protection

ten

⚣

PERCY'S POV

I see it at first but it doesn't really process in my mind. I originally think it's some sort of oasis. Or I've officially lost the last two brain cells I had in my brain. Wasting them on thinking about a relationship... err... friendship that was never going to happen. I don't know what I thought it was, but now I see it clearly.

I grab Grover's arm so he can see it too. He gasps. Which means I'm not imagining it. It's actually real.

A clearing. A clearing out of the forest. Which means we were getting closer to civilization. I almost MISSED the smog-ridden air of the city. We're getting closer. I look to Grover, what he could possibly be thinking about?

...

GROVER'S POV

Well, this is unexpected. Who would have thought Percy would have found a way out this maze of trees before I did? Hell, my dad is Pan! God of Nature, usually I would have been able to sniff out every corner of every forest. I've never been like this before. The forest is my element. 

I looked ahead of me where Percy was looking at me quietly. Percy distracted me from doing my job. Why was that? Was it because I was his protector? Can I not protect someone and use my senses in the wild at the same time?

I look back to Percy, he looks a little out of touch with reality. I reach out to pinch him and bring him back to reality.

"Ow!" he whines, rubbing his arm, where I pinched him. "Thanks," he whispers so softly I almost don't hear. But I do see his smile. My heart almost stops. Who wouldn't want to protect him? 

I reach out my had, daringly.

Percy grabs it, with slight hesitation. We're doing this for mortal heterosexual support, in Percy's eyes. There was nothing homosexual going on here. Just two guys (okay one satyr) holding hands. Nothing more, nothing less.

"You ready?" I ask. I look to Percy's face, which is bright red. Must be sunburn. He nods. 

"Ready if you are," and just like that we walk into the clearance. What awaits us? I have no idea...

⚣