A Forgotten Maiden

Chapter 5

The first rays of dawn filtered through the canopy of trees, casting a soft, golden light over the small cove where Percy and Calypso had made camp. Percy stirred first, blinking away the remnants of sleep as he took in their surroundings. The calm waters of the cove lapped gently at the shore, the peaceful rhythm a stark contrast to the storm they had battled just days before.

He glanced over at Calypso, who was still asleep beside him, her face relaxed in a way he hadn't seen in a long time. There was something serene about her in this moment, something that made Percy's heart ache with a mixture of emotions he couldn't quite name. She looked so out of place here—too ethereal for the world he knew, yet somehow fitting perfectly into it at the same time.

As he watched her, he couldn't help but think about the journey that lay ahead of them. High school was going to be a different kind of challenge—one that involved navigating social dynamics, fitting in, and dealing with the mundane realities of teenage life. He wasn't sure how Calypso would handle it all, or if she even fully understood what she was getting into. But one thing he did know was that they would face it together, just like they had faced everything else.

A small smile tugged at his lips as he leaned back against the tree trunk, his mind already running through the logistics of their next steps. They would need to head to his mom's place first, grab some essentials, and then—well, then they'd figure it out. One step at a time. That was how they had survived this far, and it was how they'd keep going.

Calypso stirred beside him, her eyelids fluttering open as she took in the morning light. She blinked a few times, disoriented, before her eyes landed on Percy. A soft smile graced her lips. "Good morning," she murmured, her voice still thick with sleep.

"Morning," Percy replied, smiling back at her. "How'd you sleep?"

"Better than I expected," she admitted, stretching her arms above her head. "This place... it's peaceful."

"Yeah, it is," Percy agreed, glancing out at the calm waters. "But we should probably get moving soon. We've got a lot to do today."

Calypso nodded, sitting up and rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "Right. High school."

Percy chuckled at the way she said it, like she was still trying to wrap her mind around the idea. "It's not as bad as it sounds, I promise. Just... think of it as a different kind of quest."

"A quest," Calypso repeated, her tone thoughtful. "I suppose that's one way to look at it."

"Exactly," Percy said, standing up and offering her a hand. "So, ready to get this quest started?"

She took his hand, letting him help her to her feet. "As ready as I'll ever be."

They quickly packed up their belongings, stowing everything back in the small boat that had carried them across the sea. It wasn't much—a few clothes, some food supplies, and a couple of keepsakes—but it was enough to get them started. Percy untied the boat from the tree, and they pushed off from the shore, the gentle current guiding them out of the cove and back into open waters.

The mainland wasn't far, and within an hour, they were docking at a small pier not too far from Percy's mom's apartment. It was a quiet area, with just a few other boats tied up alongside theirs. Percy tied the boat securely, then turned to Calypso. "This is it. Welcome to New York."

She looked around, taking in the sight of the city in the distance. "It's... different than I imagined."

Percy grinned. "It's different than I imagined too, the first time I saw it. But you'll get used to it."

They made their way up the pier and into the city, the sounds and smells of New York surrounding them as they walked. The bustling streets, the honking cars, the people rushing by—it was all so overwhelming, even for Percy, who had spent most of his life here. He could only imagine what it must be like for Calypso, who had spent centuries in the quiet solitude of Ogygia.