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Chapter 14

The healing salve was freezing cold and Percy had to try not to flinch away from their touch. The slight stinging of his cut he could deal with, but the cold was a different story. Percy had never used a heeling salve before. He never had another person wrap his injuries either, but as soon as he returned with his friends Artemis sent him to get checked over. Percy had to trust that Will, the blond haired boy who was bandaging Percy's shoulder, knew what he was talking about when he said the salve would help the healing process. Although, after being victim to Will's sewing skills, Percy was pretty sure the salve was just a distraction.

"Now, you should stay away from any physical activities that put strain on your shoulder," Will advised. Percy stared back at him like he was crazy. Will didn't notice because he quickly moved on to check on the next person. The small infirmary was nearly full with all the captives and a few other people who returned from missions of their own.

Percy put on a fresh shirt that Annabeth had dropped off for him when she brought Chris to the infirmary. They had been in a meeting with Artemis while his injuries were being treated. Ananbeth didn't have anything more than some very minor injuries, so Artemis didn't make her get treated. Annabeth told Percy that he no longer had to follow her around anymore, but they were still going to keep a close eye on him. Artemis had decided Chris wasn't a threat, but Percy was in charge of him until further arrangements could be made. Percy couldn't help but note how relieved Annabeth seemed when she told him all of this. Not having to be responsible for Arena soldiers took a lot of worry off of her shoulders. Percy hoped this meant she also wouldn't be so irritable around him anymore.

Chris was sitting on the cot right next to Percy looking extremely unsure of himself. He had his head hung and he was fiddling with his fingers like he was trying to rub dirt off of them, but he had already washed up. He somehow looked smaller without his Orthys clothes on, or maybe it was just his posture. Percy stood up and walked over to stand in front of his old comrade. Chris looked relieved when he looked up at Percy.

"Hey, are you all patched up?"

"Yeah." Chris nodded slowly as he answered.

"So, um…" Percy didn't know what to say. He was in charge of Chris, but he was almost as new as he was. At least Percy had Beckendorf show him around on his first day. "Want to go for a walk? I'll show you around this place."

"Sure," Chris agreed. He was happy to stand up and leave the infirmary. They walked in silence, but there was one thing about Chris that was really bothering him.

"How did you convince Artemis you weren't a threat?"

"I don't know. She just asked me a few questions and I answered honestly. I guess she saw in me that I'm not longer loyal to the Arena." Chris shrugged like it was nothing. Then he looked over at Percy and could see the tension in his shoulders. Percy was frustrated and he didn't understand.

"How?" Percy repeated his question. Chris had barely done anything and Percy felt like he did so much. They both came from the Arena. They trained together, so Percy knew for a fact Chris received the same training as him. They were the same breed of soldier. Weren't they?

"I guess it's different for me and you. The Arena treated me like I was enemy while I was still loyal to them. They betrayed me and made me hate them. You just... left." Chris made it sound like it was so simple for Percy. He was wrong as well. The Arena had betrayed him. Not to the same extent, but he was still betrayed. Then again, Percy wasn't sure he hated the Arena. He still held on to everything he had been taught, everything he had been given. Even though he never wanted to return, he couldn't let go.

Percy wondered why it was different for Chris and him. When they trained together Chris had the same dedication that he did. Of course, Chris didn't throw himself into fighting the way Percy did. Chris used his head more. Was that why it was easier for Chris? He could think things through clearer? Or maybe it was because Chris lived outside the Arena when he was child. He had a home and family. He was never told to forget them either. Percy was never given that luxury because if he remembered his family it would've destroyed the lie he was being force-fed. It suddenly struck Percy that he might be missing even more than he originally thought. He longed for a family and to be able to say he came from a place that wasn't the Arena.

Chris fidgeted next to Percy and pulled him out of his thoughts. Percy had been so silent and deep in thought that he hadn't paid any attention to Chris or where they were walking. Their feet had carried them to where the housing was kept in the settlement. There were a lot of people hanging around outside here and they were giving Percy and Chris wary looks. It was making Chris uncomfortable.

"Hey, Percy, these people know where their friends, right?"

"Yeah, but we still look like soldiers." Artemis may have seen something in Chris, but these people didn't know Chris. They had never talked to him.

"We're not even wearing any of our own clothes or anything like that," Chris tried to argue.

"Look at how we're walking." Percy hadn't noticed it himself until that moment, but he knew it was unmistakable. While they had been walking they had subconsciously fallen in step together, every footstep in perfect time with each other. Their posture was straight and they had their shoulders back. They looked exactly like two soldiers walking around on patrol even without their armor and weapons. It wasn't even intentional. It was just natural for them both, especially when walking together. Chris stopped walking immediately after he realized this too, like he was caught doing something he wasn't supposed to.

"I guess we are still soldiers," Chris muttered unhappily. Percy shrugged his shoulders.

"I think there's a part of us that always will be."

"Well, I'm not going to let it define me. I never chose to go into the Arena." Chris pressed his lips together in a determined expression. Percy was surprised by the fierceness in Chris' voice. His comment only reminded Percy of the longing he felt for a family.

"Chris, how long were you in the Arena?"

"About six years. I went when I was thirteen like everyone else. Except for you." Percy nodded slowly.

"Do you know the truth about me? How I was supposed to be a slave and all that?" Percy watched Chris' reaction carefully. Chris remained calm and completely serious when he answered Percy.

"Yeah, the captain went off on it when he realized the supply wagons were gone as well as you. I think that's what really gave Ethan the idea to do what he did." Percy turned his head away from Chris. He stared out at the trees in the distance.

"I was at the Arena for twelve years. I don't remember my family or anything like that. All the people here fight for a home they lost, but I don't even know where I'm from." It was so easy for Percy to talk to Chris because he felt he was the only one who wouldn't judge him. Chris understood Percy's past better than anyone else.

"That actually might be better than claiming Orthys," Chris pointed out. "Though, I can still remember my family. Orthys apart from the Arena isn't really a horrible place. Not everyone is a soldier and killer."

"It must be nice," Percy said, barely audible. Chris had a concerned expression on his face, as he looked Percy over.

"You know, maybe someone here can figure out where you're from or can find someone that does." Percy's eyes lit up. That's all he had to do. Percy suddenly remembered his dream about the night he was brought to the Arena. He hadn't really thought about it before, but it made more sense to him now. Percy focused on the woman. She must have been his mother. She was a slave now, but Percy was sure if he could find her then he would get what he wanted.

"Chris, you gave me a great idea. We just got to sneak into the part of Orthys where they keep all the slaves and find my mother." Chris looked at Percy like he was crazy. He held up his hands like he was ready to reach out and grab Percy if he tried to run off.

"That's not really what I meant. Is it even possible to do?"

"I don't know. Annabeth found her cousin, Malcolm."

"You mean that blond haired girl?" Chris looked thoughtfully over Percy's shoulder.

"Yeah, her."

"Well, maybe you should ask her. She's sitting right there." Chris pointed over Percy's shoulder to where he had been looking. Percy turned around and saw Annabeth sitting on a porch railing reading a book. It was a curious action. Percy didn't know that many people who actually knew how to read and books weren't common to come by. Still, it was exactly what he expected Annabeth to be doing.

"I don't think she'll help me," Percy said almost immediately.

"Why not?"

"We don't exactly get along. I'm too much of a soldier, or something."

"Yeah, but this isn't a soldier thing. She might actually go for it. I can't help you with this," Chris pressed. Percy looked hesitantly between Chris and Annabeth. Chris was right he needed help and he couldn't give it to him. Annabeth obviously knew how to move around Orthys. She was also one of the few people that Percy could consider a friend in some sense of the word, as long as she wasn't mad at him. There was no way around it. He was going to have to ask her for help.

Percy told Chris to wait for him and then he made his way towards Annabeth. She was so focused on her book that she never noticed Percy moving toward her. Percy just stood in front of her for a few moments as he tried to figure out how to word his request. Annabeth still hadn't noticed him, so he cleared his throat to catch her attention. Her eyes didn't leave her book, but annoyance flashed across them.

"What do you want?"

"I'd like to ask you something," Percy said in the nicest voice he could manage. Annabeth clearly wasn't in a good mood and he didn't want to make it any worse. She finally looked up from her book and seemed surprise to see Percy standing before her. She put her finger in her book before she closed it and placed it on her lap.

"You weren't who I thought you were," Annabeth said so quietly that Percy wasn't sure if he was meant to hear it. "So, what do you want to ask me?"

"I'd like to ask for your help in finding my mother." Annabeth's eyebrows shot up.

"You want to go into more detail with that request?"

"I want to sneak into Orthys and find my mother. I have a feeling she's still alive and inside the city," Percy explained. His voice getting stronger the more he talked. Annabeth thought this over for a moment.

"You're insane," Annabeth stated bluntly. Percy found he was the one becoming irritated.

"Come on, Annabeth, I'm serious about this. I need to find my mother. We can do it the same way you found Malcolm." Annabeth looked hesitant. Her eyes darted around like she was afraid of something.

"Percy, I didn't go looking for Malcolm. I came across him coincidentally while I was doing... something else. It really isn't that easy. There are hundreds of slaves inside the city."

"I know that, but I need to at least try or something. I need to know where I'm from." Annabeth just stared at him, unmoving. "Please, Annabeth." A small smile tugged at Annabeth's lips and she raised one eyebrow at him.

"An Arena soldier pleading?" Annabeth's voice was full of teasing disbelief. Percy felt a little uncomfortable with the comment, but he couldn't shy away from it. Percy cleared his throat before speaking.

"Maybe I'm not such a soldier anymore."

"Perhaps not." Annabeth's smile grew slightly and then it disappeared. "I will help you, but not right now. There is a council meeting soon and I need to be there. Can you meet me near the stables tonight?"

"I can do that." Percy grinned at Annabeth. He could hardly believe that she had accepted. He was getting that much closer to figuring himself out.

"Now, do I get a thank you or is that asking too much right now?"

"Um..." Percy was caught off guard by Annabeth's question. It was like she was asking how much of an Arena soldier he was. He honestly didn't now how to respond. Then Annabeth's eyes flashed past Percy and something in her expression changed.

"You should get back to your friend. We can work on gratitude later." With that Annabeth turned her attention back to her book, effectively ending their conversation. Percy was a little confused until he turned around to look at Chris.

Chris had been patiently waiting for Percy to stop talking with Annabeth, but he still found himself in trouble. A few other people that were hanging around did not like how he was just standing by himself looking about the settlement. They started to approach him and looked like they were going to start a fight if he didn't move. Percy hurried over to Chris and grabbed him by the arm and started to drag him away. Luckily Beckendorf was just coming back from the forges and he tried his best to help calm down the small crowd that had gathered.

Percy led Chris to the fighting pit where he knew they could fit in easier. Chris joined in the training a few times, but Percy stayed out of it. He told everyone that he shouldn't be fighting with his stitches, but that wasn't the truth. Percy couldn't care less about his injury. He just didn't want to fight right now. He had a lot to think about with the small, unofficial mission he was going to take part in later that night.