I have begun posting story progress on my profile, in case anyone is interested in keeping tabs on my work before it's actually updated. I have not given up on any of them, by the way. I've just been having a heck of a time finding time to write lately. School has picked up in the homework department, and what with that and everything else that's been going on... Well. I will keep on when I can.

Oh, and minor editing to chapter 1.

Chapter 3

Hermes entered the dimension that Percy had been drawn to, immediately locating and going to the one he had a message for. And froze.

Percy was with others, in a tunnel with a—was that a dragon hatchling? At any rate, one god could always tell another, even if they were not of the same pantheon, and Hermes' shock was great enough that he momentarily forgot why he'd come.

Sea-eyes turned towards him at the same time that weapons came into the hands of the two Percy was with.

"Lord Hermes," Percy greeted, calm and polite, but not deferential.

As was his right, Hermes thought to himself. Poor Percy. He'd never wanted godhood, turning it down when it was offered. "Percy, you're a… what happened?" in his confusion, Hermes slipped into Greek.

With a sigh, sea-eyes closed for a moment. "I was afraid of that. And… I don't know. I was pulled here, and everything just… changed."

Hermes straightened, setting those thoughts aside. "I have a message from your father, as I was the only one able to follow you here, and that only the once. He says that he will get you back. Athena has offered her aid, and Hera blessed you before you were drawn away. You have friends, Percy, and they will see you safely home."

Percy's lips twitched into a genuinely grateful smile, for all the wryness touching it. "I don't think I'll be needing help getting home," he admitted. "But I feel there is something I must see to here, first."

Hermes dipped his head, "Very well, Percy. I will let them know. Be careful—if you do not return, I have no doubt your father will find a way to come here himself."

Percy smiled again, amusement warring with affection, "Thank them for me, will you? Dad especially."

"I will," Hermes agreed, "But I must go. The way back is closing already."

Without thinking, Percy snapped his fingers, frowning at the fabric of space-time around them, seeking the hole that Hermes had needed to follow. And—there. It stabilized under a silent order, no longer shrinking.

Hermes, already flashing out, didn't have time to realize what had happened until he was already gone.

Back on Olympus, he stared at nothing in absolute amazement as the realization crashed down.

xxxx

Less than an hour later, Percy was escorted into an open cave—if 'cave' could really describe the titanic, well-lit cavern he'd been led to—where four beings were waiting to meet him. One was the scout, Dane, that had been sent ahead.

The other three… well, the most striking of them was a blue dragon, elegant in her beauty and predatory grace. Saphira, he sensed, glancing at her. Another, her human, Eragon. Other names hovered around that one, unseen but there, titles given for one reason or another.

The third was not human. An elf, though he had never heard of them outside Earth's fiction, Arya. The most obviously suspicious of the three.

Percy shifted, moving to cradle Tide in one arm while freeing his sword-arm, though he doubted it would be needed. He waited.

Arya spoke first, eyes narrowed and voice neutral with an effort. "Who are you?"

Percy examined her for a moment, quashing an instinctive sense of hostility at the rudeness. "Where I am from, it is considered rude to ask a name before giving your own." Okay, so not completely quashing.

Saphira snorted softly, clearly amused, and her rider stepped forward to take relative control of the situation. "My name is Eragon, stranger. This is my dragon, Saphira, and Arya—an emissary of the Elves. What is your name?"

"Percy," Percy replied, calm and authoritive in a way he hadn't felt the need to be since the Titan War had truly ended. "The little one is Tide."

"What are you?" Arya asked suspiciously, eyes narrowed.

Percy favored her with a raised eyebrow, "I am a Son of Poseidon," he settled on eventually.

"You speak that name as though we should know it," Eragon observed. "Who is he?"

"Stormbringer, Earthshaker, Father of Horses, God of the Sea."

"You claim to be a god?" Arya asked derisively. "Gods do not exist."

"I claim to be nothing but a Son of Poseidon," Percy stated, voice chilling and eyes darkening to sea-at-storm. A faint thrum filled the air around them before quieting, "and though my father is in a different world, he does exist, and I will not hear you speak against him."

Tide bared his teeth at the presumptuous Elf, sensing his bonded's quiet fury.

Arya opened her mouth again, but Eragon quickly placed a hand on her shoulder, shaking his head when she looked at him.

Wise, Percy noted.

The young Rider returned his attention to Percy, "I know you are powerful, and I realize you have a young dragon with you, but we cannot let you remain here without first seeing your mind—nor can we let you leave."

Percy eyed Eragon for several moments, knowing full well his mind would now drive any mortal to peer within it mad. The things he understood, could change—it was beyond mortal comprehension. "Why?"

"We have to be sure you have not come from Galbatorax."

Percy snorted, "I hold no loyalty to the man who summoned me. I came here from his presence, but he holds no power over me. He is mad, filled with hate for all who are free."

"Then you will allow us to examine your mind?"

"No," Percy stated, impassive as a clear sea, "You would be driven to insanity, to see into the mind of one of my kind."

"Are you Elf-kin, then?" Dane asked, speaking up without thinking before flushing as surprised attention turned to him from both Elf and Rider. "Sorry."

"If you are one of the half-Elves, I could safely see your thoughts," Arya stated, seeming less suspicious, but still notably wary.

Percy shook his head, "Though yours is a long-lived race," and he wasn't even going to wonder how he knew that, "You are still of limited perception. Tide is protected through my bond to him, but Saphira would be badly strained to examine my thoughts, even though dragon-kin have broader minds. Perhaps Tide would be willing to allow Saphira to see into his, but I will not demand it of him."

Tide looked up at Percy, It would make this easier, wouldn't it? And she won't hurt me.

Percy inclined his head, calm—as he could not recall having been as an ADHD demigod—and perfectly in control. Nothing here could threaten him, and he would allow no harm to come to Tide.

If needed, he could force the older dragon from Tide's mind.

"Tide agrees that Saphira may see into his mind," Percy turned his attention to the sapphire dragon, "Be gentle. He is only a few hours old."

Moments later, Tide was shifting and wrinkling his nose, bringing a forepaw up to rub at his head. That tickles.

Percy chuckled, eyes softening. He could sense Saphira's apologetic response and that the older dragon meant no harm.

Suddenly she reared back, eyes wide, awareness pulled away from the hatchling's mind—not causing pain, but certainly abruptly enough to be surprising. She had seen the truth of Percy's words—and what he had omitted.

"Saphira?" Eragon asked, voice sharp with alarm.

The dragon shook herself, crouching lower to the ground, trying to make herself look small and unthreatening, wary eyes on the entity before her.

"You need not fear me, Saphira," Percy stated, "You and your bonded have done nothing to incur my wrath."

He spoke the truth, Saphira said finally, for all within range to hear. He is the son of a god… she hesitated, glancing to the young being before her for permission before finishing. … and a god himself.

xxxx