silently, not meeting my eyes. No one, and I mean absolutely no one escapes from me. Did she honestly think she could hide all that she has done to Percy?
"Say something! Tell me why in Zeus' name would you even leave Percy for another boy! Are you that foolish? To think Percy sacrificed his life for you after jumping into Tartarus! He gave up immortality twice for you, Annabeth. He saved your mum from Arachne and finally gained her permission to marry you but you just shunned him aside and decide to cheat on him?! What have you become, Ann—"
"It wasn't my fault! We were just drifting further away and he doesn't even understand architecture! How long more would we have lasted? Without the war we're barely working together. Being friends alone should be—"
"I wasn't even finished! But now that we're onto the topic of architecture and work, why don't we continue? You put the useless 'skill' (insert air quotes when Thalia is yelling) in front of the boy who saved your life countless times and now you're saying you were only together with him because you worked with him during the war? If you want war, I'll bloody hell be glad to give it to you!" I thundered, before lunging myself towards her.
I should have blasted her with my lightning instead. Much more effective. Instead, as my feet left the ground, I was simply pulled back by milady. I screamed in frustration as I punched and kicked the air, struggling to land a blow on that treacherous – insert profanity –. My eyes were blurred with my tears as I remembered the time we fought using our powers during Capture the Flag when Annabeth was missing. He travelled across half the country for her when he was only 14! Before I knew it, I collapsed in exhaustion before I could hear a scream of pain coming from her.
Artemis POV
As I flashed into camp borders, I noticed the campers crowding around two particular figures yelling at each other. I knew from the moment thunder rumbled above that one of them was Thalia, which meant that the other was… the girl. The thought of her betrayal burned me as I had actually thought about recruiting her in the past. Instead of showing the qualities of a maiden, she did the last thing I expected a girl to do; Break someone's heart. The consideration made me mad, as I stalked towards the pair.
"… I really don't know why he would leave without at least telling me after all we've been thr—"
"Don't you even dare finish that sentence! You! Are the cause of this mess. You! Broke his heart. You literally crushed him!" Thalia screamed, earning an approving nod from me. If it weren't for her, Percy would still be around. I don't know why I wanted him to be here, but a part of me just did.
Thunderstorms were forming above the camp, lightning striking down every now and then. As I saw the sparks emitted by Thalia, I knew she would attack very soon. I had to stop her from killing a fellow demigod, even if I don't particularly adore her. While Thalia continued shouting how stubborn the girl was, I made my way towards her and thought about what she was saying. The things he did for a girl far exceeded my expectations of any male, and he possessed true qualities of a real man. I admit my perspective of him changed since he took the weight of the sky from me so I could help Zoë, but his sacrifices and courage took him to a whole different level the following years.
"It wasn't my fault! We were just drifting further away and he doesn't even understand architecture! How long more would we have lasted? Without the war we're barely working together. Being friends alone should be—"
"I wasn't even finished! But now that we're onto the topic of architecture and work, why don't we continue? You put the useless 'skill' in front of the boy who saved your life countless times and now you're saying you were only together with him because you worked with him during the war? If you want war, I'll bloody hell be glad to give it to you!" Alright, time to step in; I reached forwards just as Thalia leapt towards her, catching and holding her back by her waist. Though I was a goddess, Thalia's shocks were still somewhat pain when I was in my 14-year-old form (AN: The average age of her hunters is 14 here). As I pulled a kicking Thalia into a hug, I felt terrible. Not just because of Percy, but also because I had to restrain my lieutenant from punishing someone who deserved it.
"Architecture is not useless! Take that back you—" Her rant was interrupted by her own scream of pain as my arrow sailed through the air and pierced through her shoulder. I had let go of Thalia for that second so I could teach the girl a lesson.
"Listen here, girl. You are a disgrace to the female population. Not only have you broken a decent man's heart, yet you dare talk back like it's not your fault? You do not insult my lieutenant when you are clearly in the wrong! If you don't leave this instant, I will not hesitate to put another arrow through you, only this time it's through your empty head!" I snapped. I was vaguely aware of the aura I surrounding me as my body threatened to unleash its power. I was fed up with the attitude she had. I would have been proud that a girl stood up for her occupation or aspiration and gave up love, but this girl was different and she cheated on a boy!
The pale girl staggered away as blood dripped from her shoulder. As she was helped away though, I noticed her back was scraped. From my knowledge, I knew neither of us had caused that but yet someone or something had done it to her amidst the yelling. I was thoroughly confused, until I spotted a man (AN: This isn't in disgust, but rather astonishment) standing in the distance, by the sea, staring intently at this scene. His fists were clenched and his jet-black hair was unkempt as always. My eyes widened in shock as I registered his identity.
I tried to shout his name but found my throat dry. Before I could run towards him though, his shoulders slumped and he sent me an apologetic smile before vanishing into thin air… Percy had returned, but only for a brief moment…
AN: Alright, there's the end of Chapter 3. I hope I didn't disappoint too much, but I'll make up for it for the next chapter. I will be able to put in more effort and time into it since I'll be writing it on Tuesday, after my test. It's a 3 day break for me, and I'll try to split the time between writing the next chapter and studying for the rest of my tests… Wish me luck for the 2 tests these 2 days! Thanks and see you(: