The vast ocean stretched out endlessly around them, its rhythmic waves lulling the demigods into a temporary sense of calm. But beneath that calm lay a tension that each of them felt acutely. The reality of their situation had settled in: they were fugitives in an unfamiliar world, constantly on the run, with only each other and the unpredictable ocean to rely on.

Percy floated on his back, eyes closed as he listened to the comforting sound of the waves. The sea had always been his refuge, a place where he felt at home and in control. But here, even the ocean felt different—wilder, less predictable. He could feel its energy pulsing around him, more powerful than anything he had ever experienced in his own world. It both thrilled and unnerved him.

“Any ideas on what we do next?” Will’s voice broke the silence. He was treading water a few feet away, his face a mask of concern. The others had gathered close, their expressions a mix of exhaustion and determination.

Percy opened his eyes, turning his head to look at his friends. “We need to figure out what this world wants from us,” he said quietly. “Why did the gods send us here? There has to be a reason.”

Nico, who had been silent for most of the journey, spoke up. “And we need to decide if we can trust those people back there—the ones with the strange powers. They seem like they might know more about this place than we do.”

Jason flipped his coin absently, the metal glinting in the sunlight. “They’re persistent, I’ll give them that,” he said, catching the coin mid-air and examining it as it shifted into a sword before returning to its coin form. “But we can’t just keep running forever. At some point, we have to make a stand.”

Piper, clutching Kaptopris tightly, nodded in agreement. “We should be careful, though. We don’t know what they’re capable of. For all we know, they could be just as dangerous as the monsters we’ve faced.”

Percy sighed, feeling the weight of their decisions pressing down on him. As their leader, it was his job to keep them safe, but he was running out of options. They needed to rest, regroup, and figure out their next move—away from the prying eyes of the Justice League.

“We’ll head towards the nearest shore and find a place to lay low for a while,” he finally said. “Keep an eye out for any signs of those people. If they show up again, we’ll need to be ready.”

Hours passed as the demigods drifted on the ocean currents, letting the water carry them towards a distant shore. When they finally reached land, it was late afternoon, and the sun was beginning its descent. They pulled themselves onto the beach, exhausted but relieved to feel solid ground beneath their feet again.

Percy took a moment to survey their surroundings. The beach was secluded, bordered by dense forest that stretched as far as he could see. It wasn’t much, but it was a place to rest and plan their next move.

“We’ll set up camp here,” he decided. “At least for tonight. We can figure out the rest in the morning.”

As the others began to gather wood for a fire and set up a makeshift camp, Percy waded back into the shallow water, needing a moment to himself. The ocean tugged at him, calling him deeper, but he resisted. He couldn’t afford to get lost in its depths right now. His friends needed him.

Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, letting the cool water wash over his feet. “What do you want from us?” he whispered to the sea, hoping for some kind of answer. “Why are we here?”

The ocean, of course, did not reply. But as he stood there, he felt a strange sensation—a tingling in his chest, as if something deep within him was awakening. It wasn’t painful, but it was enough to make him take a step back, his heart racing. His hand instinctively went to his pocket, where he kept Riptide in its ballpoint pen form. Just having it close made him feel a bit more secure.

“Percy, you okay?” Will called from the shore, concern evident in his voice.

“Yeah,” Percy replied, shaking off the feeling. “I’m fine. Just… thinking.”

Will nodded, not pressing the issue. He knew better than to pry when Percy was in one of his moods.

The group settled in for the night, huddled around a small fire that Nico had managed to coax into existence with some difficulty. They ate in silence, each lost in their thoughts.

“We’ll get through this,” Percy said finally, breaking the quiet. “We’ve faced worse before. We just need to stick together and keep our wits about us.”

Piper nodded, her grip on Kaptopris relaxing slightly. “And whatever comes next, we face it together.”

Jason flipped his coin once more, letting it catch the firelight as it spun through the air. “Together,” he agreed.

Nico, normally the quietest of the group, added softly, “Together.”

Will grinned, his usual optimism returning. “Then it’s settled. We face whatever’s coming—together.”

---

The night was quiet, the only sound the gentle lapping of the waves against the shore. The demigods had taken turns keeping watch, not trusting their newfound peace.

Percy took the last watch, standing at the edge of the water as the others slept. The sensation he had felt earlier had not gone away—instead, it had grown stronger, a pulsing energy that seemed to come from within him and the ocean itself. It was almost as if the sea was trying to tell him something, but he couldn’t quite understand what.

Suddenly, he heard a soft rustling from the trees behind him. He spun around, uncapping Riptide in one swift motion. The ballpoint pen instantly transformed into a shimmering bronze sword, ready to defend his friends.

A figure emerged from the shadows—a woman, tall and imposing, with dark hair and eyes that seemed to glow in the moonlight. She wore a suit of armor that glinted in the firelight, and a golden lasso hung at her side.

“Who are you?” Percy demanded, his voice steady despite the fear that gripped him.

The woman raised her hands in a gesture of peace. “I mean you no harm,” she said calmly. “I am Diana, Princess of Themyscira. I’ve come to speak with you.”

Percy didn’t lower his weapon. “Why should I trust you?”

Diana smiled softly, a knowing look in her eyes. “Because I know what it’s like to be far from home, in a world that doesn’t understand you. And because I believe you are not here by choice.”

Percy hesitated, her words hitting closer to home than he cared to admit. “What do you want from us?”

“I want to help,” Diana replied simply. “But I need to know more about you and your friends. You are not like anyone we’ve encountered before, and the Justice League is concerned.”

Percy glanced back at his friends, still sleeping peacefully around the fire. He knew they couldn’t keep running forever, but he wasn’t ready to trust this stranger—not yet.

“You want to help?” he asked, turning back to Diana. “Then leave us alone. We don’t want any trouble.”

Diana nodded slowly, understanding in her eyes. “Very well. But know this: you cannot stay hidden forever. The Justice League will find you eventually. And when they do, I hope you will consider my offer.”

With that, she turned and disappeared back into the forest, leaving Percy alone with his thoughts.

He stayed by the water’s edge for the rest of the night, watching the waves and wondering what the morning would bring.