To An-Unnamed-Goose- You'll have to pry it from her cold dead hands :P (I'm not going to kill her, she just really likes her cake)
To 8Ball3- Yay, Storm!
To Covid-20- I still can't get over this name, Pete's sake XD
I got it, I got it!
"No!"
I don't got it! Storm skidded to a halt, digging her hooves into the ground. Louisa stopped at her side, putting her hands on her knees to catch her breath. Storm looked at her sheepishly. Oops.
They had been playing catch with apples. Storm had caught the first three, but the fourth one sailed past her head and was now bounce, bounce, bouncing down the hill and into the road. Storm hunkered down, trying to hide in the grass. Louisa snorted as a truck splatted the fruit under one of its giant wheels. "Good job we got some more." She half-smiled. The pegasus perked up, snuffling at her gratefully. Louisa supplied ear scratches and an apple from her backpack. "No more for you though. They're not good for you."
They're tasty!
"I don't care. I'm older than you. Do as I say."
No. Storm bit at the backpack, eyes gleaming with mischief. Louisa blew a raspberry at her, determined to hold onto her bag. Gimme!
"No! Let go!"
Apples first!
"No." Louisa stared her down. Storm froze, chomping on the strap. "You're annoyin'."
Thank you.
"Give."
No.
"I'll push you down this hill."
No you won't.
"I might."
Wow, I'm scared. Storm deadpanned. Louisa huffed. She eventually got her backpack back, although it did cost her the promise of two apples later. Storm was more than happy with that, whinnying triumphantly and trotting around Louisa in what could only be her version of a victory dance. Louisa pushed her head away playfully, managing to keep her smile in place despite how the foal's behaviour was so very familiar.
Storm froze, snorting in alarm and ducking behind Louisa.
"What?"
People.
"Huh? Where? Who?"
Don't know. She sniffed the air carefully. Like you, I think.
"Demigods?"
Maybe? You're the only demigod I've met.
"Lucky you. Where are they?" Storm hesitated, tucking her head under Louisa's arm. Louisa patted her head, rubbing at her ear reassuringly. Eventually, the foal turned her nose in the right direction. Away from the road, but still along the treeline somewhere. "Show me." Louisa requested. Storm huffed at her. She only moved forward when Louisa drew her sword, offering a defence if needed.
There were people and they were just as surprised to see a girl with a sword and a pegasus foal as said girl and pegasus foal were to see them.
"Hello." Louisa said, examining them individually. They huddled together, frozen mid-eating from cans. They looked from her to her weapon to Storm and back again. Two boys and a girl. The girl spoke first, in a stage-whisper.
"Are you a demigod?"
"Yup." Louisa confirmed miserably. "You?"
"Yes." The girl said, a little more optimistic than necessary. Louisa decided not to burst her bubble. The girl was older than her, maybe nine or ten, with glossy red hair in thick, perfect curls that fell past her shoulders. Freckles coated her pale skin and she studied Louisa with eyes as deeply brown as earth freshly rained on. She wore jeans tucked into walking boots and a green sweatshirt.
The boy to the right of her, his age was a little harder to tell. He was quite strongly built, tan skin, dark hair cropped close to his head. His blue-grey eyes were flitting between the newcomers and his food, not sure which should have his attention. Louisa saw a scar on his chin. He wore a black raincoat and navy blue jeans, his sneakers just as muddied as Louisa's.
The third one, the other boy, he was younger, maybe closer to Louisa's age than theirs. His hair was a flat dark plain on his head, except for a cowlick above his left ear, with thin, dark eyes and a tentative, nervous smile that dimpled his cheeks. He wore overalls over a striped long-sleeved shirt, his coat draped over his lap.
"Hi." Louisa said.
"You have a sword." The older boy said, eyeing it distrustfully.
"Yes." Louisa said simply. "I have a sword." She waved away anything he was going to say. "Where are you goin'?" She asked.
"Mom told me to go to Long Island." The girl said. "I'm… I'm Ruby. Daughter of Aphrodite."
"Venus." Louisa corrected. Ruby's brow creased.
"No. Aphrodite."
"OK. Weirdo."
"I heard that."
"Why you goin' Long Island?" Louisa had never heard of the place, but she was pretty sure it was not San Francisco way.
"There's a safe place-" Ruby began. Louisa shook her head, turning away. She had heard enough about safe places. They were never what they seemed. She motioned to Storm, ready to head back the way they had come. "Wait!" Ruby called. "Wait, wait!" Louisa sighed. She looked back over her shoulder. Ruby had stood, pressing her hands together nervously. "What- what about you? Where are you going?" Louisa shrugged.
"But…" The youngest boy was talking now. "But you're one of us, right? Come with us."
"N-no." Louisa put her hand on Storm's neck. The filly was watching her, thoughts swirling behind her eyes. "What?" She demanded.
They're like you.
"So?"
Stay with them. Then you'll be less alone.
"No, I can't."
Why?
"I can't…" Her voice cracked. "I just can't. OK?"
No. Not OK.
"Um… are you talking to that horse?"
I'm a pegasus!
"She's a pegasus." Louisa muttered.
"And you can talk to her?" The older boy frowned. Louisa nodded. "And she can talk to you?"
"That's how talkin' works."
"That's so cool." He did sound impressed, but the wariness remained on his face. "Who's your godly parent?" Louisa held her tongue, giving yet another unhelpful shrug. Whether he was convinced, she couldn't tell. "I'm Huxley. That's Raijin."
"Hi!" Raijin grinned, sticking his tongue out in greeting.
"We found Ruby a couple of weeks ago-"
"More like a month." Ruby corrected.
"Time is weird out here, OK? I don't know anymore." He shrugged. "Anyway, we kind of teamed up and we're heading to Long Island. You can come with us," he raised an eyebrow at her obvious reluctance, "unless you got somewhere better to be?"
Truth be told, she didn't. She wasn't really sure where or what she was supposed to be going or doing.
She looked them over, now seeing the effects their travels had had one them. Their clothes were not so clean, there were grazes on their elbows and chins. Raijin had a jiggle in his knee, constantly bouncing it, his grin wide and a little manic. Shadows fell under his eyes and he stifled a yawn rather unsuccessfully. Looking to Ruby and Huxley, she could see the same exhaustion pulling at their features.
Storm bit her sleeve.
Go with them. She urged. They need your help.
I couldn't help Arnie. Louisa thought, rubbing at her arm and looking at the ground.
That was different.
You can hear my brain?
I can now.
Great.
You should go with them.
No. I couldn't help Arnie. How can I help them? She glared at the pegasus, getting a glare back. Storm huffed indignantly. I won't.
You going to leave them all alone out here? They're scared. And they need you.
"Are you talking to the horse in your head?"
Pegasus! Storm corrected furiously, pawing the ground.
"Ooh, horse telepathy." Raijin wriggled his fingers, still grinning. Louisa wondered if his face was stuck like that.
Can you tell them I'm a pegasus and not a horse?
She's a pegasus.
Out loud, stupid.
"Oh, right." Louisa coughed a laugh, itching her cheek. "That might help." Storm gave her a look- no duh - and she faced the others. "Storm is a pegasus. Don't call her a horse. She don't like it."
"Sorry." Raijin nodded sheepishly. "Pegasus telepathy." He wriggled his fingers again, doubling the mystical look of awe, eyes widening, 'oohh'ing for effect. "Are you coming with us then? We could do with a sword person." He pointed at her blade, in case she hadn't noticed it. Louisa's grip tightened on the hilt, chest constricting.
Storm nudged her shoulder, huffing air in her face. Apparently, she had made the decision for her.
"Fine." Louisa grumbled. "I'll come with you."
"Yay!" Raijin bounced to his feet, clapping excitedly. "Can I have a go with your sword?"
"No."
"Ooohh."
"Behave." Ruby laughed, patting his head. "You'll get used to Raijin. He's a little… excited."
"A lot!" Raijin corrected, jumping into a stance, planting his feet shoulder-width apart and punching the air. "My dad's Ganymede!" Louisa stared at him blankly. She glanced at Storm, who shook her head.
Don't look at me. I only know Neptune.
"Who?" Louisa asked politely, offering a strained smile. Raijin wriggled into a swaying dance routine until he was standing straight, grinning again.
"He's the god of rain. I can do this, look!" He flourished his hands out, as if clasping at the air by his head, a couple of inches between his hands. "Hold on." He urged, grin vanishing with a look of concentration. Louisa shot a questioning look to Ruby and Huxley, who shrugged. "Aha!" Raijin declared. "Did it!"
Between his palms, a tiny little raincloud had formed, spitting miniscule raindrops onto his lower hand. He cupped the water in his palm, beaming. "See? Cool, right?" Louisa nodded along, tapping her fingers on the inside of her wrist- can't clap with a sword in your hand- making a mental note not to tell him her dad could literally storm over his dad.
Raijin flailed his hands, splattering Ruby with the rainwater. She flinched as it struck her face, closing her eyes for the count of ten. "Oops." His smile turned sheepish. "Sorry, Rubes." She flicked the water away, glowering at him sidelong.
"What about you?" She asked Huxley. He hunched his shoulders. "Who's your parent?"
"Grandparent, actually."
"Huh?"
"My mother is a daughter of Kratos. He's the god of strength and power."
Is that why he's built like a house? Storm whispered in Louisa's head. Louisa saw no need for the whisper, seeing as it was only her that could understand the pegasus, but she did not bring it up. It made sense though, the grandson of the god of strength with a, well, with a really strong build. The kid could have easily eaten rocks for breakfast.
Huxley straightened his shirt, coughing self-consciously. "Anyway, do… do you want something to eat? We don't have much, but-" He gestured around at their makeshift campsite. Louisa considered their supplies- hardly enough for one of them.
"I can get you food." She said.
"How? You got money?"
"Well, no, but-" She stabbed her sword into the dirt, shrugging off her backpack. She had only stocked up two days ago, but she had enough to share for now.
She took a step forward, hesitated. Storm pushed her head between Louisa's shoulder blades, shoving her towards them. She went to Raijin first, seeing how pinched with hunger his cheeks were. He got the last of her bread and butter and one of Storm's apples- Louisa pretended not to hear the protests. She split the rest between the other two- a can of soup, the last of her biscuits and some berries she had picked last night.
"Are these safe?" Ruby asked, examining a berry between her thumb and forefinger. Louisa nodded. "Huxley had a berry the other day-"
"No, shush." He jabbed at her.
"-his face was all swollen-"
"Yeah, he was like this!" Raijin chipped in, pulling at his face, tongue lolling, eyes crossing and groaning loudly. Huxley snatched a twig off the floor and threw it at him, red splotches on his cheeks.
"Don't tell the new girl that!"
"It's funny!"
"I nearly died!"
"You did not!"
"You had some nectar and you were fine." Ruby laughed, rolling her eyes. Huxley fumed, grumbling to himself.
Found them :3
