Leo throws himself behind a brick building.
Finally something that won't catch on fire. He have gone through three farms. A cow caught on fire when he accidentally slam into it, along with their cornfield. Another cornfield right after that and it's not the hot weather's fault this time. He sure he put at less four avocado trees on fire.
For gods sake, a breadcrumb trail. Leo will get catch in no time. He can't continue running like this. Bursting on fire like nothing.
"WHERE DID HE GO?!" Leo jump, his hair flaming. PANIC PATTING! PUT IT OUT!
"Hey," a whisper. Leo bounce to his feet. A kid squatting near where Leo was sitting. Dress all in black with a puff of black hair to match. He wave a pale(kind-of red from the heat) olive hand down. Leo sits back on the floor, still far from the mystery kid. "Your head's on fire. Probably put that out before those soldiers see the smoke."
"Shit shit shit," Leo curse under his breath. He goes back to patting. It's not going away. "I can't stop it. I don't know how to."
The kid sigh. He crawl to Leo, scoop a handful of dirt, and dump it on Leo's head. That was unexpected. The kid is mean looking, so Leo thought kid here was going to knock him out. Maybe the kid is nicer than he look.
Soon the flames was out. "You know," kid whisper, "that is not the proper way to put out fire. Though, it looks like you are having a rough day, so come on. You'll be safe with me." The kid take Leo's hand. It's cold. "I hate taking in sad puppies."
Leo let the kid take him away from the chaos. The cold hand is the only cold he can feel beside his own. A bit warmer. And that is all it takes. Some warmth that he needs. He make sure to hold tightly.
"Keep your cool. Don't want to blow our cover." They go through some tall grass. "We're going have to run. Are you going to be okay?"
Leo nod even though the kid can't see him. "Yeah," Leo finally says.
Pass the tall grass, is a open field. Not really field. More like land with some patches of green grass. There is nobody in sight, but that doesn't mean there isn't somebody nearby. The kid jerk Leo forward with a sprint. Luckily Leo caught himself before falling.
Leo tighten his hand.
His leg is throbbing. Chest tightening. Throat suffocating. He lingers for the warmth from the kid. He's too tired. Leo wants to stop and freeze. Anything to stop the pain.
"GUYS! I FOUND LEO! HE'S RUNNING AWAY WITH A KID!"
Leo stiff up. He won't stop. No matter how tired his body is, his mind will never get tired.
"LEO! COME BACK!"
Leo can hear the little boy curse under his breath. Then he starts shouting, "P! P! POMEGRANATE! GODS DAMMIT! KEEP RUNNING!" 'P p pomegranate'? What does that mean? Did he run out of curse words?
Then Leo see a border up ahead move. Fall and move toward them in a snake-like slither. Leo wants to turn away. All he can think is that this kid is going to feed him to a giant ass snake. This is how Leo is going to die. So this what happen when you trust a kid you just met.
The closer it got, the faster his heartbeat. "Wait!" Leo smile. "Is that a fucking dragon?!" That is an upgrade from a giant snake. Wait, are dragons giant snakes that fly? And breathe fire? Maybe they're related somehow. Leo runs faster, keeping up with the kid now. The smile grew as the dragon glide closer.
It never touch the floor. Only when it landed in front of them. No wings but they're scales are black as the night sky, shining under the sunlight. Eyes green like the ocean. It huff out a sigh at them. Leo notice it smells like a beach. "Get on Leo," say the kid. The dragon slump on the ground. Leo climb. Smooth scales. The kid follow after, sitting in front. He grabs Leo's arms and wrap them around their waist. "Hold on tight. Don't want to fly off. Let's go seaweed brain."
The dragon lift themself up. "LEO!" His soldiers are a few feet away. Before one can even grab Leo's leg, the dragon zoom off. Leo scream.
Leo whole body stiff up. He grab skin on the small boy's stomach. He only hear wind. See only colors of the land smear together. Brown. Green. Some yellow. There's not that much color in the south. Soon Leo's screams turn into laughter. He haven't burst on fire, nor threw up. Leo feels fine for the first time in a while. Even the warmth from both of them is welcoming.
Then the dragon slow down over a river and slam into it. Leo only have a split second to take in a breath. They dive deep. Fishes swim by. Plants hitting him. The dragon turn harshly that Leo almost float away. They come up surface. Leo coughs and fall back in the water. The kid only pull him back up.
The dragon starts grunting in the water. Kid tch his tongue. "Be quiet. You were always telling me to be nice. I don't need to hear your lip. Hey, you okay?" Leo look up and nod. "Now, why were you running away from the soldiers?"
Leo wrap his arms around himself. Warmth gone. He look at the dragon. "That's a water dragon," he points out.
Kid roll his eyes. "Yeah." He squats down in front of Leo. "His name is Percy. I'm Nico. Let's go back to the question prince."
Leo look back at the Nico. "How did-?"
"Only of Vulcan royal blood can do fire. That's how I know. You must be the bastard prince." Percy roar. Sounded almost like a "Hey!" Leo puff out his cheeks.
"I may be a bastard kid but at lees my dad is a king and not a drunkard. And not a shame of me." Nico snorted. Percy make a a sound as if he is laughing. "What?"
"Did you rehearsed that line. Gods, never had I heard that. Are you cold? There is an extra blanket and some food if you're hungry. Though, you have to put the fire on in order to get the food." Nico stands up and go get a stick. He waves it at Leo.
"Okay," Leo agree. "I don't know how to control my fire since I got them back. I'll try." Leo grab the top of the stick. He focus on the wood. Trying to feel the heat of fire to emerge in his hands. Cold. Imagine the wood is on fire. Nothing happen. Then he try to put his whole body on fire. A failure. How does this power work? All the memories of him playing with his own fire and yet, he doesn't know how he can summon it. "Shit! Come on!" Cursing does not work either.
Percy roar.
Leo jump. His fire burst out, almost hitting Nico. "Gods dammit Percy," Nico scold. "Leo was suppose to do it. I know you are hungry but damn, I could have become a torch. Leo also need to know how to use his trait." A laughing sound roll out of Percy. Nico light up the campfire. "You better be okay with fish. It's the only thing we have."
"I'm okay with fish." Leo sit close to the fire. Percy makes a sound towards him. "I'll be okay Percy. The fire doesn't bother me. Where are we exactly?" Another round of sounds. It's almost as if Leo can understand Percy. "Under the river? As of in a cave?" He let Percy talk. His tail swooping up and down in the water, splashing away from them. "A air pocket? That's possible?"
"You betcha," Percy clearly say. Leo's eyes widen. Percy look at Nico. "When's the fish done?"
Leo turn to Nico. Barely putting the fish in the fire. "Uh. It's still raw. You need to wait boy."
"Oooh. You got some sass. Are all princes sassy? I know my older brother is but damn. Take it easy man, I'm only a bastard." Percy laugh. Leo can hear his boyish laugh. Leo starts laughing.
"Dude! We are both BasTArds!" Nico look at Leo weird. "Oh my gods! My older siblings are sassy as fuck. Or they are horribly rude. I have to start talking like them while..." Leo trail off. "Hold on. You are of royal?"
"Are you talking to Percy?" Nico join the party. Leo nod. "How? He only make grunts?"
Leo shrug. "I don't know. Are you a prince?" Nico stiffen up. Leo's eyes widen back up. "You are!"
"That's non of your business. I want to know how you can understand Percy." Nico stab another fish through its body. Again, Leo shrug.
"And I want to know who you are Prince Nico," Leo talk back.
"I didn't save you for us to be friends. I saw you being chase by guards and I know how that feel. Is it because you are the heir for Vulcan? There is fire dragons roaming around in this hot kingdom."
"Probably. I really don't know. Percy is the first dragon I've meet face to face. I wasn't allow to be near them when one do land near the city. But Percy is a water dragon. Not a fire one."
Nico sigh, "Your kingdom animal is the dragon. Maybe your family can also understand dragons; any of them. Just like King of Atlantis who can speak to horses and fishes."
"And to have a horse as a offspring," say Percy. He sounds clearer than before. Leo look behind to see a tall, naked teenage boy walking out the water. The rest of the water empty. "Seriously, how can someone conceived a horse? And have a human twin?"
"Perseus! Put on some clothes!" Nico grab one of the bags from the wall and throw it at Percy. He only laugh in responds.
"Did he-he...you know?" Leo look at Nico. Nico glance at Percy then back to Leo. "PERCY'S A FUCKING HUMAN?"
