Castaways

Chapter 18

What could they hope to gain from the dream?

Before Percy could think more, a sudden commotion erupted from the edge of the camp—a chorus of snarls and growls that sent chills down their spines. With a shared glance, Percy, Aria, and Zoe sprang into action, their weapons at the ready as they prepared to face whatever threat awaited them.

Rounding the corner of the camp, they were met with a sight that sent their hearts plummeting—a horde of Telkhines, their twisted forms silhouetted against the flickering flames of Hephaestus's forge. With bared teeth and glinting weapons, the creatures advanced, their eyes blazing with malice as they prepared to attack.

Without hesitation, Percy raised Riptide, his grip steady as he faced down the approaching horde. "We can't let them reach the forge," he called out, his voice ringing with authority. "Zoe, cover our flank. Aria, stay close to me."

As the battle against the relentless horde of Telkhines raged on, Percy, Aria, Zoe, and the Hunters of Artemis found themselves locked in a desperate struggle for survival.

With each passing moment, the Telkhines gained ground, their twisted forms surging ever closer to Hephaestus's forge. Despite their skill and determination, Percy and his companions found themselves outnumbered and outmatched, their weapons barely holding back the relentless onslaught.

As the situation grew increasingly dire, Percy's mind raced with desperation, searching for a way to turn the tide of battle in their favor. But before he could formulate a plan, a sudden sense of hope flickered in the darkness—a silver streak that cut through the chaos like a beacon of light.

With a triumphant cry, Thalia Grace, leader of the Hunters of Artemis, emerged from the shadows, her golden bow held high as she unleashed a volley of arrows into the heart of the enemy ranks. The Hunters rallied behind her, their silver weapons flashing in the firelight as they fought with renewed vigor and determination.

For a moment, it seemed as though their fortunes had shifted, the Telkhines faltering under the onslaught of Artemis's warriors. But even as they gained ground, the enemy's numbers seemed endless, their twisted forms surging forward with a relentless determination that sent a chill down Percy's spine.

Just when it seemed as though all hope was lost, a voice echoed through the chaos—a voice that struck fear into the hearts of their enemies and hope into the hearts of Percy and his companions.

"Took you long enough." Zoe said to her old friend. "Sorry, Zeus is obnoxious." She replied with an annoyed look.

With a wave of her hand, Artemis unleashed a barrage of arrows that tore through the enemy ranks with deadly precision. Her presence on the battlefield was like a beacon of hope, filling Percy and his companions with renewed determination as they fought alongside the goddess against their common foe.

But even Artemis's divine power seemed to wane against the relentless onslaught of the Telkhines. As the battle raged on, Percy watched in despair as his allies were overwhelmed by the sheer force of their enemy's numbers, their defenses crumbling under the relentless assault.

Just when it seemed as though all was lost, a sudden surge of energy pulsed through the air—a faint glow that emanated from Aria's form, bathing the battlefield in an eerie red light. Percy's heart skipped a beat as he watched the nerve racking moment, and his daughter surrounded by a halo of otherworldly power.

With a triumphant cry, Aria raised her arms to the sky, her eyes blazing red with an intensity that seemed to pierce the very fabric of reality. In that moment, she seemed to transcend mortal limitations, her form suffused with a divine aura that pulsed with unimaginable power.

And then, with a wave of her hand, Aria unleashed a torrent of energy that swept through the ranks of the Telkhines like a hurricane, decimating their twisted forms with devastating force. The creatures fell before her in droves, their bodies crumbling to dust as they were consumed by the overwhelming power of her aura.

As the dust settled and the echoes of battle faded, Percy's initial awe at Aria's display of power gave way to a gnawing sense of fear. The memory of her dream resurfaced in his mind, a haunting reminder of the darkness that lurked within her.

Aria, still surrounded by the lingering glow of her aura, turned to Percy with a look of concern. "Dad, are you alright?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry.

Percy forced a weak smile, trying to push aside the unease that churned within him. "I'm fine, Aria," he replied, his voice strained. "Just... a lot to process, that's all."

But Aria wasn't convinced. She could sense the turmoil brewing beneath the surface of her father's stoic facade, a deep-seated fear that mirrored her own. "You're worried about me, aren't you?" she ventured, her voice soft with understanding.

Percy hesitated, his gaze flickering to the ground as he struggled to find the right words. "I... I just don't want anything to happen to you," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "You're my daughter, Aria. My world."

Aria's heart clenched at the vulnerability in her father's words, a silent plea for reassurance that she wasn't alone in this struggle. Stepping closer, she reached out and took his hand in hers, her touch a comforting anchor in the storm of uncertainty.

"We'll figure this out together, Dad," she said, her voice filled with determination. "Whatever's happening to me, we'll face it head-on. I won't let it consume me."

Percy squeezed her hand tightly, his grip a silent promise to stand by her side no matter what challenges lay ahead. "I know you won't, Aria," he replied, his voice steady with resolve. "But we need to be careful. Whatever that power is... it's unlike anything I've ever seen before."

Aria nodded, her thoughts racing as she tried to make sense of the newfound abilities that had manifested within her. "I think... I think it has something to do with my dream," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Percy's brow furrowed in concern as he listened to her words, the memory of her haunting vision resurfacing once more. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice tight with worry.

Aria took a deep breath, steeling herself as she recounted the details of her dream—the barren landscape, the grotesque monsters, and the overwhelming sense of power that had surged through her veins. "It felt real, Dad," she said, her voice trembling with emotion. "Like I was someone else entirely."

Percy listened in silence, his heart heavy with a sense of foreboding. "We need to find out more about this... power," he said finally, his voice tinged with urgency. "Before it consumes you."

"I won't let it consume me, dad. I may have felt like someone else but that was just the emotions part of it. Unlike my dream, I still felt in control." She replied confidently. He seemed to accept it but whatever power she got from that old temple, it changed her. For the better or worse is unknown but it definitely changed her.

Tired and bored so here you go.