The tides uclaimed

But where to?

chapter six
The wind was sharp against my skin, tugging at the edges of my jacket as I stood there, frozen. The weight of what Chiron had just said pressed down on me. A prophecy. A quest. And now... her. Lynessa.
The prophecy was no longer a vague, distant thing—it was real. And it felt like my entire world had just shifted, leaving me reeling. I felt dizzy with the thought of it. The gods were involved. The future of everything hung in the balance. And I was right in the middle of it.
I glanced over at Eli, standing next to me. His eyes were narrow, his jaw tight, and his hand rested lightly on the hilt of his sword like it was instinct. I could practically feel his uncertainty, his caution. And I didn't blame him. I was feeling the exact same way.
Lynessa stood a few feet away, leaning against a tree. She hadn't said a word since Chiron gave her the same command. Her arms were crossed, her face hard as stone, a look of disinterest etched into her features. I couldn't tell what she was thinking, but I could sense the distance between her and the rest of us. It was like she was from a different world entirely—one I didn't want to get involved in.
"You'll need to prepare," Annabeth said, stepping forward and breaking the heavy silence. Her voice was strong, but there was a warmth in it, a kindness that made me feel like maybe this could all be okay. "I'll give you everything I can. Trust your instincts, and keep your eyes open. These quests aren't just about the fights. They test you in ways you don't expect."
"Yeah, and trust me, a lot of weird stuff happens," Percy added with a grin that didn't quite reach his eyes. He was trying to lighten the mood, I could tell, but the gravity of what we were about to do hung between us all like a shadow. "Just remember to think first, and don't be afraid to run if you have to."
I nodded, but honestly, I wasn't sure if I could do any of that. I wasn't ready. I wasn't trained. I'd never been on a quest before. I was barely even used to this world.
But then Percy's gaze met mine, and for a second, his usual teasing demeanor softened into something else—a kind of reassurance, like he understood exactly what I was feeling.
"You'll do fine," he said, like he believed it. "You're a daughter of Poseidon. That means you've got power. You just need to figure out how to use it."
I wasn't sure if I agreed, but it felt good to hear it.
Annabeth's gaze flicked between me and Eli. "The two of you will need to be prepared for anything. Stay together. If something doesn't feel right, trust each other." Her voice was firm, her hands on her hips. "I know this is new for both of you, but you can't do this alone."
Her words hit me like a punch in the stomach. I wanted to believe her. I had to believe her, because the thought of being alone on this quest, without anyone I could trust, terrified me more than anything else.
"Yeah," Percy added, his grin returning in a flash, though his eyes were still intense. "And if you get in trouble—don't worry, Annabeth and I will always have your backs. We'll be watching from here. Just remember: stay together."
I swallowed hard. It was a little comforting, but I still wasn't sure how any of this was going to work. Eli and I had barely known each other for more than a few days, and now I was supposed to put my life in his hands? Trust him?
And then there was her—Lynessa.
I couldn't stop myself from speaking. "Do we really have to bring her?" The words came out before I could think better of them.
I saw Annabeth and Percy exchange a glance, a silent conversation passing between them. Finally, Percy spoke up, his voice surprisingly understanding. "I know it's tough. Believe me, I get it. But right now, Lynessa is part of the team. We don't have a choice."
Annabeth's gaze flickered toward Lynessa, her expression colder. "You're going to have to work with her, whether you like it or not. There's a reason Chiron wants her with you."
Lynessa, of course, didn't react. She was standing off to the side, her arms crossed as though she was entirely uninterested in our discussion. Her face was a mask—cold and unreadable. There was something about her, something that made it hard to trust her. I had my doubts, and I wasn't the only one.
Eli's hand brushed mine, and I turned to find him looking at me. There was a kind of tension in his eyes, something I couldn't quite read, but there was no question about it: I wasn't the only one having trouble with the idea of including Lynessa.
"Let's just stick to the plan," Eli said quietly, his voice almost a whisper. "We don't have to trust her. We just have to get the job done."
I nodded, though I didn't know if I could follow that advice. Something about Lynessa felt... dangerous. But Eli was right. We couldn't afford to second-guess ourselves too much. Not if this quest was really going to stop a war between Zeus and Nyx.
I glanced at Percy again. "Any other advice?"
He gave me a teasing look, his usual grin playing on his lips. "Yeah. Don't die. That's always a good one."
Annabeth rolled her eyes but smiled, just a little. "You've got this. We all believe in you."
Before I could respond, Chiron trotted up beside us, his hooves clipping the stone path. "Are you ready?" he asked, his voice steady. "It's time to go. The journey ahead will be long, and you'll be tested in ways you can't even imagine."
The words were a sobering reminder of everything that lay ahead. We were about to leave the safety of Camp Half-Blood, to face whatever darkness the prophecy had foretold. The unknowns stretched out before us like a fog.
Lynessa took a step forward, her eyes narrowed as she observed us. I couldn't tell if she was ready, if she cared, but I knew we had to leave now. There was no more time to hesitate.
"Let's go," I said, pushing down the fear and uncertainty that bubbled in my chest. I couldn't show weakness. Not now. Not when everything depended on us.
Eli gave me a reassuring smile, and for the first time since I'd learned about the prophecy, I felt like maybe I wasn't entirely alone.
But as we began our journey, the weight of the quest pressed down on me. I had no idea where we were going or what awaited us. But I did know one thing for sure: this was just the beginning. And no matter what happened, I couldn't let myself fail.
We had to succeed. For all of us.