Missing

Eyes

Reyna's POV

I made up my mind. I was going after Thalia. Jason tried to convince me not to but I wasn't having it. My stomach twisted nervously, a sign that things were about to become more difficult. A sort of pre warning battle instinct.

Annabeth insisted that she was going with me and she wasn't going to take no for an answer. Percy eventually conceded the point, noticing how worried she was. For a moment Jason contemplated joining us but was talked out of it by Piper. Thalia was already mad at him. There was a chance that he'd make it worse.

Annabeth chewed nervously on her bottom lip and I had the idea that she could feel it too, that same twist of the stomach that I did. As we stepped outside, Percy called Blackjack who seemed willing to give us a ride. If anything it let him escape the stables.

"Thank you," I sighed.

"No problem. Blackjack likes you as much as he likes me," Percy smiled giving Blackjack a pat on the side. "Take care of them buddy."

Blackjack snorted a promise that he would. Annabeth climbed on first seeming completely at ease. She was the exact opposite of Thalia on a Pegasus. "Do you know where she went?"

"I have an idea," I replied sitting behind Annabeth.  "Instinct tells me she'll go back to the last place we were."

"Where is that exactly?" Annabeth asked guiding Blackjack to the hill.

"The place I was held captive," I explained.

"Alright Blackjack. Let's fly." Annabeth patted his neck signaling that we were properly situated. His powerful legs contracted and he galloped forward gaining speed before lifting off the ground with a strong beat of the wings. 

Thankfully the wind was gentle allowing Blackjack to fly easier. He soared through the sky at a quick pace using an occasional wind current.

"She can't have gotten far," Annabeth said, determination in her voice.

"She's beyond New York by now," I corrected. Annabeth gave me a questioning look as she glanced over her shoulder. "Sila taught her how to use her powers properly. She can run faster than before. Easily as fast as a car on the highway."

"Impressive. But inconvenient," Annabeth frowned. "Blackjack, do you have a scent yet?"

Black jack whinnied before shooting off to the left. The sudden jerk forced me to latch on to Annabeth's waist. "Sorry."

Annabeth laughed as Blackjack wove expertly through the skies. Clouds dispersed as we passed through them and buildings seemed to bend out of the way but what was stranger was the calm sky. Surely it should have been raging. Then I recalled that Zeus cared very little for Thalia. He probably had no idea what she'd gotten herself in to. He wouldn't have been anxious like Poseidon or Hades. The mortal world wouldn't suffer the consequences of his emotions like it had theirs.

"What's that?" Annabeth asked as we crossed over the city limits and into the more rural areas where wilderness met the houses. I studied where Annabeth was pointing and was surprised at what I saw.

There was a white tiger racing through the woods. It's body rippling with lean muscles. "It's...a tiger."

"Blackjack set us down in front of it," Annabeth ordered and I could see a slight smile on her face. Blackjack obeyed dropping in altitude until we matched pace with the tiger. With a burst of speed Blackjack intercepted its path forcing the animal to skid to a stop.

"What's going on?" I asked Annabeth curiously. She slipped off of Blackjack approaching the animal. The tiger panted as it raised its head revealing silver eyes.