Third Person POV:
In the weeks that followed Percy began to train less and less and on one particular day he just stopped training for the whole day. Something eating at his subconscious. Something bad. Basically dimming back on the hours, but not the intensity. Not for fear of his scent getting stronger, although it is a small part of it. He wanted to spend as much as time with his family as possible. He knows that being selfish right now isn't the smartest thing to do. But since when were kids ever smart? He can't just abandon them, they saved his life and raised him. Never keeping anything away from him, even the details of his real mother's death. Percy couldn't sleep for two weeks, with constant gloomy weather overshadowing his home. How can some one, a seven year old, just up and leave? The family that was quite literally everything to him.
He and his family thought about this day after day, night after night. Until finally coming up with their only option. Magic. Nature magic to be more precise. It has a lot of uses. Perhaps even delaying or even masking something as simple as a scent. But how? A demigod's scent is engrained in their blood, in their very being... Unless they change his being. Make his being believe he is something else other than a demigod. Perhaps a nymph? Sadly this isn't possible, only a god can do something so complex and they weren't gods. Hecate was their only chance, and they weren't about to let the gods know of his existence. So they decided to toughen it out until they can't.
Percy began to realize the flaw in his plan to stay. He wanted to be selfish, but he can't let them get hurt because of him. No matter how many times Percy begged them, they weren't going to let him go. They too, weren't about to lose something as precious as Percy. The boy didn't realize how much he actually meant to them as well. He gave Nasaea a son. She didn't comprehend how much she wanted one until he came along. His sea-green eyes stole her heart away. Experiencing motherhood just gave her a feeling she couldn't comprehend or get over. A new purpose.
Amphite wasn't always considered a spirit with a stiff personality. There's always a reason. Her reason is because long ago she lost her mother in a terrible disaster and became isolated. Against all odds she had to survive in a brutal world. Favoring to be alone and have little friends. Until she was called to help a young boy. The Prince of the Sea nonetheless, and even though he was dying. Percy kept his lopsided grin plastered on his adorable face. As the weeks became months to years, he was chipping away at her chamber of a heart. Freeing her from her own prison. She loved him more than anything as time went on. More than life itself.
Asea grew up a fighter and as such was a bit of an outcast from the nature spirits. For they were considered to be calm and rather pacifist. Or flirtatious. She wasn't any of those. So having a demigod to train and spar with was more than she cold ever hope for. She considered for these days to be the best of her life. And she was sharing it with her son, something she never thought she'd have.
Kyrene had a hard time adjusting to a child. Always trying to make excuses, thinking that would get her away. At first she was absolutely terrified of kids. Wouldn't go near one let alone become a mom. Yet she was drawn to Percy. Like he was using his powers to melt down her fears and anxieties. Now she can't even recall ever being scared of kids. Percy changed her.
Then Phoebe, their personalities just clicked. Spending nearly all their time together even when Percy was training. They became so inseparable a rumor spread that they were dating. That was quickly thrown out the window because Percy was five at the time. He didn't even know dating was a real thing. Ah, they would get in some of the weirdest situations as well. One time they found Percy's head stuck in a watermelon and Phoebe dangling in some vines laughing hysterically. They never could get through the story, as they only laughed.
He was special in all of their hearts, taking time to talk and share. Like a big brother would, even though he was younger than all of them... by a lot. So they decided on two more years. Two years he would spend with them and train. It wasn't that long, but at least it was something. Something the fates were definitely not kind enough to give. After a year it was all too much.
Time Skip One Year: Third POV:
Tomorrow was the day. The day that Percy would leave and everybody was anxious about it. Instead of thinking of it as a bad thing, they wanted to celebrate. Spending hours upon hours decorating the lake-side. With vibrant colored vines, leaves, shells, whatever. And the food, holy hades, the food was as weird as it came. So when Percy walked in he was flabbergasted, they tried to explain, "You see Percy, we wanted to make today extra special and tried to add some magic to the food... Blue is your favorite color, right? We hope you don't mind it." A couple of the cooks asked, worried he might to them down.
"I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT! I LOVE ITTTTT! Blue is my favorite color! You guys are the best! I love you!" Percy got so excited, hugging the Hades out of them. This was when the party started.
Percy's parents were going crazy. The music was so loud that it made their skin tingle and lungs feel like mush. The bass thumped in time with their heart beats as though they were one, filling them from head to toe with music. Who knew that nature spirits were so good with bass? They loved it. Over the roar of music, a distant, hazy chatter could be heard. No one couldn't make out any words, but laughter rang in through their ears and wouldn't seem to stop. The song that was playing got louder, pulling all of them in and wouldn't let go. Percy had no choice but to join the crowd, jumping in a huddled group like Tic-Tacs being shaken in a celebration went on into the night, everyone dancing like they'd forgotten how to stand still.
Changing the music to something smooth. The music floated on the warm breeze like the spring blossom petals; raining down from the cherry trees. Slowing drifting off into the realm of Morpheus. It was the first day of spring, and Percy watched its magnificence. His moms and phoebe using his body as a pillow. The sunrise is the warmest hues of the rainbow, the colors that bring a gentle passion to the soul. It is the calling of the skies to rise and be something great.
Percy's POV:
I couldn't sleep at all through Nyx's domain. We lay under the stars, which were like a beautiful, surreal blanket above our heads. I could feel their heartbeats, and could hear the soft breaths of them by my side. That's when it hit me: Sometimes we are like stars- we fall to make someone's wish come true. And I will fall as many times as needed to give others their wishes.
As the sun continued to rise I thought about where I'm gonna go. Camp seems like the obvious place to go, yet I don't want to. The fates have something arranged for me and I don't think it is going to be there. There are at least two demigods of the eldest gods and that is not a coincidence. So where? Where should I go? I don't know anything about the modern world, only what I was told. And I don't want to stick out like a sore thumb. Plus an eight year old walking alone through cities would definitely be suspicious. Maybe I should stick to what I really know for now. The outdoors and water, maybe slowly teaching myself about getting back to the mist veiled world.
So not camp. If I know anything about strategy it's that the more enemies I find, the closer I get to my goal. Don't what that is, but who knows? Perhaps I'll find it on the way. Guess that's my plan. Follow the monsters and see what their deal is. If it's nothing, I kill em. Something? I find out what it is, then kill em. That's not going to be that hard, is it?
"Good morning." I looked down and saw that Phoebe was the first awake. Finally I can get some feelings back into my legs.
"Good morning."
"Watchya thinking about?" She whispered.
"What do you mean?"
"You have a serious face when you think and you're never serious. So what's eating at you." She knows me too well.
"It's just that I'm leaving when they wake up," immediately her mood dropped, "and I thought about what I'm going to be doing from now on. That kind of thing. It's just that I never been out there. In the real world, or the one that's covered by the mist."
"You know that you're my best friend, but you're overthinking this. Just go out and do whatever you want. You don't have to listen to anyone out there, not even the gods. Or your moms. Don't think about it as leaving your family, think about it as an adventure."
"Haha, thanks Phoebe." I guess my laughter woke up my parents.
"Morning." They each called out with different levels of tired. Kyrene had messed up hair and was still half asleep. Asea was the exact opposite, already full of energy. Amphite looked indifferent from the night before. Nasaea yawned rubbing the sleepiness out of her eyes.
"I guess it's time you guys." There's no point in delaying the inevitable. It would only make it that much worse.
"Right now?" Kyrene asked.
"If I don't now, I won't later. But I swear on the Styx that I'm going to Iris message you guys and update give you an update. As soon as I get some drachmas. And I swear on the Styx that I will visit you when I get the chance." Back to back claps of thunder sealing his oath. At least that lifted their moods a little bit. My moms began getting up to let me go. Getting up slowly I checked if I still had everything I packed. Two wooden daggers strapped to my ankles, my ripped shorts, bottle of water made out of a leaves and vines, and my flute. Not much, but enough for me. "I love you guys." I said turning around and getting one last look before I go. Tears, slipping down my face.
"We love you too!" Nothing more needed to be said. Or wanted to be said. Even if they wanted to, their voices choked up. I spun on my heels quickly and sprinted off. It should stay short and sweet.
A Few Hours Later:
The forest was colossal, dense, and flourishing. Its canopy was dominated by hazel, maple, and fir, enough light shimmered through their crowns for a collection of shrubs to grow in the nut and seed covered grounds below. Thick tree limbs suspended from many trees, and a mishmash of flowers, which grew in abundance, spruced up the otherwise uniform forest floor. A mishmash of beastly noises, most of which were birds and vermin, reverberated through the air, and were in harmony with the croaks of frogs in the nearby ponds. I noticed all of it, moving forward.
I kept running and didn't stop, if I keep moving then the monsters shouldn't be able to find them I was well past a hundred or so miles away. They will stay safe and I will have my adventure. Win-win if you ask me. "They're around here some where!" Already!? What the- "In the trees!" Great! Just great! I'm gonna need to work masking my scent and aura better because that was fast. I'm not even gonna question why they managed to catch my scent this quickly. "If you don't come down now. We'll force you!" How? I can tree jump.
"Alright, just give m a minute while I get decent." I commented, with heavy sarcasm.
"Ok. You have one minute." Are they really that stupid? What are they? Best check it out. Nimbly climbing down from branch to branch, I catch a glimpse of them. Cyclops. A lot of them, about twenty five? Six? I still don't have a weapon to kill monsters. I could try and make them fall asleep, but I won't be able to kill them- Wait! My water, I can transform it into a sword and maybe that'll kill them! Ohohoo I'm a genius. "Times up!" What? That was barely twenty seconds!
A hunter's horn was blown in the distance. What was that? Before I could guess, an onslaught of silver arrows flew through some bushes. Decimating the group of cyclops. Acting quickly I slid down the tree and swiped one of their arrows. Before flying back up the tree. I wanna see who they are. Only waiting a couple seconds, they appeared. Of course it is the Hunters of Artemis. That was stupid of me.
A group of girls clad in silver clothes; white shirts, silver jackets, silvery camo pants and black combat boots came forth. I can sense some distorted water, maybe magically enhanced. Silver bows and arrows. Hunting knives and swords. They were decked the Hades out. If only I can get one of those swords or daggers. I would be set. They began scouting the area, probably looking for any stragglers. There aren't any, you killed them all.
What are they doing now? Picking up arrows? Ah crap- "Lieutenant! We scouted the area and found nothing, though it does look like the cyclops were after something. Maybe they got to it before we got to them because there is no sign that whatever it was got away. It also seems that one of the rookies lost an arrow. She scoured the area, but so far nothing." Damn, they were meticulous.
"Thanks for the report Atalanta. Make sure you search every square inch of this place, how do they expect to learn if they cannot stay accountable for their things? I want this area cleared before Lady Artemis arrives." The tall, graceful, and gorgeously beautiful one said: she had dark brown eyes, a slightly upturned nose, copper-colored skin, and the silver circlet braided into the top of her long, dark hair gave her the impression of a Persian princess. Well that's my queue to head on out. I don't want to be spotted and if Artemis is coming... I don't want to be found out just yet.
Plus they are a notorious group of man-haters. I don't want to know what they'll do to me if they do catch me. That thought sent a shiver down my spine. Creeping up as high as I can upon the pine, I used all my stealth skills and reached the canopy without a problem. "Up there!" Whoops I spoke to soon. I sprung off the pine I was in, barely dodging a silver arrow nicking my heel. Jumping from tree to tree. Should I give them back their arrow and hope they'll let me go? Nope. Absolutely not. They hate dudes and I pretty sure they will use any excuse to kill me or worse. Best to keep going.
I could tell they were hot on my heels, most on the ground and a few in the trees. Crap. What to do? What to do?... Water! That should do. Expanding my senses I searched all around me for any source of water. Finding a small little pond about half a mile away... In the opposite direction I'm going. Behind me... Where all the man-haters are. This is a great frickin idea.
Jumping on the next tree tip, I grabbed it and turned around. Bending it as low as I could, "Sorry." Before kicking my self up propelling me past the first couple hunters. Using the tension as a spring. "WOOOoooo! Yea!" I shouted with so much joy, I probably insulted them. I know the smile on my face won't leave for at least a week. Next thing I did was jump to lowest branches and continued onward.
"You can't get away from us!" One of the huntresses shouted. Clearly angry that I got past them a second time.
"We'll see about that!" Leaping down to the ground, I sprinted on foot the rest of the way. Subtly using a fraction of my earthshaker powers to stir the ground around me. If they don't suspect it, the silver chicks should trip them up a little, buying me a little more time. I didn't even try to look back because I could literally feel their glares burning my back. The pond was right in front of me. Home free-
"Gotchya!" A girl shouted from above. Dive bombing my as-butt. Stop jinxing yourself!
"No you don't!" I said, rolling to the side and grabbing a little bit of dirt. Throwing it in the face of the bomber. "Better luck next time!" I casually threw out, sporting a thumbs up and a smile. As I leaped towards the pond. I felt a godly aura appear directly behind me. A singular mass of silver. In those lights my retinas became flooded and all I saw was white. Sometimes light can be so similar to the dark. Yet in a fraction of a second more I could see, the blindness quite resolved.
"There won't be a next time." A feminine voice breathed down my neck. Not grabbing me just freefalling right above my backside. Perhaps she thought it was over? "Yea right!" I smirked, if only I could see the look on her face when I'm gone. My body slapped the water and using the splash as a cover, I commanded the water to cover me as quickly as possible. She was over confident and didn't expect a boy to be so clever. Poor goddess. Oh poor ole goddess.
Artemis was too slow and I disappeared in a haze of mucky water. Transporting me to some random water river, lake or pond somewhere in a fifty mile radius. I call this water travel.