Percy's POV (we're going to be switching back and forth a lot now, so keep an eye out!)

In front of me, Artemis rolled her eyes. "Let's get started. This might take a while."

I woke up that morning feeling more exhausted than when I had laid down. Artemis trained me in the use of my powers and skills relentlessly, never letting me stop to rest. I was relieved that I had finally found the solution to switching between human and wolf, as well as how to control the wolf (well, more than before). However, I couldn't help but wonder if some of it was really necessary for the first night of training.

I sat up on my wolf haunches before closing my eyes and breathing deeply. I channelled all my emotion, all my hope and despair and, most of all, longing into changing my form. When I opened my eyes again, I was kneeling on the ground as a human.

I stood up, extremely thankful that Artemis had gotten around to showing me how to control my clothing along with the change. Originally, clothing did not... Appear with me when I transformed. Fortunately, the man-hating goddess didn't decide to kill me for that and instead taught me how to preserve the innocence of everyone else.

I was wearing the same clothes that I was wearing when I first transformed days ago. My orange camp shirt was now splotchy with brown mud and dirt and my shorts were getting stiff with dried grossness. Whatever happened to my fur as the wolf happened to my clothes.

Thankfully, that also works in reverse, so the wolf doesn't have to take a bath.

Imagine the horror that would bring.

I stretched, relishing in the feeling of human muscles and human arms moving. Yawning, I closed my eyes briefly. When I opened them, a nymph was directly in front of my face.

I yelped, jumping backwards, not prepared for anything in that close of a proximity to my face. Trying to catch my breath, I asked her, "What are you doing?"

She giggled, her dress rippling as she moved. "I wanted to see what you looked like, hero."

I groaned. "Percy," I said, "My name is Percy."

The nymph giggled again, her face turning a darker shade of green that I assumed was a blush. "You're funnier as a human, hero. And much more handsome."

My eyes widened. Is she... Flirting with me? "Um... You're pretty, but... I do have a girlfriend."

The nymph paused and looked at me in confusion. "How does that work? You're on a journey that could end in your death or eternal imprisonment. What does your 'girlfriend' think about that?"

I stood up and looked at the nymph. I towered over her small frame, making her look up at me. Tearing my eyes away from her, I looked to my left and said, "She doesn't know. And hopefully, she never will."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the nymph turn white. "W-What? How would she know?"
Suspicious, I shrugged. "I don't know. I'm not in contact with her or anyone else from my camp. But if someone else told..."

The nymph flushed when I looked at her out of the corner of my eye.

"You wouldn't have said anything, right?" I asked, onto her suspicious behavior.

She shook her head quickly. "No, no! Of course not!" I stared at her and raised my eyebrow, silently challenging that statement. Breaking down in tears, the nymph cried, "I'm sorry! I couldn't help it! I had to tell my sisters that the hero, Perseus Jackson, was sleeping under my tree!"

I shook my head, disappointed and slightly afraid. I didn't want Annabeth to know, and now that she did, would she try to find me and stop me from saving myself? No, she wouldn't actually try to stop me, but if she didn't know... If she got the jump on me...

"I have to keep moving," I said to the still-crying nymph, who looked up at me with tear-streaked cheeks.

"Why?"

"I can't let them catch me here. They'll unknowingly try to stop me. It's best if I'm as far away as possible," I explained. Internally, I knew that I had another excuse as well. If I was far away, I wouldn't be able to hurt them if I lose control.

"Please, hero! I'm sorry. Don't leave me!" The nymph cried, grabbing my wrist in a desperate last move. I shook her off easily.

"I have to go," I said, beginning to already turn around and run. "If you see a beautiful, blonde daughter of Athena by the name of Annabeth, stop her. Tell her not to follow me." I hesitated before adding, "Please."

The nymph sniffled but nodded, wiping her face with one green-skinned arm. She waved at me as I finally turned away, watching from her tree.

I glanced back once, witnessing her disappearance into the tree that she protected. Then, not wasting any more time, I concentrated on my emotions of fear and desperation, turning back into the wolf and running off through the forest. California, here I come.

Annabeth's POV

"We leave at dawn," I told Grover. "Meet me at Thalia's tree." With those instructions said, I turned and stalked back to my cabin, ready to pack a bag to save my idiotic, lovable boyfriend.

Dawn approached quickly. I told Chiron I would be going into the city to give Sally the news about what happened to her danger-prone son. He agreed, saying it was indeed something better done in person than through IM. I told him I might stay a few days, just to keep Sally company when Paul wasn't in the house. He agreed with that as well, warning me to keep an eye out for monsters, though.

I promised I would try to be safe. I lied; going on this dangerous, not-legitimate quest was definitely not trying to be safe.

Grover met me at Thalia's tree at dawn, just as directed. I had been waiting there for a while, but only because I couldn't sleep. My mind was running wild with all the possibilities of what could've happened and what might still happen to Percy. Why had that idiot left? Didn't he trust us to help him?

"Hi Annabeth," Grover greeted when he saw me standing next to the tall pine tree. "How are we going to find Percy?"

I smirked at him, stepping out from the tree to allow the two pegasi to come into light. One was pitch black; the other was a blinding white.

"Grover, I believe you've met Blackjack?"

The satyr waved awkwardly at the black pegasus, who whinnied in response. "Who's this white one?" Grover asked. "I didn't think we had any white pegasi at camp."

I chuckled softly. "Another one of Percy's rescues. That boy has more pets and rescued animals than any other demigod I know about. This is Diamond."

Grover gave another awkward wave, this one to Diamond. She snorted in response, obviously not liking his attitude. Blackjack made a noise that could've been a laugh. If only Percy was here to narrate for us.

I began to put my stuff on Blackjack's back before hopping up. "Grover, you get Diamond."

The terrified Lord of the Wild sputtered. "B-But she doesn't like me!"

"And she never will," I countered, "if you don't make the first move to start a friendship."

Grover huffed before jumping onto the back of his pegasus. Diamond gave him the stink eye as Blackjack made the laughing noise again.

"Hurry up, Grover!" I called as Blackjack and I crossed over the camp border. Once Diamond and Grover followed, we gave a running start before taking off into the post-dawn, morning sky.

Notes

Let's get this next few chapters out of the way in one go! Keep an eye out!