Titan's Curse: The Unexpected Travel

After his confrontation with Percy, Nico tried to go about his day like everything was normal. He listened in Greek class, drew an image of the gods in Arts and Crafts, practiced sword fighting against other demigods and determinedly tried to reach the top in the lava rock climbing before he'd be reduced into a pile of ashes.

Only twice or thrice did Nico thought about his sister and worry about her safety and well-being, but then he'd think about Percy following after them and his anxiety would lessen.

However as night drew closer, Nico could no longer distract himself in camp activities and spent the whole dinner worriedly thinking about his sister's quest. Where could they be? Are they alright? Is Bianca alright? Are they fighting vicious monsters out there? Could she defend herself properly? Is Percy protecting her? So on and so forth these questions popped then vanished unanswered through his mind, feeling frustrated that he knew nothing of the situation.

He smashed his potatoes around his plate, dully playing with it since he had no appetite and did not join the others when they stood up for the camp fire singing.

He discreetly distanced himself from the rest and walked distractedly around the grounds of camp, letting himself wander aimlessly as he thought about how much his life had changed in the span of three days.

It was only just a few days ago that he was arguing with his sister about having to finish his Math homework first before playing Mythomagic and now that assignment seemed to be a million light-years away. Who needed to multiply and divide when Nico had to learn sword fighting to survive in a world of his Mythomagic cards with real gods and monsters?

He'd had to tell Bianca, when she came back from the quest, that he was right all along. Playing Mythomagic was more important than having to finish an essay in History or read a book for English class because none of that mattered when you'd have memorized every skill, magic, and background of all the Greek gods and monsters. It makes Mythology lessons a whole lot easier when you knew all the characters by heart.

Nico was somehow glad that he could escape the boring life he had before. He was not just some over exuberant boy who only relied on his sister for everything— he was a demigod! Half human and half god! And he could become one of the best demigods in this camp if he exerted as much effort as he did in Mythomagic with his new life.

Suddenly, Nico heard a twig snap behind him which made him jump and turned around only to see trees and shrubs everywhere. He mentally swore (since Bianca didn't like it when he'd curse) as he realized that he ended up in the forest. Alone. At night.

Nico breathed hard, straining to hear anything out of the ordinary as he slowly tracked his footsteps back out of the forest. Unfortunately, he didn't know the forest that well and even as he walked deeper, all the trees and shrubs looked the same. He felt so stupid getting himself lost like this especially when it was dark and the forest was full of monsters. Nico didn't even have anything to defend himself with.

He was already starting himself into a panic when he heard it. Footsteps running like paws digging through the earth as if it were chasing its prey and Nico didn't think but ran.

He stumbled through roots and jagged rocks, getting himself bruised and cut along the way. He didn't know where he was going but the sound of pursuit behind him forced his legs to get as far away from the threat as possible.

Nico prayed fervently that his immortal parent could save him before he became midnight snack. Up ahead, Nico could see nothing but more tress, boulders and shrubs shrouded in darkness save for the sliver of moonlight above. He was almost giving up hope, exhaustion already slowing his body when suddenly the shadows seemed to move around him.

Nico vigorously hoped that it wasn't more monsters. When he suddenly tripped and tumbled on a root directly through the darkness that engulfed him, Nico's last thought was that he wished he could be with his sister where he knew he'd be safe.

When he slowly regained consciousness again, it was due to the horrible realisation that he was lying on a pile of biting snow and shivering uncontrollably. Nico sat up carefully, his stiff muscles complaining and tried to scope his bearings, but the sun hurt his eyes. He didn't know where he was and the thought didn't comfort his already muddled mind the least.

He could tell it was morning, that's for sure, which made him wonder how long he'd been out in the cold to get him shaking like a withered leaf. He wrapped his arms around himself and tried to stand but was finding it difficult to properly control his cold legs. He was going for his third attempt when a shout garnered his attention.

"Nico? NICO!"

Nico turned and almost wept with relief when he saw his sister, Bianca, running towards him. He tried meeting her halfway but only achieved a few steps before he tumbled to the snow again. Bianca wasted no time sweeping him into an embrace as she knelt in the ground with Nico in her lap. Nico relished the warm embrace he didn't realize he missed so much. His cold act towards her in camp really placed a distance in their relationship and Nico hoped to change that soon.

"Nico, what are doing here? How did you even get here? Gods, you're as cold as ice!" Bianca didn't wait for him to reply as she stood up and wrapped her jacket around him, vigorously rubbing his arms for more heat. Nico was grateful for the gesture and was about to say so and begin his piece in the story when the others caught up to them.

"Nico! What- Are you alright?" Percy asked.

Grover came over to offer his jacket as well. Nico mumbled his thanks.

The others weren't as concerned.

"Bianca, why's your brother here?" That was Thalia.

"I am not having another boy to venture in our quest!" Of course, the hunter would be more concerned about that.

"What are you talking about, Zoe? I can't just leave Nico here!" Bianca snapped.

"Uh...I'll just go get some more hot cocoa for Nico." Grover said which was ignored by the hunters.

Nico found himself supported by Percy as Grover left and he didn't know whether that warm feeling inside him came from the extra jackets he wore or the feeling of being safely cocooned in the arms of his hero. Probably both.

He found himself scouting his surroundings once more of what looked like the outskirts of a little ski town nestled in the mountains. The air was cold and thin. The roofs of the cabin were heaped with snow, and dirty mounds of it were piled up on the sides of the streets. Tall pine trees loomed over the valley, casting pitch-black shadows, though the morning was sunny.

Nico suddenly realized that he didn't remember how get got here at all. It looked like he landed on the pile of snow that was shrouded by the shadows of the pine trees. Did he fall from the sky? Could he have teleported unconsciously somewhere else when he thought he was in danger? The thought excited Nico but before he could reflect more, he got pulled from his thoughts as Bianca hauled him close to her.

"That would ruin our quest, Bianca. I understand that he's your little brother but the prophecy specifically foretold only five campers may go." Zoe said.

"But you let Percy-"

Zoe cut her off, "That was because he saved all our lives from the Nemean lion and he's an asset for when we need to rescue Artemis. Your brother looks, to put it mildly, like a single blow would break him in half."

Nico had half a mind to tell her that he could now wield a sword without falling over, but just as he opened his mouth to do so, some sort of cube like food shoved its way into his mouth and he couldn't do anything but chew and swallow it. Nico was surprised to find that it tasted like some homemade spaghetti he could recall from years before and he could feel his energy reviving inside him. "Wow, that stuff tastes good!"

Percy chuckled as he directed Nico to sit on a bench, away from the argument that was going on between the hunters, "Yeah, that's ambrosia for you. Food of the gods but don't eat too much or else it might burn you."

Nico nodded his understanding and took the hot chocolate offered to him when Grover came back with some pastries for him as well.

"He's already here anyway, Zoe. And if we wait longer than we have to getting him home, we could lose precious time saving Artemis. I promise that he won't jeopardise the quest. I'll take full responsibility of him."

Zoe sighed as if she were about to make a difficult decision, "Fine, Bianca. But if thy brother becomes a hindrance to this quest, I'll I.M. Chiron right away to take him home."

Hearing Bianca say that as if Nico was a burden to take, hurt him more than he realised and suddenly he didn't feel like joining them on this quest. If Bianca didn't want him here, then Nico should have let himself be scarce.

It must have been written all over his face because Percy suddenly said, "You know Bianca doesn't mean it that way. She doesn't think you're a burden. You're her brother, she loves you."

Nico looked away, not wanting to have this kind of conversation with his favourite demigod. "Yeah, but she still left me to be with the hunters just when I thought our lives were finally starting to get better." He sniffed, old feelings dredging themselves back to him but he supressed them, not wanting to look weak in front of Percy.

Percy looked uncomfortable as if he didn't know the right words to say to a dejected little brother. "Nico, I-," but Nico didn't get to hear him finish when Thalia suddenly exclaimed, "Grover? What's wrong?"

The others looked towards Grover and Thalia who were both drinking their coffee on another bench when a warm breeze rustled past, like a gust of springtime had gotten lost in the middle of winter. Fresh air seasoned with windflowers and sunshine. And something else- almost like a voice, trying to say something. A warning.

Zoe gasped. "Grover, thy cup."

Grover dropped his coffee cup, which was decorated with pictures of birds. Suddenly the birds peeled off the cup and flew away- a flock of tiny doves. Nico had never seen anything like it and wondered which divine being could do that. A rat that was sitting on the bench beside Percy suddenly squeaked and Nico could have sworn that was just rubber before. It scampered off the railing and into the trees- real fur, real whiskers.

Grover collapsed next to his coffee, which steamed against the snow. Nico and the others gathered around him and tried to wake him up. He groaned, his eyes fluttering.

"What's wrong with him?" Thalia asked worriedly.

"I don't know," Percy said. "He just collapsed."

"Uuuuuuhhhh," Grover groaned.

"Well, get him up!" Thalia said. She had her spear in her hand. She looked behind her as if she were being followed. "We have to get out of here."

Bianca immediately tugged Nico towards her and held his hand while the other held her spear at the ready. Nico didn't complain about the hand-holding as they trudged their way to the edge of the town.

Just as they made it, two skeleton warriors appeared, scaring and fascinating Nico at the same time. They stepped from the trees on either side of the road. Nico felt a shiver go down his spine as he stared into their dead eyes. They were wearing blue New Mexico State Police uniforms but that didn't make them any more human with their transparent grey skin and yellow eyes.

They drew their handguns and pointed them straight at the group of demigods.

Thalia tapped her bracelet, Aegis spiralled to life on her arm, but the warriors didn't flinch. Percy drew his awesome sword, Riptide while Zoe and Bianca brought out their bows. Nico had the uncomfortable job of making sure Grover wouldn't drop head first to the snow.

Nico didn't like the situation at all. He was defenceless and would have to depend on his sister and the others to protect him and Grover. I don't want to be like a sitting duck again, Nico thought petulantly.

"Back up," Thalia said.

They started to but then there was a rustle of branches behind them. Two more skeletons appeared on the road and Nico knew they were surrounded.

Nico watched as one of the warriors raised a mobile gadget to his mouth and spoke into it. But it wasn't in any form of speech they knew. He made a clattering, clicking sound, like dry teeth on bone. Nico hoped fervently that they weren't calling for back up.

"It's near," Grover moaned next to his ear. Nico thought Grover must not be in his right mind yet to see that clearly the enemy was right in front—and behind— them already.

"It's hear," Percy said.

"No," He insisted, leaning heavily on Nico as he tried to stand on his own. "The gift. The gift from the Wild."

Nico grunted in his efforts to keep the satyr standing but he was in no shape to walk, much less fight.

"We'll have to go one-on-one," Thalia said. "Four of them. Four of us. Maybe they'll ignore Grover that way."

"Agreed," said Zoe.

And what am I, Nico thought annoyed at being ignored, chopped liver?

"And make sure they don't get to Nico as well." Percy said. Nico knew there was a reason why Percy was his favorite demigod. Bianca nodded determinedly at that.

"The Wild!" Grover moaned. Nico was worried that all the noise Grover was making would direct the skeleton warriors to them.

A warm wind blew through the canyon, rustling the trees but Nico couldn't take his eyes away from the skeletons to wonder where all that warmth came from.

The warriors fired and everyone else charged towards them.

It was a frenzy of action- stabbing, shielding, and firing. Nico didn't know who to look out for but his eyes stayed mostly on Bianca who was holding out well on her own. Then the sound of Thalia screaming Percy's name nearly made Nico's heart stop as he turned to find Percy on the snow but there was no blood. The bullets had hit him on the back where Percy wore his strange fur coat.

Just as Nico thought he might cry, Percy started moving back up and he was so relieved with joy that he didn't bother trying to understand how a demigod could survive that. Of course, Percy could survive anything— he was just that cool.

Nico didn't stop Grover when he stood and held his hands out to the trees, looking like he wanted to hug them. The young demigod bent down to take one of the fallen arrows just in case he had to defend himself or Grover.

There was a crashing sound in the forest to their left, like a bulldozer. Maybe the skeleton's reinforcements were arriving. Nico looked around and realized that the skeletons were reforming even after they were sliced in half. There was no way to stop them. Zoe and Bianca fired at their heads point-blank, but the arrows just whistled straight through their empty skulls.

Then Nico saw it before it could happen.

Just as one of the reformed skeletons lunged at Bianca, Nico stepped in its way and stabbed the warrior in the chest with the arrow in his hand. He had just followed his gut feeling as he poured all his hate and rage on the skeleton for trying to kill his sister. He could hear Bianca behind him scream his name, but was distracted from responding when the whole skeleton erupted into flames, leaving a little pile of ashes, and a police badge.

He felt Bianca suddenly grabbing him and asking if he were alright. If Nico wasn't so shocked right now, he'd have scolded Bianca to watch her back.

"How did you do that?" Zoe asked.

"I don't know," Nico said nervously. "Maybe I just got lucky?"

"Well, do it again!" If Nico didn't know any better, he'd say he impressed the boy-hating hunter.

Bianca immediately protested but Nico grabbed her hunting knife before she could pull him away to safety and lunged at the next skeleton.

"Nico!"

"You got a better idea at destroying these things?" Nico retaliated to his sister.

The three remaining skeletons were wary of Nico now and Nico loved that he could fight against them all on his own. But none of the skeletons wanted to get in reach of his knife and they pressed his group back, keeping Nico and the others at baton's length.

"Plan?" Percy asked as they retreated.

Nobody answered. The trees behind the skeletons were shivering. Branches were cracking.

"A gift," Grover muttered.

And then, with a mighty roar, the largest pig Nico had ever seen came crashing into the road. It was a wild boar, thirty feet high, with a snotty pink snout and tusks the size of canoes. Its back bristled with brown hair, and its eyes were wild and angry.

"REEEEEEEEET!" It squealed, and it raked the three skeletons aside with its tusks. The force was so great, they went flying over the trees and into the side of the mountain, where they smashed to pieces, thigh bones and arm bones twirling everywhere. Good riddance, Nico thought.

Then the pig turned on them.

Thalia raised her spear, but Grover yelled, "Don't kill it!"

The boar grunted and pawed the ground, ready to charge. "That's the Erymanthian Boar," Zoe said, trying to stay calm. "I don't think we can kill it."

"It's a gift," Grover repeated. "A blessing from the Wild!"

The boar said, "REEEEEET!" and swung its tusk towards them. Bianca dived out of the way, dragging Nico with her.

"Yeah, I feel blessed!" Percy yelled. "Scatter!"

Nico ran in whatever direction he was in which coincidentally led him side by side with a Percy. Nico didn't see where Bianca went but he figured she was safe with Zoe for now. He hoped.

"It wants to kill us!" Thalia said.

"Of course," Grover replied, as if it were obvious. "It's wild!

"So how is that a blessing?" Nico asked, bewildered but didn't realize he committed an offense until the pig started charging towards him. He ran like his life depended on it and rolled out of the way when he sensed it's hooves about to lash out towards him. His adrenaline was working on overtime as he came up behind the beast.

"Nico, are you alright?" Bianca inquired.

"Good one, Nico!" Percy complimented and Nico beamed towards him for the praise, completely forgetting that Bianca asked him a question. But there was no time for idle talk as Zoe yelled, "Keep moving!"

She and Bianca ran in opposite directions and Nico would have followed his sister had the boar not been in his way. Grover danced around the beast, playing his pipes while the boar snorted and tried to gouge him. But unluckily for Nico, Percy and Thalia, the boar charged towards them when Thalia made the mistake of raising Aegis in defense. The sight of the Medusa head made the boar squeal in outrage and they ran uphill and dodged in and out of the trees while the boar had to plough through them.

Nico had never felt so scared for his life in a long time, aside for that Manticore problem. He could feel his blood pumping, his breathe coming out in gasps and wondered if this would be his life from now on. But as Nico looked towards his companions, he thought that if Percy and Thalia could survive and become heroes, then Nico wanted to become a hero just as strong and as brave as them.

Suddenly Percy grabbed Nico's arm, shouting "This way!" towards Thalia and they ran towards a trail of train tracks, half buried in the snow. They ran along the rails while the boar roared behind them, slipping and sliding as it tried to navigate the steep hillside. Thank the gods that its hooves were just not made for this.

Ahead of them was a covered tunnel and past that, Nico could see an old trestle bridge spanning a gorge.

"Follow me!" Percy said. Nico didn't know what Percy was planning but he trusted the older demigod enough that Nico knew he'd get them safely out of this.

Thalia slowed beside them and Percy grabbed her arm as well. Nico didn't know why she would hesitate when there was a 100 pound beast, knocking down pine trees and crushing boulders under its hooves, running towards them.

Percy, Nico and Thalia ran into the tunnel and came out on the other side.

"No!" Thalia screamed. She'd turn as white as snow. They were at the edge of the bridge. Below, the mountain dropped away into a snow-filled gorge about seventy-feet below. The boar was right behind them.

"Come on!" Percy said. "It'll hold our weight...probably." Nico didn't think he sounded reassuring enough and Thalia seemed to think the same way too.

"I can't!" Thalia yelled. Her eyes were wild with fear. Then it suddenly hit Nico. She was afraid— afraid of heights and she probably would have stood stiff if it weren't for Percy hauling her on the way.

Nico was disappointed. This was a daughter of Zeus, the king of Olympus, and she was letting her fear paralyse her from saving her- and by extension, Percy and Nico's lives. The boar smashed into the covered tunnel, tearing through at full speed. They had no time for this.

"Come on, Thalia!" Nico snapped, "Is a little height too scary for you? Or are you such a coward that you can't even a handle such a simple stunt as this. And I thought children of Zeus' were braver and stronger than that. Do you want to live or what?"

That seemed to break Thalia from whatever feared-driven stupor she had put herself into. She looked at him in shock and even Percy stared at him as if he'd never seen Nico until today.

Then as she absorbed his words, Thalia glared furiously at him. When she lunged at the younger demigod, Nico wondered for a minute if he infuriated her enough to actually kill them both as he was tackled sideways off the edge of the bridge, into the side of the mountain. He realized a second later that she had dragged Percy along with her and that they were all sliding on Aegis like a snowboard, over rocks and mud and snow, racing downhill.

The boar was less fortunate; it couldn't turn that fast, so all ten tons of the monster charged out into the tiny trestle, which buckled under its weight. The boar free-fell into the gorge with a mighty squeal and landed in a snowdrift with a huge POOOOOF!

Their shield-like sled skidded to a stop. Nico was breathing hard and he could feel a couple more cuts around his arm and face. The wild boar was right beside them, squealing and struggling. Nico could only see the bristly tip of its back. It was wedged completely in the snow like Styrofoam packing and it didn't look like the beast would be getting anywhere at the moment.

"WOAH! That was sooo cool!" Nico exclaimed enthusiastically as he jumped out of the shield. "Take that you big, wild, pig! Think you're so tough now!" Nico laughed, still feeling the rush of the chase in his veins. Man, if this is what it takes to be a demigod hero, he'd take it.

But when Nico turned towards his companions, he was immediately hit with Thalia's death glare. He shrank back, scared that she might burn him into roast meat. He'd seen her powers back at camp and he was not enthusiastic for a repeat performance if it was directed at him.

Percy must not have noticed the tension between them as he said to Thalia, "You're afraid of heights." Nico was glad for it anyway as she directed her glare towards Percy instead.

"Don't be stupid."

"That explains why you freaked out on Apollo's bus. Why you didn't want to talk about it." Percy continued. Nico waited for the inevitable explosion.

Thalia took a deep breath. Then she brushed the pine needles out of her hair. "If both of you tell anyone, I swear-"

"No, no," Percy said. Nico shook his head as well to keep her secret. "That's cool. It's just...the daughter of Zeus, The Lord of the Sky, afraid of heights?"

"That's what I thought!" Nico said, grinning at Percy who looked as if he were trying not to laugh.

Before she could knock both of them to the snow, above them, Grover's voice called, "Hellooooo?" and Bianca calling out for his name. Nico sighed in relief when he heard her voice. She was safe.

"Down here!" Percy shouted.

A few minutes later, Zoe, Bianca and Grover joined them- Bianca fussing over him, making sure he was alright and Nico had to hide a grin as he complained that she was smothering him again. He looked towards Percy to see him giving Nico an I-told-you-so look before they all stood watching the wild boar struggle in the snow.

"A blessing of the Wild," Grover said, though he now looked agitated. Nico would feel annoyed too if his blessing suddenly tried to kill him.

"I agree," Zoe said, "We must use it."

"Hold up," Thalia said irritably. She still looked like she just lost a fight with a Christmas Tree. "Explain to me why you're so sure this pig is a blessing."

Grover looked over, distracted. "It's our ride west. Do you have any idea how fast this boar can travel?"

Nico gasped, "We're going to ride it?" He had to resist the urge of jumping up and down like an excited puppy.

"Fun," Percy said. "Like...pig cowboys."

Grover nodded, "We need to go abroad. I wish...I wish I had more time to look around. But it's gone now."

"What's gone?" Percy asked, but it didn't look like Grover heard him. Nico wondered if it was that warm breeze he felt that smelled like springtime before the wild pig crashed their party.

Grover walked over to the boar and jumped on its back. Already the boar was starting to make some headway through the drift. Once it broke free, there'd be no stopping it. Grover took out his pipes and he started playing a snappy tune. He tossed an apple in front of the boar and the apple floated and spun right above the boar's nose. Immediately the boar went nuts, straining to get it.

Nico watched all this with amazed eyes. Mythomagic didn't give much credit to the satyrs when it came to their power levels and nature skills. It was dead useful, Nico could see that now.

"Automatic steering," Thalia murmured. "Great."

"I know right?" Nico said in awe. "Satyr powers are cool." Thalia smirked at him and gave his hair a little ruffle.

"You're not bad, kid." Thalia said, then she unexpectedly grabbed his collar, pulling him towards her. "But call me a coward again, and I will electrocute you."

Nico swallowed but didn't back down, "Just as long as you don't act like it." He held her gaze for a few minutes before she released him. There was a slightly impressed look in her eye and Nico only breathed easier when she trudged past him and jumped on the boar behind Grover, leaving plenty of room for the rest of them.

Bianca was helping him climb up the boar when he heard Percy ask Zoe, "Wait a second, do you know what Grover is talking about— this wild blessing?"

"Of course," Zoe said. "Did you not feel it in the wind? It was so strong...I never thought I would sense that presence again."

The blessing of the Wild...could she mean that god?

"What presence?" Percy asked.

Zoe's words confirmed his thoughts. "The Lord of the Wild, of course. Just for a moment, in the arrival of the boar, I felt the presence of Pan."

Nico wondered why Percy didn't know that. Maybe he should teach the older demigod how to play Mythomagic. Nico was excited at the thought of spending more time with his hero. Then Percy could try teaching him some sword tricks as well.

Nico didn't answer Bianca's inquiry of him sporting a grin the whole ride west.