The Godly Pursuant (A Percy Jackson fan fiction)

17 - Maggie Crowberry

My real mother is Gaea. Poseidon—who isn’t even my father—lied to me. This time, I was so sure of leaving and not coming back. Not even the gourmet food could make me stay here.

I started packing my things. Hello Kitty, Dylan’s overalls, a few of my shirts, and my toothbrush. I chose to leave my camp T-shirt. I didn’t need it anymore and besides, I don’t even like the color.

It was Chiron who tried to stop me.

“Maggie, maybe you should stay—”

“Don’t start on me, Chiron, please,” I told him. “Dad—I mean, Poseidon, he made me an agreement that I could leave whenever I want to. I want to leave. Now. And I don’t think I’d wanna come back.”

That didn’t really convince him. “Think of Percy. Think of what he would feel when he finds out that you left.”

It, surprisingly, made me stop for a while.

“Well… uh, just tell him that I’m gonna miss him,” I answered curtly and swallowed the lump in my throat. He wasn’t my brother. I wasn’t related to him. Not anymore.

“Where are you going to go?” he asked again.

I laughed humorless, “Do you really think I’d tell you?”

Then I stormed off the cabin.

As I walked to the camp’s protective line, I passed by Peleus.

Where are you going? He asked me.

I don’t really understand what this big ugly dragon has in me that I stopped and gave him a lonely face. Not to mention I lovingly scratched his facial scales.

I am Gaea’s daughter… I told him hesitantly. In the back of my mind, I didn’t want to let him know that I’m a daughter of the one who tries to kill all his camper friends. He might eat me then and there.

But he didn’t. Instead, he laughed a smoky grumble.

I know that, he said.

My jaw met the ground.

I asked, how did you know?

I smell you, he replied.

I looked at him with crunched eyebrows and asked. How do I smell?

Hmm… he deliberated; I guess you smell like the earth. Like dirt. Nutty and mucky. Not a bad one though. I think it smells great.

I nodded slowly.

He exhaled. Your earthy smell overpowers anything else. It is like your smell is undetectable by monsters because you just smell like common earth. No monster would know you’re there.

Is that good news?  I asked him.

Very good news, he answered and let out a smoky grumble again.

Do you smell me as… Poseidon’s child? I asked.

He stopped laughing. Uh, you mean like salt? Salty like sea?

I nodded.

His nose came up near me and began to sniff. The air coming out from his nose slightly tickled me. I jerked at the weird sensation and giggled a bit.

After a while, he finally said. No… I don’t smell any salt.

My mildly happy mood turned into a bitter one.

I… I gotta go, Peleus. Take care of yourself.

Peleus’ big scaly head nodded. If you need me, just call on me. Okay?