Hmm... no one read chapter 14. Probably due to my inability to update routinely so that's entirely on me. Sheep, if you still read this, I actually have a question for you. You've pointed out you don't think they drank tea in ancient Greece but I've found some sources that say they drank tea of cinnamon and cloves? You know more than I do on this subject.
Now I need some constructive criticism you guys, especially on one thing: I need to improve on my descriptions of facial expressions and body language. Especially with characters like Meg and Cassandra who are sassy as hell, but most of it is in their expressions. I need help improving on this, knowing what I'm doing right AND what I'm not doing so good with. You aren't insulting me by offering criticism. How else can I improve?
Icarus blew into the embers of the fire, trying to grow the flames. He leaned close to the fireplace, crinkling his nose at the intense heat and ash that wafted towards his face. The embers glowed with each breath, eventually growing the flame that caught onto the newly added logs. The remaining pile of wood was shrinking and the trio of friends were growing concerned that it would run dry before Hercules returned home. Satisfied the wood was catching he glanced at the pot that had been placed on the mantle. He had filled it with some snow, and added some cinnamon and cloves that Meg had gathered from the kitchen. The snow had melted, but a dip of his finger showed the water was far from hot. He quickly bounded back to the chair to curl back under the warmth of the blankets and furs, patting the ashes from his hair.
"Man, you gotta learn to clean that fireplace!" He complained, leaving a fine layer of gray around him before setting back into the chair. Him and Cassandra had pulled some of the furniture closer to the fire.
"Well we've been burning wood for a day. Even if we did clean it there would be a lot of ash there," Meg refuted, shifting the linens around her shoulders. "Besides, you're always covered in ash... I don't really know why," She trailed off, furrowing her brow,
"Yeah, I didn't think there was enough of his brain to still be smoldering from his little adventure to the sun," Cassandra remarked,
"I'm The Wax Wing King," Icarus quickly defended, throwing up his hands, "I've been trying to test newer waxes that can go higher in the sky without melting," he huffed.
"Too stubborn to realize the Gods don't want you flying so high? Didn't learn your lesson?" Cassandra asked, and Megara immediately scoffed. This earned her a quick glance from Cass, though Icarus remained oblivious. "Anyways," she continued, breaking the momentary silence, "I'm guessing the water is still cold?" Icarus responded with an exuberant nod, sending yet more ash around him.
"Would heat up faster on the cook fire where we could have hung the pot right over the flames, but it's too damn cold to sit in the kitchen. Was bad enough just grabbing something to make snow melt taste like something," Meg replied. Like the night before the group wanted something hot to drink, and Cassandra suggested tea, feeling unsure of letting her encumbered friend drink any more alcohol.
"Speaking of kitchen, anyone else hungry? Maybe once Hercie comes home we can have a nice romantic double date! You and my pal," Icarus glanced at Meg, then shifted his gaze over to Cassandra, "Me and my beloved," He bat his eyes at her, and both girls were sure under the blanket he was clutching his fist to his chest.
"My beloved and I," Cassandra corrected. "And my name is Cassadra. Not my beloved." She sighed, unsure why she even bothered trying to shake off his advances anymore. He had been pursuing her relentlessly since the Academy; and graduation had been nearly three years ago.
"I don't know when Herc will be home, and I'm starting to get hungry... why don't I get something for us started?" Meg suggested,
"Or, here's a better idea," Cassadra looked up from the corners of her eyes, holding her finger in the air, "You try getting some rest and let Icarus and I take care of food," She shifted her gaze to give her friend an accusing glare. The young woman glared back at her for a few moments, before settling back into her seat.
"Fine," She relented. She wanted to argue about how it was rude to make her guests prepare the food, but she knew Cassandra was probably the only other human more stubborn than herself. "We don't have much," She furrowed her brows trying to think, "We should have a couple loaves of bread, maybe some fruit, and there should be some honey left. Might be a piece or two of salt fish left. It's not much..." She hoped there would be enough for Hercules, her in-laws, and Cassadra's friend when everyone returned. "Herc built a small underground box to keep some of our food. There's a door in the back of the kitchen, it's literally just past that door, should be easy to find even under all this white nonsense."
Before Cassandra could move, Icarus tossed aside his sheath of warmth, and bounded towards the hallway leading to the kitchen. Like the others, Hercules had provided him with the crude fur boots. They were too large for his feet, causing him to stumble. But they kept his feet warm enough that they didn't cramp on the cold stone floor.
"I have never understood where he stole all his energy from. Seriously, it's cold enough to make one want to go on vacation to Tartarus to get warm. He's like the love child of Eris and a hurricaine," Meg chimed, shaking her head. "How have you put up with that for all these years?"
"I don't really understand it myself. How did a cynic like you end up with someone as optimistic as the boy wonder?" Cassandra asked in reply.
"Fair point." Meg shrugged, "Speaking of, I hope he gets home with everyone soon. I'm getting worried about what all that ice is going to do to Pegasus's wings. I know he used to train in the mountains but I'm not so sure how the neighing pigeon handles snow when its coming from the sky not just piled on the ground," Her brow furrowed as she thought about his parents, and hoped the elder couple was fairing well. Without proper protection even the flight to the villa would be taxing.
"If they could handle raising a baby with the strength of the entire Spartan army, I'm sure they can handle a little snow. Even off-season I can't imagine Herc letting their wood supply getting too low," Cassandra explained, hoping to ease Meg's tension.
"I guess so," The oracle looked over at her, unsure of what to say next. She was never good at being optimistic. Hell, she wasn't good at being a friend, but somehow the equally cynical woman beside her seemed to enjoy her company so putting up with her pessimism was the least she could do.
"So. I've heard Herc tell me the story about how the two of you met, but I get the feeling he's... sugar-coated the story into something more romantic than it was. So, tell me the true story of how you met," This earned a chuckle, and Meg rolled her eyes,
"Wait. I need to know what he told you first, then I'd be happy to dish all the utterly romantic details of our love-at-first-sight romance," Meg mocked in reply, fanning herself with her hand,
"Oh the expected fare. A beautiful woman in distress, trying to take care of herself, his heroism, the damsel showing there was a personality behind those goo goo eyes," Cassandra prattled, rolling her wrist,
"Oh Gods... well... and I will kill you if you tell him I admitted this; but I was completely screwed," Meg let her head fall back, looking up at the ceiling. She told Cassandra her side of the story, of her attempts to stave off the hero who seemed to materialize out of the sky determined to help the damsel in distress. About how she was instantly put-off by his innocenceShe left out the details about Hades, and how the chance encounter had changed both their futures. Cassandra knew loose details about her enslavement, and she wanted to keep it that way. A confused look crossed her features as she thought she felt a strange trembling, "Do you feel that?"
I know it's short, I'm sorry I've been at this for hours but writer's block has me in knots. I have a long-term plan but at the moment just getting scene by scene is hard. Maybe its the fever making it harder to write. But here's something. I wanted to work a little at the Meg/Cass friendship, and plan to do more with it in future chapters.