Austin, not quite used to such a sombre topic in the morning, did his best to look understanding. “Well obviously. I can understand that of course. Probably should have called out to you, but I’m not that smart.” He shrugged. “I’ll remember that next time I see you. I’m not usually walking out here though. Well not in the morning. I am not a morning person. No, not ever.” He realised he was bumbling again and stopped. “Yeah, I’m not in particularly good shape, not since Manhattan. I’ve just given up. Don’t know why. Um…I should know this, but what exactly happened in your attack again?” He asked curiously before almost slapping himself and adding, “If that’s not a really insensitive question…”
She internally winced a bit at mention of Manhattan. There was nothing she hated to talk about more. She’d lost so many good friends that day both in her cabin and out of it. Several had been Austin’s brothers and sisters. She was haunted by their deaths. Some had gone into battle and simply never come back out but then there were those who lingered in their injuries. She could only sit back and hope Will Solace could save them all. There wasn’t enough of the healing magic in Apollo’s kids to save them all though. She had nightmares when she thought about their faces twisted in pain, the monsters still fighting outside.
‘I don’t remember much,” she confessed. She and Connor had decided it was easier to not remember. She’d give up on trying to remember everything that had happened but occasionally she caught a flickering a second. She remembered the pain. That was something she’d never forget. “I have months that have disappeared. All I know it I have blunt force trauma to my head and they hurt Connor too. They hurt us and dropped us back to camp - people say, I was talking out of my head. Apollo himself had to help but he needed Dionysus too. Someone messed with my head. You don’t just move on from that.” She looked embarrassed to be talking so much about herself though. “You shouldn’t give up on yourself though. If I’m not, you can’t. You’re one of the one’s that was lucky enough to live. You should make something of it.”
(Source: gardnergrows)
Austin wasn’t usually out for a run. Which was why he wasn’t running. Just a leisurely stroll. Almost as healthy as a run, he convinced himself. He saw Katie through the trees, and was going to go over to her, but she came to him. He was surprised but a little pleased. This pleasure dissolved when he somehow found himself with a blade against his neck. He was a little too shocked to speak but a few seconds later he was released.
“Um, hey Katie.” He gingerly rubbed his neck. “Good morning to you too. Nice way to be woken up in the morning. I think I’ll be especially on my guard today,” he smiled slightly. He didn’t hold grudges and he understood that, not just Katie had problems with trusting strangers in the woods. Maybe he should be more wary too. “No I’m alright, don’t worry about it.” Then he saw her heaving a little and looked worried, “Are you alright?”
“I wouldn’t intentionally stab you, Red,” she told him. Katie wasn’t that blood thirsty. It was one of those things that came form being a child of Demeter. There were those demi-gods that had a natural inclination to battle and war and those who were attuned to other things. While she was could defend herself, she much preferred the peace of the strawberry patch and the music of the satyrs or occasional Apollo kid. ”I know you’re one of the good ones. I suppose, I’m still a little untrusting after everything. I mean, you don’t just accidentally get head trauma and everything. Something bad is still going on in this camp even if they’ve been quiet for a while.”
She brushed some grass off her legs before reaching to loosen the hair bow form her hair and pulling the dark strands back up in a messy bun. “I’m fine though,” she told him with a nod. “I don’t think I’m in as good of shape as I used to be. I haven’t intentionally worked out in a few months - since that attack - and well, my lungs don’t seem to want to cooperate.” She gazed him over quickly before quirking an eyebrow. “What were you doing anyways?”
(Source: gardnergrows)
Chris is a saint. He might also be one of the coolest Hermes kids that I know next to Connor. I’d definitely be cautious to when you piss her off though and avoid damaging her weapons again anytime soon. It wouldn’t do for you to visit the Underworld.
I’ll be fine around her, and trust me I wouldn’t be visiting the Underworld by her hand. I’m always careful around my cabin… her cabin… Ares cabin.
You had it right the first time. You live there so technically it’s your cabin. All of those would be accurate though. She really can’t force you to abandon it though. You shouldn’t have to sleep outdoors unless you particularly want to.
Yeah. Clarisse is sort of protective of her weaponry. The fact she didn’t gut you must mean Chris was around. He’s about the only person brave enough to hold her back. She’ll get over it soon enough.
I’ve been here long enough not to be scared of her anymore. And yeah Chris has calmed her down a lot since they got together. So I guess I got lucky today. I’ll just set up my hammock out by the lake.
Chris is a saint. He might also be one of the coolest Hermes kids that I know next to Connor. I’d definitely be cautious to when you piss her off though and avoid damaging her weapons again anytime soon. It wouldn’t do for you to visit the Underworld.
Best to stay away from my siblings for a while…
What are they doing?
What aren’t they doing? I knocked over Clarisse’s spear and nearly sat on it. She got angry and nearly gutted me. I’m okay though.
Yeah. Clarisse is sort of protective of her weaponry. The fact she didn’t gut you must mean Chris was around. He’s about the only person brave enough to hold her back. She’ll get over it soon enough.
Best to stay away from my siblings for a while…
What are they doing?
Katie’s feet dragged her as far as she can go before her lungs seemed to collapse inside of her. The musk of pine fills her senses as she inhales in and out sharply, trying to catch her breath. She’d just been trying to train by getting a good run in but she’d not known how out of shape she’d allowed herself to get in her downtime since her head injury. She was going to have make a point to get out more if this was going to be the case. She slid against a tree, allowing her head to fall back closing her eyes for a moment before she unclipped a bottle on her hip raising the water to her lips and practically inhaling half the bottle. What was left, she poured over her head letting the chilled water saturate her hair and the sports bra she wore for her run. Work out clothes were meant to get dirty.
A sound nearby distracted her rest. She grew silent, tried to stop the sound of her breathing as she jumped to her feet. Her hands moved around a dagger she kept with her at all times, pulling it on the ready in case she needed to defend herself. She was never going to let anyone take her by surprise ever again. Impulse took over as she waited for the person to draw closer, thinking before acting and moving in on the form of the other. The blade of her knife ever so gently against the flesh of a neck. Be safe and identify later when she knew they were the one were going to be taken by surprise. No one could blame her for being a little jumpy.
As her brown eyes moved over the form though she quickly realized there was no danger to be had here. She released her hold, lowered and secured her blade. “Sorry,” she told them honestly. “With all the attacks lately, I wanted to be sure of who I was dealing with. I suppose it wouldn’t have done to slice your neck open, now would it?” She offered a hint of a laugh, taking a step back. “I didn’t get cut you, did I?”
Sometimes, I wonder why I’m the child of Aphrodite when I don’t even like mirrors.
Well we can’t all be just like our parents but if I had a sibling who was allergic to dirt I might be concerned.
