California | Piper McLean

son.

"damn it!" she cursed, dodging attacks as the boy behind her just as tired as she was - if not, even more, "all i wanted was a walk, fresh air and all that," adriana starts, her lungs and legs burning from all the running. it was practically screaming at her - STOP! but nooo, what did she do? run, because she had to take the boy and an old lady, back to camp. he was obviously a demigod, but the old lady... "but apparently - the outside motto is "fresh air be damned!" - i swear, it's always death outside." she grumbles under her breath, and a yell reached her ears.

oh yeah, she wasn't the only one frustrated.

"i wonder what gave it away!?" the boy snarked, ducking when adriana finally took a swing and sliced a gorgon with one full swing of her sword, hearing their satisfying screams - gods, she hoped that it wouldn't reform soon. they were infuriating and she already had enough to deal with.

if the boy could hear her thoughts, he would've said something sassy in return. he had to deal with them for days straight - there's no point in having hope that they'll just ignore you.

"move." the blonde told him, pushing the dark haired boy in front of her (being gentle with the old lady on his back) and feeling her knees go weak at what was finally in front of her. the boy felt like screaming in relief.

they were at the gates, and adriana was finally near home. she swear to the gods above and below, she was happy to be near camp.

i am never going out ever again, she swore in her mind, fuck fresh air and walks. who needs them anyway?

just seeing adriana earned the attention of two guards at the gate, both who were on high alert once they saw the situation the blonde was in. and apparently the boy, who looked more done than adriana could ever be.

meanwhile, the old lady looked like she was enjoying everything, like she having the time of her life just having a free ride behind the boy's back. she should be glad that he's kind enough, or else he would let her pay with extra sanity and life after what just happened. this was his life, sure, but it doesn't mean that he likes it.

"adriana - again?!" came an exasperated yell from a guard at the gates. he was bigger than them, looking stout like a wrestler, and maybe close to their age - fourteen, fifteen?

he pulled the girl (and the tired boy) closer, letting his arrow fly straight to enraged gorgon's forehead. the other guard, a girl, darker-skinned with her curly hair sticking out the sides of her helmet - looking much younger, maybe thirteen. despite the appearance, she looked like she was in charge.

the younger girl was equally surprised that adriana was involved in things like these again. it wasn't their first experience, but it wasn't damn near enough for them not to be shocked. "this is the fifth time!"

"you were counting?" adriana asks, leaving her eyes off the gorgons.

"thanks," the dark haired boy told the guard, who was in disbelief to see the gorgon go back up again. "good shot."

"that should've killed her!" the guard protests, receiving a deadpan from the blonde.

"welcome to my world."

"frank," adriana calls the surprised guard, gesturing to the duo behind her, "get these two inside, i'll handle the gorgons. hazel, join frank."

"those are gorgons?" the male guard squeaked, fixing his helmet as he turned his attention on adriana, who looked more determined to finish off the two gorgons. gods, does she hated them. "will the door hold them?"

the old lady in percy's arms cackled, obviously amused at frank's question, "no, no it won't." so much for being enthusiastic, "onward, percy jackson! through the tunnel, over the river!" she directed, much to the confusion of the trio.