“You shall sail the iron ship with warriors of bone, You shall find what you seek and make it your own, But despair for your life entombed within stone, And fail without friends, to fly home alone.”

That was what the oracle had told me. So vague yet so telling—telling me not to bring anyone I cared about.

I believed that if I went on this quest alone, that if I left you and everyone else back at camp, you’d be safer. It was a protective measure despite the burning urge to keep you as close as possible, but how could I do something so selfish when I knew camp would be secure?

Of course, it was all in vain. Half way through my quest, even when I’d thought I’d only pick up those stupid kids, you were there. Exactly where I told you not to be.

So now, as we venture further across the ocean, I can’t help but become growingly agitated.

“I don’t care! I am the captain and this is my quest, so if I tell you that you are to stay inside of this ship at all times, you godsdamn will!” I yell harshly. I knew it was mean—it was supposed to be. I told myself just maybe if I could convince you we weren’t friends, even if it killed the Hades out of me, you’d be safer.