A Thousand and One Nights (a Percy Jackson AU)

In the Sea's Embrace

"We're doomed," Annabeth said once it became apparent that there was a hole in the side of our box.
     Percy and Annabeth had been floating for hours and after we had accidentally bumped into a cluster of rocks, a hole had emerged. They tried to bail out the water with their hands, but it was filling up faster than they could empty it.
    "Annabeth, I think if we got out of the box, but cling to it to float," Percy said, "then maybe we could make it."
     "Make it where?" she snapped before sighing. "You're right, but I don't know how much longer we can survive on the open sea."
     She was right. Percy's throat felt like it was patched and his stomach was already growling for some fresh olives and figs. Annabeth was thinking longingly of fresh goat cheese and warm barley.
     "On the count of three?" Annabeth said and Percy nodded. "One. Two. Three!"
     They both tipped the box sideways (it was now starting to sink) and plunged in the water. Percy surfaced and grabbed Annabeth's hand before looking for the box. With a sinking feeling in his stomach, he realized that it was sinking. He ducked underwater, but Annabeth grabbed Percy by the neck and pulled him to the surface.
     "I already lost that box," she said. "I'm not losing you too."
     "What's your plan then?" Percy snapped. "We're going to drown."
     "We will If we spend our time arguing instead of planning," she retorted.
     "You can't plan on the middle of the ocean," Percy shot back. "Admit it, we're goners."
     "Oh, I'm not sure about that," Annabeth said. "I think you should thank Poseidon for the blessing approaching us."
     She was pointing to a pod of dolphins who were approaching us. As one of them let Percy get on its back, he realized how sore his legs felt. Annabeth was cooing a large dolphin that had let her grab its neck slightly (so she would not choke it). As the dolphins chittered and began to move, Percy thanked Poseidon for saving us and promised to sacrifice my finest bull if he ever made it back to my kingdom. Annabeth promised to pour libations for the sea god.
      After awhile, the dolphins slowed down and started vocalizing loudly. The one carrying Percy bobbed up and down slowly before stilling and he got off of the dolphin. To his surprise, he was standing up. Annabeth also dismounted and gave her mount a soft kiss on the beak.
     "Thank you, attendants of Delphinus," Percy said cordially.
       The dolphins chattered loudly and left them. Annabeth and Percy managed to walk until they made it to a rocky beach. Their legs were trembling by the time they made it to shore and both of them realized that riding a dolphin made their inner legs feel very sore. Still, it bested drowning any day.
      "Thank you, Poseidon," Annabeth murmured. "Gods of Olympus, nymphs on this island, please nourish us with food and water. We will pour libations for you and honor you."
      The two of them were so tired that they found a sheltered spot under a clump of bushes and fell asleep. For once, Percy did not ask Annabeth to tell him a nighttime story.