He stared up at the top of the hill. The tree massive and imposing, casting a cool shadow on the valley below. A breeze ruffled the branches and leaves, the golden fleece glittering when the sun hit. A dragon slept soundly at the base, smoke curling arounf his snout. The image almost serene if not for the dark shadow that sat on a sturdy branch up high.
"Who is that?" The small boy inquired to the camp leader. Half man half horse, a centaur named Chiron. He looked up at the shape and sighed. Chiron didn't quite know where to start. Instead he picked up the boy, Aiden, and put him on his back. They passes the strawberry patches, the cabins, and the camp fire before Chiron answered. While he wasn't sure his explanation would do justice, he knew he had to say something.
"A man from a long time ago. He protects us-"
"Like the fleece?" Aiden interuppted. Chiron chuckled.
"Yes, sort of like the fleece. He's a great warrior, fought many a battle for us." Chirom paused, collecting himself. Reminiscing made his heart weary and his mind cloudy.
"Chiron? What's wrong? What happened?" Aiden asked, the words rushing out. He wanted to understand, he wantes to know what made Chiron silent.
"I'm alright, my boy. Let's continue. This man stays in that tree to protect us. Patrols and watches for any sniff of danger. His job is to make sure we are safe, no one gave him this job, he took it upon himself to make sure little rascals like you arrive safely. He vowed a long time ago that he would protect anyone who takes asylum here, no matter who they are."
"What if he doesn't like someone? What if someone annoys him?" Aiden inquired, he wanted to know how this man could do this all day, all the time.
"Emotions never get in his way. If they dide he wouldn't be able to complete his tasks." Chiron and Aiden look out over the lake watxhing the ripples roll in.
"Is he Spock?"
"Does he seem like an intergalactic space alien to you?" Chiron asked, his voice breathy from laughing.
"Well, he doesn't look much like anything, he's so far up. I don't know what he looks like."
"That is fair. You made fair points but no he's is not Spock, just a man."
"What's his name?" Aiden had been wanting to ask since the beginning but the other questions in his head had jumped to the forfront of his mind. Chiron looked back at Aiden with a small smile.
"Oh, he doesn't really have a name anymore. A few here still rember but they've long since used the term."
"Then what do I call him? What do I say to get his attention when I go to talk to him? I've gotta be able to fet his attention from so far up. He's gotta be lonely. I'd hate to sit up in a tree all day." Chiron knew that the man wouldn't want to talk but he had hope that maybe something would change this time. It had been awhile since he'd tried communicating with their protector. Maybe, just maybe, this time would be different. He had a feeling that Aiden wouldn't give up easily.
"Well, Aiden, I guess you can call him Spock. He might even get a kick out of that." Aiden exclaimed in joy and threw himself off Chiron, running to the tree on the hill. Chiron chuckled and watched the small boy disappear, doubt crept into his mind but he pushed the tendrils away. He needed to keep up hope that the man in the tree was not lost to them. Chiron let out a breathe, letting the name that was once shouted roll off his tongue, barely audible but still there none the less.
"Percy..."