Chapter Two

Disclaimer: I do not own the PJO HoO series by Rick Riordan, nor do I own Star Holder Commander's character, Walker. I do own all of the other OCs mentioned.

James's POV

After what felt like an eternity in Punishment, we finally found a safe place to stop for the night. What we had been walking through was a hiking trail, and it finally gave way to a sort of park with a greenway running all through it.

We had walked a little more and finally found a small wooded area in a secluded part of the park. There were a few trees, some incredibly tall as if they had been there for a while, and others that looked to be only a few years old.

There was also a little alcove made from some boulders. No doubt they had been strategically placed there when the park was built, but it made a nice shelter for those of us that were sleeping during the first watch.

The sun had just started going down when we started to settle in. Jade had nabbed some sleeping bags and cheap blankets from a convenience store a while back, as well as some junk food and drinks to tide us over until we found some real food. Sometimes I wondered why she was a daughter of Iris and not Hermes.

Addie had already curled up with a blanket, using her backpack as an uncomfortable, chunky pillow. I wasn't sure if she was asleep already or not, but it wouldn't surprise me if she was. She had walked for hours on newly mended bones without very many breaks.

I walked a few feet away and looked up at one of the tallest trees. The rosy sunlight was quickly fading as the seconds ticked away. There was a lower branch that I could probably jump up to if I tried hard enough. If we had some rope, I could tie it to an end of an arrow and shoot it over a branch and climb my way up. But seeing as we didn't, jumping would have to do.

I made sure my quiver was securely attached to my back and then crouch down slightly, readying myself. Just as I was about to launch myself upward, I hear someone approaching from behind. I turn around and see Tristan coming up to me.

"I'll take first watch if you want," he says.

I glance back up at the tree. Even though we were secluded enough, I still didn't feel right about stopping here. Something felt off. But then, when does something ever feel right for a demigod?

"What if we watch together? That way if one of us starts to fall asleep the other can shake them awake?"

He nods and cracks a grin. "Sounds good. I'm going to go get a drink and something to eat from Jade. Want anything?"

"Just a bottle of water I guess, I'm not too hungry,"

Tristan gives me a look, as if saying, "Come on, man, really?"

"I'm fine. Analyzing someone makes me lose my appetite for a day or so, I'll be fine,"

He sighs, but turns away and heads over to Jade. I turn back to the tree, and see a small boulder beside it, like a little stool almost. I hop on top of it and find that I can nearly reach the lowest branch. I jump and grab hold of it, wrapping my arms around it and pulling myself up.

I quickly scale the tree, getting to a strong branch up towards the top. I could see everything within a thirty-foot radius, while still staying hidden with help from foliage. From up here I could see the little shelter Jade and Addie and Keegan were resting in, and around the park as well.

I hear a rustling of leaves and a few seconds later Tristan's head pops up. He climbs up and settles himself in a small nook in the branches a little below where I was perched. He hands me the bottle of water he had gotten and I uncap it, taking a sip of it. It wasn't cold anymore, it was long past that point, but it was still refreshing.

We we silent for a good hour, sucked into our own thoughts and listening to the sounds of night...as well as Keegan's snoring from below.

"What did Adds say about the Analyzing?" Tristan asks, breaking the silence.

I sigh and look up at the stars through the leaves. They were like sparkling rhinestones in the sky. An occasional plane would go by, its blinking lights high up above. I would have given anything to be up there right now than down here and about to have this conversation.

"I think she hates me now. She knew I was well aware of the risks, and she's pissed that I did it anyway,"

A beat passes before he says anything. "I can understand both sides. I mean, from what happened that first time you used it, and then all those meetings with the campers' parents and your parents and Chiron and Mr. D...I get why she's so freaked out. But there really wasn't any other choice—"

I interrupt him, trying to pretend I didn't hear the first part of what he said. "That's what I said! But she's still ticked off,"

"Well yea. Dude, you know what can happen..what happens. I don't think I ever saw three bodies more contorted in pain than I did with Henry, Rico, and Julie,"

I stop him again. "I know...gods, don't you think I know? I didn't want to hurt them, they were my best friends since I got to Camp..and I—I," I choke off. Even now, two years later, I still couldn't say it all without getting that giant lump in my throat and feeling like I was going to cry.

I bury my face in my hands, trying to gain control of myself again. Tristan reaches up and pats my foot. "I know, I know. We just—we need to get this done and Adds back to Chiron within a week from now..or it might happen again."

I nod, even though he couldn't very well see me in the dim star and moonlight.

I couldn't get the image of them out of my head now. Jules and Rico and Henry. All contorted on the ground, all of their bones twisting and cracking, in so much pain that they couldn't even form a scream or a sob.

And then there was me, just standing back and watching it in horror, unable to do a thing. It was me that brought it onto them in the first place. After that night of capture the flag, when they fell into that hollow ground that had been covered over, I had to do it. I had to Analyze them. But I didn't know of the things it would do just a week later. The horrible, nightmarish things. And I didn't know I'd lose my best friends just a week later either.

A/N:

I told ya we'd start to hear more about what the big deal of the Analyzing was. It's still a little blurry, but it will become clearer later as to what exactly happened with James and his friends...

And I apologize for updating a day late. Yesterday was an incredibly long day, and by the time I got home and settled and in bed, I got about half of this written and then didn't trust myself to write the rest of it without falling asleep on my laptop.

Boy is Saturday going to be fun! My boss invited me to participate in our holiday sale at the studio this year, and it's on Saturday. So on Friday when I go into work, I'll be helping her clean and set up for that and decorate. I'm so excited! I have the cutest outfit picked out and everything! I absolutely love sales when I get to join in, because not only will this give me some extra Christmas money, but I adore talking to everyone that comes in. Which is strange for me, considering I'm usually very anxious about talking to people. But when it comes to this, it's completely different. I suppose it's because it's something I actually enjoy doing.

And tomorrow I'm getting my hair cut, thank god. It's been about a month since I've had it done, and it's gotten incredibly long, not to mention difficult to deal with.

I think that's where I'll end this AN. I hope everyone has a nice Thanksgiving and rest of the week, if you celebrate it, that is. If not, well, have a good week!

M/A:

"'And I traveled far, I reached for the stars
But those stars don't reach back
They're better left alone,
Everyone will tell you
I never felt more alone than when I fell
I don't know why it took so long to get back home'"

~ .Stage 4 Fear Of Trying. by Frnkiero And The Cellabration

XOXO,

Mrs-diAngelo25