XXII

PANDA

I was standing on the beach at Camp Half Blood. It all seemed completely normal, except I couldn't hear monsters in the forest, or campers yelling and fighting. The only thing breaking the silence was the gentle lapping of the waves. I looked around, a little bit confused, when I suddenly remembered fighting for my life in some place… was it a hospital? My heart started hammering. Almost in response, the overwhelming smell of chocolates kissed my nose. I didn't have to look to know who it was.

"Ryder?" I called out softly, afraid to be answered with absolute silence.

"I'm here," a sweet voice answered. My heart soared. I looked down the beach and there he was: his messy hair, his black clothes and his crooked and amazingly handsome smile. My heart was doing summersaults. I couldn't stop my body. I ran forward and tackled him with a giant bear hug. I heard him catch his breath before his arms wrapped around me. I nuzzled into his chest, hearing his steady heartbeat which made mine break.

I felt like I was about to cry. I squeezed him tightly and felt him under my hands. I just didn't want to let go.

"I'm so sorry, Ryder!" I said, my voice breaking despite my struggles to keep it steady. He placed his fingers under my chin and raised my head to look him in the eyes.

"Don't be, Panda," he said.

"I miss you," I whispered.

"Not as much as I've missed you," he whispered back. I could feel the tears titter-tottering; about to spill at any moment. Struggling to let go, I raised my hands and cupped his face.

His skin felt smooth under my fingertips and I wished I could have more moments like this. And that's when I remembered.

"Am I dead?" I asked, my hands falling to his shoulders. I wasn't even sure what answer I wanted to hear. If he said no, I could spend the rest of my ghostly life with him, but then I'd be leaving Percy to deal with my mess. If he said yes, I'd be with Percy, but I'd lose Ryder again.

"Not yet," he answered.

"What do you mean?"

"It's not your time yet, Panda. You still have things to do," he said, an air of ancient wisdom in his voice. I opened my mouth to say something, but he motioned me to stop.

"Just close your eyes," he said softly as he leaned forward and pressed his lips against my forehead. My eyelids fell like I hadn't slept in weeks and I let my body felt into the touch of his lips. I felt like I was home and I hadn't felt this way for a very long time. But the next instant, I woke up breathing quickly, like I had been holding my breath a little bit too long.

"Oh my god!" I heard a woman yell.

"How is this possible?!" a man's voice followed. I hadn't gotten my bearings yet before I felt people poking and prodding me.

"She was dead a minute ago!"

"I don't know, maybe her heart reacted to the electricity late?"

"What's going on?" I asked out of breath, as I felt wires and tubes all over me. "Where am I?" I asked, as I started to rip out the wires. I was on the verge of becoming hysterical, before someone grabbed my hands.

"It's okay, you're safe," a man said. I looked up, my vision clearing. He looked a little bit young, with dark brown eyes and light brown hair. My breathing slowed down.

"Where am I?" I asked hoarsely.

"In a hospital," the man answered.

"Why? I'm fine," I said shakily as I tried to get up.

"I doubt it," he said calmly as he caught my shoulder and pushed me back down.

"Just let me go," I pleaded, not wanting to stay in this small white room.

"I can't just do that," he said softly, as he tried fixing some of the wires I'd pulled out.

"Where's Percy?"

"Who?"

"Percy! My brother! Where is he?" I asked, starting to feel a little bit panicky.

"I don't know, I'll have someone search for him."

"Now."

He cleared his throat and then told a few of the nurses to look for him. They went off in different directions. I would've preferred they let me find him myself, but I was too weak to fight my way out. I lay down, annoyed, as they took me to a better room. As soon as they had left, I pulled out all the wires and tubes and sat up, waiting for Percy. Several minutes later, his head popped in.

"Percy!" I breathed in relief. He didn't say anything. He ran forward and embraced me.

"I thought I lost you," he murmured into my shoulder. "I watched you die, Panda." I broke away to look at him, but I kept him close.

"But I'm here now," I said, moving his black hair away from his red, puffy eyes. He grabbed my hand.

"Don't you ever do that again," he said, fierceness in his voice.

"I promise," I said. He sighed in relief and took a deep breath like he hadn't been breathing right for a while. He sat down, but kept my hand in his.

"I'm a cousin! Distant!" a voice yelled outside, before Nico barged in, a nurse arguing behind him. He closed the door, and with a frustrated grunt the nurse left.

"Hey Panda," he said as he sat at the end of the bed.

"Hey," I said.

"You look like crap, you know," he teased.

"I was trying out a different look, you don't like it?" I replied sarcastically. He smiled and rubbed my knee.

"I'm glad you're still here," he said.

"Here, we don't have much time to spare," Percy said as he pulled out some ambrosia. "Laelaps was here not to long ago." I nodded my agreement and gulped down the ambrosia. My body immediately felt ten times better. New energy was surging through me. Seeing Ryder fueled me with new determination.

"Wait, the doctors won't let me leave," I pointed out. "Not to mention they report gunshot wounds. The cops could be here any minute."

"Since when do we let a little thing like the law stop us?" Percy said. I chuckled.

"And how do you propose to get me out of here?" He pointed towards the window on our right side.

"No. No Percy, I've fallen enough times!"

"Relax, I've got a plan," he said. I studied him.

"You don't have a plan, do you?" I said.

"Nope," he replied cheerfully. I massaged my forehead. He's going to get me killed.

"You sure this is a good idea?!" I yelled, as I hung about ten feet in the air.

"Yeah! Two more feet and you let go!" Nico said. I sighed. Only these boys would have me hanging by a sheet from a two-story window. And thank goodness Percy still had extra clothes, because if not, I'd be feeling a slight draft right about now.

"Now!" Percy yelled. I let go, plummeted the last eight feet and rolled onto the grass. Wincing at the slight pain in my abdomen I ran across the street, climbed a tree and waited for Percy and Nico. I watched them as they pulled up the sheet and left the room. A few minutes later, they walked out of the building and met me at my awesome tree.

I jumped down, "unintentionally" bumping into Percy.

"Okay, the museum is not too far from us," he said. "We're using a car dad gave us, but here, I figure you'd want clothes that fit you, so here," he said as he handed me a 100 dollar bill. Thank goodness dad packed good. "There's a strip mall close by, I'll be waiting in the car."

"Thanks," I said, relieved I didn't have to stay in his clothes that were two sizes too big. He stopped in front of a store that looked promising and thank goodness it was. I grabbed a pair of blue converse, ripped jeans and a blue t-shirt. I was changing in a public bathroom when the ground started to slightly tremble.

An earthquake. Just great. But suddenly a howl broke the silence. I thought Percy said Laelaps wouldn't be here for a while! I pulled my shirt on and ran outside. I searched for the BMW, but I couldn't see it.

A shadow fell over me. I didn't even have to turn around. I sprinted off into the street. I heard the thundering of his paws as he chased after me. I wasn't going to outrun him. Suddenly, I heard a loud honk.

"Get in Panda!" I heard Nico yell. Percy stopped in front of me. Nico opened the door and I dove in as Percy peeled out. Now sitting on someone's lap in a car is always awkward. Nico pulled the door shut as Percy raced down the street, swerving to go around cars. I held on to the handle as he stepped on the gas.

"Lean back," Nico said, as he grabbed on to the seatbelt. I did so, and he pulled the seatbelt over us just in time. Percy turned at an intersection making the car feel like it was about to tip over.

"There it is," Percy said.

"It what?" I said, looking back to see Laelaps still in pursuit.

"The museum," he said. We were half a mile away from the museum, but he wasn't slowing down.

"Percy, what are you doing?!" I said, leaning into Nico as if that was going to get me farther away from the museum.

"Hold on!" he yelled (his yell followed by Nico and mine, naturally), as the car rammed head on into the museum. It was pretty awesome.

The walls broke and pieces fell on top of us as the car stopped and steam came out the busted up hood. There was a loud howl. Laelaps was still behind us. We stumbled out of the car onto rubble as Laelaps ran into the museum. His giant paw was about to fall onto Nico, who had dust in his eyes and couldn't see well.

"No!" I yelled as I pushed him out of the way. I expected to get crushed, but all I felt was the temperature drop. I looked up and Laelaps was frozen.

"LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE!" a voice yelled furiously. "YOU'VE DESTROYED MY TEMPLE!"

Thanks for the reviews guys XD No, I most likely wouldn't kill Panda! I'm glad you guys enjoyed it and I hope you enjoyed this one just as much. I feel better about this chapter, but let me know what you guys think. Thanks! :)