Francis staggered and stumbled along the beach, clambering over rocks and splashing through the waves.
He needed to find someone or something to help Crystal. He had tried moving rocks and nearly got crushed himself. That wouldn't be helpful.
Throwing frantic glances in all directions, he desperately tried to form a plan. Something had to be better than nothing or- what was that?
He shielded his eyes with his hands against the sun, squinting at the horizon.
Sailing along the horizon was something, a hazy shape. It was hard to determine its exact direction from where he stood, but that was a boat! A ship!
People were on that ship!
Good or bad, he didn't care at that moment, seeing only a means of salvation. He needed to catch their attention.
He tried waving his arms and shouting at the top of his lungs first, quickly realising that it was pointless.
There was wood there, rocks there… he could start a fire. It couldn't be that hard, right?
Tobias had been sent up to the crow's nest for being an idiot, but he had been allowed to keep his hat.
It wasn't his fault he was ADHD and really excited about one of the most famous ships of history! He blamed his parents. Particularly his father, but it was their fault all the same.
Max had been nice and had decided to sit with Tobias. Alvie had point blank refused going anywhere near the riggings. Heights were a strict no-no.
"I'm bored."
"You just want to go back down and annoy Dad, don't you?"
"Yeah, but don't tell him that." Max peered over the edge.
"He's still driving."
"So?"
"He'll lock your arm in the wheel and snap it off."
"Really? I thought he loved me." Max rolled his eyes at that, deciding it was better not to respond. "Hey, is that smoke?" Max turned and stared around the mast separating him and his brother. Smoke was definitely curling into the sky from an island that was simply a blurry, incoherent form miles out.
"I'll go and tell Dad." Max said before Tobias even had the chance. He got up and vaulted the side, grabbing hold of one of the sail's ropes and swinging down.
"Show off." Tobias grumbled to himself. He would try that as well, but, knowing his luck, the rope would break and he'd splatter on the deck. His mother would complain about the mess, not doubt.
Alvie burst onto the deck then, looking pale and wide-eyed. Max had just started speaking to their father when Alvie pushed Percy aside and spun the wheel heavily. The ship jolted in the direction of the smoke and Alvie was suddenly the captain.
That wasn't right.
Tobias had the hat.
The captain's hat.
He should be in charge.
Percy said something to Alvie, who shot him a panicked look of insistence. Percy frowned quizzically, turning to Max, who pointed out into the distance. Percy saw the smoke then, resting his hand on Alvie's shoulder in reassurance.
Tobias felt like returning to them. He hated being up here on his own.
Alvie had relaxed by the time Tobias had reached them and Percy was steering again.
"What's going on?"
"I'm not sure, but Alvie said go that way," Percy pointed, "So we're going that way."
"He said that?"
"Well… it was more like he…" Percy took both hands from the wheel and waved them about his head, pointing and exaggerating that the smoke was there. "But yeah." He grinned.
"Can I drive?"
"No."
"But I have the hat!" Percy contemplated him for a moment. Tobias sensed somebody move behind him and his hat was gone. Annabeth twisted around the wheel and stood next to her husband, the hat sat crookedly on her head.
"I have the hat. You weren't supposed to leave the crow's nest."
"I'm not being an idiot though." She raised her eyebrows at that. "Yet." Tobias added and she nodded. "But it's boring up there!"
"You saw the smoke."
"And Max got to jump down."
"Jump?" Annabeth frowned at Max.
"And swing." He smiled, but that probably didn't help.
He was saved by Alvie drawing their parents' attention. He was leaning against the edge, staring out at the smoke. He had his palms firmly on the barriers and was on the verge of teetering over if he wasn't careful.
"Alvie!" Annabeth hurried towards him and pulled him back. He struggled against her, but it was no use. She was stubborn and he didn't want to hurt her.
"Alvie!" Alokia ran over, hooking her arm through her cousin's. He stared at her blankly. "Come on," She smiled, "I think Dad hid some chocolate cake below deck. You could use some." He trailed after her, but it was clear he had no choice.
"Good that she's got him under control, but not good 'cos it's my cake." Leo ran after them and they heard him growling playfully. Alokia squealed and then burst into laughter. Leo was probably tickling her- she was very ticklish, much to her baby brother's advantage.
Francis felt like crying, he was so relieved and happy that the ship had turned in his direction.
Now he just had to put the fire out before it got out of control.
Oh, things were complicated!
The ship reached shore surprisingly fast and Francis was doubly shocked to see Alvie's father casually jump over the edge and fall a good twenty, thirty metres straight into the water.
But he was fine.
Son of Poseidon, his brain scolded.
Poseidon, sea god, sea was good for Percy.
"Francis? What are you doing here?" Percy splashed forward, bone dry when he reached land.
"I… I… Crystal, she's…" The whole story poured out. While he told Percy everything that had happened, six others had landed in the water- Annabeth, two people Francis didn't recognise, two others that could only be brothers of Alvie and Crystal's parents.
Francis's voice wavered. "And zen ze rocks fell and… she's…"
"Where's Crystal?" Joy demanded instantly. Francis turned and pointed back the way he had walked, explaining her situation again.
"Joy, go back on the ship. We'll find her."
"Rock slide, Nico!" Joy despaired. "Rock slide!"
"I know, but she's alive, don't worry."
"How-?" Joy started. Nico gave her a pointed look and she sulkily resided into silence. "Fine. But you bring her back, di Angelo."
"Yes ma'am." Joy stalked back towards the ship, Louisa lifting her aboard on a watery tower.
Percy snickered.
"Ah, the great Nico di Angelo has met his match."
"Shut it, Jackson." Nico growled.
"Francis, you too." Louisa ordered, lowering the water tower.
"Is… that safe?"
"I just lifted a heavily pregnant woman on board. Duh." Francis glanced nervously at Percy, who smiled encouragement. "I ain't got all day, move ya ass."
Shooting up on the water tower was pretty cool. "Is Leo still up there?" Louisa called. Francis looked round. Who was Leo?
"Yes, I am!" He turned and saw a Hispanic, elfish man grinning at him. "Hi, I'm Leo."
"Francis." Francis held his hand out.
"You're safe now, don't worry." Leo shook his hand. "Alvie and Alokia are below deck. You should be OK with them as long as Alvie doesn't go loopy."
"Valdez, get ya ass down here now!"
"Alright! Bossy…"
"Alokia?"
"My daughter." And Leo jumped onto the water tower, letting his wife lower him to the ground.
Francis glanced about the ship again. He did feel a bit safer, knowing that it belonged to his friends and not some crazy pirate or the likes.
He quickly made his way across the deck and below. Alvie and Alokia weren't found outright, but he did manage to find them near the back thanks to that white cloak Alvie wore. They were picking their way through chocolate cake.
Alvie looked up as Francis approached and he smiled.
"Oh, so you can smile." Alokia teased. Alvie stared at her, but she had already turned to Francis, getting to her feet. "Hi. I'm Alokia."
"That is a very nice name." Her cheeks tinged pink and she bit her lip.
"Thanks." She said quietly. Something about her reminded him of Alvie. Quiet and slight, her eyes warm and kind, her smile equally so.
Francis wasn't sure what compelled him to do it, but he gently took her hand in his own and raised it to his lips.
"Nice to meet you." Alokia burned scarlet, her eyes wide. Francis smiled. "I like your couzin, Alvie. She's… magnifique." Alvie stared at him, his brow furrowed with an amused curve to the corners of his lips.
Francis was weird.
And brave.
Leo was just like Percy when it came to letting his daughters date.