The New Demigods

Chapter 23: Green With

I was the last one to wake up in the morning, my friends thought I could use the extra sleep. My shoulder felt back to normal and my energy level was much better after having dinner the night before. I stood up and stretched in the tent, I could feel my muscles adjusting after laying in bed for 3 days. I smelled food wafting into the tent from outside and heard the other demigods chatting.

I recognized the other demigods from our tournament in the woods, but everyone seemed a lot more welcoming in the morning sun. Hailie tended to the fire while Peyton and her seemed to be discussing something in great detail. Scarlet was being entertained by David as he tried to coax one of the Skeleton warriors into dancing with him. The other Skeletons were hanging around Horace, waiting for his direction, as he cut into a freshly cooked hunk of meat on a makeshift prep table. Akari stood across from him directing how to cut into the meat.

Piper's laugh caught my attention and I saw her sitting next to Dakotah around the fire, clearly laughing about something Dakotah had said only to her - she waved me over when she noticed me.

"Hey, good morning," I took a seat on the other side of Piper.

"Good morning, how are you feeling?"

"I actually feel back to normal now."

"Wow, that's incredible." Piper squeezed Dakotah's thigh, making it clear she found Dakotah's medicine more incredible than my recovery. They exchanged smiles and I felt my stomach flop.

"Yeah, well I should get some food," I stood up abruptly, ignoring how lightheaded I felt, and walked away.

"You don't have to go, they'll bring it to you." I pretended not to hear Piper's comment.

Horace had started plating the food on his homemade catering table, cutting up pieces of a freshly cooked boar and assembling a salad on the side. He had a look of concentration I had only seen him make while aiming his bow.

"Good morning, chef."

"Oh hey, Gemini," he looked up from the cutting board to flash me a smile.

"What's on the menu today?

"Well, we've got boar bacon - thanks to Akari's hunting prowess," he beamed at her, but she only returned his comment with a polite half-smile. "A side of potatoes and forest greens, and to drink, we've got David's grape juice on tap... but maybe don't drink that while you're still recovering, sometimes he gets the grape juice and wine mixed up. It's best to stick to water."

I was startled by one of the bone warriors approaching me from behind and I flinched away by instinct. I realized it was offering me a plate of food, as it silently gestured for me to take it.

"Uh, thank you." I felt bad for my initial repulsion.

The bone warrior stayed, staring at me, after I took the plate. I knew the warriors were now under Horace's control, but I still felt the hair stand up on my neck as its hollow eyes observed me. I looked to Horace, hoping he would excuse the bone warrior, but he had gone back to his meal prepping. I turned back to the warrior, not sure what it was waiting for - then it made an eating gesture with its hands.

I picked up a piece of boar bacon from the plate, and started eating, feeling sheepish as I was stared down. When I finally swallowed the chewy meat, I smiled nervously at the warrior.

"It's good."

It wasn't possible for the bone warrior to smile, as it was just bones, but I swore it looked overjoyed with my comment. I watched as it happily joined the other 3 warriors back around the fire watching the demigods eat.