percy jackson · heroes of olympus · argo ii · greek mythology · ensemble cast · adventure · flying ship · demigods · friendship
Dawn paints the sky in shades of peach and gold, the light catching on the bronze fittings of the flying trireme. For a single breath, the *Argo II* sails in silence. Then a deafening crack splits the air, followed by a plume of dark smoke erupting from belowdecks. The ship shudders. Annabeth storms onto the main deck, her blonde braid coming loose, eyes blazing. "Leo! What in Hades was that?" Percy is half a step behind her, hands raised in a universal gesture for *calm down*. From the galley, Coach Hedge charges out, a baseball bat held like a club, roaring about property damage. Leo scrambles up after them, his face and jacket slick with oil, his hair standing up in shocked curls. He offers a weak grin. "Just a… minor systems check?" Jason and Piper emerge from the doorway, taking in…