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I don't want to bother you with a long author's note, so...

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Chapter 16

Annabeth

Annabeth thought all was good before the metal horses.

They had found a nice, cool rainforest that was slowly healing her aching sunburn, and she and Percy were still together.

That was really all she could ask for right then.

Except for some more water.

"Percy, do you think if we dig here, too, we could find some water?" Annabeth asked hopefully.

They had gotten up and began walking again after a little sleep and Annabeth was starting to lose hope in this situation.

"Yeah, maybe," Percy thought aloud. "Let's try."

They got down on their knees and started digging into the soft squishy dirt.

It took a lot less time to find water than in the desert. They only dug maybe an inch before a sparklingly blue pool shimmering in front of them.

Annabeth dug her hands in generously and took large gulps, letting some dribble down her chin.

And then, after Percy had drunk some, they'd left the hole and continued walking.

Annabeth's legs had begun to hurt again soon after.

She leaned against Percy more and more until Percy was basically carrying her.

"Annabeth, hang in there for a second," Percy whispered and propped her against a tree.

"Percy, where are you-" Annabeth started, but he turned and began to run off, calling behind him, "I'll be right back!"

She took some deep breaths and thought about Percy.

What is he doing? Is he safe? Why wouldn't he tell me anything?

Annabeth stood and waited, picking at leaves and scratching the bark, until she heard loud sounds.

Annabeth froze where she stood.

It sounded like a mixture of echoing thundering, heavy rain, and footsteps.

Annabeth tried to blend into the tree, but she couldn't make herself invisible without her cap, which she didn't have with her, and was no longer working, anyway.

"Come on, Percy, come on," Annabeth whispered desperately.

And then the footsteps faded, but rustling in a shrub nearly stole her attention, and then Percy busted through, looking happy.

"Percy, you scared the living-" Annabeth started, but then she took a look at what Percy was holding.

A wooden cane.

"You asked me to get you a walking stick, so…" he offered it to her. "Here."

Annabeth laughed. "I was joking, Seaweed Brain!"

"But you still want it, right?" Percy asked.

Annabeth sighed. "Of course I do. Hand it over."

She gripped the top and pressed the point into the dirt.

She placed some of her weight on it, and it surprisingly held her.

She moved her good leg forward, then her bad leg and her walking stick.

And she was walking again, with a wooden walking stick her boyfriend had so graciously made her.

Should I tell him about the footsteps?

"Percy," Annabeth started. "I heard something while you were gone."

His eyes were alert in an instant. "What?"

"It sounded like really loud, really dangerous footsteps," Annabeth recalled. "And I was worried something was coming. But nothing ever showed up."

Percy nodded. "I won't leave you like that again, I promise. And maybe now you can keep up?" He teased.

"Haha," she laughed sarcastically and Percy chuckled.

"We should get moving," Percy said, suddenly serious.

"Where do you even think the Doors will be?" Annabeth asked.

Percy shook his head as Annabeth hobbled on beside him. "I have no clue. I'm thinking some empty space in the middle of some crowded area because of the raw amount of power radiating off those Doors."

"Well someone's being rather dramatic," Annabeth teased.

"Not dramatic," Percy said, looking slightly past the trees ahead of them, slightly past the gray sky. "Visionary."

Annabeth was quiet after that. She didn't want to disturb his thoughts.

Then, the footsteps started again. Only they were louder, and closer.

And scarier, and more dangerous.

"No time for hobbling." Percy scooped Annabeth up in his arms and started running.

They dashed around trees, and Percy was breathing hard.

And then they heard it.

A loud whiny that shook the trees.

"Horses?" Annabeth asked, bewildered.

"They can't be real, though," Percy replied, trying to be reassuring. "I can't read their thoughts."

Annabeth nodded, trying to keep her mind straight.

Suddenly, a huge, shining, silver stallion erupted from the bushes not twenty feet behind them, followed by others in bronze and gold.

Percy ran, but Annabeth knew her weight was slowing them down. She knew they were going to catch up. They were already closing the distance, with their ominous footprints ricocheting through Annabeth's brain and splitting her eardrums.

"Thank you," Annabeth whispered to Percy, "for trying."

"Whatever it takes, remember?" Percy asked.

"Percy, no-" Annabeth started, but as the horses closed in, Percy whispered, "I love you!" and threw Annabeth out of his arms and away from the horrible horses and into the bushes.

Annabeth hit her head on the ground and saw bright spots.

Percy, no, she thought as she faded out of consciousness. I wanted to stay together…

And the last thing Annabeth heard over the footsteps before she passed out was Percy's voice from far away: "I will find you!"

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Percy, WHY? How is she going to survive without you?

Percy: DUH, she's Annabeth Chase, THAT'S how!

Annabeth: Thank you, Percy, you're SO right!

Me: I wouldn't be so sure of your own strength, Annabeth. MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Thanks for Reading!