Percy stirred, slowly emerging from the depths of sleep as the rhythmic chug of the train lulled him back to consciousness. Blinking groggily, he glanced around the dimly lit compartment, taking in the sight of his sleeping companions – Grover, Annabeth, and Enid.
As Percy slowly came to consciousness, he became aware of his uncomfortable position on the floor of the train compartment. He remembered with a faint smile how he had insisted that Enid take the bed, opting to sleep on the floor instead. Glancing up, he saw Enid curled up in the bed, her form silhouetted by the soft glow of the sunlight filtering through the window.
At Enid's feet, Annabeth was peacefully asleep in the bed, her steady breathing a comforting presence in the quiet compartment. Above her, Grover snoozed soundly in the top bunk, his gentle snores blending with the rhythmic hum of the train.
Despite the discomfort of his makeshift bed on the floor, Percy couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment wash over him as he watched his friends sleep peacefully. In that moment, surrounded by the warmth and camaraderie of his companions, Percy felt a profound sense of gratitude for the bonds they shared and the adventures that awaited them on their journey.
As Percy found himself gazing at Enid, her lips formed a playful grin, indicating that she was far from asleep. Caught off guard by her mischievous expression. "You drool when you sleep," in a moment of unintentional bluntness. Enid's laughter echoed in the compartment, and Percy couldn't help but join in, feeling a sense of camaraderie in their shared laughter.
Percy turned his attention to Annabeth, who appeared to be sleeping peacefully in the bed. "Hey, Annabeth," he whispered softly, leaning closer to her. "Are you asleep?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, hoping to avoid waking her if she truly was asleep.
After a moment, Annabeth's voice, soft and drowsy, broke the silence. "Yes," she murmured, her eyes fluttering open as she turned to face Percy.
"You and Thalia were really close, right?" Percy's question hung in the air, a sudden shift in the quiet atmosphere of the train compartment. Annabeth's expression softened at the mention of Thalia.
"Yeah," she replied softly.
"What was she like?" Percy asked, his voice gentle with curiosity.
Annabeth's curiosity piqued by Percy's remark, she turned to him with a quizzical expression. "Why?" she inquired, her voice laced with intrigue.
Percy glanced back at her, a thoughtful look crossing his features. "She was the last forbidden kid before me, right?" he posed the question, his voice tinged with a mix of contemplation and curiosity. "She must've dealt with the same kind of stuff."
"She was tough. I mean, she knew she was a forbidden kid, she just didn't care. When Luke and Thalia found me, Luke cared for me right away. But Thalia...she made me earn it," Annabeth reflected, her voice tinged with admiration and nostalgia as she recounted memories of her time with Thalia.
Enid remained a silent observer, her presence felt in the quiet exchange between Percy and Annabeth. Though she didn't speak, her attentive gaze conveyed her interest in their conversation, adding a comforting presence to the moment.
"Is that why you give me a hard time? I gotta earn it with you too?" Percy asked, his tone a mix of curiosity and self-reflection.
Annabeth sighed softly, her expression thoughtful. "Yeah. Maybe," she conceded, her response carrying a hint of uncertainty as she considered their dynamic.
"I gotta say, that it doesn't make a lot of sense to me," Percy admitted, his brow furrowing with confusion.
"What doesn't make sense to you?" Annabeth inquired, her curiosity piqued by Percy's remark.
"The way you guys all talk. The way the gods want us to think. Gotta burn an offering to get a parent's attention. Gotta beat up on Clarisse just to get my father to admit he's my father. It isn't supposed to work that way. People who are close to you aren't supposed to treat you that way," Percy expressed, his frustration evident in his words.
Annabeth listened quietly, her expression somber as Percy shared his thoughts. Enid's gaze shifted between Percy and Annabeth, her brow furrowing with concern, while Percy's expression softened with understanding.
"You wanna know how I ended up alone on the road in the first place? I started out as a gift to my father. That's how it works with Athena. We're born from a thought in her mind and then given to a partner she feels connected to. And for a while, I was treated like a gift. My father cared for me. He loved me. I knew it. Then he met a woman. They had their own kids. And to her, I- I wasn't a gift. I was a problem." Annabeth explained, her voice tinged with a mixture of sadness and resignation.
Enid's expression softened as she absorbed Annabeth's words, her eyes reflecting empathy and understanding. She leaned in closer to Percy and Annabeth, offering silent solidarity in the weight of their shared experiences.
"So I left. I was seven. It isn't the gods who think that way. It's everybody. But at least with the gods you know the rules. Show them respect and they'll be in your corner no matter what," Annabeth concluded, her voice carrying a mixture of resignation and acceptance. Percy nodded in understanding, his gaze softening with empathy as he absorbed her words. Enid remained silent, her expression thoughtful.
Grover's groan echoed softly in the compartment, a mixture of annoyance and exhaustion as he stirred from his slumber. His eyes fluttered open, squinting against the dim light as he attempted to make sense of the conversation that had roused him from sleep. Rubbing his eyes wearily, he let out another groan, a silent plea for peace and quiet as he tried to settle back into rest.
Percy's voice cut through the quiet of the compartment, his tone soft as he addressed Grover. "Are you awake?" he asked, mindful of not wanting to disturb him further.
"Well, I am now. Thanks," Grover replied with a hint of sarcasm, his voice still tinged with drowsiness as he shifted to a more comfortable position in his bunk.
Percy's voice cut through the quiet of the compartment, but it carried a note of confusion as he addressed Grover. "Are you okay?" he asked, his brows furrowing slightly as he tried to decipher Grover's expression.
"He's super grouchy when he doesn't get enough sleep," Annabeth commented, a smirk playing on her lips.
"He's super grouchy when he doesn't... Nah!" Grover mimicked Annabeth in a gruff, exaggerated manner.
Enid chuckled softly at Grover's mimicry, her eyes crinkling with amusement as she joined in the light-hearted moment. "Looks like someone needs a nap," she quipped, her tone teasing.
"Wow."
"You've never been on the road with him before. A little different than a froofy boarding school," Annabeth commented with a smirk, glancing at Grover.
"Who's froofy? You're froofy. What's froofy? I think I need to eat," Grover interjected with a grumble, his stomach growling in agreement with his statement.
As time passed, the train rumbled steadily along its tracks, the rhythmic clacking providing a soothing backdrop to the companions' journey. The four of them sat together in the compartiment, each lost in their own thoughts as they watched the passing scenery through the windows.
Percy leaned back in his seat, his gaze drifting between the passing landscapes, while Enid sat beside him. Across from them, Grover fidgeted restlessly, his attention alternating between the window and the snacks he had packed for the journey. Annabeth, ever observant, watched her friends with a quiet intensity, her thoughts drifting as she contemplated the adventures that lay ahead.
"Two days until we reach Los Angeles," Grover announced, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled over the group. "Plenty time before our deadline to reach the Underworld."
"Can I ask a dumb question?" Percy inquired, his voice hesitant as he glanced around at his companions.
Enid flashed a grin, her tone laced with sarcasm. "Oh, go ahead, Percy. The dumber, the better," she teased as Percy rolled his eyes good-naturedly, grateful for Enid's humor even in the midst of their journey.
"It's like you need us to make fun of you," Annabeth remarked with a smirk, her playful jab aimed at Percy.
"Shoot," Grover replied, his expression thoughtful as he considered Percy's question.
"I've never been to Los Angeles before," Percy admitted, his tone uncertain as he voiced his concern. "I'm guessing neither of you have been to Los Angeles. So, how will we have any idea where we're going?"
"No idea," Grover admitted, his tone reflective as he considered Percy's question. "But that's like step 37, and we're still on step four. Cross that bridge when we get there."
"Follow-up stupid question," Percy interjected, his curiosity getting the better of him.
"Dude," Annabeth exclaimed, cutting him off with a playful eye roll.
"And you shall fail to save what matters most in the end," Percy continued, his voice solemn as he recounted the Oracle's prophecy. "Back in Jersey, I told you the Oracle said this quest would fail. And no one's mentioned it since. Seems like something we oughta be taking a little more seriously."
"Hey. Look at that," Percy exclaimed, peering out the window with curiosity. "Is that..."
"Centaurs," Enid interjected, her eyes widening in wonder.
"No one even knows they're there," Percy remarked, his gaze fixed on the majestic creatures outside.
"There used to be herds of them everywhere," Grover added, his voice tinged with sadness.
"What happened to them?" Percy inquired, his curiosity piqued by the disappearance of the once-abundant centaurs.
"Humans," Grover replied solemnly, his voice heavy with regret as he reflected on the impact of human civilization on the natural world. "A few thousand years ago, the god of the wild, Pan, disappeared. And ever since, without Pan to protect the natural world, humans have been trying really hard to chip away at it."
"The bravest satyrs volunteer to become Searchers, trying to find Pan. None have ever returned," Annabeth explained, her voice tinged with sadness at the thought of the brave satyrs who had embarked on the perilous quest.
Turning to Percy, Enid explained, "The Searchers are like heroes among satyrs. They embark on a quest to find Pan, risking their lives in the process. And the fact that none have ever returned speaks volumes about the challenges they face. It's a testament to their bravery and sacrifice."
"Your uncle we found in Medusa's, Ferdinand. He was a Searcher?" Percy inquired, turning to Grover for confirmation.
Grover nodded solemnly, his gaze distant as he remembered his uncle's fate.
"The Oracle didn't say the quest would fail," Annabeth clarified, her voice steady as she sought to reassure her companions. "Fail to save what matters most. That could mean a lot of things."
"Yeah. That's how prophecies work, that's how fate works. It could mean a lot of things," Enid remarked, her voice thoughtful as she contemplated the complexity of destiny. "The harder you work to understand, the harder it gets to understand."
"Sometimes, you've just gotta let it come to you when it's ready," Annabeth added, her words carrying a sense of wisdom.
"Excuse me. Can I see your tickets, please?" the train conductor asked as he approached the group.