Chapter 1: Catnip: A moment too long

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I saw Leo outside in my backyard while I was exercising the horses. He was climbing out of the portal, an "old tree stump" in the woods that leads to Camp.

I met him near the jump closest to the house, where the grass meets the trees.

"Leo... I'm glad you came," I said. "I need to talk to you." Strangely enough, he just nodded, and today he wasn't smiling. His gaze drifted off to the horizon.

After a moment, he spoke: "Yeah, I'm sorry."

"For what?" I exclaimed. "You did nothing wrong, Leo!" I guess I should back up and do some explaining, huh. So Leo got sent to Ogygia by an evil snow goddess, namely Khione, who made him forget that I was already his girlfriend. Therefore, he fell in love with Calypso Atlas, who lived there, but of course, Leo was already mine. So then, Leo felt so bad for Cal being trapped there, that he swore on the Styx that he would come back for her, and he did, because he had to. So now poor Leo is torn between me and Calypso. Thanks, Khione!

"Look, Leo," I said, my tone gentler now, "You went back to Ogygia to free Calypso, right?"

"Yeah, but only because, you know, Khione wiped my memory!" He looked down at his tools. He was making some sort of contraption, like always.

"My point is, you need Cal. I need a break from love anyways." I paused. That's not all true. "But- I'll always love you, Leo, just maybe not in this way." Still not completely true.

Quickly, I hugged him, and kissed him on the cheek. It lasted a moment too long, though. Because he hugged me closer and melted into that hug, I could tell he did not want to let go. And most of me didn't want to let go either.

For so long, he had been my fire, my light, my laugh. He had been my jokester, my lion, my warmth, like that little fuzzy feeling you get when you sit by a fireplace in the dead of winter. And he was so much more.

But that era might be over. I hoped I really was helping Leo more than hurting him. And honestly? I don't want to let go.

"I'll always love you, Catnip," he whispered, and I smiled, grateful for him.

"Thanks, Commander Tool Belt."

"Water Girl."

"Fire Boy."

"Animal Whisperer."

"Lord Tinkerer," I said, "You know you still have to make me tacos."

"Well then you need to keep making me brownies," he said, grinning.

"One more ride on Festus, then. Come on!"

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