When I wake up, I am no longer on Jason's head. Instead, I'm in a nest of blankets. If I could, I'd never leave that soft warmth, but I need to find someone to change me back. What is it with me being turned into things anyways? First it is plants and now a cat? Honestly, it is starting to get old.
Once I clamber out of my blanket nest, I can see that I am inside of a cabin, specifically Jason's cabin. But I don't see Jason anywhere, so I make my escape and try to hunt down one of my two blond friends. "Hey, kitty, woke up from your nap, I see." Jason says to me. I stare at him mutely. I'm really getting tired of the whole lack of communication thing. Or one sided communication anyways. I just want to change back already. He tries to pick me up, but I hiss in irritation. I don't want to be picked up. As much as I hate viewing the ground from ankle level, I also can't stand being carried everywhere like an infant. "Whoa, alright. No touching." He chuckles.
An Ares kid calls him over to practice some sword play and he goes, leaving me to try to figure out a way to communicate with someone. Maybe if Lou-Ellen will be able to sense that I am under a curse. I trot off towards the Hecate cabin hopefully. I want to hit something in frustration when she isn't there and start coming up with a backup plan. Since I have no idea where anyone is, other than Jason who is of no help at the moment, it is up to me to figure something out.
Slinking around camp, I try to use my powers. Sure enough, I manage to shadow travel directly to Zeus' fist and back again. Maybe I could use this to let someone know about my predicament. I go to where I last saw Jason, only to realize he's run off somewhere else. Frustrated, I summon a skeleton. I'm a bit surprised when a cat skeleton appears, but I guess it makes sense. Anyways, I command it to find Will and bring him to the Hades Cabin. When the skeleton clacks its bones in assent, I shadow travel back to my bed and await the healer.
Belatedly, I wonder why I would send for Will instead of Jason or Lou-Ellen or even Chiron, but it is too late to do anything about that now, I suppose. A string on my bed distracts me and I begin pawing at it playfully. When I accidentally throw it onto the ground, I jump down and chase it. Seconds later I stop myself. What the hell am I doing? I want to scowl. I refuse to act like this, cat or not. I am still a son of Hades and I won't be so undignified as to chase around a string. So, instead, I stare at the door while I wait for Will.
He comes in a while later with my skele-cat beside him I dismiss the feline and get Will's attention by rubbing along his ankles. "What the hell? You again? Where is Nico? I thought he sent that thing." Will asks in confusion.
"Mrow." I am Nico.
"But why would it lead me here if he is somewhere else. Maybe I'm supposed to wait?" Will keeps talking to himself.
"MRROOOWW!" It is me, Will! Please put it together.
He looks down and we hold eye contact for nearly a minute before he gasps. "Wait, are you Nico?"
"Mrow."Finally. I rub along his ankles again and purr.
"No, that can't be right. He is probably just pulling my leg or something." Will shakes his head and turns to leave. I yowl and jump in front of him, hissing angrily.
Get it through your thick skull, Solace. I'm Nico di Angelo. I can feel my tail poof up as I hiss again.
"N-Nico?" He blinks a few times in shock.
I dramatically bob my head in a close approximation to a nod and sit down
"What happened to you?"
Stupid Artemis turned me into a cat. "Mow."
"That doesn't help." He frowns, "Well if it was a spell or something Lou-Ellen might be able to help, come on." He reaches down and I let him pick me up. I don't want to have to chase him all around camp, after all, so it would be easier if he carries me. And maybe I don't hate being snuggled against him either.
As he walks around in search of his friend, he absentmindedly rubs my head with his thumb. Practically against my will (no pun intended) I begin to purr. He stops moving when I do and beams happily down at me. "You know, I didn't think you could get any cuter, Nico. But I guess I was wrong. Cat-Nico is by far the most adorable thing in existence." He says and I huff a little, but continue purring as he keeps petting me with warm hands. Who could really blame me? It feels absolutely heavenly, especially when he rubs the underside of my chin. I swear I could melt in those moments.
He starts moving again and I snuggle closer to his warm body, feeling him chuckle even though I barely hear it. I realize how embarrassing doing any of this would be when I was human, but maybe, once I can change back, I can play it off as a side effect of the curse, being weirdly affectionate.
Will finds Lou-Ellen reading some novel under a shade tree. "Lou!" He calls to get her attention. "I need your help with a possible spell."
"Oh? Looking to jinx someone?" She asks with a devious grin, "How unlike you."
"No, actually, uh," He puts me down and I stretch, "Nico's a cat. This cat, actually. I have no clue what happened, but I figured if it was magic, you could maybe reverse it."
The girl bursts into hysterical laughter at that. Eventually, with teary eyes, she asks, "Wait, you're being serious?" Will's nod only makes her laugh harder. I hiss and scratch her when she tries to hold me. Why can't she just turn me back already? "So you're Nico, eh?" She laughs a little once more before sobering. "Let me see what's wrong with you." A look of concentration falls over her for a minute before she says, "It was definitely a curse. But it is way too strong for me to break. It seems to be conditional as well, meaning it won't fade unless something specific happens." She frowns and looks at me. "I'm guessing some god or goddess did this, right." I bob my head in a nod. "And you know what you have to do?" She raises an eyebrow.
Artemis' words return to me and I hiss. I know what she told me to do, but it is stupid. Bianca did leave me. Unless I see her strolling around camp, there is no way in hell I'll be convinced otherwise. What did the moon goddess even mean when she said that? Maybe she'll realize how stupid her condition was and change me back herself. I hiss again and extend my claws. Why do the gods have to use us like their playthings?
"Have you seen Chiron yet?" The daughter of Hecate questions. I give my body a shake to inform her that I haven't. "I suggest you do that, then. He'll most likely be able to help, even if we can't turn you back." She says and I sigh. She is right and I probably should have gone to him sooner, but I kind of wanted to figure this out with the least help possible so word didn't get out. Already two people know about my problem, and I'm sure that Sunshine will tell Jason next they see each other.
"Alright, thanks, Lou." Will nods and picks me up again. I settle against him and we make our way to the big house. On the way, he gasps as if coming to a shocking realization. I meow. "You— All that stuff I said about you earlier…" He mumbles and stares at me, wide eyed and almost scared looking. "I didn't mean—well, I did mean it; but I didn't know it was you and—" To stop his jumbled explanation, I rose up on my hind legs and put a paw on his mouth.
It is fine, idiot. You don't have to act so freaked out. "Mow, prrrrrrrrrrrr" I nuzzle his check slightly and look into his eyes.
"Oh," He says, muffled since he doesn't open his mouth due to my paw. Then a smile overtakes his face and I curl up against his chest again.
We find Chiron monitoring the archery range. "Hello, Will." He nods in greeting when he sees us.
"Chiron, thank the gods we found you. Nico has been turned into a cat and I don't know why and we think you can help. But Lou said that a god or goddess cursed him so he has to do something before the spell will fade, so we probably won't be able to turn him back to normal. And he… well when Lou asked what the condition might be, he got really upset." Will blurts out almost too quickly to comprehend.
"Oh dear…" Chiron sighs and walks over. He closes his eyes for a moment then shakes his head. "Artemis did this, I can feel her magic. However, she doesn't usually curse anyone, preferring more primal ways of punishment if wronged. It does make me wonder about her condition, but as I do not speak cat, it may be best to find a Satyr for this. I'm sure Coach Hedge will be more than happy to be of assistance. Come with me, he is currently at the Big House."
Will follows Chiron and I hop onto the ground, jumping in the Centaur's hoof prints. Again, if anyone mentions this after I am back to normal, I will play it off as a part of the curse. Will chuckles and I look up at him. He is smiling softly and his eyes are shining with something I can't identify, all I know is that is seems incredibly gentle. Once more, I'm grateful that Will is unable to see my blush.
I keep glancing up at the cheery son of Apollo every few moments, feeling skeletal butterflies each time I do. Ugh. I need to stop doing that. I really don't need a Percy repeat; and I'm sure Will has a girlfriend, even though I've never met her. Why wouldn't he? He's handsome and caring and smart and— This isn't helping you not have a crush on him. I inform myself and try to focus on the task at hand.
After a long struggle to not think of Will Solace, we finally reach the Big House. As promised, Coach Hedge was inside. When we enter, he stops eating a coke can. "Hello, Solace." He nods in greeting, "Chiron." Will fidgets a little, probably remembering the time he delivered a satyr baby. He hasn't been al that comfortable around Coach Hedge ever since. Though it is a bit surprising that it still affects him since, over the years, he has done far more disgusting things.
"We need your help with translation," Chiron states.
"Ah, is there a new camper? Chinese? Russian?" The Coach starts babbling, only to be interrupted by Chiron.
"Not quite. You see, Nico di Angelo has been cursed by Lady Artemis. And, as you can speak cat…" Chiron nods towards where I'm sitting.
"Nico?" The Coach asks.
Yep. I meow and he doubles over in laughter. Why does that seem to be a favourite response to finding out that I have been cursed?
"Alright, now, Nico, what is the curse's condition?" Chiron asks over the Coach's peals of laughter. I meow out an explanation and wait for Coach Hedge to tell them what I said.
"He says that it doesn't make sense. He's supposed to realize that his sister didn't leave him alone when she died. Which, quoting him here, 'is fucking idiotic, because how else is he supposed to interpret the last of his family dying'?" The Coach offers.
"Alright, well, what did you do to make Lady Artemis curse you to begin with?" Chiron inquires.
I tell the Coach who in turn says, "He called her a psychopath."
Will sighs, "Why did you think that was a good idea, Death Boy?"
"Mrooww"
"Says he was too pissed to 'give a damn'," The Coach translates.
Everyone is silent for a minute before Chiron sighs, "Well, Nico, I'm afraid there is nothing I can do. You must somehow appease the goddess before you can turn back. I will aid you if I can, but at the moment, I can think of no solution."
"Meow"
"He'd like to know if there is some way he can at least communicate. Possibly a spell." The Coach says.
"Yes, I'll contact the Hecate cabin. But any spells may not work because your curse is straight from a goddess, and a powerful one; however, I shall try." Chiron nods then leaves.
"T-thanks, Coach." Will says then leaves as well, with me at his heels. "Oh, Nico, I'm so sorry we couldn't turn you back." He starts as we walk in the general direction of the infirmary. "But Artemis is pretty smart so her condition for you is most likely not impossible, or stupid. We could try to figure it out, if you want."
I guess, but it sounds pretty dumb to me. "Mrow."
"Yeah, this communication thing is not really doing it…" He sighs.
You're telling me? "Mow."
"Okay, for now how about a meow for yes and a hiss for no."
"Meow."
"Alright. Uh, so what do you want to do now?" The blond healer asks.
Don't you have another shift at the infirmary soon? "Mrrooooow?" He just sighs, having no idea what I just said. I am annoyed enough with this stupid curse to murder someone.
"Well, I should probably go back to the infirmary, I'll find you if Chiron is able to get a spell for you." He offers a smile. I keep following him. "Y-you're coming?" He asks. There is surprise in his voice.
"Meow." I sound and then purr a little, trying my best to keep up with his long strides. An instant later, he is scooping me up into his arms.
"I figured it'd be easier if I carried you. Is that okay?" He asks. I burrow into his warmth and sigh.
"Meow." Soon I drift off, listening to the steady beat of his heart.