Drowning in the Siren's Song

Chapter 13

He looked down again. Yep, still glowing. 

"It should die down in a bit..." Pan trailed off, blending in the natural forest noises. He looked on the verge of collapsing, yet Percy couldn't bring himself to check up on him. He was still digesting what Pan had thrown at him. A blessing. 

He went over his newly gained powers again.

Number 1. Influence over plant life. Pan was the supreme lord of the wild and therefore had full control and authority over anything in it, which included the life of the forest, and his blessing was like becoming the general of his army. He got authority, just a little compared to his power but much more than he could've imagined.

It was as if he was immersed in cold water and all of his senses were forcefully woken up from deep slumber. It was indescribable. He could sense everything. He could feel the faint buzzing of life from every tree, every leaf. Pan told him that he could 'influence' and not control, but he didn't really understand until he tried it himself. 

It was similar to the usage of his siren powers. He willed it to happen, and if he was focused enough and the conditions were met, the outcome would be in his favor. Curious, he fixed his attention on a little vine which was creeping up a short tree. He willed it to unravel, and like a snake, it followed. Maybe he surprised Pan by doing that just after his explanation, but after telling him that he had practice using a similar power, he was convinced. 

In all honesty, the natures blessing was very similar to the blessing which Pan bestowed him. Oak gave him the ability to persuade spirits and Pan gave him the power to persuade the plants itself. He wondered if the combination was lethal. 

The second and the power he was most grateful was the ability to understand animals. It was the watered-down version of Pan's divine authority over the wild. Though he could not 'speak' to them, nor could they, but he could roughly understand and guess the emotions they were portraying. It was an intention based communication. 

For example, he could sense Keria laughing at him and the amusement and curiosity she was showing towards his glowing body. It was hard to put the exact way he understood her in words, but it was like when his intuition told him he was in danger. 

He glared at her.
Amusement intensifies. 

He sighed and looked around, reveling in the feeling of being around nature. Because of the two blessings, he was even more deeply connected to to the wild and just being near it made him feel safe and secure. He wondered if it was how gods felt in their own respective domains. 

But he just couldn't believe it. Pan had no reason to bless him, but the poor god looked so exhausted that it was hard to bring up the topic. And he had a feeling that he wouldn't answer even if he asked. 

He just didn't know what to think anymore. One one hand, he was agitated because receiving more powers was just like putting a target on his already painted red back, and not to mention that Pan hadn't even asked him before hand. But on the other hand, he was overjoyed. He gained the ability to be more involved with nature and its inhabitants and he was really grateful and honored that Pan choose him, a human and demigod. 

But there was nothing he could do, so he focused on the positive side. Even if he didn't receive the blessing, he was already different from other demigods. There was no use blaming Pan who only had his best interests in mind.

Now the only concern left was the old satyr himself. It seemed like the blessing took a good deal out of him. He was still seated but instead of his usual relaxed and poised way, he was huffing loudly and was slouched over while the dodo hovered around him, worried and frantic.

"I need to leave." Pan breathed out, struggling to straighten himself. "I'm using too much strength to stay here. Its not time for me to fade yet, I an yet to meet a child."

"What!?" He gasped, not expecting the level of danger Pan had gone through to share his power. It made sense, though. His power already was weakened due to the dire situation of the wild and on top of that he gave him a blessing...oh lord. 

"Take care of the wild, child." Pan wheezed out, while Percy scrambled up, suddenly as frantic as the dodo. It was too sudden! For gods sake, the after effects of the blessing hadn't even subsided and he was leaving? No, he had to calm down first. Pan trusted him.

"Yes, sir. I will." He promised.

"Take care of yourself as well." Pan's suddenly tired face blossomed into a bright smile, so blinding that Percy couldn't respond, even when Pan vanished, turning into wild flowers which scattered in the wind leaving behind a lingering fragrance. 

And then, Percy cried.