seven
best pig cowboys of new mexico

LENNON LOUNGED IN THE BACKSEAT of a beat-up '67 Chevy Impala. She had spent a while in the front seat pretending to drive the car— she was excited to drive okay. But she'd eventually got bored and figured out how to get the radio working and she settled on a 70s and 80s station.

    She played with the light in her hands, singing along to Slipping Through My Fingers by Abba. The light morphed into a ball and she threw it up and then caught it.

    A knock sounded on the window behind her and she sat up, turning around.

    "Can I come in?" His voice was slightly muffled by the car windows.

    Lennon nodded and pointed to the front seat. "Sometimes I wish that I could freeze the picture," She sang along as Percy opened the passenger door, sliding into the seat.

    The Impala only had two rows and there was no split between the seat. The leather seats went all the way across.

    He sat there awkwardly glancing back at her. "Nice singing,"

    "Hmm? Oh, thank you."

    "You're welcome,"

    She looked at him, "Thalia kicked you out of her car?"

    He scratched the back of his neck. "Yeah..."

    Lennon nodded in understanding. He sat there quietly as if he was nervous to be around her, which was weird. Why would he be nervous around her? The silence was throwing her off. Awkward tension hung in the air between them.

    Lennon rested her head on the window behind her and broke the silence. "Y'know, I was mad at you,"

    "What?" He said in a worried voice, looking at her.

    "Back at the cliff, when you said I didn't understand what it felt like to have a friend missing," She looked at him, speaking before he could say anything. "But, I get it. You care about Beth too, and your emotions got the better of you."

    There was a stunned silence.

    "So, uh, congratulations, I guess, for getting me to forgive you without apologizing,"

    The only word Percy could muster was, "um..."

    "No, you should be proud, it's a rare accomplishment."

     The boy blinked. "I'm sorry. I know you already said you forgave me but... I am sorry. I shouldn't have said that,"

    She shook her head. "It's okay." She looked back out the opposite window. Blinking the sleep out her eyes. "Hey, that plan at the museum was really smart,"

    Percy looked at her, a bit confused by all her positive words. "Thanks, I just... I don't know where the idea came from,"

    She nodded a bit, yawning. "You seem like one of those people who comes up with crazy— probably dangerous— plans in the heat of the moment,"

    "...Thanks?"

    Lennon smiled a bit at the way he said it as a question. "You're welcome,"

    He looked back at the steering wheel and then turned completely to ask her something but she was already asleep. Dozing away in the backseat.

    The homeless man had appeared next to Percy, spouting a haiku and it didn't take long for Percy to figure out who it was.

    "Apollo?"

    He put a finger to his lips, "I'm incognito. Call me Fred,"

    "A god named Fred?"

"Eh, well... Zeus insists on certain rules. Hands off, when there's a human quest. Even when something really major is wrong. But nobody messes with my baby sister. Nobody."

    "Can you help us, then?"

    "Shhh. I already have. Haven't you been looking outside?"

    Percy glanced outside the window. 'The train. How fast are we moving?"

    Apollo chuckled. "Fast enough. Unfortunately, we're running out of time. It's almost sunset. But I imagine we'll get you across a good chunk of America, at least."

    "But where is Artemis?"

     His face darkened. "I know a lot, and I see a lot. But even I don't know that. She's... clouded from me. I don't like it."

     "And Annabeth?"

     He frowned. "Hmm. Lennon's friend? I don't know."

     Percy tried not to feel mad at his words. He knew that gods didn't always take mortals seriously but Annabeth was Lennon's friend. How could Apollo be so nonchalant about someone Lennon lost?

     "What about the monster Artemis was seeking?" He asked. "Do you know what it is?"

     "No," Apollo said. "But there is one who might. If you haven't yet found the monster when you reach San Francisco, seek out Nereus, the Old Man of the Sea. He has a long memory and a sharp eye. He has the gift of knowledge sometimes kept obscure from my Oracle."

    "But it's your Oracle. Can't you tell us what the prophecy means?"

    Apollo sighed. "You might as well ask an artist to explain his art, or ask a poet to explain his poem. It defeats the purpose. The meaning is only clear through the search."

    "In other words, you don't know."

     Apollo looked at him for a beat then, "Maybe that's a question for Lennon,"

    Percy looked into the backseat where Lennon was curled up, fast asleep. "Why would she know? Because she's a child of Apollo?" As far as he knew, none of the other children of Apollo had fully understood the prophecy.

     Instead of answering his question, he glanced over at Lennon. "Made sure to give her a laidback dream. Y'know, give her a break from the other ones,"

     Percy followed his gaze. He wasn't sure what Apollo meant but Lennon did look peaceful curled up in the back seat. Percy didn't know what to make of her. Annabeth had always spoken highly of her but, until the extraction mission, she seemed to avoid Percy.

     Her dark hair spilled over the seat and the remaining slivers of moonlight were shining in through the windows. If there was one thing Percy knew about Lennon, it was that she seemed pretty amazing.

     "Ah, look at the time!" Apollo said, capturing Percy's attention. "I have to run. I doubt I can risk helping you again, Percy, but remember what I said! Get some sleep! And when you return, I expect a good haiku about your journey!"

    Lennon wanted to know what the deal was with all the dreams. She was walking through what seemed to be an endless stretch of green land. Instead of her camp t-shirt, she was wearing a flowy yellow sundress.

    Her surroundings were truly out of some fairytale. Perfect green grass, birds chirping some peaceful song. Lennon almost didn't trust it. She observed her surroundings and she spotted it. In the near distance was someone. They were sitting in the grass, dark hair braided with pink flowers. Lennon walked towards her.

     The person must've heard her because they turned around with a table knife in their hand.

    "Oh! You scared me,"

    Lennon blinked. Who turned around was a girl with olive-toned skin. She sat on a picnic blanket, a basket set out before her. "Um... sorry?"

    "You're fine. I was just trying to relive an old memory but I guess not,"

     Lennon smiled awkwardly. "I can, uh, leave if I'm bothering you,"

    The girl shook her head. "You're probably here for me,"

    "Well, I just appeared here. I think this is a dream,"

    "Of course, it's a dream! That's the only way I would be here." Whoever this girl was, she was very confusing. The girl patted the spot next to her. "Sit with me,"

    "Okay..." hesitantly, she sat down next to her.

    "I'm Xia Huang." She held out her hand, which Lennon shook. "And you're?"

    "Lennon Hart,"

    Xia nodded. "So how's life for you? Goin' good?"

    This was the weirdest dream Lennon had ever had. "Uh, it's good, I guess,"

    "No big tragedies right? Not yet at least,"

    Lennon paused, "What? You know about that?"

    She grinned a bit. "Fellow cursed Apollo kid."

    Lennon frowned. "So you had... the tragedy too?"

    "Yeah. It happens to all of us."

    "What was your..."

    Xia gave her an apologetic smile. "I'd rather not,"

    "I'm so sorry, I didn't think—"

    She waved her hands. "Don't apologize, I asked the same questions when I was in your place,"

    "My place?"

    "We all go through this. I've been a guide for a while, so, ask away,"

    "Is... Do you— we have that much of a tragic life?"

    Xia opened the picnic basket, holding out a container of strawberries. Lennon awkwardly took one. "Well, the half-blood life is already tragic enough. It's like things are always going wrong with the curse added." Lennon opened her mouth to say something more but Xia interrupted her. "Now, enough of that. This is supposed to be a peaceful dream, so let's do some girl talk or something and boost the morale."

   "Is that what your guide did for you?" Lennon asked before taking a bit of the strawberry.

   Xia laughed. "Lenora, my guide, gave dozens of statistics and advice. Though, that became null and void when I was a guide to Hunter. He was all doom and gloom, a bit of a cynic,"

    "Lenora and Hunter were children of Apollo?" Xia nodded. "Does this curse thing happen often?"

    Xia shook her head. "No, no. It's rare. Hunter was the last person I guided,"

   "So afterward you just relive old memories?"

    She shrugged. "Pretty much,"

    "So what's this memory?"

    "A secret picnic with my girlfriend," She looked over and in the distance, another figure was approaching. "There she is. Looks like my times coming to an end. I hope we see each other again. I didn't even get to gossip!"

    Lennon followed her gaze and then looked back at her. "That's it?"

    "For now at least," Xia looked back at her. "Hey, can you do me a favor? Next time you see dad, tell him I said hi,"

    They'd arrived in New Mexico, specifically Cloudcroft— as the sign said. The air was cold and thin. Lennon spotted cabins covered in snow and the tall pine trees that shrouded the area in shadows. Since she was shivering, she had resorted to creating a ball of light in her hands, a desperate attempt for heat.

    They stopped in the middle of the town where they could see everything. It was a scarce town.

    "Great," Thalia said. "No bus station. No taxis. No car rental. No way out,"

    "There's a coffee shop!" Grover pointed out.

    "Yes," Zoë nodded thoughtfully. "Coffe is good,"

    Lennon hummed. "I second that," her mind immediately jumped to an iced coffee.

    "And pastries," Grover said dreamily. "And wax paper,"

    Thalia sighed."Fine. How about you three go get us some food. Percy, Bianca, and I will check in the grocery store. Maybe they can give us directions,"

    They agreed to meet back in 15 minutes in front of the grocery store. In that time, Grover, Zoë, and Lennon went to the coffee shop. It was long before they walked out with drinks and bags of pastries. Lennon happily sipped on her cappuccino as they met up with the others.

    "Your drinks," Zoë said dryly, holding the disposable cup holder, that held their drinks.

    "And pastries," Lennon grinned as she held up the bags of pastries in her other hand.

    She gave Percy his blueberry muffin and noticed the outraged look Bianca was giving Percy. She glanced at him questioningly but he only took the hot chocolate Zoë handed him, the drink taking his attention entirely. Lennon made a mental note to figure out what that was about later.

    "We should do the tracking spell," Zoë said. "Grover, do you have any acorns left?"

   "Umm," Grover mumbled. He was chewing on a bran muffin, wrapper and all. "I think so. I just need to—" He froze.

    Lennon gave him a look of confusion when she felt it, a warm breeze that blew past them. It was as if it brought the spring air, a reprieve from the bitter cold. It felt like a warning.

    Zoë gasped. "Grover, thy cup,"

    Grover dropped his coffee cup, which was decorated with pictures of birds. Suddenly the birds peeled off the cup and flew away in a flock of tiny doves. Percy's rubber rat squeaked and scampered off the railing and into the trees—real fur, real whiskers.

    Grover collapsed next to his coffee, which steamed against the snow. They all gathered around him and tried to wake him up. He groaned, his eyes fluttering.

    "Hey!" Thalia said, running up from the street. "I just... What's wrong with Grover?"

    "I don't know," Percy said. "He collapsed."

     As if on cue, Grover groaned.

    "Well, get him up!" Thalia said. She had her spear in her hand. She looked behind her as if she were being followed. "We have to get out of here,"

    Lennon did not enjoy being surrounded by gun-wielding skeletons. Nope, not all. She had summoned her sword— seeing as she still had a bow with no arrows— and held it in front of her, preparing for an inevitable fight.

    "It's near," Grover moaned.

    "It's here," Percy said.

    "No," he insisted. "The gift. The gift from the Wild,"

    "A gift?" Lennon asked, glancing worriedly over at Grover. He was in no shape to walk, much less fight.

    "We'll have to go one-on-one," Thalia said. "Five of them. Five of us. Maybe they'll ignore Grover that way,"

    "Agreed," said Zoë.

    "The Wild!" Grover moaned.

    She charged at the skeleton in her direct line of sight. She quickly dodged the aim of its gun and used the hilt of her sword to knock the gun out of its hand. Then she sliced her sword in an arc, slicing the skeleton diagonally. Its bones clattered to the ground in a heap.

     Lennon glanced around at the others and saw the two skeletons aiming at Percy. She didn't know where they came from but, out of instinct, she threw her arm out, releasing a ball of light to blind them. She wasn't sure if skeletons could be blinded but it was a try.

     The first skeleton threw its hand up to cover its eyes (or eye sockets? She isn't sure) but the other stayed in its position. It aimed and a shot rand out.

     Lennon gasped as Thalia yelled Percy's name.

     The others took on the other skeletons while Lennon stood in a daze, staring at where Percy laid facedown. Lennon's powers weren't enough and now she'd cost him his life.

      A clattering sound brought Lennon from her daze and spun around just in time to duck the newly reformed skeleton's baton. Great, they couldn't be killed. One of Zoë's arrows whistled straight through the skeleton's empty skull. Lennon kicked at the back of its knee, making it stumble, and sliced the skeleton once more. For good measure, she scattered its heap of bones, hoping that would delay its reformation.

    She watched as a skeleton lunged at Bianca. The girl whipped out her hunting knife and stabbed it in the chest. Surprisingly, the whole skeleton erupted into flames, leaving a little pile of ashes and a police badge.

    "How did you do that?" Zoë asked.

    "I don't know,' Bianca said nervously. "Lucky stab?"

    "Well, do it again!"

    Bianca tried, but the remaining three skeletons were wary of her now. They pressed them back, keeping them at baton's length.

   "Plan?" Percy said as they retreated.

   Nobody answered. Lennon tried to conjure up something optimistic but she couldn't think of anything to say. The trees behind the skeletons were shivering. Branches were cracking.

    "A gift," Grover muttered.

     Then, with a mighty roar, the largest pig Lennon had ever seen came crashing into the road. It was a wild boar, probably thirty feet high, with a snotty pink snout and tusks the size of canoes. Its back bristled with brown hair, and its eyes were wild and angry.

    "REEEEEEEEET!" It squealed, and raked the three skeletons aside with its tusks. The force was so great, that they went flying over the trees and into the side of the mountain, where they smashed to pieces, thigh bones and arm bones twirling everywhere.

    Lennon watched with raised brows. Then the pig turned on them and a frown formed on her face.

    Thalia raised her spear, but Grover yelled, "Don't kill it!"

    The boar grunted and pawed the ground, ready to charge.

    "That's the Erymanthian Boar," Zoë said, trying to stay calm. Lennon vaguely remembered Annabeth reading about the boar. "I don't think we can kill it."

    "It's a gift," Grover said. "A blessing from the Wild!"

    "It's an odd blessing," Lennon spoke as she looked at the boar warily.

    With another "REEEEEEET!", the boar swung its tusk. Lennon quickly dived out of the way.

    "Yeah, I feel blessed!" Percy said. "Scatter!"

    They ran in different directions, confusing it.

    "It wants to kill us!" Thalia said.

    "Of course," Grover said. "It's wild!"

    "So how is that a blessing?" Bianca asked.

    Lennon nodded as she stood up next to Bianca. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure blessings aren't supposed to kill you,"

     The pig seemed offended by their words and charged at both of them. Lennon dived away once more while Bianca rolled under its hooves and came up behind it. The boar lashed out with its tusks and pulverized the WELCOME TO CLOUDCROFT sign.

     "Sorry!" Lennon said, somehow feeling bad for offended the beast.

    "Keep moving!" Zoë yelled. She, Bianca, and Lennon ran in opposite directions. Grover danced around the boar, playing his pipes while the boar snorted and tried to gouge him. It seemed Percy and Thalia had drawn the short end of the stick. When the boar turned to them, Thalia raised Aegis in defense. The boar squealed in outrage and charged at them. They ran away, the boar chasing after them.

    "Follow them!" Zoë said.

     They hadn't gotten too far because they could still hear the boar's squeals in the distance, that and the falling trees that created a path. They reached the opening of a tunnel and entered it, assuming Thalia, Percy and the boar had gone in that direction. They reached the edge of the mountain.

    "Helloooooo?" Grover called.

    "Down here!" Percy's voice shouted.

    Soon enough, the rest of them joined the two. They watched the wild boar struggle in the snow.

    "A blessing of the Wild," Grover said, though he now looked agitated.

    "I agree," Zoë said. "We must use it."

     "Hold up," Thalia said irritably. "Explain to me why you're so sure this pig is a blessing,"

     Grover looked over, distracted. "It's our ride west. Do you have any idea how fast this boar can travel?"

    "I'm assuming very fast?" Lennon questioned.

"Fun," Percy said. "Like... pig cowboys,"

    Lennon faked a frown. "If only we had cowboy hats to complete the look,"

    Percy grinned. "And cowboy boots too,"

   "We need to get aboard. I wish... I wish I had more time to look around. But it's gone now." Grover said.

     "What's gone?"

     Grover didn't seem to hear Percy, he walked over to the boar and jumped onto its back. Already the boar was starting to make some headway through the drift. Once it broke free, there'd be no stopping it. Grover took out his pipes. He started playing a snappy tune and tossed an apple in front of the boar. The apple floated and spun right above the boar's nose, and the boar went crazy, straining to get it.

    "Automatic steering," Thalia murmured. "Great," She trudged over and jumped on behind Grover, which still left plenty of room for the rest of them.

    Lennon jumped on next. Zoë and Bianca walked toward the boar.

    "Wait a second," Percy said. "Do you two know what Grover is talking about—this wild blessing?"

    "Of course," Zoë said. "Did you not feel it in the wind? It was so strong... I never thought I would sense that presence again."

    "What presence?"

    Lennon didn't miss the stare she gave him. "The Lord of the Wild, of course. Just for a moment, in the arrival of the boar, I felt the presence of Pan."

     They'd decided to camp for the night and try the nearby junkyard in the morning. Zoë and Bianca had produced six sleeping bags and foam mattresses out of their backpacks. It was another instance where Lennon was grateful for magic.

    "The stars are out," Zoë said. Lennon gazed up at the stars. When she used to live with her mother, she would stargaze in their backyard.

    "Amazing," Bianca said. "I've never actually seen the Milky Way."

    "This is nothing," Zoë said. "In the old days, there were more. Whole constellations have disappeared because of human light pollution,"

    "What was it like?" Lennon asked, imagining skies full of stars.

    "Beautiful,"

    "You talk like you're not human," Percy said.

     Zoë raised an eyebrow. "I am a Hunter. I care what happens to the wild places of the world. Can the same be said for thee?"

    "For you," Thalia corrected. "Not thee,"

    "But you use you for the beginning of a sentence."

    "And for the end," Thalia said. "No thou. No thee. Just you,"

    Zoë threw up her hands in exasperation. "I hate this language. It changes too often!"

    Grover sighed. "If only Pan were here, he would set things right."

    Zoë nodded sadly.

    "Maybe it was the coffee," Grover said. "I was drinking coffee, and the wind came. Maybe if I drank more coffee..."

    Lennon frowned. "Are you sure it was the coffee?"

    "Grover, do you really think that was Pan?" Percy asked. "I mean, I know you want it to be."

    "He sent us help," Grover insisted. "I don't know how or why. But it was his presence. After this quest is done, I'm going back to New Mexico and drinking a lot of coffee. It's the best lead we've gotten in two thousand years. I was so close."

"What I want to know," Thalia said, looking at Bianca, "is how you destroyed one of the zombies. There are a lot more out there somewhere. We need to figure out how to fight them."

    Bianca shook her head. "I don't know. I just stabbed it and it went up in flames."

    "Maybe there's something special about your knife,"  Percy said.

    "It is the same as mine," Zoë said. "Celestial bronze, yes. But mine did not affect the warriors that way."

     "Maybe you have to hit the skeleton in a certain spot,"

    "Or a certain way?" Lennon tried.

    Bianca looked uncomfortable with everybody paying attention to her.

    "Never mind," Zoë told her. "We will find the answer. In the meantime, we should plan our next move. When we get through this junkyard, we must continue west. If we can find a road, we can hitchhike to the nearest city. I think that would be Las Vegas."

    "No!" she said. "Not there!" The girl looked freaked out by the idea.

    Zoë frowned. "Why?"

    Bianca took a shaky breath. "I... I think we stayed there for a while. Nico and I. When we were traveling. And then, I can't remember..."

     "Bianca," Percy said. "That hotel you stayed at. Was it possibly called the Lotus Hotel and Casino?"

     Her eyes widened. "How could you know that?"

    "Oh, great," He said.

    "Wait," Thalia said. "What is the Lotus Casino?"

    "A couple of years ago, Grover, Annabeth, and I got trapped there. It's designed so you never want to leave. We stayed for about an hour. When we came out, five days had passed. It makes time speed up."

    "No," Bianca said. "No, that's not possible."

    "You said somebody came and got you out," Percy asked.

    "Yes."

    "What did he look like? What did he say?"

    "I... I don't remember. Please, I really don't want to talk about this."

    Zoë sat forward, her eyebrows knit with concern. "You said that Washington, D.C., had changed when you went back last summer. You didn't remember the subway being there."

    "Yes, but—"

    "Bianca," Zoë said, "can you tell me the name of the president of the United States right now?"

    "Don't be silly," Bianca said. She told them the correct name of the president.

    "And before that?" Lennon asked.

    Bianca thought for a while. "Roosevelt."

    Zoë swallowed. "Theodore or Franklin?"

    "Franklin," Bianca said. "F.D.R."

    "Like FDR Drive?" Percy asked.

     Lennon had to pause to look at Percy confusedly. He only shrugged, as if saying What?

     "Bianca," Zoë said. "F.D.R. was not the last president. That was about seventy years ago."

     "That's impossible," Bianca said. "I... I'm not that old." She stared at her hands as if to make sure they weren't wrinkled.

     Thalia's eyes turned sad. "It's okay, Bianca. The important thing is you and Nico are safe. You made it out."

    "But how?" Percy said. "We were only in there for an hour and we barely escaped. How could you have escaped after being there for so long?"

    "I told you." Bianca looked about ready to cry. "A man came and said it was time to leave. And—"

    "But who? Why did he do it?"

    Lennon frowned. "Maybe we should relax on the questions. It's a lot to—"

    She never finished because they were hit by a blazing light down the road. The headlights of a white limousine. They grabbed their sleeping bags and got out of the way as the car slid to stop in front of them.

    The back door of the limo opened right next to Percy and before he could step away, the point of a sword touched his throat.

    Zoë and Bianca drew their swords, Lennon touched her hair tie, slowly taking it off.

    He smiled cruelly at Percy. "Not so fast now, are you, punk?"

    "Ares," Percy growled.

     Lennon was surprised that Ares was there. Of course, she'd heard about how Percy had fought Ares. It was a crazy story.

     The god glanced at them. "At ease, people." He snapped his fingers, and their weapons fell to the ground. Luckily, Lennon's hair tie stayed in her hands. She took the opportunity to slide it back on her wrist.

     "This is a friendly meeting." Though he said the word friendly, he dug the point of his blade a little farther under Percy's chin. "Of course, I'd like to take your head for a trophy, but the lady wants to see you. Actually, both of you," He said, tilting his to Lennon.

     "Me?" She said in surprise.

    "I pointed to you, didn't I?"

    "What lady?" Thalia asked.

     Ares looked over at her. "Well, well. I heard you were back."

     Finally, he lowered his sword and pushed Percy away. "Thalia, daughter of Zeus," Ares mused. "You're not hanging out with very good company."

    "What's your business, Ares?" she said. "Who's in the car?"

     Ares smiled, enjoying the attention. "Oh, I doubt she wants to meet the rest of you. Why don't you all go get some tacos while you wait? Only take these two a few minutes."

    "We will not leave them alone with thee, Lord Ares," Zoë said.

    "Besides," Grover managed, "the taco place is closed."

     Ares snapped his fingers again. The lights inside the taqueria suddenly blazed to life. The boards flew off the door and the CLOSED sign flipped to OPEN. "You were saying, goat boy?"

    "Go on," Percy said. "I'll handle this."

    "We'll handle this," Lennon corrected, stepping next to Percy. She had no idea why some lady wanted to speak to her and Percy.

     Ares grinned in amusement. "You heard them. They've got things under control,"

    The others reluctantly headed over to the taco restaurant. He regarded Percy with loathing and then opened the door.

    "She wants to speak to the girl first," Ares said.

    "Uh... okay," Lennon cautiously got into the car.

AUTHORS NOTE:
ik i haven't updated in forever but here i am. also percy and lennon starting to become friends is the best.
anyways, any thoughts? theories? don't forget to vot and comment! don't be a ghost reader