𝐀𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐎𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐒 | Percy Jackson x OC |

||-||Ares: God of Gossip||-||

𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐎𝐕

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐄𝐑𝐘𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐁𝐎𝐀𝐑 was their ride.

Y'know, the thing that almost killed all of them?

It was safe to say some weren't too pleased with the decision, but not much else could be said—seeing as there were no trains, and certainly no cars. The boar was their best bet, as well as their fastest. So with a floating apple as their steering wheel, all six set off West towards their next designation. Whatever that may be.

And by gods was it awkward.

Imagine Thalia and Zoe's previous arguments and add a dash of concern: take that, multiply it by one hundred, and smack it on the faces of Percy Jackson and Esmeralda Antoinette. In the heat of the moment, nothing settled into them, at least not in a way that would make them truly think. However, now that they had the much needed respite atop the Erymanthian Boar, their faces burned in remembrance and embarrassment.

They sat far away from each other, or as far as they could on the boar's back. The other four were stationed between them forcefully, but for the sake of a break from the other, none complained. If anything, it made the trip quieter.

Roaring hills, swooping valleys, and winding rivers—all were things passed on their boar-ride journey. It was mostly the others who chatted about the quest and their upcoming challenges. Percy and Esmeralda were left to their own devices, otherwise known as polishing pocket watches and fiddling with pens. It was probably pretty pitiful from an outsider's point of view.

Warm sunset hues tickled the horizon by the time the boar came to a full stop; stars began their nightly dusting. The large creature showed its refusal to move forward by dipping his mouth into a nearby creek bed. He drank his fill and moved onto a cactus. Grover's insistence to allow him his release had everyone clamoring off its uncomfortable back. Esmeralda's behind ached as she stretched. Never again would she ride the Erymanthian Boar—even saying she did in the first place was fascinating in all the worst ways.

"We shall stay here for the night and recommence in the morning." Zoe announced sternly, but it wasn't as if anyone wanted to bicker against it. Fatigue weighed down their eyelids and weariness clung to their sore limbs. Fighting the Nemean Lion, subway hopping, battling skeleton warriors, and riding atop a nearly intolerable beast—that first tried to kill them—weren't some of the most energy conserving activities. Not by a long shot. It made it to where the desire to sleep for a week straight became stronger by the second. So everyone helped in the preparation of their temporary camp. Zoe and Bianca pulled out mysteriously packed sleeping bags and foam mattresses, while Thalia and Esmeralda searched around for stray items for the much needed camp fire. Just thinking about the toasty blaze had Esmeralda shivering with delight—either that or cold, her body still hadn't warmed up yet. Ultimately, the two garnered their materials from a deserted, boarded up shack just across the road. It laid barren beside an abandoned-like town and a single run down, ancient restaurant. They didn't stick around long to welcome any monsters or wanderers.