Before Percy

Chapter 5: Underestimated

AN: Finally ending the streak of AN parts

Annabeth's POV

"Morning rise and shin-AUGH" A voice groans as I hear a loud thump. I am super tired. I groggily look down at what fell. I see Luke on the ground groaning and rubbing his elbow.
"HAHAHAHA" I look over and see Thalia dying with laughter. Soon I start to join in as Luke pouts at us. "You wouldn't be laughing if you fell off your branch."
"Ya but I wouldn't fall" Thalia continues laughing as Luke sighs and stands up. "Whatever, now that that's over with, let's get to to city now, Our friend has probably been waiting for us there." Luke says.
I'm all in man, I just want a nice warm hot meal. Maybe some delicious steak and potatoes, ooh or fettuccine, or maybe some pizza with mozzarella cheese topped with pepperoni, bell peppers, onions, and-

"Hey come on down, you've been sitting staring off into space for like 5 minutes, time to get moving unless you don't want warm food at the city" Luke smirks. I scowl at him then grab my bag and climb down the tree.

When I get down, Luke and Thalia are already planning. "Ok so we should get there in... 30 minutes run 1 hour walk." Luke sighs. "Well we are that much closer to getting real food." Thalia says. "Will we run into any monsters today?" I but in. "Hopefully not. Monsters totally drain our energy and make us go slower, but who knows, maybe..." Thalia responds. "Alright guys lets get a move on it, we have to start walking." Luke interrupts.

We start walking in silence and 5 minutes pass and I am already bored out of my mind. Last time we walked, at least we had things to talk about like camps, but now its just small talk. "So...guys... whats your favorite food?" Luke sighs. "Now this, this is right up my alley" Thalia grins "I like fettuccine, spaghetti, lasagna... well pretty much any type of noodles. I also like pizza with mozzarella cheese, onions, peppers. oooh! and I also love garlic bread, falafels, burritos, tacos, and mmm chocolate. I totally love fries. Fries are actually THE BOMB, garlic fries, regular fries, every restaraunt makes fries different. My favorite is Urban fries from Jacks Urban Eats. They are soooo delicious. They are deep fried fries with chili flakes, drizzled with chili oil, some kind of white sauce... I think its Sour cream sauce or something, and on top is sprinkled cheese, I think its Gorganzolla... Mmmm just thinking about it now makes my mouth water." I look over at Thalia staring off into space, I guess she is thinking about those amazing sounding fries. Well can I really blame her, I mean they do sound good... and I do love fries...

"Ok then..." Luke clears his throat. "Well all your talking passed some time i gue-" Luke cuts his sentence short. And stops abruptly in the middle of the road.

"Dont. make. a. sound." Thalia whispers. I look where their eyes follow but try not to move. Oh my gosh. There is this monster perching on a branch above us looking for people. It looks exactly like the monster that was chasing me the day Luke and Thalia found me. Glistening black scales on its body, shiny black, rugged feathers on its wings. It has bony body and its feet have sharp claws, gripping to the branch it is balancing on.
Its head snaps down and glares at us before it lets out a loud SCREEEEEECH.

"Annabeth, go hide behind that tree" Thalia points to a tree nearby. "We will try to take care of this" I look at her upset "but you said you would teach me!" "Not now" Luke yells attempting to stab the monster but failing. "Thalia just let her learn. Annabeth you can help another time but for now watch us and our strategy... from behind the tree." "Fine." I grumble. Why do they always get to do the interesting things. I stomp over to behind the tree and watch their so called "tactics" which could have been way better had they let me help them.

You should have used that branch to get caught in its mouth, it was thick enough to hold it open without it snapping, NOT it it in the eye! Thalia what are you thinking! That long branch won't do you any good just hitting it! Get a short fat one, oh like the one over there and STAB IT! Whatever I guess they "don't need my help" ha. This would have been over by now if they had let me have an opinion but no. I had to just "watch and learn" I sit back and watch for what seems like 15 minutes and criticize their every move. sigh... oh look it's gone, it's about time.

"I could have helped you and it could have cut your fight time in half" I say. Luke chuckles and says "It's harder than it looks, besides, you will have your time to practice at camp"

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AN
sorry for the short chapter, I just felt bad because in my last AN I said I was working on a chapter and truly I was about halfway through, and it's like 1 in the morning and I have to wake up early soon, so I just wanted to publish something quick to g the story going again. Thanks for your patience!