Nothing is mine.

On we go!

In the Jungle...

The morning sun soaked into Percy's skin, filtering through the soft rustle and sway of the green willow fronds. Gentle birdsong rose from the surrounding fields over the soft burble of the river.

This is nice. Peaceful. A small smile spread across Percy's face. You'd have liked this, Zoë. He wriggled into the soft grass and set his feet up on a willow root. No choosing. No regrets. Just the trees and the river.

A shadow fell across his face.

Percy cracked one eye open.

Hilaron crouched over him, bright pink flooding her cheeks as she stared down at him with a soft gleam in her blue eyes.

'Hi,' Percy said.

'Hi,' she whispered, squirming on the spot. 'Glykera said she saw something. A beast.'

He rolled aside and jumped to his feet. 'Near here?'

Hilaron shook her head, her turquoise curls bouncing. 'No, further up. Where my sister bubbles up from the grass on the slope of the hill.'

Percy pulled Anaklusmos from his pocket. 'What sort of beast? If it's a large coyote or a stray dog, then I don't really want to stab it. Seems a bit harsh.'

Hilaron giggled behind her hand. 'No, she said it was huge. It drank from the spring and wandered away on the other side of the river, but little Glykera's scared so she stayed here with me and didn't go back up.'

'I'll go check it out.' Percy scooped a twig out of the grass and threw it over his shoulder.

Blackjack snorted and jumped up. 'Boss! I was having a very good dream about brown filly—'

'I really don't want to know about your R-rated dreams,' Percy replied. 'Come on, we're going upstream, get those wings out before you get any tubbier.'

Blackjack trotted out from under the willow, shaking out his mane. 'You're lucky I like you, boss.' He stretched his wings, shedding a single dark feather into the grass. 'Which way?'

Percy swung himself over Blackjack's back and patted him on the neck. 'Follow Glykera's stream up south. She saw something up at her spring.'

Hilaron gave a small wave. 'Good luck, Percy!' A little colour rose in her cheeks. 'Be careful!'

'I'll be back soon,' he said as Blackjack broke into a run, leaping into the sky. 'I can't die.'

Not so long as I choose well. Not unless choosing well is dying.

The slim stream wound down the hillside through the tall grass from the shade of two small trees. Blackjack swooped past them, skidding to a halt as Percy leapt off and extended Anaklusmos into a blade.

'Anything boss?'

Percy ran his eyes across the long grass. 'Nothing.' He strode forward to the edge of the spring and bent the greenery aside with the flat of his blade.

A huge footprint sat beside the little spring.

'That's a cat footprint.' Blackjack whinnied with laughter. 'You've found a pet, boss.'

Percy laughed. 'Blackjack this cat is big enough to eat you and then me right after.' He placed his hand in the heel mark, stretching his fingers to meet the edges. 'And unless my luck has changed a lot in the last few days, then I know exactly which cat this is.'

Gabe told me about this one. Percy chuckled under his breath. He told me about all his sons' legends, didn't he? What a proud dad.

'Come on, Blackjack.' He scooped a handful of sweet cool water from the spring and gulped it down. 'Thank you, Glykera.'

A small turquoise-haired head poked out of the water and gave him a shy smile and a wave.

Percy smiled back and clambered atop Blackjack. 'Circle overhead and let's see if we can't spot a really big lion.'

Blackjack tossed his head and broke into run, cantering down the slope and lurching into the sky, powering aloft with his dark wings.

Percy squinted into the grass. 'I can't see anything.'

They circled over the spring, drifting south toward the trees in the valley base.

A flicker of movement caught Percy's eye and he twisted around.

The black-fur tipped tail of a bull-sized lion lashed back and forth, slapping against its hind end.

'That's a very big cat, Blackjack.'

'Laugh it up, boss,' Blackjack grumbled. 'I'm not the one who has to fight that thing. It's going to use you to sharpen its claws.'

'True.' Percy stared down, a little apprehension churning in the pit of his stomach. 'It's probably the only mortal thing that's more scratch resistant than I am.' He ruffled Blackjack's mane. 'Just swoop down and let me jump off.'

Blackjack snorted and angled his wings, drifting over the grass.

If it's me. It's me. Percy swung a leg over and raised Anaklusmos to his lips. Be brave, right, Zoë?

He jumped, rolling through the grass and bouncing back to his feet, reaching for the sea; it drew back into smooth tall blue wave within him.

A pair of huge golden eyes stared back and a low growl reverberated through the huge tan body of the lion. The wind rustled through the grass, fluttering through the black mane.

'I always wanted a pet cat as a kid, but mom said I could barely take care of myself so I wasn't allowed.' Percy spun Anaklusmos in his hand and shifted his weight onto the balls of his feet. 'Here boy. Psspsspss—'

The Nemean Lion snarled and sprang forward, six inch claws spread.

Percy ducked, turning like the tide and slashing Anaklusmos along its belly.

The bronze blade bounced off.

'Right. I don't know why I even tried that, actually, and now I feel like an idiot.' He straightened up as the lion twisted around, scattering grass and chunks of dirt across the slope. 'Heracles hugged you to death, but I am not ridiculously strong, so…' Percy glanced at the tip of Anaklusmos and the pink skin behind the huge fangs. 'In theory, this isn't actually that dangerous, since, you know, titans couldn't cut through me and you're just a lion, but please don't feel any strong need to prove me wrong.'

It bounded forward, clawing at him with one huge forepaw. Percy bent aside, breathing in the smooth swirl of foaming waves through rocks and stepping back, flowing around the swipes as the lion lunged forward again and again.

A snarl tore from its muzzle and it leapt.

Percy seized hold of the sea, sweeping it back into a towering wall of blue, and stomped his foot, hurling the breaking wave into the forward.

The ground shook and the Nemean lion stumbled, crashing to the ground and rolling forward. Percy darted toward it, but it twisted and sprang, hammering into him and tearing at his aide, shredding the orange t-shirt and his jeans with its long dark claws.

Between his shoulder blades a fierce tingle swept across his spine.

The lion bared its fangs.

Percy drove Anaklusmos between them and up into his brain.

The Nemean Lion froze, its snarl dying to a yowl; golden dust showered out from beneath its hide as it slumped into the grass.

Percy switched Anaklusmos back into a pen and picked the pelt up. 'This is so not fashionable anymore, I was hoping for a claw or a fang that I could wear as a necklace or an earring.' He hefted the golden hide. 'Although, mom did say no piercings until I was older and I already bent the drinking rule a bit.'

Blackjack trotted over through the grass. 'You might not have much choice, Boss. You're missing a lot of clothes.'

He glanced down at the gaping holes, slipping Anaklusmos back into his pocket. 'So unfair. I knew I should've asked for the t-shirt that grew back when I was on Olympus.' Percy hooked a finger under the elastic of his fish boxers. 'At least it missed the underwear. That's lucky. There's only so much breeze I want to feel while flying around.'

'I don't think that nymph is going to agree it's lucky.'

A soft pang tugged at Percy's heart like a small wave dragging grains of sand back down the beach. 'Look at all this grass you could put in your mouth instead of talking, Blackjack, aren't you tempted? Green stuff is meant to be good for you…'

Blackjack whinnied with laughter. 'What's the matter, boss? Not fond of cute little nymphs?'

The silhouette of red dust on the bleak stone shores of Hades hung before Percy's eyes and his heart sank. 'I know what happens to nymphs that get caught up in things like this.' He tossed the pelt over Blackjack's back and vaulted up onto it. 'Let's head back and say goodbye to Hilaron and Glykera. We'll go south and hunt for any more tracks and find somewhere to make camp there.'

I was always going to have to leave them behind. The heartbreak in Calypso's dark tear-filled eyes hovered among his thoughts, lingering like the last notes of her sorrowful song. That's just how it works.

'Whatever you say, boss.' Blackjack trotted downstream, brushing through the long grass. 'But we need to get more snacks. I don't fly for free.'

'You know what else isn't free,' Percy retorted, wagging his finger at Blackjack's ears. 'Insulin for pegasus diabetes.'

'I don't even know what that is.'

'Keep eating all these cookies and we'll both find out whatever it was Annabeth was talking about when I kept feeding you sugar cubes,' he said.

'I'll stick to doughnuts, then.'

'I don't think that's going to help,' Percy replied. 'Pretty sure those will also give you diabetes since they also have loads of sugar in them.'

Blackjack leapt the stream, picking his way across the small beach toward the fish-decorated blue tent. The willow fronds brushed Percy's shoulders, tickling his neck, and the cool breeze snuck through the rips in his clothes.

Hilaron leapt from her small river, splashing water off the lily leaves of her short green dress. 'You're hurt!'

'No, it's okay.' Percy patted his side. 'They always get the clothes, but not me.' He hopped off Blackjack and grabbed his bag from the tent. 'I'm going to head south now and see if I can find the rest of the monsters. You and your sister should be safe now.'

'You're leaving?' Hilaron whispered, scampering up the beach to his side. 'Already?'

'I have to.' Percy caught the flash of hurt in Hilaron's blue eyes and his heart sank, drifting down into the deep dark of the sea like a small stone. 'I can't stay, Hilaron. I'm sorry.'

I can never stay. If I stay, if I stop, I'll fall. He glanced up through the green leaves into the bright blue sky. You'd both be disappointed in me, right, Zoë?

Her face fell. 'You're too big to stay here,' she murmured. 'I know. You can lift the whole sea upon your shoulders and I'm just a little drop of water.'

He folded his tent down and shoved it into his bag. 'Thank you for helping me, Hilaron.'

'It's okay!' She perked up. 'You're Perseus! My sisters will be so jealous I got to meet you! I'm going to tell them all how I helped you and…' A rush of pink flooded across her cheeks. 'And…'

Percy laughed. 'Say goodbye to little Glykera for me.'

'I will,' she mumbled. 'Be safe, Percy.'

'I'll try, but I make no promises.' He grinned at her until a small smile spread across her lips. 'I just seem to be a magnet for unfriendly things that want to eat me.'

Blackjack's nose bumped his elbow.

'Oh fine.' He dug out the pack of cookies and tugged out the last two. 'Here you go, but don't expect me to buy you insulin. You brought your inevitable diabetes on yourself.'

Blackjack tugged the cookies from his fingers and chomped them down, snorting crumbs over Percy's trainers.

'Right.' Percy sidestepped Blackjack's wing and swung himself up onto the pelt, shuffling across. 'This is much more comfortable, actually'

'You're telling me, boss. I can barely feel your bony butt anymore.'

Percy laughed. 'When they tell the great legend of Percy Jackson, I'm going to tell them you spent the whole time complaining, you ungrateful flying donkey.'

'I'll tell them about your fish underwear.'

'They can't understand horses, go ahead.'

Blackjack whinnied with laughter and walked out through the willow fronds.

Hilaron waved goodbye. 'Bye Percy!' She darted across the river surface and lifted Glykera from her stream. 'Wave goodbye, little sister. Percy's going!'

Glykera waggled a small hand, her blue eyes wide. 'Byeee.'

Percy smiled and waved back.

'They're cute, boss.' Blackjack paused on the bank beyond the willow leaves. 'You sure you won't want to stick about with the older one for a bit? We could fly a bit further later to come back to here.'

'I know you heard Aphrodite,' Percy said. 'It wouldn't be fair.'

'But it could be fun.'

'I don't think so,' Percy murmured. 'I'd just feel rotten. It's bad enough I couldn't stay with or save Calypso without doing it all again to them.' He patted Blackjack's neck. 'Come on. There are still a bunch of monsters somewhere south of here.'

'Alright, boss.' Blackjack broke into a run, his hooves thundering along the river bank.

Percy closed his eyes as the cool air streamed through his air. I can't look back. A soft sigh slipped out into the wind. Sorry, Hilaron and Glykera.

Blackjack leapt into the air with heavy wingbeats, climbing up into the sun, and Percy opened his eyes.

The woods sprawled from the grass slopes flanking Glykera's small stream, a swathe of thick green and deep shade.

Percy leant forward to Blackjack's ears. 'Over the trees,' he said. 'I reckon the Nemean Lion split off from the rest and came to find water but the rest probably kept going through the trees.'

Blackjack swooped down, drifting over the canopy, his hooves brushing the tallest leaves. 'Boss!' He tilted his head. 'There's a path.'

'Let's have a look,' Percy said.

Blackjack dipped through the branches into a small glade, skidding to a halt beneath the branches of a tall pine.

Percy jumped off and glanced around, catching sight of a tangle of blurred footsteps twisted through the mud winding around the roots of the slim pines and up the slope.

'Do you think they're more hikers?' Percy poked Blackjack in the flank with one finger. 'I can't see anything under all these small boots, but Manhattan is a fairly long way away, there isn't anyone to walk around this much. None of the hiking trails we ended up detouring down come out this way either.'

'Bunch of monsters?' Blackjack stretched his wings in the sun filtering down through the needles. 'They all just look like feet to me.'

'Me too.' Percy sighed and squinted at the shapes in the mud. 'I guess we follow them, just in case.' He trudged up the slope over the roots, tugging his rucksack over his shoulder. 'How did an entire army come through here without leaving some easy to follow tracks?'

'Maybe they didn't, boss.' Blackjack's hooves thudded up the hill behind him. 'Maybe it was just those cyclopes.'

'There were too many foot—'

Bright silver flashed in the corner of Percy's eye and the bottom dropped out of his stomach. Artemis. He held his breath, his heart hammering against his ribs as he forced his feet to turn.

A slim broken arrow shaft glinted in the sun, wedged between two branches of a thick pine.

Percy tugged it out with a quiet relieved sigh and balanced it on his palm. Your sisters have been here, Zoë.

'I think we were beaten to it,' he said, waving the silver arrowhead at Blackjack. 'Thalia and Iphi and her sisters are a lot better at this than I am, they probably swept this whole area clean while we walked in circles around the river.'

Blackjack snorted and tossed his head. 'What now then, boss?'

We could follow their footprints and see if they want help. Percy stared at the shining silver arrowhead. It'd be nice to see Iphi and Thalia again, right Zoë? The fierce bright pride in Artemis's silver eyes shone amidst his thoughts like the clear full moon among the stars, a soft yearning pulling on his heart like the fading tide tugging at a shell on the sand and a faint tingle crept across the phantom handprint on his back.

'I think we should go back to camp,' Percy said, slipping the arrow head into his pocket. 'We're not really achieving anything out here. We'll do more good back there. They won't need our help with this, there's no good reason to go running after them.'

'Cookie me.' Blackjack's hot nose bumped Percy's elbow. 'I need a pre-flight snack.'

Percy chuckled and dug a hand into the left drinks' pocket. 'There aren't any more cookies, but I do have twinkies.'

'It will do, boss.'

He tugged the twinkie out and peeled off the wrapper, waving the cream-filled sponger under Blackjack's nose. 'Here you go. One more small step on the road to diabetes.'

Blackjack gobbled it down and spread his wings. 'Hop on, boss, it's a long flight back from here.'

AN: Follow the linktree to find early access, support me for my original works, or just come chat on Discord!

linktr . ee / mjbradley