Hey, there! Innoverse here. This is chapter four... but it's kind of a filler chapter. Sorry! I was a little uninspired today, and I wanted to work on some other things. Besides, I didn't really know where to go with this.
So, now, meet the rest of the main characters. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own PJATO.
- CHAPTER IV: INTRODUCTIONS -
I looked around at the three teenagers tiredly. "Please, tell me you're demigods."
The girl chuckled. "You bet. How else did you think we could take a monster attack in stride like that?"
"No idea," I admitted. "Sorry about leading them to you guys... I saw the light and..."
"It's cool," the ginger guy said. "If you were close enough to run to us, then they would've found us eventually. Better now then later, right? It's not like that gods-forsaken circle would've done anything..."
"Hey!" the blue-eyed boy protested. "You know I don't have any training..."
The ginger boy opened his mouth to say something else, but the girl pinched him and interrupted. "Well! We're glad we found you two. How long have you been on your own?"
I sighed and ruffled my hair out of my face. "We just ran away yesterday night. But I've been dealing with monsters for years... we lived with a deadbeat uncle who didn't really do much."
The girl nodded. "Well, you're both welcome to travel with us. No demigod left behind, right? Stick together to defeat the monsters."
"Yeah," I said gratefully, then held out my hand to the girl. "Natalie Hartford—but people call me Nat. I'm sixteen." She shook my hand. "And this little guy... this is my little brother Kenneth, but he goes by Kenny. He's five. I don't know which goddess is our mother, but..."
She smiled at us. "I'm Emma Hiltz. I'm fifteen and a daughter of Zephyrus—the West Wind and the god of springtime."
"Zephyrus? I didn't know he had demigod children," I said.
"Most demigods don't," she said. "It's kind of like being a daughter of Zeus and a daughter of Demeter at the same time—except less powerful."
"Enough about you," the ginger guy intercepted. Emma rolled her eyes as he stuck out a hand. "Aaron Kipner, son of the greatest god of all—Hermes. The messenger god—and the god of thieves, travelers, roads, merchants, and he even invented the internet, even though demigods can't use it. You're a traveler, so you're okay by me. And if you're a thief... well, even better."
I shook his hand. "Um... okay."
I looked at the blue-eyed boy, but he just blushed a little and stuffed his hands into his pockets. "I'm... um, I'm Robert Miller. Son of Hecate, the magic goddess. Yeah. Magic."
Aaron snickered. "Smooth, man," he whispered just loud enough for me to hear.
Robert's ears turned pink, and he glared at him. "Will you shut up?"
"So," I said, anxious to shut them both up, "are you guys just kind of wandering around... or what?"
"Oh, no," Emma said. "We're making our way to Long Island."
"We heard some rumors about a demigod camp over there," Robert supplied. "You know, kind of like a summer camp but for children of the gods?"
"A summer camp..." I mused. "So, an actual bed, three square meals a day, and no monsters?"
Emma smiled. "Oh yes. But sadly... they're just rumors. And we don't know the exact location, either. Just that it's on the tip of the island... but that's it. I mean, it could be anywhere."
"So, basically," Aaron added, "we have to get from here—Manhattan—all the way up to, like, around Montauk."
"If you find some transportation—" I started.
"We're pretty much broke," Robert said. "Aaron's been stealing a lot lately"—Aaron grinned at that—"and we're barely making any progress on foot."
"Well," I said, "good thing you met me, right?"
I slung my backpack off my shoulder, and dug into one of the side compartments. I pulled out a wad of money—five-hundred bucks that I'd stolen from my uncle's safe a few a weeks earlier. I was glad I was putting it to good use. "Five hundred dollars," I announced.
Aaron's eyes lit up. "Dude! Did you steal that?"
I rubbed the back of my neck uncomfortably. "Well... if you count my uncle as 'stealing.'"
Emma smiled. "I guess Tyche is in our favor, my friends."
Robert grinned. "I suppose so."
"Well..." I muttered, rubbing my eyes, "I'd like to have a little visit with Hypnos..."
"Yeah," Robert commented. "You look asleep on your feet."
I chuckled a little, since he had the same purple bags under his eyes as me. "So do you, my friend." He gave a small smile.
Aaron yawned hugely. Emma rolled her eyes at him."Sleep is vital. I suggest we all see Hypnos," she said.
"That would be nice," I murmured. Kenny nodded into my waist.
"Who's taking first watch?" Aaron asked. "I vote R—"
"I'll do it," Emma interjected. "I'm not nearly as tired as the rest of you."
I didn't protest. I just sat against the walls of one of the buildings next to Robert, and pulled the blanket out of my backpack. Kenny snuggled against my side, and fell asleep on my shoulder. Even if I was sitting in an unprotected alley with people I'd met only twenty minutes ago, I couldn't help but finally feel kind of safe for once. It was nice not to feel completely alone.
Finally, leaning against the cold wall with my little brother in my arms, my eyes fluttered shut and I fell asleep.
Gah! That was really short! Not even 1k words... Sorry, but I hope the introduction of three new characters is enough to make up for that. *sheepish grin*
But yes, that is the rest of the gang! I'm going to have so much fun with Robert and Emma... two types of demigods that have either hardly been explored or not at all. I do believe that Zephyrus does have demigod children because Boreas does (Remember Cal from TLH? Pizza! Hockey! Destroy!) and they thought Leo might've been a son of Notus (the south wind) so I figure that they all probably have demigod kids. I thought Zephyrus would compliment Emma's light attitude well.
But, lastly, how does everyone like the new cover? I spent an hour or so last night drawing/coloring it with my tablet and I think it looks pretty good. Yeah, it's how I picture Natalie. So, what do you think?
Anyways, I hope you liked that (incredibly short) chapter, and reviews are appreciated. :)
