ATLOP: Lessons in Water

Oh Gentle Ocean, Please Stop Giving Me Trauma

*bows* I have returned, in the midst of finals week, to give a gift. I uh... apologize.

I did tell the discord there would be death this time.

TW:
-drowning
-major injury (non-graphic)

Come yell at me on my tumblr: Percabeth4Life
Come chat with me on discord: https://discord.gg/3tGNJhu

OO OO OO OO

ANNABETH POV

Going on a quest was my life's dream ever since Luke went on one.

Oh, Luke came back worse. He wasn't happy, he was injured, he wasn't the same... but his dad was proud.

I wanted that.

I knew my mom looked after me. She guided me to Thalia and Luke, she ensured I had food and water. She whispered guidance when I needed it the most. She gave me my cap of invisibility... but I wanted her to be proud of me.

Quests could do that, they could show the Gods that you weren't just their kids, you were someone to be proud of. Your actions to honor them, your success and failure in their name. Whether you succeeded or failed, you trying, you giving your everything, it could get you praise. It could even give you a time with your parents, a time the Ancient Laws couldn't interrupt.

My mom visited me in a dream after my first quest. It was short, but she told me I did well. She told me she was proud, proud that I survived, proud that I stopped a war, proud that I fought well, proud that I used my mind well.

I was too young for my Fate she said, but I did well.

I wondered if my Fate was determined here. I wonder if she made sure to tell me she was proud after my first quest because of this.

Because I didn't think I would be making it out of this quest alive.

I crashed into a pile of ropes, the ship roiling beneath my feet. Percy had been snatched up with Skylla and so had his control of the water. The ship was fighting against Kharybdis' currents, but without Percy we were doomed.

I hadn't managed to grab him.

He was going to die, and it was going to my fault for failing to take his hand in time.

Tears burned my eyes as I tried to push up, the ship crashing against the waves. I hated storms, I hated boats, I hated it all.

A storm was building above us, the sky darkening. Poseidon's wrath falling upon us at last.

It was Thalia's death all over again.

"Annabeth!"

I struggled to my feet once more, clinging to the ship's mast.

"Annabeth," Another voice hissed from my arm. "You must to get up."

I nearly crashed into the mast as the boat surged up, crashing against the waves.

"Annabeth! We need to go!"

A hand grabbed my arm, yanking me along.

I looked around, Percy gone, Martha on my arm, Clarrise dragging me along-

We staggered into a cannon as the boat dropped beneath us.

"Where's Tyson!?"

Clarisse scoffed, "Down below! We don't have time to get him-"

My heart stopped, "No! We can't leave him!"

She shoved me against the life boats, working on the release.