*bows* I have returned, in the midst of finals week, to give a gift. I uh... apologize.

I did tell the discord there would be death this time.

TW:
-drowning
-major injury (non-graphic)

Come yell at me on my tumblr: Percabeth4Life
Come chat with me on discord: h-t-t-p-s : / discord . gg / 3tGNJhu

OO OO OO OO

ANNABETH POV

Going on a quest was my life's dream ever since Luke went on one.

Oh, Luke came back worse. He wasn't happy, he was injured, he wasn't the same… but his dad was proud.

I wanted that.

I knew my mom looked after me. She guided me to Thalia and Luke, she ensured I had food and water. She whispered guidance when I needed it the most. She gave me my cap of invisibility… but I wanted her to be proud of me.

Quests could do that, they could show the Gods that you weren't just their kids, you were someone to be proud of. Your actions to honor them, your success and failure in their name. Whether you succeeded or failed, you trying, you giving your everything, it could get you praise. It could even give you a time with your parents, a time the Ancient Laws couldn't interrupt.

My mom visited me in a dream after my first quest. It was short, but she told me I did well. She told me she was proud, proud that I survived, proud that I stopped a war, proud that I fought well, proud that I used my mind well.

I was too young for my Fate she said, but I did well.

I wondered if my Fate was determined here. I wonder if she made sure to tell me she was proud after my first quest because of this.

Because I didn't think I would be making it out of this quest alive.

I crashed into a pile of ropes, the ship roiling beneath my feet. Percy had been snatched up with Skylla and so had his control of the water. The ship was fighting against Kharybdis' currents, but without Percy we were doomed.

I hadn't managed to grab him.

He was going to die, and it was going to my fault for failing to take his hand in time.

Tears burned my eyes as I tried to push up, the ship crashing against the waves. I hated storms, I hated boats, I hated it all.

A storm was building above us, the sky darkening. Poseidon's wrath falling upon us at last.

It was Thalia's death all over again.

"Annabeth!"

I struggled to my feet once more, clinging to the ship's mast.

"Annabeth," Another voice hissed from my arm. "You must to get up."

I nearly crashed into the mast as the boat surged up, crashing against the waves.

"Annabeth! We need to go!"

A hand grabbed my arm, yanking me along.

I looked around, Percy gone, Martha on my arm, Clarrise dragging me along-

We staggered into a cannon as the boat dropped beneath us.

"Where's Tyson!?"

Clarisse scoffed, "Down below! We don't have time to get him-"

My heart stopped, "No! We can't leave him!"

She shoved me against the life boats, working on the release.

"You don't even like him."

Martha hissed, "You need to get on the boat-"

"He's Percy's brother," I said fiercely. "Percy is- he's-"

I couldn't leave his brother behind. No matter what I felt about him- Percy would never have forgiven me if I left his brother to die.

"We have to go, or we'll die!"

"Go without me," I said, stepping away from the life boats.

The ship shuddered, and I almost went over the side.

Sea spray soaked my skin, the sky darkened further. I clutched the side and worked my way towards the hatch.

"Annabeth!" Clarisse sounded angry. "You can't- it's useless."

Maybe so… but I'd failed to grab Percy, and he wouldn't have left Tyson behind.

I muttered a prayer to my mom to let me get out of this safely and pushed away from the side of the boat.

The planks beneath me seemed to leap up, down, all around. The ship spun and bucked and twisted. The cannons shifted, the masts cracked, the ropes lashed out.

A loud cracking noise caught my attention just a moment too late.

"ANNABETH!"

My breath left me, tears sprang to my eyes, pain erupted in my chest. I hit the ocean with a crash, the mast that hit me hitting the water near me.

I gasped for breath, pain burning in my chest, and swallowed water.

I thrashed, grabbing for something, anything, to get above water again as the currents pulled me down.

The cold ached, my chest burned, my lungs rebelled.

I was going to drown.

I held my breath as long as I could, moving my arms, kicking my feet, struggling to swim through the water. Every movement sent spikes of pain through me. My limbs grew heavy, my chest burned with more than broken ribs.

Something wrapped around my wrist and yanked me up up up out of the water.

Shining scales glinted in the dim light as my vision went black.

OO OO OO OO

Percy POV

I woke to rain.

It pattered on my skin gently, the ocean beneath the small boat cradling its form. My skin ached though, a throb in my head and my skin too tight, too firm, not coiling and swooping like the sea beneath me.

"Morning," croaked a familiar voice.

I lifted my head (skin too firm, too tight over my body) and blinked at Annabeth. My eyes (the light was so bright, the colors intense) widened.

"Are you okay!?"

Her chest was wrapped in white bandages and she held herself stiffly. Her arms were unbandaged and covered in small scrapes, bruises blooming over her skin.

Martha was draped around her neck, closer to the size of a scarf than the bracelet she had been before. Her tongue flicked out at me.

"I'm okay," Annabeth said, wincing as she shifted. "My ribs were broken but… Martha managed to help a bit."

"I cannot heal you completely," Martha agreed. "But I can sssspeed thingsss up. Ambrosssia would help assss well, if we had it."

I relaxed a bit at that, letting my head drop down once more (ground solid but ocean soft).

"So, you're mostly better?" I asked.

"It still hurts," Annabeth murmured. "But… they're no longer broken."

"They ssssshal hurt for ssssome time," Martha confirmed. "The bonessss are mossstly healed but weakened. Ssstill holding thin cracksss. And the bruisssesss remain."

"How did you get hurt?" I asked. "Did something happen?"

Annabeth looked away, her lips twisting as she stared at the ocean around us.

"I-"

"How do you feel?" Martha asked before she could answer.

Annabeth jumped on that topic, "Yeah, are you- are you okay? I thought- well when Skylla-" her voice hitched "-I didn't think-"

"I'm okay," I reassured them. "My head hurts and… my skin feels off but-"

Martha hissed and nodded but Annabeth frowned.

"What do you mean your skin feels weird?"

"You exerted quite a bit of power," Martha said solemnly. "It issss not uncommon for demigod children to feel wrong afterwardssss."

"Oh," Annabeth murmured. "Is there anything we can do to help?"

Martha's head rose up, studying us.

"Unlikely. He will need to recover on hisss own."

I grumbled but nodded.

"So what about you?"

Annabeth went back to studying the water.

"Percy I-" She drew in a shaky breath. "I'm sorry."

I blinked, "For what?"

"It- Tyson-"

Tyson! Where was he? Were there other boats (I knew there wasn't).

I pushed up to check, maybe he was farther away and hadn't seen me wake (too bright, too deep, skin too firm and soft and weak). There was nothing but water for miles around.

"Where's Tyson?"

I twisted back to Annabeth, faltering at the sight of tears trickling down her cheeks as she shook slightly.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice caught. "I tried to go back for him but-"

"The massst hit her," Martha hissed softly. "Sssshe wassss knocked into the occcean."

"I'm sorry," Annabeth whispered, voice cracking. "I'm so sorry, Percy."

I swallowed, "It- he could have escaped-"

"The boat wassss devoured," Martha hissed. "I watched it."

"No- he-"

"He was in the steam room," Annabeth blurted. "He was fixing the boat, trying to give it more power- and he- I went to get him- but the ship was shaking and the mast broke and, and-" she swallowed, taking a shaky breath and lowering her head "-I tried to get him. I tried to get him I did. But I- I couldn't- and- and-"

"I- He can't-"

He couldn't be gone.

"I'm sorry."

My eyes burned.

He was just a kid Kyklopes- he was only on the quest to keep him safe.

I should've left him at camp.

He shouldn't have- he shouldn't have been here-

I scrubbed my eyes, ignoring the wetness.

He should've been building something cool. Should've been with Triton in Atlantis. He should've- should've- should've been anywhere else. Should've been safe.

Instead…

The rain grew stronger, water drenching us.

I covered my face with a choked sob.

Instead he was eaten by Kharybdis.

OO OO OO OO

Several hours passed and the rain stopped, leaving the air pleasantly cool. It was well past third tide and the sun was beginning to set.

When we finally spoke, it was about our supplies, and where they were. Martha assured us they weren't eaten because she would know, but they'd been caught by a current, so I had to track them.

I was no good at tracking currents though, so I asked some fish if they saw some bright yellow bags.

None had returned with news yet.

My mind drifted to Tyson once more, my thoughts on Annabeth and him.

She was afraid of him, she didn't like him, but she still got injured because she went back for him.

I knew part of the story but…

"Annabeth?" I asked.

"Yeah?"

Martha shifted from her place on my lap. Her head nudging my hand.

I opened my mouth, then faltered. I took a deep breath, rubbing Martha's head.

"What happened with Thalia? Like… the full story."

"Oh…"

I looked over, seeing Annabeth hunch in on herself, before hissing and straightening, rubbing her ribs.

"It…" she closed her eyes. "You have a right to know I guess."

I tilted my head, watching her with a frown.

"If it's too hard-"

"No. I-" she took a deep breath. "It's just… not a happy memory but… It's an important one."

I nodded, waiting patiently for her to gather her thoughts.

She rubbed her fingers, reaching up to touch her necklace, then nodded.

"I- I said we got caught by a Kyklopes?"

I nodded.

"He… well you saw Tyson, the Kyklopes can copy the voices of others they hear. He lead us in circles, crying out as each of us. Calling for help, mimicking the voices of other monsters. You would've thought it was filled with monsters with how much he did…"

I shivered, that sounded terrifying.

"Thalia was caught when he pretended to be me I think, maybe that was him pretending to be her but-"

She let out a shuddering breath.

"I was the last one. He caught the other three, maybe leaving me for last because I was the youngest. It-"

She rubbed her fingers, nails digging in.

"I found him in the kitchen, each of them strung up to cook. He didn't turn around but- he said in Luke's voice…"

Her gaze was far away, her fingers red. Her eyes were strangely glassy.

"He said?" I asked softly.

"He said 'It's okay Annie, the fire is warm. Just lay down and fall asleep. We'll be together when you wake.'"

I swallowed.

"Oh…" the meaning of that… "What did… what did you do?"

"I moved forward, stopped right in front of him… and stabbed him in the foot."

I snorted, "What?"

Her lips twitched but didn't quite reach a smile.

"I stabbed him, then I cut Thalia, Luke, and Grover free and they managed to injure it and we fled."

"Only injure?"

"Kyklopes… well they're stronger than many monsters. There's a reason they work in the forges. And well… they're more dangerous than most monsters because you never know which is Poseidon's kid."

I nodded, remembering what she said before.

"He was my Metuano kid?"

She nodded.

"He… as we fled we heard him call a prayer to Poseidon. He asked for him to kill us for what we did to him or should that not be our Fate… to at least punish us."

"And… my Metua did?"

"We were fine at first, but then… do you remember that storm? In 2007? It was early morning, before sunrise even."

"I think I remember that. There was a lot of flooding, right? And I think my mom had to stay home that day cause the subway system was knocked out."

Annabeth nodded.

"It hit right when we reached the city. We- it- well… we were almost to the camp. If the storm hadn't hit- it knocked out all the public transport. The flooding made it unsafe- no taxis really wanted to drive in the rain- the wind was horrible…"

I started to understand.

"The storm came from the sea… Poseidon is the God of sea storms…"

Horror dawned.

"The storm slowed us enough for the other monsters chasing us to catch up. It- Thalia had trouble calling on her lightning during the storm and-"

Her eyes were glittering with unshed tears.

"The storm dissipated after about 2 hours… ending right after Thalia fell."

I swallowed hard.

"I- I'm sorry."

She rubbed her arms, "It's not your fault. I just-"

Martha rose up and our gaze turned to her.

"It issss the unfortunate truth," she hissed. "That for all the Godsss aid their Demigod children… they alssso aid their other children. While ssssome have a line that they will not cross in their aid… othersss will aid in all thingssss."

Annabeth closed her eyes, "I know."

"I am ssssorry for your losssss."

"Annabeth-" I didn't know what to say.

What could I say? I'm sorry my dad helped his kid who tried to eat you? I wouldn't do that? Tyson wouldn't do that? I don't want that to happen?

"So yeah," she muttered. "That's why… A Kyklopes killed my sister with his prayer. I- I just…"

"I understand," I said softly. "That's horrible."

She blinked back tears, sniffing.

"Can I hug you?" I asked softly.

She nodded, I wrapped her in a hug. She pressed her head against me, her breath shuddering. I rubbed her back gently.

"My Prince!" a fish called. "My Prince! We have found the yellow bags!"

I pulled away, focusing on the fish.

"Where are they?"

"On an island ahead! It is not far! I will guide you!"

"What is?" Annabeth whispered.

"They found the bags."

"That isss good," Martha said. "Let'sss get them."

Annabeth nodded, "Sooner we have proper supplies the better."

"Then let's go."

OO OO OO OO

The island they went to seemed familiar to me, but I couldn't pin point why.

They walked onto the beach and looked around. Their bags weren't on the beach like the fish said, but it insisted that the bags should be there.

I frowned, my skin still wrong. My body stiff, too tight, too firm, too soft. It made it hard to focus on anything else.

Annabeth was moving carefully, her ribs clearly still aching.

"It seems abandoned…"

They moved further in, searching for their bags.

Martha hissed, "I do not like thissss."

"Percy," Annabeth whispered. "Do you sense anything?"

I shook my head, "I don't… my skin feels wrong still and it's hard to focus."

I rubbed my arms, it seemed like I got stiffer the further I was from the sea. I wondered if the water helped with the issues I was having.

The island was beautiful. Wildflowers grew all over. There were small peaks (mountains?) climbing high above us. Trees filled with fruits dotted the island.

I thought it seemed a bit like paradise.

It was only when Annabeth gasped, stepping back- It was only when Martha hissed in panic- It was only when I saw the figure in front of them that I understood.

Before them stood a figure of carved marble. A figure with long hair splayed out like they were moving. Arms raised to defend themselves. Sword on the ground next to them.

It was only when familiar hissing and stiffness locked my joints that it clicked.

"Hide!" Martha hissed.

The figure stepped out, hair raising and hissing just after they hid behind a clump of bushes.

And before them stood a figure with hands made of bronze.

Before them stood a woman with wings of gold arcing on her back.

Before them stood a woman with hair of hissing snakes.

Before them stood Medusa.

OO OO OO OO

Thanks for reading! Don't forget to leave a review, they feed my soul.

What did you think of Annabeth's POV? How about their discussion? Thoughts on the ending?

Halmaheran
Metuano=Father's
Metua=Father

Terminology
The storm mentioned by Annabeth did actually occur in 2007. It forced public transportation to a stop, and the subway was flooded. It is due to that storm that they've since improved the state of the public transportation, and it is why it survived the Hurricane that went through.

Come yell at me on my tumblr: Percabeth4Life
Come chat with me on discord: h-t-t-p-s : / discord . gg / 3tGNJhu