Disclaimer: Percy Jackson belongs to Rick Riordan and Avatar belongs to Nickelodeon Animation Studio, as well as any other element of any other work, creation that appears, credits to whomever it may apply.
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Well, this fic, like others, is told in the form of a diary or log of Percy Jackson, the son of Poseidon, which he uses as a way to vent the madness that comes with the life of a demigod, to get rid of his brief moments of "depression and pessimism", basically a way to avoid going crazy.
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Percy Jackson's Log
Entry 3, When Will I Return Home?
Date: ¿September 13?,
It's been two days since the last entry in this journal-blog and in which I stayed in this strange town and, honestly, my level of desperation or maybe I should say paranoia is growing. I feel like a fish out of water, and not just because I've been out of my element, but because I'm trying to survive in a place where trees are becoming friendlier than people.
At first, I thought that staying a little longer might be beneficial. Maybe I could learn a thing or two about the local culture, make some acquaintances, or at least get some food that isn't a scaly culinary experiment.
But here's the thing: local money is as deep a mystery as the last time I tried to read a book of Japan's ancient history. So, instead of giving myself the task of trying to buy some food, I decided to explore the surroundings.
The problem with being a demigod is that even though I have special abilities, I don't always have the necessary wisdom. So I went into the nearby woods, armed only with my instincts and a couple of vague memories of some classes on edible plants at Camp Half Blood and survival lessons in the navy and SEALS.
Among the leaves and trees, I found some fruits that looked promising. Small red berries, which on Earth would probably have been classified as "edible", but here... Well, everything here seems to have a touch of danger. But you know, what's life without a little risk?
So I got up the courage and decided to try them. Spoiler: I didn't die. They were sweet and juicy, an absolute relief after my previous culinary adventures. However, as I was satiated with the fruits, I couldn't help but think of the creatures that inhabit this place... I saw a couple of animals that looked like a mix between a deer and something that might have come out of a genetics lab.
They had deer antlers and the tail of a fish. Yes, you read that right, a fishtail!
I was definitely not ready to investigate whether those animals were edible. On Earth, most creatures are mostly meat or vegetables if you involve the supernatural, but here... it is quite an enigma.
As I fed myself with my fruit picking once I returned to the village, I noticed that some of the men and women of the village were watching me. At first I thought they were curious looks, but I soon realized that curiosity had given way to suspicion.
Their gazes became sharper, as if they were weighing whether they should approach me with a torch or a spear.... I don't like the direction this is going.
With every look, I felt like they were framing me as a dangerous stranger in their midst. I didn't want my adventures to turn into a misunderstanding that ended in an altercation. After all, there's no "How to Deal with Suspicious Crowds in an Alternate World" class on my hero resume or Navy file...
So I decided that the smartest thing to do would be to pack my bags and leave before I became a topic of conversation at the village dinner.
But before I left, I looked for someone who could give me directions. I approached an old man who seemed to be the wisest in the place. Even though I didn't understand much of what he was saying, I was able to grasp the essence of his words: "Follow the road to the east, and then look for the Wang River." So that's what I did. I thanked him and set out to follow his advice: the nearest coast was to the east, and that was where I wanted to go.
You may be wondering, why would a son of Poseidon ask for directions to where the ocean is?...
Well the reason is simple, just like I can't feel the fog, my internal compass towards the water sources seems to have gone crazy, at times I feel clearly where the rivers, the sea or the wells are underground as I always do, but suddenly it seems to take some work and at times it is even easier for me. So I prefer to play it safe or at least as safe as possible considering my absurd luck
But as I walked, a feeling of slight worry filled me. Not only did I want to get away from the suspicious looks, but there was also something unsettling in the air. The 100 Years' War was not far from my mind, entering these lands could drag me into it, it was as if the shadows of past conflicts were rising through the trees, and although I was not a hero of this story, I knew that I had to keep moving forward even if I end up getting involved in it.
The road to the east was filled with small wonders and possible challenges as the leaves crunched beneath my feet, and the air was permeated with the fresh scent of nature, but the 6'2'' height he used to see as an advantage now felt like a curse... the idea of being a giant in a world full of "dwarfs" didn't make me feel powerful, but as if I was carrying a big sign that said "Throw me what you have, I can overcome anything".
As I went along, I passed small groups of animals that seemed to be more interested in my movements than anything else. There were a couple of creatures that looked like a cross between a rabbit and an iguana, but I decided that I didn't want to try to figure out if they were friendly or edible either, I'd stick to berries for now.
Finally, after a time that seemed like an eternity, I arrived at the bank of a river, its waters were clear and bright, and I could see small creatures swimming inside. Apparently, there was life here.
Maybe I could catch something and not risk eating things that could fly and bite, although the thought made my stomach turn a little, but I remembered myself I wasn't the inhabitants of my father's kingdom and domains. However, before my hopes soared, I remembered that fishing had never been my forte or at least I never practiced it, it's hard to do when you're able to hold a conversation with your potential food.
So I decided to sit on the riverbank, taking a moment to reflect, things had been strange, even for me, but the thought of moving forward gave me some doubt, at the same time I knew I couldn't stay here. If the town saw me as a threat, the last thing I wanted was to be a nuisance or be attacked.
With the river in front of me, I realized that I had to keep looking for answers. Perhaps the next village would have more information about this place, about their war, and about how they could return home. So, as the sun began to set, I prepared my mind and steps to continue this journey, one step at a time.
I hope the next post will be more encouraging and less distressing, but, for now, I just have to move on and face the unknown, as always... And some help could be good for Tyche.
—Sincerely, the unfortunate Percy
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