Well, it's my last day until my own personal TARTARUS! School starts tomorrow, and I'm already prepared for the holidays. Tell me what you think by reviewing!
Orabelle's POV:
RECAP:
I awoke with tears running down my face, and my pillow damp.
My mum hasn't forgotten me. She hasn't forgotten at all. I continue to cry, and realise that I'm no longer a sloth. Whatever. I turn into a bird, and fly down to my bathroom. I transform back into human, and turn on the tap. I wash my face, and look into the mirror. I see puffy eyes, and a red, blotchy face. And my vision is a little blurry with the tears, but being me I see a figure. Without making any indication I see anything, I pull off the axe, Alpha, and whirl around, pointing it at the figure. I use my Poseidon powers to remove only my tears from my eyes. The intruder is- is that Lady Hestia?! I quickly drop my weapon and apologise. She smiles kindly at me, wrapping me up in a hug. I instantly feel better. I hug her back tightly, nestling my face in her robes.
"It's alright. Orabelle, your mother is very proud of you, and wouldn't want you to cry. Be happy that you saw her, not sad that it ended." she said wisely, looking into my eyes.
"Thank you." I say, because anything else, and I would have started bawling again.
"Here, I have a present." the room fills with orange light, and Hestia presents something to me. It's a photo, of me and my mother at a park. We're both smiling, and and I'm sitting on a swing while she pushes me. The trees are green, and everything is as it should be. There's no indication of the hard times to come.
"How?" I ask. This photo was in my house, which I don't know what happened to after that hellhound attacked. I am now terrified of hellhounds.
"It is part of your original hearth, and I thought this would help with you missing her."
I hug her again, sobbing. This is the first time, I'm actually able to act like the six year old I am. I've always had to be mature, responsible, and sometimes, ruthless, and its good to be a kid, just a normal kid. She pats my back, consoling me.
"Would you like to be my champion?" She asks suddenly.
"Persephone already is my patron, but I would love to!" I answer smiling up at her, "You might have to ask her."
"Of course," she says, nodding, "I shall ask her. I must also leave, Orabelle. I will see you soon."
She disappeared in a flash of flames, leaving me with the photo of my mother and I. It's about 5:00am, I should probably get ready for the day.
I set the photo down carefully, and brush my teeth. I then pick it up, and go up to my bedroom. I create a frame for the photo to stand in, and set it on the bedside table. I go to my cupboard, and put on a black shirt with a grey tank-top, that has slits in the back for my wings, which I push through the holes.. I tie up my hair in a pony-tail, and stretch all the kinks out of back, and legs. I then extend my wings as far as possible, which works out the stiff muscles. I walk up to Edra's level.
She's sleeping, and I smile at he scene. She was curled up, and her mouth was slightly open, and her front leg was moving as if she were running. I gently shook her awake, and giggled as she shot up, and shakily fell to the ground. I helped her back up, and she nuzzled my hand, then ran to the stream and took a gulp.
"Today, not much is happening, so I thought we could just explore your forest." I said to her, explaining my plan for the day. She nods, and prances away, into the trees. I run after her, trying to catch up. I enter the first layer of trees, and I see her drinking from the stream again. I walk up to her, and signal for her to continue. She walks further, and e come across a rabbit. It is black, and as soon as it sees us, it hops into the undergrowth. We continue, and come across several other animals, as well as more rabbits. We see birds, a pine marten, and all other herbivore animals, so there are no bears or jaguars running around my house. That would be terrible.
I check my internal clock, and see that 4 hours have passed. Half an hour more can't hurt. We continue a few meters further, when we reach a thick undergrowth, that surrounds a ring of trees. I use my powers to move the undergrowth out of the way, and reveal a clearing. The clearing is filled with flowers, that are purple, white and blue, with dandelions scattered as well. In the clearing there is a throne. It's made of silver, and etched with the phases of the moon, and different images of nature. The base of the throne has slight vines growing up it. I walk to the throne, and touch it. There is a flash of light, and in the throne is a woman. She has auburn hair, and delicate features, with silver coloured greek robes. I look at her with wonder, knowing that the power pulsing from her makes her a goddess.
"Hello, child." she says smiling.
"Hello Lady Artemis. Thank you so much for Edra." I say, petting my faithful companion on the head.
"No problem at all child."
"So, why did you come to this forest?" I ask, wondering why she would come to the forest that happens to be inside of my house.
"Well, you see, this forest is inside your house, therefore, protected, so I was wondering if I could leave you the front few hundred meters for Edra's food and the other animals, and in the other section bring endangered animals back from the brink of extinction? Think of it as a breeding program, in your house. They won't escape, or bother you, but you can enter if you like." she answered, surprising me with this information. Would I have to do anything for them? I mean, I'm only six years old, and even though I have powers, I can't do everything. I put have had a worried look on my face, because she was quick to reassure me.
"Don't worry, they can do everything they need for survival themselves. I'll also need to expand it, for the different habitats, so think of it as having a country in your house."
Wow! I'm so lucky she wants me to do this! But what about when we leave for the quest?
"Milady, I would really be okay wit this happening, but I wouldn't be comfortable leaving the poor things on their own here. Also, what if I go in and they eat me?" I say, even though it is extremely unlikely.
She thinks for a minute. "Well, I could give you a way to shrink this tree, and then make your home portable." she said hesitantly, "Nothing will be damaged, and the animals and such inside will feel nothing, and no inanimate objects will move will move around, so if you put a human inside they would be fine, and only move voluntarily. I will also give you the power to communicate with and control animals. I just really need to bring these species back from ear extinction." That will be useful for the quest, having humans be okay.
"Go ahead! I say happily, "But when it shrinks, can you make it a charm? So it will fit on my bracelet? Also, how will I turn it back to full size?"
"Well," she said thinking, "When you put the roots into the dirt, and clap twice, it will grow back to the original size. And, yes, that is fine. To shrink into a charm, clap three times. Thank you for doing this child, I shall see you again soon."
She disappeared in a flash of light, and suddenly, Edra and I were on the very edge of the woods. There were several confused animals with us, who looked at us in fright.
"It's okay," I murmured to them quietly, "We won't hurt you."
I only communicated with them, because I don't want to make them do anything against their will. They visibly relaxed, and came up to me, rabbit noses twitching, and birds cooing quietly. I looked up into the moonlight, and sighed contentedly. This beautiful nature reserve was only seen by me and the animals. I will protect them to my fullest. They will come to no harm.
Edra and I sat with the animals for the longest time, playing and communicating. I could see mountains, and new things being formed at the back of my nature reserve, and I will go explore there tomorrow. I check the time, and stifle a yawn. It may be only 4 o'clock in the afternoon, but after the activities of the day, I was tired.
"Alright everyone, Edra and I will be here tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that. I have to get some food, and go to town, and to sleep, but Edra can continue playing with you guys." I said, as I felt their emotions. They were disappointed, but still happy, because they now knew I wouldn't hurt them. I noticed Edra was a little disappointed, but also proud. I communicated with her in my mind, since she might not want to tell me about it in front of others.
'Edra, why are you disappointed? You made lots of friends.' I projected to her.
When I communicated with animals, they sometimes didn't have distinct thoughts, sometimes just instinct and urges. They could have thoughts, just they weren't created in the form of speech, because thats for human consciousness.
What I got from Edra, was images of her, all the other animals, and her feeling alone. Oh, she must be disappointed that she is the only deer. But she was sort of relived, because she didn't want me to forget about her and pay all my attention to the other animals.
'Edra, you will always be my pet, my favourite, and if you really want another friend that is a deer, I will do anything for you.' I thought back to her as hard as I could. She frantically shook her head. I received feelings of contentment and happiness from her. I shrug.
"Anyways, all of you should get settled for the night. A few of you all have to find new homes," I said, "I'm going to be going to get food, so I will probably see you tomorrow."
They all projected to me images of waving, then bounded, flew and scurried off. I told Edra to do as she wish, and she curled up in her nest, and went to sleep.
I walked down to the kitchen, and get on of the plates from the cupboard. You may ask, why not just use the air to get it? Well, because I'm trying not to get lazy, and do things instead of just using my powers unless there isn other way.
Anyway, I summon a meal of fish and chips, and decide to go into town. I look down at my clothes, and brush off the occasional leaf, smooth back my hair. I sacrifice to Artemis and the other Olympians a few chips and a piece of fish, then create a clay bowl, and put the rest in, which is to say quite a bit because of the bird-kid appetite. I quietly walk up the stairs, trying not to alert the animals of my presence. As much as I love them all, I don't really want to be held up any longer. I finally get to the top level, and exit via the hole, and emerge on the platform.
I jump off, and fly over the tree tops, and into town, eating my fish and chips on the way. I land in front of Percy and Annabeth's house, and knock, then not waiting for them to answer, let myself in. Percy and Annabeth rush out of the same doorway, cheeks flushed so lightly only someone with hawk-like eyesight would see (which, what a surprise includes me), hair mussed, and pupils dilated. I raise my eyebrows ever so slightly, and they blush. They must have been doing the hanky-panky.
"I could come back..." I say letting my sentence trail off.
Annabeth hastily interrupts, "No, its fine, why do you need us?"
"Well, I thought I would mention that one floor in my house is becoming a nature reserve with multiple endangered species. And I got a visit from Artemis." I say to their amazed faces, "And I can communicate with and control animals now!"
Percy looks at me with pride, "Our daughter is powerful Wise Girl."
Hearing him call me his daughter made me beam at him. I, after my mothers death, have always wanted a stable family, meaning that they couldn't be taken from me, including death and even if they chose to leave me. Having godly parents really makes me happy, because I know that it is hard to make a god need to reform in Tartarus, and even harder to fade them. Hearing people call me their child is comforting.
"She is." agrees Annabeth.
"Thanks," I say, "Do you want a chip?"
"Don't mind if I do." Percy comes closer to me and plucks a few chips. Annabeth also takes a few, and we start to chat about the meeting with Artemis, and the animals I met.
"Well, I need to check on Clarisse, Kit, and the Flock, so I'll see you tomorrow." I wave goodbye, and and exit their house. With my enhanced senses, I hear them sigh in relief, and begin kissing again. Really? If you wanted to so desperately, um, do that, they could have accepted my offer of leaving earlier. I do not need to hear my parents doing such activities. Ugh, I can feel their emotions. GROSS! MUM! DAD!
"Orabelle," asks a girl with brown hair, forked tongue, fangs, and slit-pupilled eyes. I'm pretty sure her name is Lexi, "Are you okay? You look like your going to be sick."
I realised I attracted quite the crowd. A few people all crowded around me, worried expressions painting their, um, variety of features.
"Yes, I'm fine, but sometimes it sucks to be able to feel emotions." I said gloomily.
"What do you mean?" asked Lexi.
I gestured towards my parents house. She stuck out her tongue, presumably to waste the air, when she pulled it back in, horrified.
"I need to go drink water." she said, then rushed off. I snickered, and thanked the people who had surrounded me for their concern, who waved it off, and continued on their way.
I first walked to Clarisse's house, and knocked on the door. This time I waited, not wanting to anger the daughter of the god of war. Or because I don't want to interrupt something. For all I know, she could have brought her boyfriend down here.
She opens the door, and glares at me.
"What, punk?" she said, still glaring. I raised my eyebrows. If I knew the powers I had, I wouldn't anger me. She's brave, I'll give her that. Or stupid, take your pick.
"Hello?" she says waving her hand in my face, "Anyone home?"
"Well I came to tell you that I figured how to transport everyone to Lake Shasta Caverns, and, I got a visit from Lady Artemis, who gave me some new powers." I said frostily, "And have you eaten? I've been going around and checking people that I haven't seen at the garden."
"Prissy and the Princess invited me over. I'm fine." she said, then closed the door in my face. I don't know if she remembered, but I control natural materials, and that includes wood, which happens to be what the door is made of. I open a hole a the door, and peered through to smirk at her surprised face.
"Goodbye to you too," I snarkily say, then leave, not closing the gaping hole in her door.
"Her close my door!" she yells running after me.
"If you apologise for being rude." I say, knowing that she would hate apologising. I was clearly correct, since her face melted into a scowl.
"You think you're so powerful and cool don't you?" she screams furiously.
"I don't think so," I say straight-faced, then smirk, "I know so."
She screams colourful profanities, in many different languages. Once she calms down, she stands there, glaring at me stoically, refusing to do anything.
After a few minutes of silence, out of the blue, I say, "I think this is the start of a strange sort of friendship. And because I'm amazingly kind, beautiful, powerful, and above all, modest, I will fix your door."
With a flick of my finger, her door is closed. She glares at me.
"Thanks, punk." she grunts, then stalks off.
"You're welcome!" I call, then fly off.
I fly to the Flock's house, hearing her faint swearing and cursing.
"Hey guys!" I yell, through the door, "Can I come in?"
"Do you swear you don't have any clothes?" asks the voce of Iggy.
"No fashion to force upon you," I confirm, "Nothing at all."
He slowly opens the door, then allows me in. I enter their house.
"How are you all going?" I ask, seeing as they're all gathered in the living room, sitting on the sofas,
"We're fine." says Max.
"Well, are the plates being put to good use?" I ask, trying to put them at ease. I can practically- just kidding- I can feel the tension rolling off them, and the apprehension.
"Yes." says Fang stiffly. I sigh. This isn't quite working.
"Why are you guys so tense around me?" I ask.
"No reason." answers Nudge quickly. Too quickly. I feel guilt coming off her.
"What?" I ask narrowing my eyes.
"It's nothing," insists Max, "Nothing at all."
"You know I can feel the guilt spiking off you guys every time one of you opens your mouth?" I enlighten them, watching their expressions crumple, "Just tell me."
"Guys, I think it will be okay," Angel says, "She seems like she won't be angry. Very much, anyway."
That was confusing and cleared up nothing. Ah well, they probably were forced not to tell, by whoever did something I probably wouldn't like.
"Um well..." says Angel.
"No, Gazzy should have to admit to is own crimes." snapped Max, smiling at him as he tries to become one with the couch. The nearly teenager tried to shrink, but did not succeed.
I raise my eyebrows. "Well? I haven't got all day!" I snap, clicking my fingers and tapping my foot for emphasis.
"Um, I accidentally..."
Tell me what you think Gazzy did!
