Modern Myths

Book 2 - The Sea of Monsters: Chapter 5: Uniting the teams

6/17/07, Sunday

Somewhere in the Ocean, 10:00am

Percy POV

We're running out of time. The quest needs to be completed by tomorrow at the latest.

We pulled into Chesapeake Bay, while using the mist to hide us from the coast guard.

I could tell the second we went from saltwater to freshwater.

My arms now positively ached, the automatic bearings disappeared, and I could feel the heat and humidity.

Me: "Ok, you'd better know where we're going, because I'm now lost," he told her.

Wise Girl: "I'll tell you where to go," she promised.

She then pointed in a direction. "There. Just past that sandbar."

I nodded, and we veered into a swampy area, the tall marsh grass choking any visibility.

I screwed the lid back onto the thermos and let them drift in the still water.

We gently came ashore at the foot of a cypress tree, towering over them at easily 50 feet.

There were titanic vines draped around them, like green fingers. Insect noises were amplified.

There was so much humidity that I was getting a minor buzz from my godly blood.

Annabeth: "Ok, cover the boat. We don't want to attract attention. Someone might think we're smugglers of something. Now then, just follow me," she instructed.

Tyson: "Follow you? Where to?" he asked.

Annabeth: "I'll show you when we get there," she promised, leading them off in a direction.

We followed, sinking into the mud. I would get random surges of power when I sank up to my ankles, and water pooled around my legs.

A snake darted off into the grass after being startled by their movements.

Tyson smacked about two dozen mosquitos that were trying to create an all-you-can-eat on his shoulder.

I was sure I saw what looked like a miniature crushed building & made notes of that.

We walked for a few more minutes, until Annabeth stopped us.: "Ok, we're here," she announced.

Tyson: "Uhhh, there are only brambles here," he pointed out.

Annabeth then moved aside a woven circle of branches.

Tyson: "Or not," he added.

I realized it was a survival shelter, expertly camouflaged against the marshy area.

The walls were woven from plants, and it looked like it would remain woven together until it rotted.

Me: "It's like a hobbit hole."

Tyson: "A demigod hobbit hole," he added, picking up a bronze javelin tip.

Annabeth: "Yeah, this place has whatever you could want for a campout. We have sleeping bags, blankets, an ice chest..." she said, listing off the things as she pulled them from a hole in the ground, expertly hidden, and sealed off from the elements.

"Score! The ice chest still has provisions!" she exclaimed, showing the two some very, very fresh ambrosia, despite the musty, no-one-has-been-here-since-ever smell.

Me: "Is this where you 3 were before meeting Grover?" I asked my girlfriend in awe.

Annabeth: "Yeah... when me, Thalia, and Luke were on the run, we'd make safehouses like this one. I think we made a dozen or so, running along the East Coast. I don't think he remembers them... and if he did, he wouldn't care about them anyways."