𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐆𝐄𝐓 𝐌𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐓! [pjo]

XI; thieving grass

━━━thieving grass

.・゜゜・───・゜゜・

Cal woke up to dark skies and sea-green eyes.

    "We've docked," Percy whispered. He helped her up and off the boat.

    "How long have I been asleep?" Cal felt groggy but well-rested.

    "About two hours," Percy muttered, bumping her shoulder. They were walking behind Frank, who was carrying Hazel.

    "What happened to her?" Cal asked.

    Percy shrugged, "I don't know, she just passed out, so we decided to bring her onto land."

    Cal nodded. They stopped by a cliffside covered in long dancing grass.

Hazel blinked, "Where are we?"

"Mendocino," Frank told her, "We couldn't wake you, so we brought you inland. We thought maybe it was seasickness."

It wasn't seasickness."  Hazel took  a deep breath.

"I—I haven't been honest with you," she said. "What happened was a blackout. I have them once in a while."

"A blackout?" Frank took Hazel's hand, Hazel blinked. Cal smiled at them. "Is it medical? Why haven't I noticed before?"

"I try to hide it," she admitted. "I've been lucky so far, but it's getting worse. It's not medical...not really. Nico says it's a side effect from my past, from where he found me."

Percy's intense green eyes were hard to read. She couldn't tell whether he was concerned or wary.

"Where exactly did Nico find you?" he asked.

"I'll explain," she promised. "Is...is there anything to drink?"

"Yeah." Percy muttered a curse in Greek. "That was dumb. I left my supplies down at the boat."

Hazel felt bad asking them to take care of her, but she'd woken up parched and exhausted, as if she'd lived the last few hours in both the past and the present.

She shouldered her pack and sword. "Never mind. I can walk...."

"Don't even think about it," Frank said. "Not until you've had some food and water. I'll get the supplies."

"No, We'll go." Percy glanced at Frank's hand on Hazel's.

Then he scanned the horizon as if he sensed trouble, but there was nothing to see—just the lighthouse and the field of grass stretching inland.

"You two stay here. We'll be right back."

"You sure?" Hazel said feebly. "I don't want you to—"

"It's fine," said Percy. "Frank, just keep your eyes open. Something about this place... I don't know."

"I'll keep her safe," Frank promised. Percy and Cal dashed off.

"How long is it gonna take them?" Cal wondered aloud.

Percy laughed, "They're totally clueless,."

"Oh definitely."

    She smiled softly. The night air was soft on her skin, and cold. She shoved her hands into her pockets, breathed out, and watched her breath turn to steam in front of her. The stars aren't visible. The ground crunched beneath it and the waves got louder.

    "We could run away so easily." She spoke softly, "Just get in the boat and go."

Percy studied her profile, the soft slope of her nose, her small lips, her tan skin.

    "We could." He shrugged, looking out. "But, we won't."

    "No, we won't." She grabbed his hand, and he pulled her toward him, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

    "You warm?" he asked.

    She shrugged. He pulled her closer.

    They reached the boat, and Percy left Cal on the shore. Cal shivered a little. Fog blanketed the horizon.

    "There's nothing creepier than fog at night." She said. Percy laughed as he came back with the backpack. He wrapped his arm around her again and they started walking back.

    Frank was pacing frantically when they got back and Hazel was nowhere to be seen.

    "Where'd she go?" Percy was alert at once, spine straight and hand in his pocket. He let go of Cal and stepped in front of her.

    "I-I don't know! This weird grassy hurricane kidnapped her! She was dragged back and the grass started hissing and I don't know--" Frank wasn't breathing.

    Callahan rushed forward, putting her hands on his shoulders, "Hey, hey, hey! Breath..ok? Just breathe. It'll be alright."

She looked back at Percy, who had taken out his pen. A steely glint in his eye reflected off the starlight. Frank nodded.

"What do we?" he looked between the two of them. Cal chewed on the corner of her mouth.

Percy shrugged, "We go in guns blazing?" Cal shrugged in return, and Frank nodded. Together, they charged into the hissing grass.

━━━thieving grass

.・゜゜・───・゜゜・