Act I Chapter XIV: Percy Spies on a Conversation

It took Percy a month to feel confident with a sword. He practiced every single day, as it was something he was good at. He would never be able to hit a target with a bow from a hundred feet or more like Will could. And Drew was great at manipulating the Mist to make mortals see things how she wanted them to. Chiron had called it an odd name, but Percy didn't catch what it was.

When he sparred with Annabeth, they were an even match. He had beaten Clarisse a few times and only managed to beat Luke once, but it felt like they were all going easy on him. There was more he had to work on, but he knew he was the best of the three that had just learned how to handle weapons. Hopefully, he would get better in time.

There were also lessons with Lupa. She made him work harder than he ever had before, using water to help him in combat. He learned how to use water to launch himself or even his opponent. And, he learned that he received strength from water. Lupa had also given him other lessons like how to hunt and navigate just by using the stars.

Now, he was walking back from a lesson with Lupa. The wolf goddess had led him most of the way before pulling away because she 'smelled something tasty'. Percy wasn't sure if she meant an animal or a family that was barbecuing. It would not be the first time they found Lupa casually sitting at a family's grill like a stray dog.

Percy stepped through a treeline and heard talking. He stopped walking and looked at the two people near him. Luke and Annabeth were on the outskirts of the camp. They both looked like they were in an intense conversation, and while Percy knew he should have walked away, he didn't move an inch.

"We need to start out on our own," Luke insisted as he ran a hand through his wet hair. It looked like he had just finished training or sparring. "We can do this. If we go to where Camp Half-Blood used to be, there has to be an answer. Something useful there. Maybe, we can find something that we can bring back."

"We need to talk to Chiron first," Annabeth argued. She shook her head. "He lived at Camp Half-Blood ever since it was built. If there was something there that could have helped us, don't you think he would have told us already?"

"Chiron wants us to be safe. Of course, he isn't going to tell us anything," Luke retorted. He sighed angrily. "We have to set out on our own."

"How far will we make it, Luke? Just the two of us with no help? No supplies? We barely survived with Thalia helping us!" Annabeth snapped. Luke's face darkened. Annabeth looked away. The two fell silent for a few moments.

"Annabeth, I have spent too long training these demigods and then sending them off on their own. I care enough to take a chance and just try to find something that can help us. I want to save this world. Even if the gods don't," Luke explained.

"Luke, we both know that the gods would help us if they could," Annabeth began. Luke laughed bitterly. "They can't!"

"But they can have children?" Luke demanded. Annabeth fell silent. "How can the gods have children but then turn around and not help them?"

"Even if we wanted to go, do you remember what I told you about the monsters that attacked us?" Annabeth asked. Luke didn't answer. "We haven't been attacked since! Don't you think that is a little weird?"

"We've been moving a lot," Luke began.

"That doesn't matter," Annabeth interrupted. "I think more monsters are amassing. They're coming, and the big guy downstairs is the one ordering them around. Why else would we have been attacked by his dogs? He controls those hounds!"

"I told you those hounds looked insane," Luke said softly.

"You only say that because you're scared of what it means if he is after us," Annabeth snapped.

"Of course I am!" Luke retorted. "If he is after us, we are dead. We are screwed in this life and the next. That is another reason we need to rescue the gods!"

"Chiron can help us," Annabeth insisted.

"If he was going to help us, he would have already!" Luke snapped as he raised his voice. Annabeth flinched. "Chiron doesn't care! Lupa doesn't care! They only train us and send us on our way to appease their own conscience. They don't care what happens to us beyond that."

"I want to take action. To save this world. All you want to do is stay behind and play teacher's pet. You're just a coward," Luke hissed. Annabeth tensed and glared at him. Luke shook his head and stormed away. Annabeth turned her head away, and her shoulders started to shake a moment later.

Percy found himself frozen in place. That was not the exchange that he wanted to watch. A cry escaped Annabeth. Percy made eye contact with her and felt terrible. Annabeth noticed him instantly and tensed.

"I wasn't trying to listen in," Percy began. Annabeth only shook her head and wiped her eyes. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Percy. We should get back to the others," Annabeth said, but her voice shook.

"You don't look fine," Percy stated. Annabeth glared at him, and Percy normally would have flinched under her steely gaze. Today, he was just concerned for her. Annabeth narrowed her eyes more and turned away. "I think both of you are right."

Annabeth stopped mid-step. Percy took that as his cue to continue, "I think you're right. Something is coming. Luke is right too. Not that Lupa and Chiron don't care, but that we have to do something. We can't just stand around. I don't want to stand around if I can help."

"Percy," Annabeth began. She let out a shaky breath and turned back towards him. "You can't understand how dangerous it is out there. You just started training and are nowhere near proficient enough to survive on some kind of crazy quest."

"Quest? Is that what this would be?" Percy asked. Annabeth watched him for a few moments. Then, she nodded.

"Chiron told me about them before. Camp Half-Blood used to send their campers on them if the gods were to give them a task. And trust me, Percy, I want to help too. I want to help restore the gods because I know they could help us, but we have so many obstacles working against us," Annabeth explained.

"If Luke and I leave, that would leave just Reyna and Clarisse to protect three new demigods. The two of us have a responsibility to train the new demigods and give them the best chance they can to survive. We can't just run off on some quest that we have made ourselves," Annabeth continued.

"I want to come with," Percy stated. "I know that I need to do this. I have to help."

Percy wasn't sure if he should elaborate or not. Especially since Annabeth was staring at him with her steely gaze. It was like she was trying to dissect him. Read his thoughts. Percy forged on, "I've been thinking about the fact that the demigods used to have a safe place to go. If we could just make another camp and guarantee that demigods there would be safe, it doesn't matter if something is coming for us. We can be ready for it."

"We could bring back the gods," Percy whispered softly. Annabeth looked at him and remained silent. She finally nodded once, almost begrudgingly. "I know that I'm not experienced compared to you two, but I think I can hold my own. I did against those hell- sorry, dogs."

"I have to think about this, Percy. This isn't something that we should just rush into," Annabeth stated.

"I agree," Percy said. "We should talk to Chiron no matter what. He can advise us on what path we should take."

"You're right," Annabeth agreed. She sighed and looked around. "We should make it back to camp before the others worry."

Percy nodded and started to walk. Annabeth fell in step behind him. The two walked in silence, and Percy felt the hair on the back of his neck raise. He turned his head and looked around. The forest was rather quiet today. He didn't really hear any animals or bugs.

Percy stopped as he saw something watching them from the shadows. Annabeth stopped walking a moment later, "You coming?"

"Yeah," Percy said. He blinked and found nothing was in the shadows now. Had it just been his imagination? Percy shook his head and continued after Annabeth again. As they walked, he felt his gut twist in anticipation. If they did go through with this quest, should he tell them about his dream or at least parts of it? Should he keep his mouth shut?

The two walked into the clearing. Annabeth looked at Luke and then instantly averted her gaze. Luke studied them for a moment before turning his head away as well. Percy studied the two of them before making his way over to the campfire. As he walked, he felt a set of eyes on him.

Percy turned his head and made eye contact with Lupa. The wolf goddess was back and had a snout covered in barbecue sauce. Well, Percy hoped it was barbecue sauce. There was a knowing look on Lupa's face, and as they focused on each other, Lupa nodded once to him.

And Percy wasn't sure exactly what that was supposed to mean, but he felt like no matter what he did, Lupa would support him.