I'm sorry that I haven't updated in so long! My schedule has just gotten so busy, it's kind of insane. Plus, I'm having a terrible case of writer's block, and I just don't know what to do. *Sigh.*
Disclaimer: I do not own PJO.
"Nico!" Someone shouted. Nico dizzily stood up, still gripping Percy and Thalia. "Wha-?"
A redhead filled his vision. "Rachel? What are you doing here?"
"It's summer break. I was visiting, and I wanted to see Percy and Thalia, but no one will tell me where they are. You don't happen to know, do you?" Rachel asked him hopefully.
Nico glanced down at the two kids, who were beginning to regain their senses.
"Let's never do that again." Thalia declared. She spun around in a circle, and then collapsed on the ground.
"Oh, who are these two?" Rachel squealed, bending down to get eye level with Percy.
"Who're you?" Thalia grunted, pulling herself up. She carefully crept toward Rachel. "Don't look at me!"
"Sorry." Uncertain, Rachel looked the other way.
Thalia snuck behind Rachel and lifted out a finger. Without a sound, she jabbed the oracle in her leg – hard.
"OW!" Rachel shrieked, clutching her leg. "What was that for? That really hurt!"
"She's clean!" Thalia announced, turning back to Nico, who was trying to blend in with the grass.
"Ouch!" Rachel moaned. She glared at Nico, who wasn't succeeding in his camouflage. "Who are these two?"
"I'm Thalia." Thalia stepped up. "And these are my two dummy cousins. That's Nico, over there. He's trying to be a chameleon. This is Percy." She lowered her voice to a stage whisper. "I don't really like him. I just tolerate his presence."
Rachel blinked, and then turned toward Nico, who grinned sheepishly. "Isn't that a big word for a six-year-old?"
"Explanations. Now."