Triton's POV:
After that little fiasco on the Princess Andromeda we needed to get out of there fast. As a less concentrated attack of javelins and arrows continued to be tossed at us, I sat down and concentrated on getting us out of here. I used my hydro kinesis to take control of the surrounding sea to give us a nice current to ride on until we reach the Sea of Monsters. All the while Percy lifted a wall of water over or behind us as the monsters didn't relent on a futile attack. Stupid is as stupid does, I guess.
As we continued to gain distance through the open waters, the Andromeda became nothing more than a speck in the distance before disappearing in a lapse of waves. Even being who I am, it is hard to gauge how vast the ocean's grasp really goes. Yet, my father is the king of the oceans. No wonder mortals from all beliefs tend to fear or steer clear of it. To most, it is an endless desert filled with the unknown. And it terrifies them. It's quite a shame that mortals are so blind to the beauty that is the sea. Despite that, I wouldn't have it any other way. Mortals tend to taint whatever they can get their hands on.
"We should call Annabeth and tell her what's going on with Luke. As well as perhaps contacting Chiron as well. With his experiences and tutelage maybe they can find a way to overcome what's heading their way." Percy spoke up. He's been silent for quite some time, always thinking of ways to help his friends and other's first. Mother was right.
"Absolutely. How do you plan on doing that?" I asked even though the answer was quite obvious.
"With my good friend Iris, of course! Now all we need is a rainbow." How is it that Percy made friends with the goddess of the rainbow? I can never figure it and he hasn't told me. Granted, I haven't asked yet. From my spot on the raft, I watched as Percy waved his hand and caused a fine mist to form in the wake behind us. A pretty rainbow appeared and Percy called into it. "Hey Iris! Can you do me a solid and show me Annabeth Chase at Camp Half-Blood." That's shocking, not only does he not formerly call out Iris but, he also doesn't even throw in a drachma as payment. Seriously, what did he do? Annabeth shimmered into existence and she was concentrating. "Hey wise girl!" Percy shouted gaining her attention. Her eyes shot towards us and gleamed.
"Percy! Is everything all right? Why are you calling?" She sort of questioned but, I could tell she was happy that Percy was alive. It seems even more so that he called her.
"Everything is fine on our end. I called to give camp a heads up and to prepare for things if such things take a turn for the worst. By the way, how are things holding up with the border." I could tell that he worded his sentence carefully and avoided talking about Thalia's pine. I bet for her sake.
"Attacks are slowly coming but, it isn't anything we can't handle. What do you mean give us a heads up?" Percy was about to answer when someone else popped into the screen.
"Percy!? Why on earth are you calling?" I believe that that is the girl named Jessica. She seems polite.
"Hey Jess! I was just getting to that," Percy took in a deep breath then continued, "It seems that Luke has put forth some plans to destroy camp. Even going as far as being the one to poison Thalia. I don't know what his next step is going to be but, that is all the more reason to be ready for something huge. Seeing that we aren't going to be there, that means you won't get any help from us. So the best thing I can do is make sure you guys have enough time to get ready." Percy wouldn't let them butt in which got the message to be short and packed full of information.
"Luke did all that!? I-I..." Annabeth tried to say but, failed.
"You can count on us. Please be careful." Jessica calmly said while putting a hand on Annabeth's shoulder. She kept opening and closing her mouth yet, nothing would come out.
"You too." Percy finally acknowledged and waved his hand to cut the message. He sighed then looked at me, "The whole thing about Luke and Annabeth is strange but, I believe it would be worse if I hadn't said anything."
"Do you see me complaining? I trust your judgement." I told my brother. It's true that I trust him.
"I'm glad to hear that, now..." Percy waved his hand yet again and formed another rainbow, "Hey Iris! Can you do me a solid and show me Chiron, The Trainer of Heroes." Chiron came into existence and he was accompanied by other centaurs who were ravaging themselves in an all out party. Crashes and shouts were the only things that were heard coming from his end. "Hey Chiron!" Percy had to scream over all the noise.
"Percy!? Are - aware that - banishment is - affect?" We couldn't catch every word but, he does have a point.
"Yes I am! But I have no choice! There is something huge planned and I need you to get to camp! Please!" Percy sounded desperate as he begged for help.
"I can't... Some - needs - held responsible."
"Then let it be me! Listen, if what I think is going to happen happens, then we are royally screwed. Above all else you are needed now. Trust me, I'll make sure no punishment will befall on you." Percy continued to beg. Chiron stood in silence as he pondered Percy's idea as the chaos behind him continued to wale.
"I'll do what I can." Chiron swiped his hand and cleared the message. It wasn't a promise to help camp, nor anything else that sounded too reassuring.
At the pace that we were on it would take a couple of days to reach the Sea of Monsters. So, all we can do is sat back and relax while our ride takes us. Of course idle chat was common between us however, it wasn't more than small spurts of conversation that took our minds off the quest. I'm still a god and even though I am part of this quest, I can't interfere with my godly powers too much. I basically have to dwindle it done to the level of a demigod. A strong demigod. Like Percy for instance.
My brother and I sat in silence as we continued on our journey to the Sea of Monsters. I don't actually remember the day or time I started calling him my brother. Somewhere down the line we began to get so engrossed in each other's lives that calling ourselves anything other than brothers didn't sound right. I practically know everything there is to know about him. Even that little crush he has on a certain someone. Though there are still secrets we keep from one another. It isn't out of distrust or anything, more like there are some things that we just don't need to say.
I guess now is as good a time as any, "What did you do to get in favor of Iris, the goddess of the rainbow?"
"It's actually a pretty funny story. It happened a few months after I met Khione...
Percy's Flashback:
I was wondering around in the fog soaked woods with no real heading somewhere. My exact bearings were lost to me. I'm sure i could figure it out but, I like the sort of freedom this unknown brings me. So basically I was doing the same thing as always. Yet, strangely enough I felt that sooner or later I would find another minor god or goddess. I don't know how to explain it but, it just was a strong feeling. Maybe I really am going insane...
Anyway as I continued my trek through the woods, I came across a dazzling sight. Through the mist there came a startling band of colors hung in the sky. I sniffed at the moisture laden air unsure if the scent of dense foliage and the leaf litter of the forest floor as a bad thing or not. As a precaution I withdrew my bow and edged closer to the apparition. Was it a sign of welcome? It was so hard to tell. I've come to realize that if something doesn't seem natural, it probably isn't. The shades were a full bloom and drew me closer to the endless mirage of colors. Another sign that this may be a trap for those unfortunate enough to come across it.
However, my subconscious kept nagging at me, saying that this is harmless; to lower my weapon and just wait and see. So far, it hasn't made a wrong call. My gut, I mean. It made it easy to choose what comes next. I put my bow away but, kept my guard up. You can never be too careful in this world I was born into.
I carefully looked around and came up with nothing. As obvious as it may be, I don't believe that this is actually a trap of some sort. Or I'm gonna die a gruesome death while pondering what went wrong.
Screw it. I walked towards the wondrously beautiful rainbow and simply gawked at it. "Beautiful. Isn't it?" My eyes nearly jumped out of my sockets because she appeared out of nowhere. So, this is what the other side feels, when i pop out. I should've known because I do that thing pretty often. Standing right next to me was a women in her late teens or early twenties. She had olive-colored skin, long black hair, and warm brown eyes. However, the thing that caught my attention the most were the golden wings of a butterfly. In a mash of inky blackness and flaky gold; intricate swirls cascaded in an endless glory. Yet, it looked so delicate; just one touch and it would fall apart.
"It's magnificent." I mentioned as my eyes still followed her wings. Finally, it clicked. Free spirited, warm brown eyes, olive skin, long black hair and of course her wings. "Iris, goddess of the rainbow." I knelt down because I held a lot of respect for. She gave me a chance to talk to my family.
"I see you recognize me. Tell me, who am I?" I got confused. Was she asking me about her duties? Or about her story? No, I think she asking me the same way Khione asked me. A way to show recognition as a minor god.
"I don't think I can string enough words together to quite explain who you are. Even though you're now seen as a messenger like Hermes, you don't hold the same recognition. Yet, you do so much more than he. For instance, you travel to the three realms of the big three delivering messages and continue to do so much more. And yet again, there are no shrines in your honor or a sacred animal for you to behold. That is part of the reason I came looking for you." I stood up from the ground and looked her in the eyes.
"What?" She asked tilting her head to the side.
"It's not only you. I am going around trying to find all sorts of gods and goddesses that have been degraded to the status of minor. Even though, you are far from such a title. I'm going to make sure that every last one of you gets honored. And I'm going to make sure that none of your children are left to die because of their parents... Was that too cheesy? I feel like that was a little cheesy." She laughed a little, an honest laugh. I smiled because of that.
"No. That was wonderful. I do have to ask why? Why go through the trouble?" She asked sincerely.
"...Why not?... I want to and it's the right thing to do. You deserve it." I honest to god didn't have an ulterior motive. In my mind, it's simple. Lady Iris smiled kindly at me.
Triton's POV:
"That's it? Where's the funny?" I wasn't expecting something so simple.
"What do you mean 'that's it?' She was the first goddess I met after Khione. I don't think you realize just how nervous or scared of messing up I was. Part of me thought that if I screw up now, then any other chance I got was gonna end up the same. After laying my heart out, we talked a lot and she still gives me advice every now and then. Plus she was kind enough to wave her fee and let me talk to whomever. You may think 'that's it' but, to me it was the first step to something much bigger. Anyway, it got easier after that." Percy said in a tone of slight aggression.
"All I'm saying is that I was expecting you walking blood soaked with a blood red sword and collapsing. You wake up and she heals you which then causes you to flip out- I thought it would be more action packed, considering all your other stories. Plus you said it was a 'funny story.' Where is the funny?" I could use a good laugh.
"I only said that because I didn't know how to describe it. A lot of people do it." Percy was getting even more... How do I put it? Angry? No. Anxious? No. Aggressive? Sort of.
"Wait. What do you mean it got easier?" Who exactly did you meet? How far along have you gotten?
"I was gone for three years between camp and leaving my home. Did you really think Lady Iris was my last?" He sounded a little cocky but, I know he doesn't have cockiness in him. If anything it would be pride for his accomplishments.
"So who else-" I was cut off. The unmistakable sound of rocks clashing against each other became the only sound over the endless desert of blue. I'm glad that we got here so soon. The powers of the sea are really something to behold. In the distance I can make out the dangerous task ahead of us. At this point, I'm beginning to wonder if this was the better option.
Over the course of history it was known as the Symplegades and caused an untold amount of wrecks of ships that tried to pass through. Numerous amounts of Greeks fell to the clashing rocks. It was only until Jason and the Argonauts that it seemed impossible. They used advice from Phineus in the form of a dove and timed it perfectly. The Argonauts only managed to lose part of their backside. A feat that no one before them could accomplish. Now it's our turn.
"Percy! It's do or die HAhaha!" I shouted and laughed as we continued our approach.
"When is it anything else!? HAhah!" Percy shouted back. Percy always thought that we were insane or getting there. Finally, I understand where he was coming from. When our lives are on the line it seems that our deaths are nothing. We'd gladly go through the worst of it so that other's won't. Even if it means that we go through it alone. Good thing we don't have to.
As we closed in, we ran into our first problem. The waves caused by the constant smashing were making a straight path hard to accomplish. Good thing we're sons of Poseidon and theses waves mean nothing to our prowess. Percy and I outstretched our hands and placed our palms facing the water beneath us. Our concentration calmed the water with such intensity it looked like glass. The only thing that broke the mirage of clarity were the ripples left after the rocks smashed against each other.
Now that we made it smooth and clean enough to get through, we commanded the water to propel us forward. We timed it perfectly. The front end of the life raft was kicked above the water like a speed boat. The smiles that forcibly slapped themselves on our faces never gave in. The rocks in front of us smashed as once more within five feet of the tip. The Symplegades opened in a quick fashion and we sped on through without leaving any piece of our handy little raft behind. A feat that hasn't been accomplished before.
We made it through, "YYYEEESSSSS! AALLLRRIIIGGHHTT!" Percy and I hooped and hollered. It was quite a joyous occasion. Even though I'm a god, it still feels good. In a way Percy reminded me that there are plenty of ways to happily engage in some things that are incredibly simple for the likes of gods. It would have been easy to get us through with my powers but, I was looking forward to a challenge, as small as it may be, that got me pumped up.
Our momentum carried us further into the land of the lost with no trouble. Yet, Percy and I kept up our celebration with such volume that it could be heard from miles beyond. We hugged and smacked each other's backs as if we just beat Kronos himself. WE didn't intend to stop screaming with joy and I could feel our feet disturbing the ground around me. Percy kept this up until he was utterly exhausted and sluggishly sat down on one of the seats. "That was awesome. I'm curious what comes next." Percy breathed heavily. I, too, am curious what this quest will bring forth.