Percy, Annabeth and Grover were panting heavily on the ground, hiding in the bushes. When their panting had finally slowed down, Percy turned to look at Annabeth. "Why didn't you help Nico up?" he asked, still panting.
"What does it matter? We don't need him anymore, we got the books." Annabeth said, grabbing the bag from Grover and pulling out one of the books. "That's not the point Annie. What if it would have been you falling? Nico would have surely helped you up." Percy said.
"No, he would have left me there lying." Annabeth lied, opening the book and looking at it. What she didn't expect, was that the books were written in a weird language she had never seen before. Grover looked over Annabeth's shoulder, "So long surviving without Nico…" Grover muttered. Percy started to rip out the grass under him before he stood up. If Nico saved a little cat, he would have surely helped Annie, Percy thought.
"I'm gonna go back and look what happened," Percy said. "And I'm going alone."
-With Nico-
Nico woke up to something wet getting on his face. He grunted as he slowly opened his eyes, coming face to face with another face. This face had two brown, concerned eyes. "Thank gods you're not dead." the boy in front of Nico said, backing away from Nico. "'Tavy would have gotten so mad if you died. Anyway, I'm Leo." the boy continued, offering Nico his hand.
"Nico." Nico said, lifting his hand to his head, feeling a bump on his forehead. What had happened? "Oh right, and this is Festus." Leo said, patting the metallic dragon next to him. "I'm so sorry we ran over you, we just haven't seen anyone here after Kronos' army attacked our village, so I thought here wasn't anyone else." Leo said.
"Leo, I hope you aren't scaring him away." A blond boy said, walking up to Nico and Leo. The blond had blue eyes. "I'm Octavian. Here, try to eat this." Octavian said, offering a roasted fish to Nico. Nico sat up and took the fish starting to eat on it. Leo sat down in front of Nico, smiling at him, while Octavian went to get food for Leo and him.
"So, where from are you? I haven't seen you around here before." Leo said, taking the fish Octavian gave him.
"I'm from a village, about a week-long trip from here." Nico answered, not really caring if he could trust the man who ran over him with a dragon. Octavian came back and sat next to Leo, handing him a fish-stick.
"Are you the only one from your village?" Octavian asked, taking a bite of the fish.
"No, there were three other, but they ran away when you guys came." Nico said bitterly.
"Really? And they left you here?" Leo asked. Nico nodded, looking down. "Did Kronos also attack your village?" Leo continued with his questions and Nico nodded again. "Okay, then I guess we are in the same boat." Leo smiled. "Now the most interesting question, what are you?"
Nico was slightly taken aback from the question, because of the huge change in the subject. "I'm a fairy." Nico answered after a moment.
"You're kidding me, aren't you?" Leo said, trying to look over Nico's shoulder for his wings. "Where's your wings?" he asked. Nico let his wings come out, showing them for a moment before making them disappear again. "That's so cool! I'm a dragon rider and Festus is my dragon." Leo said, petting Festus' head, which laid on the ground.
"I'm just an elf." Octavian said. "You told us that you weren't alone, right? Where did these friends of yours go? And what did they look like?" Octavian asked.
"I don't know, why are you asking?"
"Because someone is walking this way." Octavian said, pointing at a man who was walking their way. Nico turned around to see Percy walking slowly towards them. Nico stood up slowly and waved at Percy, who started to run towards him after noticing him.
"Nico! Are you okay?" Percy asked when he reached them. He looked around, seeing Leo waiving at him and Octavian shaking his head.
"I'm fine." Nico gave a little smile.
"I'm Leo." Leo took Percy's hand and shook it. "And this is 'Tavy and Festus. I'm sorry we scared you away like that." he smiled, letting go of Percy's hand. Octavian walked up behind Leo, wrapping his arms around the smaller boy and putting his chin on Leo's shoulder.
"Who are you?" Octavian asked, not faced by Percy's wide eyes from his brave move.
"I-I'm Percy, Nico's friend." Percy sputtered out, still staring at Octavian who was hugging Leo. Leo smacked Octavian's hand, which was on his waist and smiled at Percy.
"He just likes teasing." Leo turned to Octavian. "Can you stop that already?" Leo whispered harshly, braking away from Octavian's embrace and sitting down against Festus. Octavian sighed and sat down away from Leo. He couldn't deny that he had feeling for Leo, but it looked like everything he made for Leo was a waste of time. Leo would probably never like him back.
"Percy has been away for a pretty long time. Do you think we should go look where they are?" Annabeth asked, standing up. She and Grover had gone through every one of Nico's books, not understanding a word.
"Yeah, I'm starting to get worried too." Grover said, standing up. The duo started to make their way back to the grassy field and after a while walking, they saw the group of people.
"Percy!" Annabeth yelled and watched as one of the human shaped figures turned around, but didn't wave or anything. Annabeth sighed and walked over to the group, noticing the two strangers sitting. She jogged the rest of the way up to them, stopping at Percy's side.
"Hey Percy, who are these guys?" Annabeth asked, clinging to Percy's arm. Percy sighed looking down at Annabeth.
"I'm Leo." Leo grinned, standing up and walking over to Annabeth. "Wow, you are beautiful." he smiled.
"I'm Octavian." Octavian said, looking up and giving Annabeth a small smile. "We are from a nearby village, which was destroyed by Kronos' army."
"Really? Were you the only one to survive?" Annabeth asked. Leo nodded sorrowfully. "Then I guess you could tag with us." Annabeth said smiling.
"That depends where you are going?" Octavian said, standing up.
"Well… Actually, we're not sure. We are trying to find the three legendary swords, but before that we have to find the lost Oracle." Annabeth said, looking closely at Octavian. Why does Octavian look so familiar? Annabeth thought.
Leo looked at Octavian. "Do you think they could be talking about Rachel?" Leo asked. Octavian nodded.
"Who is Rachel?" Grover asked.
"She is the only Oracle we know." Leo said. "This is so cool! We haven't visited her in a long time. Oh, and it's only a few-days trip." Leo grinned, bouncing over to Festus and waking him up. Festus opened his ruby eyes, looking at Leo before rising. Festus was big.
"So, Festus can carry three people, but it looks like we are… one, two, three… six. I guess we are all walking." Leo grinned.
So the group started their journey towards the Oracle named Rachel, Festus in the lead. Leo was talking something with Percy, while Annabeth and Grover were silently walking after them. It looked like Percy was still mad at Annabeth. Meanwhile Octavian was staying behind them all and was soon joined by Nico. They didn't talk much, but made small conversation every now and then.
When the sun had finally set, they decided to camp. The scenery hadn't changed at all. While the other gathered food and wood, Octavian and Nico sat down. They had learnt pretty much from each other while walking. Both of them were pretty much hated in their village and both of them were crushing on somebody they thought they couldn't have. Nico didn't tell Octavian who he was crushing on or that he even was. It was enough that he knew of Octavian's feelings for Leo.
"Why do you like Leo?" Nico asked, glancing at the blonde, who was staring at the newly made campfire.
"I don't know. He's funny, nice and not bad to look at." Octavian gave a little smile, "And I think he was the only one who didn't hate me. He is just amazing" he ended. Nico nodded.
"Hey, here is some food to you two too." Percy came smiling, handing Octavian and Nico some kind of meat. Percy sat down next to Nico, taking a bite from his own food. After a moment of just sitting there in silence, the silence was broken by a meow. All three of them turned to look at the little fishy cat, who jumped on Percy's lap. Nico gave a little smile, looking as Percy lifted the cat and cooed it, before hugging it. Octavian rolled his eyes and ate his food.
After everyone had their stomach full they started to sleep. They decided that they wouldn't need any guarding, because Festus would be half awake all the time. Leo laid down next to Festus while Grover and Annabeth laid pretty close to each other. Annabeth tried to get Percy to sleep next to her, but Percy just shook his head, staying there with Nico. Octavian sighed and walked over to Leo, laying down next to him. Neither of them spoke, but after falling asleep, Leo's hand found its way around Octavian.
Nico laid down, opening his wings and wrapping them around himself. Percy, not knowing where to sleep- because he didn't want to forgive Annabeth yet- laid down next to Nico, looking at the small boy. Nico was beautiful, Percy had to admit. The way that the dark, soft-looking hair fell to the pale face, the way Nico's dark eyes looked at him with one raised eyebrow and the way Nico's lips moved when he talked…
"Percy?" Nico asked, looking at the green-eyed boy with one eyebrow raised. Percy seemed to snap out of it, smiling at Nico.
"What?"
"Good night." Nico said, closing his eyes again. Percy looked at Nico for a while before closing his own eyes. "G'night."
A/N
Not the best chapter I have written, but I had to get something out. Yeah, I'm not sure if I already named the fishy cat, but if I didn't, then I'm happy to take up suggestions. Aaand, I try to write the next chapter in a week, but no promises.
Please review.
