Anyone who knows Arya Jackson for more than five minutes knows her opinion of the world, and demigods not so fair place in it. Unfortunately, since the war Arya isn't that easy to get to know. To most she's little more than a legend.
Arya is fine w...
"What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in winning with ease."
- The Art of War
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19.
The First Battle is Always the Messiest
SINCE APHRODITE SEEMED FIT to load the group with money, Ayra was the one who suggested they take a cab to the mountain. Not only would it save them time, but it would keep them off the ground as long as possible.
Arya thought maybe the closer they got to the mountain the faster the adrenaline would take over and she would get out of the panicked state she was in. Unfortunately, that didn't seem to be the case. As they pulled up to the base and the cabbie told them he wasn't going to take them any farther. Arya was sure the others had noticed my demeanor change. She just hoped it would go away by the time we had to face the giant.
The cabbie left almost as soon as the money was in hand and the rest of them started to make their way to the top. They didn't get very far before they hit their first overhang where the entire city was visible. None of them really planned on stopping but Jason froze in his tracks and his eyes were flicking around the view like he was figuring out a puzzle.
"What's up?" Ayra asked, coming to his side.
"That's Concord," Jason said, pointing to the north. "Walnut Creek below us. To the south, Danville, past those hills. And that way ..." He pointed west, where a ridge of golden hills held back a layer of fog, like the rim of a bowl. "That's the Berkeley Hills. The East Bay. Past that, San Francisco."
"Jason?" Piper said, coming up and lightly grabbing his arm. "You remember something? You've been here?"
"Yes ... no." He gave her an anguished look. "It just seems important."
"That demigod I met," Arya said rubbing her own shoulder, just out of reach of the bullet scar, "We were right by the bay."
"That's Titan land." Coach Hedge nodded toward the west. "Bad place, Jason. Trust me, this is as close to 'Frisco as we want to get."
"Coach, do you know why San Francisco is bad?" Arya asked.
"Monsters. Too many monsters." He grumbled, adjusting his bat on his shoulder.
"Yeah but do you know anyone that's actually been there?"
"No, just always warned to stay away." He didn't seem bothered.
Arya hummed in response, normally something like that wouldn't phase her. Now, she couldn't help but think it odd.
Leo warned them they needed to keep moving. As soon as Arya went to move her feet she knew why. Gaea was strong here and she was messing with them, making the ground pull them in like quick sand.
