Leo shifted in his sleep, knocking the blanket down. They were hurtling along the road, on the way to Camp Half-Blood. Leo had dozed off within minutes.
Annabeth returned the blanket to where it had been, tucking the corner behind Leo's neck.
"I know he controls fire and everything," She started with a frown. Percy turned his head in her direction slightly to show she had his attention, but he kept his eyes on the road. Annabeth sat back in her seat to look at Percy, "but does he always burn up?"
"Burn up?"
"Like he has a fever or something." Percy frowned in confusion.
"Not a clue." He shot Leo a quick glance in the rear view mirror. Annabeth noticed a shot of brotherly love dart through his sea green eyes. "Annabeth?"
"Yes, Percy?"
"When I had that… thing," He took a hand away from the steering wheel and waved it in a circle at the side of his head. Annabeth nodded to show she understood, "I wasn't too bad, was I?" Annabeth hesitated. Percy noticed and a flicker of pain moved through his eyes. Annabeth reached out and covered his hand with hers.
"Percy, it wasn't your fault. You have to understand that." He just nodded meekly.
Leo grumbled and turned his head. "I wonder what he's dreaming about." Annabeth mulled aloud, thankful for the change of subject.
"Hopefully it helps Lou." Percy mumbled.
"Yeah…" Annabeth sighed in agreement.
Leo was flying, as he had wished to when he was drunk last Christmas. The feeling was wonderful, the cool air slamming against his burning body. It took him a few seconds to realise he was a phoenix, a bird made of complete flames.
The scene below him was entirely thick, orange, red and yellow forest. The sun was setting, casting an orange pink glow across the terrain. A wide, curvy river snaked through the forest, reflecting the light of the setting sun. A flock of forest bird fluttered underneath him in flocks with the occasional straggler.
His sharp eyes focused on a figure splashing through the river. He tucked in his flaming wings and dived, so fast, he was sure he had reached the speed of sound. As he neared the forest, he became less fiery and leafier. It took a few seconds for him to realise what was going on, but when he landed next to the lake and his body became water, he noticed. He was changing to suit the nearest elements. A brilliant way of camouflage and very cool.
Leo spotted the figure stumble over a tree root and they fell flat, cursing in a mix of Greek and Latin. He took off briefly and crossed the water body. He landed on the other side and became dirt. His first reaction was to think it would be difficult to move, yet he moved as easily as a landslide.
His tiny, stone heart thudded in his elemental chest as he saw a nine year old Louisa pushing herself to her feet and gathering a wooden bow, unlike the one her watch turned in to.
She looked back, studying her surroundings warily. She didn't seem to notice Leo.
A large thing crashing through the trees sounded and a trio of them fell with deafening crashes. Louisa instantly broke into a sprint as a demon Leo had never seen before thundered after her. It had the head of a frog, with wolf fangs as sharp and as deadly as an eagle's talons. Its eyes bulged in its head, rotating and scanning everything with a 360 view of everything. Its body was that of a muscular male, its arms and legs those of a white tiger. Its tail was the neck and head of a hydra. It was at least ten feet tall. In its right hand was a spear roughly fifteen feet long, the triangular shaped head as big as Leo's forearm and gleaming in the setting sun as a venomous green.
Leo woke with a start as the car veered to the left. Percy swore angrily, slamming his fist on the horn. A series of blares retorted.
"He's awake." Annabeth commented. She twisted in her seat and smiled kindly at Leo. Her smile faltered slightly, but she saved it. "How are you feeling?"
"Can you open a window?" Leo asked, his voice barely audible. Annabeth nodded, sitting right and her window lowered to halfway.
"Better?" Leo nodded as the cool night air washed across his face.
"What did you see?" Percy demanded. Leo licked his lips nervously.
"Percy, let him get himself together. He really doesn't look well." Percy glanced in the rear view mirror. Leo was pale and shaking, coated in a fine sheen of sweat. He had deep shadows under his eyes and looked nothing like the Leo they all knew and loved.
"Sorry, mate." Percy said, easing the angry and ordering tone. Leo just nodded and looked out the window. He removed the blanket and let the cool air dance across his bare arms. It was such a relief.
What was that thing that had been chasing a nine year old Louisa? Did she get away from it or, somehow, did she actually defeat it? And if she did win, how?
His mind reeled with thousands of unanswerable questions, yet he remained silent, hoping for sleep to return to him so he could learn more about his chica.
