Nothing much(alternate start)

Your talk with Artemis couldn't have gone worse.

You were hoping, maybe since Annabeth was a maiden, Artemis would be at least interested on saving her life.

But all you got was a semi-confirmation that she might be alive and was captured by Dr. Thorne and whoever this mysterious General was.

Judging from the reaction Zoë and Artemis showed when the General was mentioned, it sounded like Annabeth was already on her death bed.

On the other hand, the goddess of the moon also had the gawls to somehow convince Bianca to join the hunt instead of coming to Camp Half-Blood.

Reminder that, the entire reason you, Annabeth and Thalia came to Westover Hall was to take Nico & Bianca to safety.

So basically, Artemis handed you the biggest middle finger without actually using her hands, as most deities tended to do.

It didn't help the fact that the Hunter's of Artemis was sent to Camp Half-Blood as well to be safe, while Artemis herself went on a journey to hunt whatever beast the General also seemed to be after.

After a wild ride in the Magical Sun Car, you were back in Camp Half-Blood, bitter than ever before.

You threw yourself on the bed of Cabin Three.

It was empty except for you, reminding you more of how much you fucked up on the mission.

With a sigh, you hung up the mangled shield gifted to you from Tyson—your brother Cyclops.

It took some time getting used to, but you really did miss having him under the same roof.

Gurgle, gurgle.

"...huh?"

You turned around.

There was something new in the room.

It was a marble fountain shaped like a fish's head. And by the feint scent of salt, you guessed the water was magically pulled straight from the ocean.

There wasn't any notes attached to it, but there was only one being who could put something like this in your cabin without you noticing.

"Thanks, dad."

You muttered.

The jewl in the fish's head twinkled.

You looked down in the pool and found a golden coin—a drachma on the floor.

Now you could see what the gift was for.

It was Poseidon's way to remind you to keep in touch with those you cared about.

You squinted at the coin, willing the pool to do your bidding.

A small surge of water shot up and flicked the coin into the air.

You snatched it in midair and twirled it around in your hand as you wondered who to call.

Your first thought was Annabeth. Perhaps you could get some intel on where she was, and also hopefully check if she was alive or not.

But as tempting as it was, you knew that it was too risky.

If things were reversed, Annabeth would never do something that might potentially backfire on the captive. So, that was a no-go.

You considered being a good son and calling your mother, but then again, your mother was used to you vanishing without a trace after causing a rukas.

Then, your eyes headed to the mangled shield hanging on the wall.

With your mind set, you opened the window to create a rainbow and threw the drachma in.

"Iris, O goddess of the rainbow, show me Tyson."

The mist shimmered and an image of a underwater forgery appeared.

The furnace glowed with green flames even while being surrounded by water.

Clank! Clank! Clank!

Tyson was hammering away on an anvil with such force that you could feel the impact of each strike by your skin.

"Tyson!"

You called.

At first, he missed your voice over the sound of metal clanking.

But after a few tries, Tyson noticed the Iris message and smiled brightly.

"Percy!"

He tried to hug you through the Iris Message, which, of course, failed.

Still, the attempt alone was enough to make you smile a little.

"Yeah, I missed you too. How's the job?"

"Love the job! Look!"

Tyson held up a hot sword blade with his bare hands. Being a Cyclops, no forms of heat could harm him in any way.

"I made this!"

"Yeah, that's pretty cool."

"Cool!"

Tyson agreed and nodded.

"I even have my name written on it, see?"

Tyson pushed the blade up close.

You squinted hard, and sure enough, Tyson's name was enscribed on one side of the sword.

"That's amazing, dude."

"Names are important!"

Tyson said brightly and put away the sword.

"How's the shield? Do you like it?"

"Oh..."

Your smile wavered.

"Sorry, Tyson. I...it broke when I tried to protect me and the others. There was this powerful monster and-"

"Oh, yay!"

To your surprise, Tyson smiled brightly clapped rapidly at the news.

His big hands sent small ripples through the deep sea water with each clap.

"That means the shield worked! You're safe, right? No holes in your body?"

You blinked.

"I-uh, yeah! I'm fine thanks to the shield, but the shield is in shambles. Sorry."

"No, no. No need for apology."

Tyson waved a hand.

"Weapons are meant to be used.

If a shield protected you, then it's a good shield!

If you throw it in the sea water, I'll go get it and fix it!"

"Wait, like any sea water? How would you find it?'

"My name!"

Tyson replied brightly.

"My name is on the shield too, so the fishes and turtles can bring it to me in a few days.

Names are important."

"That's...okay, I guess?"

You weren’t entirely sure if that's how things worked.

Was putting a name on something couldn't be that handy, right?

Nontheless, you promised Tyson that you'd throw the shield into the ocean for repairs.

Then, from the back, a loud voice belowed something in a language you couldn't understand.

"Oof, I have to go. Have to make many swords."

"Oh, alright then.

It was good talking to you, Tyson. I miss you."

Tyson nodded.

"I miss my brother too. I wonder..."

Tyson rubbed his chin, but before he could say anything, the same voice shouted again.

Tyson quickly waved goodbye, and you back before swiping your hand through the message and ending the connection.

"..."

You took the broken shield and placed it in the fountain.

Tyson had said to put in any sea water, and the fountain was connected to the sea, so it seemed logical enough.

And, to your surprise, the shield slowly vanished from the bottom of the fountain.

"Okay..."

That was one problem off your mind, at the very least.

With everything you've gone through, you were more than eager to lay down and take some well-earned rest.

However, right before you could flop onto bed, someone burst through your cabin door.

"Percy, come quick! We need your help!"

With a groan, you looked up.