A Different World

Chapter 1: A Dream Long-Thought Hopeless

He could hear something sweet. Melodic, like... 

Like bird chirps.

Percy's eyes fluttered open. He could see the bright, blue sky far above him, covered in part by green treetops and white clouds. They floated slowly, without a care in the world, as if taunting him with their continuous existence, contrasting white against blue.

And right smack-dab in the middle of his vision, were two girls, looking down at him with startled expressions.

"It's alive!" one of them exclaimed.

Percy scrambled away as fast as possible. The two girls immediately reached drew their weapons, one silver bow, one hunting knife.

Percy's eyes locked onto the weapons.

The Hunters followed his gaze. The softer-looking of the two, a girl with brown hair and green eyes, slightly lowered her knife. "He doesn't... look like he wants to hurt us."

"He's a monster," her companion, a girl with fiery red hair and brown eyes, said as she drew her arrow back further. "We should send him back where he came from."

Percy's breathing started to return to normal. For the first time in what felt like forever, he could breath without issue.

"H-- Hunters," he rasped, wincing at the pain on his tongue. "Artemis?"

The aggressive girl narrowed her eyes. "If you think--"

"Wait," the other girl said. She squinted her eyes, trying to see Percy's face through the shadow of his hood. "He sounds... human."

"He's red!" The aggressive girl said. "Look, we'll talk after he drops whatever spoils he has."

Her companions eyes widened along with Percy's, but it was too late. The girl let go of the bowstring, and the arrow pierced through the air.

Percy caught it in between his two fingers, stopping it an inch away from his face.

The aggressive girl faltered while the softer one's jaw dropped.

Percy considered snapping the arrow, but instead, he flicked it back. It flew faster than either Hunter could react and hit the ground directly in front of them.

They looked up from the arrow, jaws agape, and Percy was gone.

The softer one put her hand on her companions shoulder, steadying herself. "We need to report this to Lady Artemis."

Her companion swallowed. "Y-- yeah. Yeah, we do."
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Percy flew through the forest. His cloak fluttered behind him, but his hood stayed safely on his head. His breathing was heavy and powerful.

Finally, he slowed to a stop. His heart was pounding in his chest, and he felt like it was about to burst. He was used to fighting, not running. He looked around, making sure he was alone. He clutched his chest tightly, trying to avoid gasping. The area around him was quiet, and calm, and... green.

He stumbled to a nearby stump at sat, the beating of his heart very slowly returning to normal levels.

How... had he gotten here?

It seemed impossible. It had been impossible. Tartarus had told him it was.

Percy winced at the reminder of the primordial. His hand moved to his side, where the ever-present scar still brushed against the cloth of his cloak.

He reached into an inner pocket of his cloak and felt his hand enter the liminal space. He gave a silent sigh of relief. Thank Chaos. The cloak still worked.