ᑎᗴᗷᑌᒪᗩᗴ ➪ 𝙿.𝙹 + 𝙿.𝚂. + 𝙰.𝙲. [𝟸]

𝗦𝗜𝗫; 𝗗𝗜𝗘𝗧 𝗖𝗢𝗞𝗘

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗔𝗥𝗚𝗢 𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗗 𝗜𝗡 a field of sunflowers. For the past twenty minutes, Coach Hedge had been shouting variations of "Thar she blows!" and "Kansas, ahoy!" which was really grating on Percy's nerves.

But he stood at the railing of the ship with Annabeth, just breathing in that good agriculture smell–dirt, mud, and flowers; the city-boy in him wasn't the biggest fan. For the first time in months, he wore faded jeans and an orange shirt. It felt right. All that he needed was Polaris, and things would be golden.

When the oars finally retracted, people started to stream upstairs. Hedge and Leo were already there, but soon Jason, Frank, and Hazel joined them. No one really grouped together yet. It was too beautiful of a morning for war plans.

Eventually, Polaris bolted up the stairs and onto the main deck. Her long black hair streamed out behind her and Percy caught his breath. At first, he thought it was because she just looked good in the early morning light. Then he realized she was glowing. Literally.

He hadn't been able to put a finger on it, earlier, but without her circlet, Polaris just looked . . . dull. She didn't smile the same, naturally, but there was something about her aura that just wasn't right. He'd gotten so used to seeing her with the graceful metal on her brow–he'd known her for four years with it, of course–and he'd never been able to picture her without it.

Polaris ran on to the deck, grinning, and Percy couldn't help grinning back. Here she was–the priestess of the muses and daughter of Urania.

Percy met her in the middle and took her into his arms, lifting her and spinning. "Good morning, high priestess!"

"She gave it back," Polaris whispered, as if they'd had any doubt.

Percy let go, just to be able to look at Polaris's face. They were eye level–had been for the past year or so, after his growth spurt–and he searched her gaze. No indication of her conversation last night with Jason. Just pure joy.

He smiled. Alright, he could give her privacy–for now. He was weak for her. She'd kept secrets from him before–the Maze's effect on her, the true meaning of her circlet, her dad, to name a few–but Percy didn't doubt that the truth would eventually be revealed.

Annabeth came forward and pressed her lips to Polaris's, leaving the taller girl with a bright grin.

Behind her, Piper came up the stairs with a bagel. He smiled in greeting, and she looked a bit caught in place, like she hadn't expected him to notice her.

"So!" Annabeth plucked the bagel out of Piper's hand and took a bite. Percy quirked an eyebrow, but Polaris just smiled like it was an everyday occurrence. "Here we are. What's the plan?"

"I want to check out the highway," Piper said. "Find the sign that says Topeka 32."

Leo spun his Wii controller in a circle, and the sails lowered themselves. Percy still didn't know what to make of the som of Hephaestus, but that was pretty impressive. "We shouldn't be far," he said. "Festus and I calculated the landing as best we could. Would do you expect to find at the mile marker)"

Piper explained, and her explanation didn't make Percy very happy.

"Purple shirt," Jason asked. "Vines on his hat? Sounds like Bacchus."

"Dionysus," Percy muttered. "If we came all the way to Kansas to see Mr. D—"

"Bacchus isn't so bad," Jason interrupted. "I don't like his followers much, but the god himself is okay. I did him a favor once up in the wine country."

Percy was appalled. "Whatever, man. I feel like I've done him a million favors and he still can't stand me, but maybe he's better on the Roman side. Why is hanging around in Kansas, then? Didn't Zeus order the gods to cease all contact with mortals?"