To An-Unnamed-Goose- I think they're closer to Columbus way at this point, I've lost my notes. They've got quite a way to go yet :P
To 8Ball3- Your guest review showed up! ^_^ Rude
You let us die, Lou.
You killed us.
It's all your fault.
Your fault! Your fault! YOUR FAULT!
Lou, wake up! Storm's voice cut through, a sharp bite on her arm. Louisa snapped awake, shivering but sweaty and gasping for air. Her arm throbbed and she looked down to see a rather red bitemark, already beginning to bruise. Sorry, Storm's ears lay flat, I tried everything else. She nudged Louisa's backpack closer to her, encouraging her to take a drink of water.
Louisa sat up, struggling to twist the lid off the bottle, her hands were shaking so much. Tears clouded her vision and she yelled, lobbing the bottle away. She didn't see where it went, drawing her knees to her chest and hugging them tightly. She began to cry, hiding her face in her arms. Storm sat beside her, a warm solid presence squashed against her side. She didn't say anything. Louisa appreciated that.
"Ah, Louisa. Just the demigod I was looking for."
"Go away."
"But-" Mercury's smile faded. Louisa glowered up at him. When she had met him to catch his stupid shoes and consequently been eaten by that snake thing, she had hated him. Hadn't even taken the option of free cake. Wasn't worth it.
Looking at him now, knowing he was Arnie's dad… she wanted nothing more than to choke him on his own sandals.
Mercury stared down at her, a slow frown beginning to pull at his features. "I need you to-"
"Arnie needed you."
"Well, I-"
"Go away." She repeated. Anger twisted his face and he opened his mouth. Louisa didn't want to hear it. She turned on her heel, motioning to Storm, and walked away. They were gods. Mercury could have easily snapped his fingers and saved Arnie, but he seemed more interested in giving her another job to do.
Maybe he yelled after her, maybe he shouted some warnings or curses or whatever he felt obliged to do. Louisa heard nothing, stubbornly marching on. Nothing he could say would ever make up for what happened. There was no excuse for letting his son die.
Mercury wasn't the only one to try and get her attention. Perhaps he had passed on her behaviour to his buddies. Apollo was back, singing again, at some point. Louisa walked straight past him. A lady with a basket full of plants and fruit, telling her she needed more cereal. Louisa walked straight past her too. A man with fire in his beard was next. Louisa thought it fascinating for a grand total of three seconds, then told him to go away as well.
After the sixth, seventh, eighth god/goddess to be ignored in as many weeks, her father finally deigned to step in. She was giving Storm a wash down in a creek, with the naiad's permission. A column of water rose beside her, taking on the form of a glowering Neptune.
"What are you doing?" He demanded. Louisa didn't even look round.
"Washin' Storm. What's it look like?"
"It looks like you're ignoring the requests of gods. Several gods."
"Oh, yeah. That too."
"We are not supposed to interfere with our children's affairs-"
"Why're ya here then?"
"-but you are proving especially stubborn-"
"Thanks."
"-and it is clear you need to learn some respect."
"We already did this." Louisa rolled her eyes, prying dried mud from Storm's mane with her fingers. Storm snorted warningly at her, glancing uneasily at the god. "Respect is earned." Louisa continued. She looked him up and down. "Not much earnin' goin' on here." Fury coloured his face, fists curling. Louisa waved water over Storm's back, messing the fur. This would be easier with soap.
Thunder crashed. Black clouds rolling in. Louisa crouched to inspect Storm's hooves, humming to herself. "If you're gonna yell at me, can you hurry up? We need to get movin' before it rains."
"You insubordinate-"
"Don't know what that means."
"-disrespectful-"
"Respect is earned."
"-unfaithful little brat."
"I know that one." She nodded, moving onto the next hoof. Storm nipped at her hair. "Nearly done." Louisa assured. She could feel the weight of his glare on the side of her head. More thunder, the clouds broke. "Alright, that'll do. Let's go, Storm."
"You walk away from me and I'll-"
"What?" Louisa whipped round. "You'll what?" She laughed, finding nothing funny about this at all. "You'll stick a big fork in face? Make it rain? Loud sky bangs? Ooh, scary." She wriggled her fingers at him, scoffing. "Whatever. We're leavin'." She gestured to Storm, stepping out of the creek. Cold wind pushed against her, a cascade of raindrops hitting her face.
A hand grabbed her arm. She screamed and spun, punching him in the jaw. He grunted, lifting her by her arm easily. "Go away!" She raged, slamming her foot into his chest. Storm whinnied, desperate to help but beyond terrified of the god. Louisa aimed another kick at him, he caught her foot. Both hands now occupied, she kicked with her other leg, catching him under the chin. His head snapped back and he dropped her.
She got to her feet quickly, clenching her fists. "Leave me alone!" She shouted. "Just leave me alone!" He held his jaw, eyes flashing dangerously as he glared down at her.
Louisa drew her sword. "I mean it!" She slashed at him, he jumped back. "Leave. Me. Alone!" She stabbed forward, he sidestepped. Storm bucked, calling for her. Louisa hardly heard her, staring her father down. "You don't scare me." She told him, voice trembling with fury. "You ain't scary."
"Is that so?"
"All of my friends are dead 'cos of me." Her voice cracked, eyes burning. She did not look away from him, did not lower her sword. "I know what scares me. You ain't it."
"Mmph." Neptune straightened his tie. "You'll come to respect the gods' power one day, Louisa."
"No, I won't."
"Then on your head be it." She had a split second to look away; he vanished in a flash of white light.
The storm remained. Another clap of thunder. The rain was getting heavier. Her hair was already plastered to her face. Storm clopped forward anxiously, looking around. She nudged Louisa, whickering softly, head ducked. Louisa had to remind herself to breathe. The point of her sword sunk into the earth as she fell to her knees, leaning on the blade, gripping the hilt with both hands. Her bones had liquidised. Her chest felt too tight, wheezing. The rain was cold on her back, her jacket becoming heavy.
Lou? Storm nudged her again.
"I… I ain't scared of them." She rasped, shaking. "I just want my friends back." She shook her head, knowing that wasn't possible, realising what she wanted from their loss. "I don't want us ta die for nothin'." She managed to turn her head enough to look at her pegasus. Storm's dark eyes were worried, as if she was about to cry too. "Is that so bad?"
No. I don't think it is.
"Wh-? What do I… do?"
Go to camp. Maybe… maybe there will be help there.
"They don't like Neptune though."
That doesn't mean they won't like you. You are not Neptune. You are Louisa. You know what it's like down here. He doesn't. None of them do. Storm nudged her cheek, huffing. Come on. We'd better get moving.
Storm helped Louisa up. She shrunk her sword back into the watch, leaning on Storm for a moment, trying to catch her breath. Ready?
"I guess."
That's the spirit.
Merry Christmas! ^_^
