Chapter 11:
The Nature of Nature
The forest hated him. Percy could feel it.
The subtle feeling that he wasn't welcome started to grow into a screaming voice.
He had grown used to the world actively trying to kill him in the last two weeks.
He quickly learned that the rules had changed, evil had changed. It was no longer the monsters he had to fear but also the strange wonderland he found himself in that was becoming hostile to his presence.
When he tried to refill his water at a creek he could sense a faint poison in the water. The sky above him was no longer safe. Strange clouds moved across the land, releasing bitting acid and fire instead of rain.
Wild animals would attack him if he got in their view. His laughs quickly faded when a colony of rabbits tried to eat him alive.
It had taken a lot of Ambrosia to heal his wounds.
And now, he could sense the tree spirits watching him as he traveled. They didn't make their presence known but Percy could sense them, just like they could sense him.
Percy didn't stop for them and kept moving forward, towards his goal. Whatever his destination may be.
He thought that getting further away from New York would make things better, or atleast safer. That was a mistake. Things just got stranger.
Percy considered going to another city to seek out other survivors but decided against it when he found a nearby settlement to be turned into a green nightmare jungle..
After studying Leo's diary and other scarce sources of information he realized that urban areas were the biggest targets for Olympus.
He knew there were other survivors out there, even functioning settlements but he knew reaching out to them would draw the attention of the gods. That was something he couldn't just afford to risk, no matter how much he wanted.
He needed to figure out what caused this, that was his goal. He could not afford to lose sight of that goal.
"Demigod," a voice hissed.
A female face appeared on the bark of a tall oak tree. It was just the faces, no body visible.
She was glaring at him.
More faces emerged from the surrounding trees.
Another voice whispered. "Run Demigod."
The faces pulled themselves free from their trees, one by one.
Percy soon found himself surrounded on all sides.
They all looked beautiful without a doubt. If times were different they would've spent a day like this on nonsensical gossip, braiding each other's hair or enjoying the serenity of nature.
Now, they looked like pale imitations. A masquerade of devils, disguised as angels.
Percy was still invisible but their eyes with all their anger, hunger and rage was directed at his exact location.
He saw them bare their red stained hands, their frenzied eyes and murderous intentions.
But they were nothing but masks to hide what they really felt; and Percy knew it.
Fear, agony and shame. Fear of him and the gods.
Agony for their own situation.
Shame for what they've become.
Percy knew that him being here put all the dryads at risk. Olympus wanted all demigods and mortals dead. If they found him they would burn down the entire forest without hesitation.
Percy was confident he could overpower the dryads.
They knew it too.
There must have been a lot of them, hundreds maybe. Yet they looked fickle, not like warriors but scared beings that were prepared to do whatever it took to survive.
Percy eyed the dryads. Inside their green eyes he could see they pitied him.
Nobody would win if they were to fight. They were not the enemy, just other victims.
He let out a sigh, strapped his backpack, and started to run for his life.
A/N I just love writing this fluffy fic. Pertemis anyone?
Reviews:
Mime Avantasia Andromeda: Yes
Chill Panda: Aww, thanks you make me blush…
Okay, that's it for this short chapter.
Review, favorite and follow. You know the drill.
-CaptainMoonShine-