The Son of Hermes (a Percy Jackson fanfic)

Chapter 6 : I have a slumber party in a dragon's cave

Now you'd think that it's dumb for two teenagers to attempt rock climbing without adult supervision, blah-blah-blah but honestly, we've been through a lot worse. I noticed that Thalia looked nervous and was staring at me.

"What are you looking at?"I asked,"Shouldn't we start climbing?"

"You sure you can climb down like that?"

"Like what?"

"Have you seen your shoulder lately, Luke, because..." Thalia said, pointing towards my shoulder.

For the first time, I looked down at my shoulder and...Ouch. My whole right arm was black and I was just beginning to feel the pain. My shoulder felt numb. I couldn't move it.

"We should wait,"Thalia said, gently,"Do you have more ambrosia ?"

"In my backpack,"I replied in a tight voice, trying to hide the pain. The backpack was on my shoulder and I didn't think I could take it down without fainting.

"Do you want me to get it?"she asked, her eyes filled with concern.

I replied with a stiff nod. Thalia began to get the bag off my shoulder. She was surprisingly gentle. I tried hard not to wince, flinch or cry out. Finally, when she had got the bag off she opened it and took out an ambrosia square. I quickly put it into my mouth.

"You should rest for the night,"Thalia said," I'll gather sticks to start a fire. I saw food in your bag, so, we can treat ourselves for killing the dragon."

Thalia went around the cave in search for sticks while I thought about ways to keep my mind off the constant burning sensation in my arm. I tried thinking of all the pleasant events of my life(there weren't enough of them to keep me thinking for more than five minutes), I tried to think about the great news that I had finally found a companion. I even thought about my father but nothing worked.

I could feel the ambrosia beginning to heal my wound when Thalia came back. She had an armful of sticks with her and was looking exited.

"You have to check this out!"she exclaimed, "I found a stash of demigod supplies in a corner of the cave. There's nector there!"

I gave her my blank expression to show that I had no idea what she meant by nector. Thalia must have seen this because she said, " Come on! I am much younger than you and I still know nector's abilities!"

I continue looking at her blankly.

"Nector can heal injuries! We can put it on your shoulder. I'll wash your wound with it and it will be fine tomorrow!"

"Great,"I replied,"Work fast. I am sick of this pain."

Thalia ran back to where she had come from and returned with a flask containing lavender liquid. She carefully poured it over my shoulder. It hurt a bit but I began feeling better almost immediately.

Thalia started a fire and sat down on a rock. I gazed at the flames, thinking about my fireplace back in Connecticut. I quickly got the memory out of my head.

"When did you run away?"Thalia asked quietly.

"Two years ago,"I answered,"You?"

"Tuesday,"she answered, looking at the fire.

I felt shocked. This girl had run away barely five days ago and she still had the courage to fight a dragon.

"Why?"I asked.

Thalia's eyes flashed with anger.

"It's none of your business,"she said, looking at the fire.

In the light of the flames, I saw Thalia as who she really was. The poor girl had run away and had had a most terrifying time at such a young age. I immediately felt sorry for her.