[A/N] It's harder than it seems to think of new ways to tell you to review. So I'll just tell you to review.
[DISCLAIMER] I don't own PJO and I never will.
A piercing scream for help woke them about an hour before dawn. Nico's skeletons that we're keeping the perimeter had found something, and it was human. He jerked up into a standing position as Thalia sat up and looked around blearily.
"Stop!" he shouted knowing they would obey him but hoping it wasn't too late. He could hear someone sobbing and stumbling through the bushes away from him. "Stay here." he ordered Thalia, who simply nodded unsure what was going on. He ran after the source of the noise.
"I'm not gonna hurt you!" he called to whoever it was, hoping they would stop. He was catching up, he could almost see a shape by the moonlight, it looked like a child, maybe 5 feet tall. They tripped and groaned, still sobbing. He was bending over to check on them the next moment.
"Are you ok?" he asked putting a hand on their shoulder. The figure visibly stiffened.
"Please don't hurt me." he said his voice giving him description, he was probably around 10 or so. He sounded completely terrified. Not surprisingly of course not everyone can stand up to his minions, especially given the time.
"I'm not going to hurt you," he sounded sincere "I just wanted to make sure you were ok." He helped the boy to stand. "Now what were you doing out here?" Nico asked.
"I-" he stuttered "I got lost." Nico chose to accept the lie, he wanted to get back to the camp site.
"Give me your hand." Nico told him smiling to show he meant no harm. "Hold on tight and when I step to the side you should do the same." he told him ignoring his obvious want to ask a question. Nico focused on the pile of fire wood, more importantly the shadow behind it cast by the fire. He stepped to the side, the shadows engulfed him. He was easy enough to bring with him, not any harder than a regular person of course.
They appeared behind the pile, the boy gasped and let go of his hand quickly. Thalia heard the gasp and so did the guard skeletons, all three went to investigate. As the skeletons and Thalia rounded the corner the boy gasped, so did Thalia.
"Your no longer necessary, thank you." Nico said waving his hand at the skeletons, bones, rags, and sword crumbled to dust. The boy seemed even more frightened by this, he was now moving towards the fire. Thalia and Nico followed slower. He was wearing tattered sneakers, grimy shorts, and his shirt was ripped up and dirty, He had brown-hair and blue eyes, he was obviously scared.
"Was this who was screaming?" Thalia asked, sizing the boy up. She smiled politely to show she meant no offense.
"As far as I can tell.." Nico told her he looked at the boy for confirmation, who nodded his head still scared. It was right before dawn which was the darkest part of the day.
"I'm strong enough to shadow travel to camp with the three of us if we do so soon." Nico said hoping they would agree quickly.
"If we must.." Thalia said. The boy looked scared though.
"Was that what we did before?" he asked timidly, Nico wondered why no one liked shadow traveling to himself.
"Yeah." Nico said he sounded a little bit defensive, Thalia smothered a chuckle "If we don't do it soon though we'll have to wait til dusk." he spat boy withered slightly, Thalia rolled her eyes.
"Shall we?" she said hoping it would pacify Nico. He nodded the boy looked unsure.
"But-" he stuttered "but I don't want to.." they both looked at him reassuringly. Thalia moved closer to him putting a hand on his shoulder.
"It's safe don't worry." she said smiling encouragement. He shook his head to show he wanted no part of it.
"Well I guess we'll just have to leave you out here." Nico said seriously Thalia's head whipped to look at him a confused look plastered across her face. He winked at her. She smiled, it would probably work she mused.
"Unless you decide to come with us." she continued now smiling at him encouragingly. He nodded his head his bottom lip quavering. She smiled again and led him over to stand by Nico.
"You three come here." Nico called to the three patrolling skeletons, who came over and stood at attention. The boy was shaking obviously still frightened by the dead. Nico retrieved the snakes head and skin from where he had put it on the tree. Then took off his jacket and wrapped it up in it. He handed it to Thalia telling her to "Hold it." which she did without question. Then he took his knife from the skeleton that was holding it.
"Now put the fire out." he commanded the skeletons, who began to push dirt on to it. It was almost pitch-black where they were standing.
"Thank you, you can rest now." Nico said to the skeletons, "Take my hands, and hold tight." he said to them. They did so quickly and squeezing tightly.
"Now step back." he said and as they did they came out of Thalia's pine tree's shadow on the other side of the boundary. The boy snatched his hand away violently. Thalias lingered for a moment after she realized she was still holding his hand. Just long enough to find it comforting but not long enough to take any comfort. They both let go at the same time. Nico pointedly looking out over camp.
"Follow me." he said over his shoulder as he started walking toward camp Thalia a half-step behind him. He passed through the barrier with no problems. He was a demi-god. Big surprise. Nico doubted he would of been able to get so far into the forest if he were mortal. They walked directly to the big house.
As they climbed the stairs Argus came out onto the porch a cup of coffee in his hand. His eyes popped open at the sight of them, they were haggard and dirty but otherwise looked fine, and he'd never seen this kid before. He led them inside and signaled for them to wait. He went and knocked on a door at the end of a hallway. Dionysus could clearly be heard.
"Put the boy in the Hermes cabin for the day." he sounded half-awake and mad "As for Angler and Grant," both scowled at their 'names' and the boy looked confused "I'll talk to them after breakfast." They heard a door slam and someone chuckle, it was the deepest voice any of them had ever heard.
Argus came back and led the boy to a door. The boy looked at the door suspiciously, Argus opened it and smiled at him. There was a bed, a very comfortable looking bed. The boy smiled and walked quickly inside. Argus motioned for them to leave and they went outside with him following close behind.
"Is Chiron back yet?" Nico asked Argus who shook his head negatively. He nodded, turned, and started walking toward his cabin Thalia followed.
"Nico.." she said as they neared his cabin "I just wanted to say thank you." He smiled at her.
"No problem," he said turning to look at her "you wouldn't of been out there in the first place if it hadn't been for me." he smiled apologetically. She shook her head,but didn't disagree out loud. She moved forward and hugged him, her arms wrapping around his waist. He seemed surprised and before he could move to hug her back it had stopped. She blushed lightly.
"Well I'm gonna go shower and change." she told him turning and heading towards her cabin. "See you at breakfast." she called over her shoulder waving. He nodded and waved back. He went into his cabin and put the snake's head and skin on a table in the corner. He grabbed some clothes and headed to the shower.
Exquisite? A debacle? Leave me a review of your opinion.