𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑 𝐆𝐈𝐑𝐋 || 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙮 𝙟𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙨𝙤𝙣¹

040

(chapter XL - gaea gets rocked [get it? because —])

THEY LET GAEA come to them.

It didn't take long, either. Soon after Percy let go of his control on the mud, Gaea broke through with ease — grinning wickedly as her spear seemed to magically appear back in her hand. Soon after, she met Selene's gaze and started to make a beeline straight towards her — the goddess' determined face never faltering — not even flinching, at all the fighting going on around her.

It was borderline creepy.

The fact is — even in some random Dracaenae's body — Gaea was strong. It would be rather easy to kill a Dracaenae normally — but to defeat an Earth goddess? They needed all the help they could get.

"Do we need to go over the plan again?" Asked Annabeth hurriedly — pushing back her braids and tucking them behind her ear. "Or did I cover it? I'm sorry I'm — I'm very much stressed out right now —"

"It's fine, Annie," Thema promised — reaching for the girl's hand. Immediately, Annabeth seemed to relax at her touch. "We all understand. You did great."

"Coming up with a plan that quick takes some — shit — skill, Annie-boo," Selene agreed — trying to put her hair in a ponytail, but, ultimately failing due to her wrist still hurting. She winced — however, before she could try again, Percy took the hair tie from her and did it himself. She thanked him with a grateful smile. He gave a warm smile back.

When she looked away from Percy, Thema wiggled her brows. Selene silently shushed the girl and pushed her shoulder — turning her back to the task at hand.

Gaea was as quick as a cheetah. With ease, she swung her arm through the air — spear in hand. After she did so, the boulder they were all hiding behind suddenly sunk into the ground. The goddess then smiled kindly — like she wasn't trying to kill them.

They were all forced to scatter after that. Grover and Tyson took off towards the woods not too far away — and once they were at a safe distance, Tyson started throwing huge rocks at Gaea —- trying to distract her. Gaea deflected them with ease. Meanwhile, Annabeth and Thema both took off in the other direction — they hid in the crowd of fighting, and tried to sneak behind Gaea for an ambush.

Two guesses on where Selene and Percy went.

"You are fools," Gaea growled as they approached her head on. "You try to fight, but it is meaningless. I am Gaea. Mother of the Earth. I will win —will kill your friends, Selene Lock, and take you as my prisoner. Once your body is prepared — you will act as my vessel, for all of time —

"You've said this a million times already," Percy interrupted with a childish groan. "Like seriously. We get it."

"Yeah — also, sorry, but all of — that was not in my  mood-board for this year, so..." Selene agreed with a bored shrug — summoning her dagger with a flick of the wrist.

Gaea just scowled at them both — her free arm held wide as she raised her head. Suddenly, the ground beneath them began to shake — and before Selene could even blink — vines sprouted out of the ground, heading straight for them.

Percy acted for her. He shoved them both out for the way — summoning Riptide and cutting one of the vines clean in half. His sea-green eyes then flickered to the ground — and back up to Gaea. A plan seemed to be forming in his head — at least, she hoped.