Longing

They had to walk for almost an hour before they found a path that led up to the road. It came upon the east side of the river. Then they straggled back toward the dam. It was cold and windy on top. On one side, a big lake spread out, ringed by barren desert mountains. On the other side, the dam dropped away like the world's most dangerous skateboard ramp, down to the river seven hundred feet below, and water that churned from the dam's vents.

Thalia walked in the middle of the road, far away from the edges. Grover kept sniffing the wind and looking nervous. He didn't say anything but he probably smelled monsters.

"How close are they?" Percy asked him.

He shook his head. "Maybe not close. The wind on the dam, the desert all around us... the scent can probably carry for miles. But it's coming from several directions. I don't like that."

"There's a snack bar in the visitor center," Thalia said.

"You've been here before?" Percy asked.

"Once. To see the guardians." She pointed to the far end of the dam. Carved into the side of the cliff was a little plaza with two big bronze statues. They looked kind of like Oscar statues with wings.

"They were dedicated to Zeus when the dam was built," Thalia said. "A gift from Athena."

Tourists were clustered all around them. They seemed to be looking at the statues' feet.

"What are they doing?" he asked.

"Rubbing the toes," Thalia said. "They think it's good luck."

"Why?"

She shook her head. "Mortals get crazy ideas. They don't know the statues are sacred to Zeus, but they know there's something special about them."

"When you were here last, did they talk to you or anything?"

Thalia's expression darkened, "No. They don't do anything. They're just big metal statues."

"Let us find the dam snack bar," Zoe said. "We should eat while we can."

Grover cracked a smile. "The dam snack bar?"

Zoe blinked. "Yes. What is funny?"

"Nothing," Grover said, trying to keep a straight face. "I could use some dam french fries."

Even Thalia smiled at that. "And I need to use the dam restroom." Y/N's face darkened as she whispered, "Me too."

Maybe it was the fact that they were so tired and strung out emotionally, but everyone started cracking up, while Zoe just looked at them. "I do not understand."

"I want to use the dam water fountain," Grover said.

"And..." Thalia tried to catch her breath. "I want to buy a dam T-shirt."

Percy probably would've kept laughing all day, but then he heard a noise: "Moooo."

The smile melted off his face. He wondered if the noise was just in his head, but Grover had stopped laughing too. He was looking around, confused. "Did I just hear a cow?"

"A dam cow?" Thalia laughed.

"No," Grover said. "I'm serious."

Zoe listened. "I hear nothing."

Thalia was looking at him, "Percy, are you okay?"

"Yeah," he said. "You guys go ahead. I'll be right in."

"What's wrong?" Grover asked.

"Nothing," he said. "I... I just need a minute. To think."

They hesitated, but finally went into the visitor center without him.

"Thalia," Y/N said, "....I think I just got my period."

"Now?" she asked, "Wasn't it supposed to come like a week later or something?"

"You think I don't know that?!" she said out of embarrassment, "And I need to change out of these pants too. Thank god I'm wearing black."

"Do you have extra pair of pants?" she asked.

"No, I just have tampons," Y/N sighed, "It's so fucking uncomfortable!"

"..Wait, Zoe might be able to help," Thalia said and turned to her, "...Do you have anything? Anything her size?"

"I do," Zoe said, "Come on."

"....So you guys are just gonna leave me alone here?" Grover asked.

"....I mean, you can join us in our bloody adventure if you want to," Y/N chuckled. Thalia laughed at her comment, while Grover shook his head in disapproval and walked away.

As soon as Y/N was done changing, she stepped out of the stall in the restroom and washed her hands. It looked like Zoe left while Thalia waited for her.

"You know you're gonna have to talk to him in this journey at some point, right?" she asked.

"Yeah," Y/N said, "I know when we have to talk and when it's not required."

"You haven't said a word to him since I said that. It makes me feel like it's my fault," Thalia sighed.

"To be honest, you are at fault for like 20 percent. But I'm so done with him right now."

"He's dying to talk to you and you know that."

"I don't think so. He would've talked if he wanted to. Besides, he doesn't want us to become strangers I guess. And that's why he's doing this. He wants us to become friends again but you know what? Just like him, I'm beginning to have trust issues regarding this whole group. I don't wanna force myself to be in a place where I feel unwanted."

"You're not forcing yourself-"

"I know but no matter what you say, whatever goes on in this group makes me feel unwanted. So yeah, I'm just gonna do whatever makes me happy from this point. There's no use trying to make Percy and Annabeth feel less guilty and lying about being friends. In the long run, it's better for all of us."

They walked out of the stall and went to order their food with Zoe and Grover. The cafe was packed with kids enjoying the best part of the tour—the dam lunch. They were just sitting down with their food when Percy appeared in front of them gasping for air.

"We need to leave. Now!"

[ TIME SKIP ]

Okay, so angel statues saving the group from the skeletons? Check.

Forcing Nereus to tell about the monster? Uh, well he tricked them with an irrelevant answer. So no check.

Mr. D saving their ass after almost getting killed by Dr. Thorn, the manticore, and the guards assisting him? Check. Yes, this one seems almost unreal. Dionysus really got on their nerves but he did fulfill his responsibility when it was a serious matter. As a matter of fact, he even got Percy's name right. Although he denied it later.

All around them, the manticore's minions were still acting completely nuts. One of them had found their friend the homeless guy, and they were having a serious conversation about metal angels from Mars. Several other guards were harassing the tourists, making animal noises, and trying to steal their shoes.

Percy looked at Zoe. "What did he mean… 'You know where to go'?"

Her face was the color of the fog. She pointed across the bay, past the Golden Gate. In the distance, a single mountain rose up above the cloud layer.

"The garden of my sisters," she said. "I must go home. But, we will never make it. We are moving too slow. But we cannot leave the Ophiotaurus."

"Mooo," Bessie said. He swam next to him as they jogged along the waterfront. They'd left the shopping center pier far behind and headed toward the Golden Gate Bridge, but it was a lot farther than they'd realized. The sun was already dipping in the west.

"I don't get it," Percy said. "Why do we have to get there at sunset?"

"The Hesperides are the nymphs of the sunset," Zoe said. "We can only enter their garden as day changes to night."

"What happens if we miss it?"

"Tomorrow is the winter solstice. If we miss sunset tonight, we would have to wait until tomorrow evening. And by then, the Olympian Council will be over. We must free Lady Artemis tonight."

Or Annabeth will be dead, he thought but didn't say that.

"We need a car," Thalia said.

"But what about Bessie?" he asked.

Grover stopped in his tracks. "I've got an idea! The Ophiotaurus can appear in different bodies of water, right?"

"Well, yeah," Percy said. "I mean, he was in Long Island Sound. Then he just popped into the water at Hoover Dam. And now he's here."

"So maybe we could coax him back to Long Island Sound," Grover said. "Then Chiron could help us get him to Olympus."

"But he was following me. If I'm not there, would he know where he's going?"

Although Grover was reluctant about getting into the water again after the experience of drowning in the sea of monsters, he was willing to do whatever it takes to help them. In the end, Percy agreed to it.

"Dad," he said. "Help us. Get the Ophiotaurus and Grover safely to camp. Protect them at sea."

"A prayer like that needs a sacrifice," Thalia said. "Something big."

He thought for a second and took off his coat.

"Percy," Grover said. "Are you sure? That lion skin… that's really helpful. Hercules used it!"

As soon as he said that, Percy realized something.

He glanced at Zoe momentarily and said, "If I'm going to survive, it won't be because I've got a lion-skin cloak. I'm not Hercules."

He threw the coat into the bay. It turned back into a golden lion skin, flashing in the light. Then, as it began to sink beneath the waves, it seemed to dissolve into the sunlight on the water. The sea breeze picked up.

Grover took a deep breath. "Well, no time to lose."

"....So where can we get the car?" Y/N asked after Grover left.

"Thalia's right," Percy said. "We need a car. But there's nobody to help us here. Unless we, uh, borrowed one."

He didn't like that option. It was stealing, and it was bound to get them noticed. Percy realized that this was the first time after long days of battling with monsters and traveling that they spoke with each other. Sure, it was regarding the urgent matter that made them talk but so far, she only talked when the whole group was present.

Clearly, she was ignoring him ever since that day. And frankly, they didn't exactly have the time to think or talk about it. He wanted to though. It made him feel something that he didn't ever feel before. No, not even after arguing with Annabeth so much.

As a matter of fact, not even when Annabeth is in trouble. Sure he's scared for her but this feeling was different. It only increased as time passed without Y/N talking to him.

A sense of emptiness. A sense of...longing.

Percy was sure she wouldn't be able to stay mad at him for long but this time she was really pissed. Enough to make her look at him as less as possible. It felt like she didn't want to see his face.

Almost like she's on this mission solely for her sense of duty towards Annabeth. Not because they're friends.

Not for him.

"Wait," Thalia said. She started rifling through her backpack. "There is somebody in San Francisco who can help us. I've got the address here somewhere."

"Who?" Percy asked, snapping out of his thoughts.

Y/N furrowed her brows hearing him. How did he not know this? They've been in a relationship for almost two years and he didn't know this?

Even she knew about it. In fact, it was unnatural for him to not know about it. Surely Annabeth must've mentioned her boyfriend. Something was wrong in their relationship. Earlier Grover escaped from the conversation so there was no one who could tell her about it. But, well.

It's none of her business. Not anymore.

Thalia pulled out a crumpled piece of notebook paper and held it up. "Professor Chase. Annabeth's dad."