The Shinobi Demigod

Ch. 30: We Go Aboard a Cruise Ship

I opened my eyes to see myself in a cave with a campfire. There was a figure sitting there with a polecat and a dog. I walked up to the campfire and sat down, "Hello Hecate-sama, how are you?"

She looks over and smiles, "I am good, Tamotsu, how are you?"

I shrug, "Eh, I could use a shower."

She laughs and I continue, "I assume this isn't a leisure visit?"

She sobers up, "You would be correct. When you summoned your dragon to this world you took a great risk. Your summons are meant for the shinobi world. It is extremely risky for you to summon them here. Make sure to only do it in extreme cases."

I nodded, "Understood. Like with the giant squid."

"Exactly."

"I assume that's all you wanted to talk about?"

She nods and smiles, "Sadly I can't stay any longer. The gods would not like that, but I do enjoy the time I get talking to you."

I smile back, "It is nice."

And with that the dream started to fade.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

I felt someone nudge me awake, "It's time to wake up Tamotsu, we're reaching land."

In the distance, the sun was setting behind a city skyline. I could see a beachside highway lined with palm trees, store-fronts glowing with red and blue neon, a harbor filled with sailboats and cruise ships. There were coast guard ships scattered around the coast line, I guess they were still dealing with the aftermath of what I caused.

"Miami, I think," Serena said, "Percy said that we're going to have to get off, the ship's condition isn't going to be seaworthy for very much longer."

I nodded, "Is Annabeth fully healed?"

"Yeah, that Fleece works wonders."

"That's good."

We looked to see if there was an open dock available but sadly there wasn't. We abandoned the boat and swam to shore. I shrunk Toothless down so that he could easily hide in the mortal world. The waves pushed us forward, and in no time we were back in the mortal world. We wandered along the cruise line docks, pushing through crowds of people arriving for vacations. Porters bustled around with carts of luggage. Taxi drivers yelled at each other in Spanish and tried to cut in line for customers. If anybody noticed us—five kids dripping wet and looking like they'd just had a fight with a monster—they didn't let on.

Annabeth ran to the nearest newspaper box and checked the date on the Miami Herald. She cursed. "June eighteenth! We've been away from camp ten days!"

"That's impossible!" Clarisse said.

I rubbed my chin in thought, "Not necessarily, time could be warped in godly places. Afterall, they do perceive time differently from us."

"Thalia's tree must be almost dead," Grover wailed. "We have to get the Fleece back tonight."

Clarisse slumped down on the pavement. "How are we supposed to do that?" Her voice trembled. "We're hundreds of miles away. No money. No ride. This is just like the Oracle said. It's your fault, Jackson! If you hadn't interfered—"

"Percy's fault?!" Annabeth exploded. "Clarisse, how can you say that? You are the biggest—"

"Enough!" I yelled, "Arguing isn't going to make us find a solution any faster."

"Clarisse," Percy said, "what did the Oracle tell you exactly?"

She looked up. I thought she was going to tell him off, but instead she took a deep breath and recited her prophecy: