Chapter 14: I somehow survive plummeting like a rock.

The last thing I remember was Nico shouting something and Tsuni falling, one of his golden wings smoking and burned from where the energy bolt had hit him. I lurched to one side before plummeting completely off of the white Peryton's back, my cousin's petrified brown eyes locking with mine as his hand shot out to catch me, before the wind whipped around me and I guess I passed out from sheer panic.

When I woke up, my entire body was sore, I had the worst headache known to man or monster,I'm pretty sure I couldn't feel anything below my waist, there was something warm on the side of my head,and I knew I would not recommend free falling from a flying peryton without a parachute to even my worst enemy.I let out a low groan as I tried to sit up, only for a searing pain to go through my back, a string of Romanian curses escaping my lips as I lay there, the hot sun beating down on me.

"When Lady Morgan said I was fated to die at a young age, I never expected it to be from being launched off of a flying, venomous stag's back." I grumbled internally, monologuing as usual , rolling my head to the side with great effort on my part, my vision blurring horribly for a few minutes before clearing,only to be met with the boring sight of dry, cracked ground,"Where even am I…? New Mexico?" I let out a tired laugh only to cough painfully,my back- or what I could feel of it- arching painfully off of whatever poor thing I had landed on. Judging from the intense pain, it was safe to say I had at least cracked or broken a rib, probably broke more bones than I could count, and a killer concussion.

It was becoming clear to me that I would succumb to the so called curse before I really had a chance to start it in the first place. With that lovely thought, my vision faded to black once again.

Unfortunately for me, I didn't get the opportunity to get any actual rest as I was immediately affronted with the sight of the dreaded apartment of my self proclaimed patroness. I didn't have to look around much, for I was greeted by the voice of the raven goddess herself as her shadow-y figure stood beside me.

"That was quite a fall you took." She noted, steely grey eyes fixed on the stormy sky outside.

"Yeah…."I murmured, dreading her next words be something like ,"You had a good run kid. Not. Now you have to pick which afterlife you want to go to. Avalon, Valhalla, or Hades.. Oh wait you didn't die in battle that makes this easier."

"You needn't be worried." She spoke up after a moment, a wry smile on her darkly painted lips.

"What?"

"You aren't going to die."

"What do you mean? I have so many broken bones I'm sure to be bleeding internally and I'm pretty sure the wet stuff on the side of my head was blood!"

"Both are correct." Morrigan nodded, unfazed.

"That kills people!"

"But you are no ordinary person Naomi Harmon, Daughter of the Earthshaker and Granddaughter of Justice, are you?" She held her hand up, interrupting me," Yes that would kill you given the time to let you bleed out, but thankfully someone saw your fall."

"What?"

"You'll see when you wake up."She smirked," Which should be….Now."

I groaned as I felt my body move,my arms being made to wrap around someone's neck and shoulders. My eyes opened slowly, only to be met with the back of someone's head.

"Who…Who are you?" I wheezed out, my breathing slightly easier now, but still not the best.

"Save your strength Rock."
"W-What?"

"You plummeted like one anyway." The person carrying me, clearly a man by the voice, laughed as he started walking," Go back to wait don't. That's not what you should do with a concussion…"

It took us at least two hours to get to wherever he was taking me, and the entire time it was silent after his last comment. We had gone from being on relatively flat, arid desert land to the slope of a freaking mountain. From what little I could see, we were approaching a small home hidden away in what looked like a cave.

"Mom open up!" The guy carrying me called, taking a step forwards as the door opened. I only realized how tall he was when he had to bend down some to enter the door, which caused me to let out a hiss of pain.

"Oh dear... Nantan…. What happened?"

"I don't know mom. Call dad. He'll need to be the one to heal her.I could only stop the bleeding and fix her ribs to an extent."

Next thing I know, I am being laid down onto a grey couch,the guy who had been carrying me- Nantan- straightening up and standing by my side.

Finally I had a good look at him! He was attractive… In a way like Nico- the I hate the world and the world hates me- kind of style. It was mainly because of his hair though to be honest, Dark purple locks fell against the side of his face, some hanging in his eyes, and the other side being cut shaggily. I froze in shock seeing a crimson stain on his dark green t-shirt, was that from me? Probably, but it always has creeped me out to see my own blood and at times could make me feel sick. Noticing where my focus was, he grabbed the hem of the shirt and pulled it forwards, away from his body to inspect it.

"You bleed a lot don't you rock?"

"I…"I breathed out, closing my eyes as I was hit with a bout of nausea," Sorry."
"Stop scaring the girl Nantan." A new voice spoke up, commanding and strong, like the stones of a mountain, having an accent akin to what one would assume a Native American would have stereotypically.

"Whatever you say." The teen huffed.

"Now excuse me dear, but may I heal you?"

"I..um" I opened my eyes to see -presumably- Nantan's dad, a man with gentle,yet dark eyes and raven hair tied back into a pony-tail. "Yeah I guess?" I nodded, only to immediately regret it as my vision swam and I fell back into unconsciousness as the scent of fresh air and stone flowed around me.

I sat up with a groan,"I have got to stop passing out.."I mumbled, looking around to see the house was dark, a woven blanket over my lap. It took me a moment to realize all the pain I had earlier was gone, and I could once again feel my lower half- which understandably, was very stiff-.

"So you're up." The voice of the brooding teen reached me as I looked towards the door, only to find him leaning against the doorframe, a cigarette in-between his fingers.

"Uh.. Yeah." I nodded, gently pushing the blanket onto the couch before standing and swaying as my vision blacked out," Stupid Vertigo." I grumbled as my sight cleared up within moments.

"Where are you from exactly?" He questioned as I walked over to his side.

"What do you mean?"

"One second you sound like you're from Texas or something and the next you sound.. I don't know… Russian?"

"I didn't realize my accent flipped that much." I mumbled, shaking my head," I'm from Romania and Alabama." I explained before staring up at him.

"Speaking of which, Who are you?"

"The names Nantan Green."He sighed,"But don't call me Nantan. I go by ?"

"Naomi." I smiled weakly,"Naomi Harmon… Thanks for saving me.."

"My dear old dad did the most of it."He said, clearly harboring some resentment.

"What's with the murder eyes and voice?"

"The usual. Parents pressuring me to take up the family business."
"What do you want to do?"

"Programing." He nodded before putting out the lighted cigarette," C'mon I'm sure someone's looking for you."

"How did-"

"I can sense them. Down the mountain. Two…Halfbloods and a… Deer?" He stared down at me, looking slightly impressed," You bonded with a deer spirit?"

"Not how I would phrase my relationship with the nanny goat." I grinned, proud that I earned a laugh from him as we exited the house.

"Lemme guess, You guys are on some quest given to you by some pompous god that can't do it themselves?"

"Uh" I blinked, rubbing the back of my neck," Not really."

"Then what are you guys doing?"

"We're trying to find a cure."
"For what?" He pressed

"Me." I whispered, feeling extremely awkward

"You?" He stopped, putting a hand on my shoulder," My dad seemed worried about something but wouldn't tell me…What do you need cured?"

"I-Its nothing really." I laughed, trying to walk again, only to be stopped as he grabbed my other shoulder.

"Listen here shortie. You are now my patient. No matter if either of us like it or not. Is it a Terminal illness? Cancer?"

"Not really" I sighed," You can call it cancer if you want, I think it's a curse technically?"

"Elaborate."
"I.." I frowned," I don't want to burden you. You don't want to go into the family business, which is healing I assume."
"You don't understand Harmon." He sighed," I am the kid of a Gahe. They are healing spirits." His eyes softened," And sometimes if their kid is half human, and they heal someone who is sick with something bigger going on, they are bound to do their best to heal the bigger issue. Kind of like a clingy personal doctor, got it?"

"Oh."

"So, spill." He grinned as he turned around, starting to walk, leaving me to hurry after him.

"I have too much godly blood. Wait no not like that. Uh.. Too much godly blood from different pantheons. All the conflicting energies are fighting and will eventually cause me to die young. Something like that."

He let out a whistle," Dang girl you got bagga-" he was cut off as my name was suddenly shouted and a tan and black face ran into me.

"Naomi! We were so worried! Where have you been?! Are you okay?" my cousin's eyes were wide as his hands ghosted over my arms, shoulders, neck, and unfortunately landed on my face, his hands pressed against my cheeks as he stared me in the eyes," The fall! How did you survive?!"

"One I'm sorry for worrying you. Two, I was with Nathan, his dad healed me. Three; I wasn't earlier but am now. And as to the fall…Your guess is as good as mine." I sighed, ignoring the confused look Nathan was shooting me before turning my head to look at Jack and Tsuni with an unamused expression.

"Jack put away the gun. Tsuni do not pounce." I sighed, pushing Nico away and glaring at the two.

"But who is this guy?" Jack grumbled, looking rather upset at not shooting someone(But I knew he had been worried as well)
"This is Nathan. He's joining us."
"WHAT?" Nico and Jack both gasped

"Turns out if someone with his bloodline heals someone with some big bad illness, they are duty bound to try to heal them or help them recover. So no Jack, we can't ditch him. Besides I'm not rude. Also where is Dilan?"

Nico nodded," Alright .Sounds reasonable to have someone who can heal somewhat be with us. We'll need 's in the car."He explained," Said something about keeping it from being destroyed with the stone in it."

Tsuni bowed his head, before walking over and bumping me with his nose," I am just glad you are alright my human."

I smiled faintly, resting my hand on his furry cheek before turning back to Nathan," Alright. Introductions time!" I grinned, clapping my hands together.