Perseus the Hunter

Chapter 13

The light was blinding, making Kynigos close his eyes quickly, scrunching them shut before testing the light once again. This time colour popped through the white, he managed to make out two distinct human-like shapes that were slouched across two chairs that had been pulled up next to him. It was then he realised that he was laid on a cot, seemingly in the camp medical tent. It seemed that the campers had made their way back into the camp and had started cleaning up the mess from the ambush.

There were beds scattered across the tent but they were all empty except for one, a man was lying across it completely undisturbed, he would recognise that man anywhere. Nico diAngelo still hadn't woken up. The memories of what happened before he blacked out hit him like a ton of bricks. He had given the son of Apollo his power to heal in order to save Nico's life. He didn't even realise before that moment that he was even able to transfer his powers to other people. He hoped that what he did was the right decision, it would mean that he wouldn't be able to heal anyone else in the future. He would never be able to get the power back, nor did he want it. He already had too much power for one person.

His hand reached for his face, absentmindedly checking his hood. Thankfully it was up, he hoped that the goddesses and Will were able to keep his identity a secret and not let anyone see his face whilst he was out. He needed to stay anonymous so he would be able to disappear again, to do his job efficiently. Protect the goddesses that cared so much about him. He didn't intend for them to end up caring this much, it actually makes his job harder than it should be. He didn't just have to watch their backs, he had to watch his own as well. Losing him would cause them a lot of emotional pain and he swore to protect them both. That included emotionally not just physically.

Not wanting to wake up the two goddesses he silently got up from his cot and draped a blanket over them. They shifted in their sleep but didn't wake. Without another thought he left the tent. The camp was slowly fixing itself, healed campers were back to full strength and were uprighting some of the cabins. Kynigós wanted to help but he knew that they had it under control, besides he needed to find out what exactly happened, why were they attacked, and how? The borders were still supposed to be protected by Thalia's tree. He decided he'd start there.

He trekked through the camp and up onto the hill. There the tree stood, still in one piece. He flashed back to when he was younger, when a certain someone poisoned the tree in order to let the monsters in. He looked for signs of damage. There didn't seem to be anything wrong. But as he no longer had his healing powers he was unable to search within the tree. He needed that son of Apollo's help. Running back down the hill he made quick work of finding Will. He was still attending the campers, not straying far from the tent where Nico still slept.

'Will' His mental voice still seemed to shock the poor boy, even though he tried to do it at a low volume and a soft tone. Will's head snapped up sharply, Kynigós worried he might have just given him whiplash.

"Kynigós. You're up." Will wiped his hands on a cloth as he stood. Will had a new respect for the man or entity, that part still hadn't been established. "Are you okay?"

'Yes thank you for not removing my hood. How is Nico doing?'

"He's doing better, just needs his rest. I don't know how to thank you for what you did, do you want it back? I still can't believe you managed to heal so many campers..." Kynigos needed to stop him from talking, he didn't want the thanks.

'Will, I can't take it back, it is yours now. But I need your help.'

"My help? Sure, what do you need?"

'Follow me' Kynigós led him back up the hill to the tree, explaining about the power along the way. Everything it could do and why he needed his help. Will was stunned into silence. He couldn't believe what he had just been given, he would be able to sense everything about any living being as long as he was in contact with it. He would be able to feel a tree!

Will followed Kynigós's directions and placed his hand onto Thalia's tree, letting himself feel every part of it. Each vein in every leaf right down to the smallest, deepest roots. He felt the vibrations of its life force, and the missing piece, it was almost as if the tree missed Thalia. But that wasn't the only strange thing Will found, right underneath the tree, the last root seemed to be dangling rather than covered in soil. It felt like when you leave your foot dangling over the edge of a bed for too long and it goes cold. He told Kynigós what he felt.

'Thank you Will, you can get back to Nico if you like.' He didn't really need Will to tell him what he felt, he was able to see everything through his mind but he didn't say otherwise. He needed to check this out, there seemed to be a cavern or an opening down under the tree which should not be there.

"Nico is okay, he won't be waking up any time soon. Can I come with you?" He was taken aback. Will wanted to stay and help, unable to say no to him he nodded, placing a hand on Will's shoulder.

'Close your eyes, its a bit like shadow travel' Will's face went pale, he never liked shadow travel. It always made him throw up. Plus what would Nico think, Will never let him do it for fear of his health and now Will was doing it without him. It almost felt like cheating. He closed his eyes tightly just in time.

'Will, you can let go now' He opened his eyes to see he was basically koala gripping Kynigós, He slowly planted his feet back on the dirt his whole body shaking uncontrollably, he didn't seems quite as sick from this travel though, at least he didn't seem to be doubling over and emptying his stomach.

Kynigós looked around, studying the opening. It was smooth and perfectly circular, big enough for a Drakon to walk through without ducking. The walls looked more like stone than compact dirt. He ran his finger across it, way too smooth to have been dug out. It carried on in both directions, creating a tunnel all the way under the camp and back out to Long Island.

Will was about to speak but Kynigós held out his hand to keep him quiet. He heard something, it seemed distant but coming from the direction of camp. It was deep, low and growling, not like any monster he'd heard before. It sounded even and constant, breathing, but more like snoring. A smell wafted through the tunnel with every exhale. It made them both crumple their faces, Will felt like he was going to throw up after all.