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  Chapter 1: The Nice Dryad.

  -Loth's P.O.V-

  There's a difference between imagining yourself in a Fictional World and Actually being in one.

  The first scenario is something I do a lot-Fantasizing is how I've always coped with life, ya know?

  But the second scenario? Well, let's just say, I prefer being the observer as opposed to a Character.

  Which brings us to now.

  (Hello, LothWolfKanine! You may know me as $#+&##. My designation aside, I'm here with great news!...Ahem...You've won the Grand Multiversal Lottery! Out of the Billion Souls on your Earth, You alone have been picked to traverse to another Universe. One popularly known to you as Percy Jackson! Again Congratulations!)

  I gaped at the blue screen hanging in the air before me.

  "IS THIS A FUCKING JOKE!!?"

  My voice loudly cracked through the midday sky, getting lost in the sounds the waves made, crashing against the rocky shores of the beach I had just woken up on.

  That was a few minutes ago. From my comfortable bed to God knows where in PJO.

  To make matters worse, I didn't have my phone with me, my feet were bare and the only thing standing between me and the unforgiving nature of well...nature, was my Ben 10 classic Pajamas.

  A 20 year old college dropout in silly clothes stranded on a deserted beach. I must have cut quite the image.

  Not the best start. Not the best situation. Period.

  I'm an Indoors animal and if I wasn't careful, I could die here.

  A chill spread down my body at the thought.

  "L-lets try to avoid that Loth..."

  I told myself, shivering and not because of the cold wind blowing in from the ocean.

  Okay. What are the priorities to ensure survival?

  Food, water and shelter. Speaking of water,

  'Cough'

  "My throat is so dry..."

  I rubbed my neck, speaking in a lower tone.

  Standing whilst my brain ran a marathon of fears was making me dizzy.

  I looked around and there was a fallen tree trunk behind me, which I dropped my ass onto and got to thinking.

  The first thing I needed to do was find water.

  I glanced at the ocean in yearning before shaking my head. Salt water would only dehydrate me faster. Fresh water sources like a river or stream would have to do.

  Which left searching the dark jungle behind me, as my only option.

  Higher chance to find some food and shelter within it too. For the latter, I'd be fine with a cave before figuring out where I was and how to get back to civilization.

  I'd deal with the 'other' stuff later.

  -0-

  Trekking through the jungle made it clear how inexperienced I was with the Outdoors.

  For starters, it was dark and gloomy.

  Vine covered trees loomed large above me, forming a canopy that hid the sun.

  Down below, the thick foliage covering the ground made it hard to walk, making my pace slow and demoralizing.

  There was also the faint sensation of being watched. From every direction.

  And seeing as this was The Percy Jackson Universe, with all it's mythical monsters and magical creatures, I was deeply concerned for my safety.

  So much so, that whenever a strange sound reached my ears or my eyes noticed blurry shapes among the trees, I would pause and hide.

  But whenever I tried to look, my vision would swim and my head would spin without getting a clear picture of what they were.

  Similar to seeing a shadow at the corner of your eyes. It was disconcerting.

  The minutes passed, and the vegetation thickened even more. I would occasionally stop to listen for the sounds of rushing water and to rest.

  Nothing stood out to me. And the rests became more frequent.

  Leaning against a large old tree for balance, my breaths came out harsh and hurried.

  Something nebulous and formless was actively pressing against the walls of my mind, causing me great discomfort.

  It felt like vertigo had a baby with anxiety.

  The pressure grew and just as I felt like my head was about to burst, there was an inaudible pop and my eye sight cleared.

  "Whoa..."

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  The forest became full of vibrance...and magic.

  All at once I could see this other world. Previously shrouded from view by a grey fog.

  "The Mist..."

  I recalled what the fog was, watching it disperse into nothing.

  Also known as Glamour, it was the ever present paranormal force that separated the mundane from the mythical side in the Riordanverse.

  Only a few select mortals could see through the mist. And now, so could I.

  This new fantasy-reality set in immediately.

  A large shadow passed over me.

  Through a small gap in the branches, I got a glimpse of large wings, a lion's body and a hawk's head.

  "A Gryphon?..."

  A mutter of wonder left me.

  The tree I was leaning on shivered under my shoulder. I jumped back in fright as the bark molded into the face of a green woman! She was old and stern, reminding me of my cranky middle school principal.

  My eyes widened. A Dryad!

  "Hmph! Mortals these days have no manners."

  Said the old dryad, pointing a glare my way, and before I could reply, she started complaining about me invading her territory without permission.

  I backed away, hands raised in placation. Now that I could see what the mist was hiding, the things being hid, could see me too.

  "Oh, I'm sorry if I offended you..."

  I tried to apologize, only to get smacked on the head by one of the low hanging branches.

  "Ow, what was that for?"

  "LEAVE."

  She responded rudely and disaappeared before I could ask anything. I was left staring at the tree's trunk, feeling betrayed.

  "I thought Dryads were supposed to be nice..."

  "Don't mind her. She's always cranky."

  A giggling voice said from my back.

  Nervous, I quickly turned to the source, and found a younger Dryad, this time sitting on a tree branch. She was unbelievably pretty. With emerald skin and long flowing silky hair covered in leaves. Her eyes were yellow like sunflower.

  "Uh, Hello."

  She giggled at my awkward wave. I fidgeted as she studied me.

  "You're not from around here." She pointed out. "Are you a Demigod? You smell 'Almost' like one."

  I perked up at her approachable attitude, hoping she could help.

  "I'm not really sure about the smell but I don't think I'm a Demigod."

  Both of my parents were human. And always busy, I might add. Not surprised I don't miss them.

  She giggled, tilting her head,

  "Most demigods are never sure they're children of gods until a Monster gobbles them up. Yum yum."

  Ookay.

  "That sounds horrifying. Look, I'm lost. Could you point me on the direction where I can find other people? Or water? Please?"

  I requested.

  She nodded exaggeratedly.

  "Of course silly. I like Demigods after all. Keep walking that way and you'll eventually reach Camp Half Blood."

  The direction she pointed to, was back the way I came.

  "Ah, you're sure?"

  I asked skeptical.

  "Yes. A Dryad never lies. Cross my roots and hope to dry."

  Her smile was infectious and although she was a little strange, I chose to trust her.

  If I remember correctly, Camp Half Blood was protected under a magical veil powered by a demigod of Zeus. It was plausible I could have missed it.

  I thanked the nice Dryad and left, carefully retracing my path.

  -General P.O.V-

  Once Loth was gone, the old Dryad reappeared.

  "You lied to him. That direction only leads towards death."

  She accused.

  In response, the young Dryad's sweet smile twisted into something sadistic.

  "Does it matter? He's just another godly whelp. They sicken me. I hope Arachne's children tear him apart."

  Her words were full of disgust.

  The older Dryad stared at her neighbor with pity.

  "You failed to realize one thing, the boy carried Hecate's scent. Killing him might not be so easy. And if he does survive...he might return for revenge."

  The young Dryad paled.

  -Loth's P.O.V-

  I pushed my way through the dense jungle, nerves buzzing.

  Every new sound, every movement put me on edge, but gradually I found myself attuning to clear sight and avoided anger.

  Halfway back to the beach, I begun wondering when I would come across Camp Half Blood.

  My speed slowed, partly to conserve energy and partly because I was entranced by the strange things I saw. Things straight from dreams. Some expected and others unexpected.

  Like a pair of fox-like creatures with multiple tails darting through the underbrush, their red fur briefly illuminated with flickering fire. Kitsune. Mythical foxes from Japanese lore.

  "That you Kurama?"

  A thrill of awe gripped me, as they jumped away. I hadn’t expected to actually see creatures like this.

  And as if that wasn’t enough, tiny, glowing beings flew around the top of my head, showering me with sparkling light- fairies or pixies maybe? It was surreal.

  Like one of those fantasy tales I’d devoured in books and tv suddenly brought to life with an edge of unsettling realism.

  A couple of hours later, I passed through a familiar part of the forest, thinking I'd emerge out into the beach, but...suddenly, the forest darkened and a chill settled in the air.

  The sun was covered by dark clouds, the jungle silent and gloomy.

  Here, a little of the Mist still hang around. I turned around to leave but no matter which way I took, the surroundings remained unchanged.

  Terrified, I kept wandering around before finally stumbling into a clearing surrounded by 'dead trees', their branches twisted upward, skeletal and reaching as if clawing for something long lost.

  The ground was littered with bones—animal skeletons scattered haphazardly around a decaying statue of a Satyr.

  The statue’s face, though weathered and cracked, held a strange calm, its hollow eyes staring blankly into the distance.

  Recognition struck me almost instantly—'Pan', the god of the wild, the forests, the creatures of nature. A forgotten god.

  Besides the fear, something tugged at me—a mixture of curiosity and sadness. This place, which should have been sacred, brimming with life, was left in ruin.

  I found myself stepping closer, even as my instincts screamed at me to stay away.

  But the mystery of it all drew me in.

  I stepped over a deer's skeleton and leaned forward, tracing the decay with my eyes, wondering why and how the Satyrs could neglect a statue of their beloved God.

  As if to answer me, something wet and foul dripped onto my shoulder, drenching my pj's.

  The stench hit me in an instant—a blend of rot and poison, sharp enough to make my eyes water.

  Heart hammering, I tilted my head up, a sense of dread creeping in.

  "Holy underwear..."

  Above me, nestled in the dead tangled branches, was an enormous black widow spider, its eight eyes glinting down in the dim light.

  The creature was massive, easily the size of a small car, its fangs dripping with venom that sizzled as it hit the ground beside me.

  My mind reeled. While I love animals, especially dogs, I am deathly afraid of Spiders and snakes.

  So this was worse than a nightmare.

  'This must be why the Satyrs abandoned the shrine', I realized, frozen in panic. This place had become a lair for something deadly… and very, very hungry.

  Self-preservation instincts spurred me on and I stepped back.

  The Spider's bulk unsettlingly still, shivered as I moved. I gulped, feeling like prey being sized up.

  Before I could even blink, the spider launched itself at me, a black blur hurtling through the air.

  I screamed and instinct took over, awkwardly throwing myself to the side just as the spider crashed down where I’d stood a moment before, the ground shaking from the impact.

  Bones and leaves scattered in every direction as I scrambled to my feet, my mind screaming at me to move.

  Without a second thought, I bolted, weaving through the trees, my heart pounding so hard it hurt.

  Behind me, the spider’s screeched in a high-pitch, its legs skittering over the forest floor as it pursued me, closing the distance.

  "Help! Somebody! Help me!"

  My voice echoed through the trees, drowning in the fog.

  I pulsed with adrenaline, hunger and thirst forgotten, as I pushed myself to keep going,desperate to find anything, anything that could give me an edge.

  Behind me, the sound of trees falling and getting trampled grew closer.

  Time was running out, there was no way my pudgy self was outrunning a monster with 8 frigging legs.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a cluster of rocks—a narrow crevice wedged between two massive boulders.

  Barely thinking, I dove into it, feeling the rough edges tear at my arms and legs as I squeezed myself deeper, hoping it would be enough to hide me.

  Seconds later, the spider reached the entrance, its fangs clicking together as it tried to force its way in.

  The rocks vibrated as it clawed at the opening, its venom dripping onto the ground, sizzling as it pooled.

  Grunting I'm exertion, I pressed myself back as far as I could, my heart hammering so loudly I was sure the creature could hear it, praying it would lose interest and move on.

  Finally, after what felt like hours but was only a few seconds, the awful scraping sounds grew fainter, the spider’s legs retreating until silence filled the air once more. I held my breath, listening, waiting until I was certain it had gone.

  "Oh thank G-"

  Splutch!

  Something wet and warm landed on my feet.

  I looked down and my face paled at the webbing woven around my heel.

  "Oh no-"

  My back lit on fire as I was roughly pulled out of the crevice by the spider's web, bringing me face to face with its chittering form. And my certain death.

  That f*cking dryad lied to me.