A/N: Who got the Serpent's Shadow? Read it in 17 hours including sleep – LOVED IT, DIED, CAME BACK, DIED AGAIN, AND SMACKED THINGS. Yeah, awesome. Have you read it yet? You should! I have to update a day early since I won't be home for the weekend – my play is being preformed this weekend! So nervous since my play curse has struck again – every year I have some sort of casting issue. This year? Wasn't too bad ... until an actor got sick. I think Dionysus hates my plays. Anyways, that's why I am updating now. So here you go! ((This is why you should like my facebook, cut down on rants and explanations))

Cora: The Truest (And Most Infuriating) Friend

I was going crazy inside. Hunter was here, next to me, unconscious and bleeding. I had been an idiot that first day on my quest. Now I knew it was Hunter I had seen in New York. I had thought I had been going crazy. Yet somehow he had snuck out, somehow he had followed us - followed me.

I had finally convinced (more like wore down) Percy to let me stay up and keep watch. Even though he told me to wake him up later . . . that probably wasn't going to happen. I wasn't even really keeping watch. I was just sort of curled up staring into the fire.

The night passed by slowly. I wasn't doing anything so it actually might have been no time at all. I could see the moon up above in the sky. I watched its passage, rising to be above me. My tears had stopped a while ago, but they were threatening to fall once again. He just looked so lifeless. This mess was my fault.

I was growing sleepy and having to pinch myself awake when I heard a small sound in the dimness. Just a small rustle and a faint cough. Immediately I was alert as I sat bolt upright and looked around. Next to me there was shadowy movement. I held my breath; I had to have fallen asleep. I must of been dreaming.

Limbs shifted and moved, as if being tested out. I watched in silence, sure it was an illusion brought on by trauma and if I moved I'd ruined. But slowly Hunter sat up looking dazed, eyes glassy, and very much real.

Without thinking, I let out a squeal and threw my arms around him. Yes that was not like me, but I was happy he was finally awake! It was only for a second before I came to my senses. I immediately sat back, probably bright red - I hoped it wasn't visible in the firelight. Hunter blinked for a minute, rubbing the side of his head and looking around in confusion.

"Wh - what happened? Last I remember was catching you . . ." he mumbled fuzzily, focusing in on me. "And did you just squeal and hug me?" I looked away, carefully wording my response.

"Um, no . . ." I said as nonchalantly as I could. "You've been out for most of the day." I turned my face back towards him. He was still rubbing his temples with an odd expression.

"Well, that - that explains why my head hurts and everything kind of shifts," he said.

I looked at him worriedly, "Um . . ." I grabbed Percy's bag and rummaged through it before pulling out an Ambrosia square. "Here."

Hunter took it without complain and ate it - thankfully not turning to ash (then I would have felt really guilty). The color returned to his face a bit more. "Thank," he said. "So I've been out for the day . . . that doesn't tell me where we are and what is going on"

I sighed. "You're sure you're okay?" I asked him, eyeing him worriedly. I was starting to lose the panicky worry I had been feeling and more of an annoyance at causing me to feel that. He nodded and I gave a faint smile which quickly faded.

Then I whacked his arm.

"Ow," he muttered rubbing it. "What was that for?"

"For scaring me!" I exclaimed. He blinked and looked at me, then gave a laugh. I stared.

"You? Scared? Never thought that would happen."

I rolled my eyes. He had the nerve to mock me? After what had happened today? He was just asking to get smacked again.

"Please, me scared? I was just . . . worried. That's all," I retorted. "You just came up out of nowhere!"

"But you . . . oh never mind. It's hopeless arguing with you," he said shaking his head. His eyes still looked a little unfocused.

"Got that right," I smirked. "Now tell me, what in Hades' name were you thinking? Were you just going to follow us the whole way? Because I did see you in New York, and now I know you were the person I saw looking up at us when on top of the hill." Hunter cringed a little under my look. I wondered what my expression was, because it must have been scary.

"I don't know . . . I just did it. I didn't want to be left behind. I had thought about coming up to you but . . ." he seemed to have no real answer. My spark of anger faded.

"Look, I don't want to fight about this. You did save my life after all. And to tell the truth, I'm a bit glad you're here. Beside, you're awake, which I think is a miracle itself," I said quietly. He looked at me and smiled. Hesitantly I smiled back.

"You looked so much nicer when you smile," he murmured half to himself. Once he realized he said it, his face grew red. I raised an eyebrow, my face also feeling hot.

"Oh? What's that's supposed to mean?"

"That you sometimes scare me."

"I think I scare everyone," I replied. Hunter shrugged, and looked up at the sky.

"I guess that's true. Uh, what time is it?"

I frowned, and then gave small shrug. "Not sure, sometime after midnight I guess. Couldn't say," I told him. Hunter tilted his head and looked at me.

"After midnight? Cora, how long have you been awake?" he questioned. I blinked taken aback; did it really matter?

"Since I woke up. Why?" I said.

"So, why are you up?" he asked.

I sighed through my nose and gave an annoyed look. "Who are you? My guardian? I was concerned about you, sorry if I wanted to make sure you were okay," I muttered. He laughed gently and moved closer.

"I'm just your friend who thinks you look exhausted," he said. "You should sleep." I shook my head.

"No, you just woke up. I'm not going to sleep now. What if something happened? If you're still dizzy and monsters attack then - well - I don't know! You don't know how you looked before," I argued.

"I'd wake you up if anything happened. I'm not going to kill myself," he said earnestly. I took a deep breath and looked into the fire.

"Promise?"

"You think I wouldn't?" he said quietly. "I promise, okay?" I looked back at him.

"Fine, I'll go to sleep. But make sure to wake me if anything happens," I muttered, slightly annoyed. Hunter just smiled at me.

I layed down and closed my eyes. I heard shuffling, and after a minute or two I felt compelled to open my eyes. I looked over and Hunter was watching me. He gave me a look that seemed to say 'well? are you going to or not?'. I rolled my eyes and curled up. Closing my eyes again I felt safe for the first time since the quest started.

It took a while, but eventually I did manage to fall asleep. Knowing in my gut that everything would somehow end up all right. My sleep was calmed because of that thought. I had my friend(s), brother, and I was sure I would be okay. So I was thus lulled to sleep.

A/N: He's okay! I am not evil enough to kill off IMPORTANT characters. Maybe minor ones, but not someone as big as Hunter! So yeah, you have to wait to see what happens! Gods, I realized I have, like, five maybe six chapters in Quebec ... awkward. I feel like I'm promoting my own country. Oh, and the Toronto Nome is NOT destroyed. Everyone just died ... ((Kane Chronicle reference)). So let me know what you thought of this chapter whether it's via review or alert of fav I don't care! Let me know! Bye!