Changing the Future

Chapter 23

Luckily for Tyson, as a son of Poseidon, the water helped heal the gash on his forehead, but he was still unconscious. With the same rigging I'd just gotten us out of, I made a makeshift backpack, tying the steel rope under Tyson's armpits and around his chest before tying a double knot around my waist, therefore securing Tyson while giving me a full range of motion.

I swam out of the debris, the ringing in my ears eventually subsiding, though my migraine persisted. Seriously, I should get Apollo to write me an Olympus-grade prescription for migraines seeing that I get them every time people hijacked my mind, which happened more often than I'd like.

I was quickly beginning to tire. My body was still in a state of shock from the explosion, running on adrenaline and fear alone. The second one of those things ran out, I knew I was going to pass out. My overexertion wasn't going to help matters, either.

Before anyone says anything about the ambrosia and nectar I carry with me in my bag, let me say one thing: it's not waterproof. Although I had the godly food on me, I couldn't access it without soaking all my books and notes, something I wasn't willing to do. Plus, I was too weak to make any kind of air bubble, and Tyson and I were deep under the surface, too far for me to swim with my fading energy.

Just then, I felt something brush by my foot, sending another burst of adrenaline through me. I pulled out my sword, its faint bronze light illuminating just enough for me to see about a foot in every direction.

"Who's there?" I asked, my voice completely wrecked from the amount of smoke I'd inhaled despite the rag over my mouth and nose. Maybe it slipped without my noticing. "Reveal yourself!"

Sorry for frightening you, a gentle voice said. I've been following the young Cyclops ever since we departed at that large cruise ship.

"Rainbow?" I asked, turning around in a slow circle, trying to find the hippocampus. He showed himself in front of me, his silvery skin appearing a dark gray amidst all the darkness.

At your service. He bowed his head in respect.

"We lost some of our friends," I told him. "They're here in the Sea of Monsters."

Do you know where they were headed?

"Polyphemus' Island."

They seek the Golden Fleece?! Rainbow neighed nervously.

"We need it to save our home and some friends," I explained to the hippocampus. "Without it, all demigods will be hunted to extinction."

That doesn't sound good. Hop on. I shall help reunite you both with your friends.

I sighed in relief, feeling a huge weight lift off my shoulders. "Thank you, Rainbow," I said gratefully, seating myself on his horse upper body. He also allowed me to turn the rigging into a seatbelt, so I undid all the knots and retied the rigging so that Tyson and I were securely fastened to Rainbow's back without causing the hippocampus any discomfort.

Rainbow shot off, sending out messages to other sea life in the area to be in search of demigods within the Sea of Monsters. I rested my head against Rainbow's neck, passing out instantly.

0o0o

When I came to, Tyson was also awake, cheerfully talking to the fish pony as he said. He'd also switched our positions, so he was sitting closer up to Rainbow's head while my hands were wrapped around his waist.

"Tyson?" I asked blearily, my throat sore from smoke inhalation. "Where are we?"

"Dunno," he answered. "Rainbow said some fishes saw brother and Annabeth here last night."