"How many times do I have to tell you to be more careful, Luke?!" Thalia demanded. She peeled Luke's bloody shirt off. He clenched his teeth and groaned. Thalia sighed and tried to wipe the drakon bite on his shoulder, but he squirmed out of reach and clutched it.
"Luke!" Thalia scooted over. "Hold still. And put this on your face." She handed him some "borrowed" gauze. He shook his head and turned his back on her. "Luke, look at me," Thalia said softly.
"I led you into a trap," he said quietly, still not looking at her.
"You couldn't have known, Luke, it is not your fault."
Luke shook his head.
"You don't understand."
Thalia sighed exasperatedly.
"Then help me to." Luke finally looked up.
"I had a feeling that it wasn't a good idea. I just knew. But I didn't say anything because you had your hopes up. You wanted me to crush your hopes?" He looked at her mournfully. Thalia didn't say anything, because she didn't know what to say. "You were so confident that that was the right choice, and I wanted you to be right."
"Luke, you should've said something," Thalia said and washed his shoulder as gently as possible. They sat in silence as she cleaned him up and wrapped gauze tightly around it. Then she looked up at him.
"I'm afraid you've lost to much blood, you look way to pale." She wiped dried blood off his face and paused, her fingers on his cheek. "And you're cold. I'll start a fire."
"No, you can't!" Luke exclaimed. "It'll draw monsters faster." He snatched the lighter from her backpack.
"Give that back! I don't care how many monsters it draws, you need to get warmed up!" Thalia tried to grab it back. "I'll fight'em off, just let me - have it - back!" She stretched to reach it, but Luke held it out of reach.
"No!" Thalia looked startled when he said that. "No, Thalia," he said more softly. "I don't want to put you in any more danger. I am cold, but... but you can warm me up. Besides you're hurt." He touched her side. "What happened?"
"When you got bitten, I tried to stab it from the back, but it kicked me. I think I broke a couple ribs," Thalia mumbled.
"Let me help you. Did its claws get you?"
Thalia nodded, suddenly worn out, and leaned against his good shoulder, deciding to warm him up like he said. Luke didn't say anything, just wrapped his arm around her.
"I'm never going to lead you into a trap again, Thalia. I promise." Thalia tilted her head back and looked at him.
"You can't make a promise like that, Luke." She looked worried.
"For you, I can." He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. They sat there, kissing, with no one watching but the stars. And they never told anyone about that night.