Chapter Text
April 14, 1999-
Central Park-
New York City-
Athena’s Perspective:
It’s good seeing screech owls in Central Park again… Mortals are such strange creatures. There are some who destroy without a care and then there are people who actually try to rebuild ecosystems. I can still feel pain whenever I see ecosystems like this. There might be an aspect of him floating around somewhere other than the satyrs. There’s a lot of the ancient world that I just see floating around even in the aspects that are claimed to be long pass throughout the pantheons…
Great another field trip. I don’t mind field trips however small children prefer to go and rarely learn however, they are the greatest source of change because it’s getting them invested in nature early will keep them invested throughout life. But ever since the rise of the Industrial Revolution children have just been less interested in learning at the same age as they were in the ancient world.
“Did you know that owls are the only bird that can fly completely silent?” I turn my head to one of the tour groups hearing that comment. A little boy maybe six years old, maybe seven. He almost looked like Trident… Raven black hair, sea green eyes, smells like the ocean… And definitely a half blood…
I walked over to where the owl exhibit was, and reached out my arm for a screech owl to land. “In The ancient world, many gods were associated with animals. Some gods even having multiple animals represent them. Can anyone tell me which Greek gods sacred animal was the screech owl?” I ask, glancing at the boy, who raised his hand, and I nodded for him to speak, “Hades, God of the underworld.” I smiled as I spoke, “That’s correct; do you know why?” The boy continued, “The screech owl was considered a bad omen of death in ancient Greece, so it made sense to associate him with the owl everyone feared as the heralding of the underworld.”
I couldn’t help but smile at the boy, “Well done. You have a lot of research into owls?” I sent the screech owl off flying as the boy answered, “Yeah, my mom told me a lot of Greek myths and the goddess Athena always interested me and that got me learning about the owls… Did you know that scientists actually connected modern day birds to the last surviving ancestors of dinosaurs of the K-T Extinction event?” I chuckled, “I did not, did you know that in the ancient world when they found the bones of dinosaurs, they called them dragons?”
I saw his eyes immediately widened, “OWLS ARE DRAGONS!? That’s so cool!” I can’t help but chuckled as Glauca landed on my shoulder. “Would you like to meet my friend Daffodil?” He nodded as he walked to the front. Glauca instantly looked at him and flew over to land on his head. She’s only done that with kids of mine or Odysseus… “She likes you. What’s your name young one?” He answered, “Percy, Percy Jackson. Short Perseus, the Greek hero. My mom said something about names having power and him being lucky…”
“Your mother is a wise woman, Percy Jackson. Hold your arm out for Glauca to fly onto.” I saw Percy raised his arm as Glauca hopped onto his arm. “Can I pet her, or scratch her?” “You may, just be slow.” His left and slowly rose the Glauca as he began to scratch her back by her spine, slowly making his way up to her head.
I have never seen Glauca be so docile to someone scratching her… She never let Odysseus scratch her head… I mean, sure he scratched her back all the time and under her chin, but Glauca never let anyone scratch your head like that… I mean she’s coo’ing… There’s something about this half blood that she feels completely comfortable with. Glauca is The best judge of character I’ve had with me since I left Father‘s head.
Maybe I should’ve take up another champion… I mean, Glauca is reacting to Percy better than Odysseus… and Odysseus was the last time I had a champion. I should take up a new champion…
Tick… Tick… … Tick… … … Tick… … … … …
Percy’s Perspective:
“Wow what’s happening why is everything blue and why is no one else moving?” The Zoo worker laughed, “Percy, how much of the Greek world did your mother teach you?” I don’t know what’s going on… “Umm not much just some basic stories? Like… Perseus’, Atlanta’s, Odysseus’ and Cadmus’ stories? Why does that matter and what’s going on?” The zoo worker only smiled as she twisted her wrist as a pole appeared in it, and as she was spinning it in her hand, her outfit changed…
It was strange. I’ve never seen clothing shimmer before, but the brown pants and shirt of the Central Park staff slowly became a long flowing white dress? The shirt became… that looks like, armor… The hat slowly morphed into… that looks like a Greek war helmet..!? “Athena?” She laughed, “Yes dear Perseus. The Greek gods are real, and I am in fact, the Goddess Athena.” “So you’re the one making everything blue and still like time is moving?” OK, I know that I was trying to say that like a question but it definitely came out as an accusation…
She nodded answering, “This is a state known as quick thought. Essentially, what I’m doing is, I’m improving the processing time of your brain… you’re thinking faster. This is why everything looks to be standing still. You’re processing things between the tick and the tock.” “That is so cool…”
She continued, “Odysseus was is my previous champion. However, I’ve learned a lot since then, and I wanted to extend the opportunity for you to become my next champion. Glauca Has never reacted the way she is with you. Even to Odysseus and I trust her judge character. What do you say?”