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“Annabeth,” Percy asked, “do you know about the Man vs. Bear internet debate thing?”
Annabeth and the rest of the Seven Demigods sat in conversation on the Big House porch at Camp Half-Blood. Piper sat next to her on the porch swing, and Percy was in a chair on her other side.
“Yeah,” Annabeth answered. “What about it?”
“What do you think about it?” His green eyes contained no judgment, just curiosity.
“Like, which would I choose?”
“Yeah.”
“Well…I suppose it's different since I’m not mortal,” Annabeth said thoughtfully. “I could technically defend myself just fine if the man was mortal. And since I’ve killed so many monsters, a plain old bear probably wouldn't scare me much. In a fight, I’d probably choose the mortal guy. Especially if I don't have any weapons.”
“Oh, true,” Percy said. “What about, uh. Demigod man versus…like…one of the magic bears Artemis hunts?”
“Then, yeah. Bear.”
“Yeah?”
“Mhm.”
“Well, it’s easy for you to pick the bear,” Leo butted in from his conversation with Jason. “You could just think up a way to kill it, easy peasy. Or punch it in the snout and send it crying home to its mama bear.”
Annabeth considered that. “That's true,” she said. “The point is that the man is still more dangerous, though.” She noticed Frank, Hazel and Jason were suddenly quiet, and everyone was looking at her now.
“What if he's a less powerful demigod?” Jason asked. “Son of Iris or Baccus or something?”
“Well…part of the hypothetical is that you don’t get to pick the man. It should be the same for a demigod; you don't get to pick whether they're powerful or not.”
“Hmm. I guess that makes sense.”
“I’d still choose a bear over a random mortal guy,” Piper joined in. “Mortals can still hurt and kill demigods.”
“Yeah, they technically could,” Annabeth said.
“And I don't have my dagger?”
“Nope, no weapons.”
“Okay. I mean, I guess I could charmspeak the mortal guy into leaving me alone. But like, what if they sneak up on me? I’d have nothing.”
“I’m pretty sure a magic grizzly is more dangerous than a mortal guy,” Percy said skeptically. “Can you even charmspeak a bear?”
“I’m…not sure, actually,” Piper said. “But, I mean…the worst the bear could do is maul me to death.”
“But the mortal’s just…some guy,” Jason argued. “What's the worst he could do to a girl like you?”
Leo’s expression changed so severely that Annabeth thought he was going to start his deck chair on fire. Annabeth knew exactly what he was thinking, but she was surprised—and a little impressed—that he was the first one to give Jason a scolding look.
“What the fuck do you think, man?” Leo snapped. “Pipes, you want to burst his bubble, or should I?”
“Yeah, man,” Percy growled, “what the hell?”
“No, I know!” Jason held up his hands, looking at Leo warily. “I just meant that Piper could fight him off, easy. Couldn't she? And there's a good chance that the guy doesn't even want to hurt you.”
“Okay, listen,” Piper said. “Take it from someone who's been surrounded by mortals for my whole life. They can be as smart and vicious as any demigod. There's plenty of them who are stronger than me. If the only thing I have is my charmspeak against some guy who really wants to hurt me, demigod or human…all they’d have to do is cover my mouth.” She gripped the edge of the porch swing she was sitting on.
“And if you were mauled by a bear,” Annabeth added, “at least people would believe you.” She threw a pointed glance in Jason’s direction, and he flinched a little, giving Annabeth a glimmer of schadenfreude.
“Yeah,” Piper said, “that, too.”
“I suppose I shouldn't underestimate mortals, either,” Annabeth reflected. “I mean, it’s not like I have any powers besides wisdom. I’m generally pretty confident in my ability to defend myself, but…I don't know. Hubris is dangerous. And I haven't spent enough time around mortals to really know what they're capable of, like you, Piper.”
“Annabeth, you're way tougher and smarter than any mortal,” Percy said. She could tell he was trying to be reassuring, but he also didn't really get it. How could he?
“I know, Seaweed Brain,” she said. “Thank you. I do still think a bear would be easier. I wouldn't even have to kill it, just get it to run away. And it wouldn't come back to retaliate with the sickest torture it can think of. It wouldn't pretend to be my friend and care about me, and then hurt me when I least expect it.”
“That's…very true.”
Annabeth noticed Hazel hadn't said anything. She sat between Frank and Leo, watching the conversation. Her expression was hard for Annabeth to read.
“You okay, Hazel?” Annabeth asked her.
“Mmmhm, fine.” Hazel nodded.
“What do you think?” Piper asked. “About the argument.”
“What's the argument?” Hazel asked. “What are the man and the bear from?”
“A hypothetical that people on the Internet are talking about lately,” Annabeth explained. “If you were alone in the forest, would you feel more scared coming across a man you don't know, or a bear? Women keep choosing the bear, and men keep getting angry because they don't understand why.”
“Oh, alright. That's really interesting.”
“Yeah,” Piper said. “It kind of…puts into perspective how much more afraid women are of men than men realize we are.”
“That's definitely true.” Hazel tapped her fingers on the arm of her chair. “I actually would rather be alone with a bear than a strange man. That's crazy. Like you said,” Hazel looked over at Piper, “the worst the bear would do is kill me. And even then, just because it thinks I’m either food or a threat. It won't hurt me just because it wants to.”
Annabeth observed Frank, who was sitting next to Hazel. He’d been quiet, maybe afraid he’d say something insensitive on accident, like Jason had. The thought made Annabeth like him even more than she already did. His expression, listening to Hazel talk about her fears, was full of sympathy and worry.
“That's terrifying,” he said finally. “Is that something you guys think about all the time?” He glanced at Piper and Annabeth.
“We have to,” Piper said with a dejected shrug.
“She's right,” Annabeth agreed. “If we don't stay cautious, bad things happen. You know how many horrible things happen to women in Greek and Roman stories. The tricking, the violence, the blame getting pushed onto the women for mens’ bad behavior or mistakes.”
“Yeah,” Percy said. “Dark times.”
“But those things still happen,” Annabeth continued. “The specifics change, but…humans don't, really.”
The demigods were quiet for a moment. The only thing disturbing the silence was the cool breeze rattling the porch’s wind chimes.
“For what it's worth,” Hazel said, “I’d choose to be with any of you boys in the woods, over a bear.”
“Aw, shucks, Hazel,” Leo grinned. “That is high praise.”
Frank kissed his girlfriend’s hand like they were an old married couple. Percy was smiling the cutest smile Annabeth had ever seen—besides the one he’d given her at the picnic table after their first proper kiss. His cheeks were pink. Jason blushed and smiled, too, a little uncertain.
A genuine compliment from Hazel Levesque could make anyone’s day, Annabeth supposed.
“Hazel’s right,” Piper said, “after all we’ve been through together, I’d trust each one of you guys with my life. Even Leo, I guess,” she teased.
“Hey, now!” Leo said indignantly.
Piper laughed.
“Same here,” Annabeth agreed. “Despite how annoying or ignorant some of you can be,” she said in Leo and Jason’s direction with a playful smile, “you guys are alright.”