Bronze Gold Shadow (Percy Jackson/Teen Wolf Crossover)

Damasen's Swamp

The environment of the swamp was something I was new to. It was dark and dim beneath the trees, with no sunlight or moonlight to light the way. It felt like moving through my cabin's library at night. I was able to make out the silhouettes of the objects around me but not the details of it all. The water below me was a deep brown colour, the atmosphere humid and muggy making sweat pour down my back. I felt bad for Nico in his aviator jacket. The trees were packed densely close together with slithering...somethings crawling away beneath us. 

Small Bob had no problem moving between the plants. He often bounded far ahead so fast that we lost track of him multiple times. Then we would stumble into him only for the feline to take off into the trees again. I could tell the boys were starting to get tired. Will was panting with a waxy sheen returning to his face. Nico's eyelids were starting to droop despite his straight shoulders. 

"I wish Small Bob could talk," Will said. "So he could tell us how much further we had to go." 

I smiled a little. "I'm sure we're almost at Damasen's hut. Small Bob seems like a good cat." 

"He is," Nico said. "You're both doing well. Every step we take brings us closer to Bob." 

"How come those boneheaded weirdos could talk but not Small Bob?" Will asked. "Where's the justice in that?" 

Nico chuckled. "Yeah that does seem a little unfair." 

"Imagine if the pegasi back home could talk," I said. "They'd be begging for donuts all day long." 

"According to Percy, they do," Nico confirmed. 

Will looked at Nico with a look that made me step ahead to give them their space. I leaned over a pile of gnarled roots and felt my shoe sink into something. I tugged and it came back muddy and gross. These sneakers would be destroyed by the time we got to the hut. I wanted to hit myself for that thought. I was in the biggest most horrible place in the world and here I was worrying about my shoes. At the same time it was better to focus on the smaller things than the overwhelming reality of the place. One was annoying. The other would drive me insane with depression. 

Small Bob meowed from the roots of mangrove, pulling me from my thoughts. I stopped and let the boys catch up a bit. Nico spoke in a low tone that I tuned out. That voice was only for Will and Will alone. Small Bob leaped over a downed tree and continued down a path. I placed my hands on it and pushed myself up. I slid down the other side, landing on my feet. Nico helped Will up and I caught him coming down. Nico pushed himself up, then hesitated when Will reached up to catch him. 

"Will, you're exhausted, don't worry about me," Nico told him. 

"I got you," Will said. "Just like you've had me this whole quest." 

Nico eased himself down into Will's arms. They just held each other for a moment. I smiled a little as they whispered words to each other I couldn't make out. Nico leaned back and kissed Will. 

"It's not going to be you," he said. "It's not going to be me. It's not going to be Liz either."

"You promise?" Will asked. 

"I swear on the River Styx," Nico said. 

I felt my face get a little pale. That pit in my stomach returned and the knot in my throat prevented me from saying anything at all. 

"Nico, why did you say that?" Will questioned. 

"Because I meant it," he stated. 

"But what if that is how you save Bob? Now you can't!" 

Nico started pulling him along again. "We'll figure it out once we get there." 

I followed behind silently. I wanted to yell at Nico, scold him for being stupid enough to make a vow like that. But I couldn't. Not when he was trying to reassure Will by reminding him of all the stories. I just kept walking, stepping over the gnarled roots and thorny branches. Will was getting slower and Nico's voice was getting more tired.