The Repeated History of the Heroes

Magic Laughter(and mushrooms)

         It was early in the morning, the sun had painted the sky outside the infirmary window.  Issac had opened the curtains when he got there, he didn't really have a reason, he wasn't even looking out the window.  He just sat there in the chair next to her bed eating a toasted bagel with butter and cinnamon.  "Hey," he said- still avoiding looking at her face.  

      Part of him, the part with no common sense, expected her to say something.  He expected her to tell him to go away and let her sleep- but she wasn't asleep.  She was trapped in her subconscious, not quite asleep, not quite awake.  "Wake up," he said, just for the hell of it.  He imagined her flipping him off, "So they attacked camp with hurds of monsters, there were barely any demigods though.  We had a few casualties, three. . . they were uh- all friends against the same monster.  I helped kill it, wasn't quick enough though."

     He wasn't very good at one sided conversations, "I'm not really worried about you," he lied, "I trust Anna and Cade and Apollo, who I have been praying to, ya know for health."  He sighed, "You fucking scared everyone, especially everyone who helped get you out of there.  Andy told me what it all looked like, the blood, your fading voice, and the crying.  It sounds really scary. . . he's not doing too good right now.  I'm doing great, thanks for asking."  He took a bit of the bagel, crunching loudly while catching the crumbs in his hand.  

     "Hurry up and get better okay?  It's getting boring having peace around here."  He swallowed the last bite of his breakfast and got up, brushing his hands off on his shorts.  He walked to the training ground, grabbing a practice sword and approaching the dummies.  He started practicing before anyone else was even awake and before breakfast was even served.

---

     Zoe had been asleep for two days and Nathan was losing his mind.  It'd been over a week since they talked and that had never happened since he met her.  After lunch with Paris who spent declining calls and making the weird face she makes when she's upset but doesn't want him to know, he went to see Zoe.  

     Nathan knew she was alive, he knew that whatever divine force that had dragged her back from death's doorway would keep her alive.  But he didn't know when she'd wake up and he didn't know if she would because no matter how much Anna tried to be reassuring, Zoe was supposed to be awake by now. 

       He'd missed two letters from his mom in the process, he couldn't bring himself to respond to her.  He was exhausted, he hadn't really slept much.  The past couple of days he'd dozed off while doing regular tasks, most concerningly while sharpening his knives.  Luckily he hadn't been alone when he did that, though the new camper he'd been training was very concerned.  A couple of people asked him if he was okay, after too much of that he went to sit by her bed.  It was easier to be around someone who wouldn't say anything to him.

     He was standing in a dark room, he couldn't see himself.  "You aren't dead," he turned so fast his neck almost snapped, Zoe grinned, "Though I'm glad you've decided to stop by."

     He stared at her, "A- are you in pain?"

    She shook her head, she looked tired, "You look like shit."

   He couldn't help but smile, "I feel like shit, what happened?"

   "I tripped and landed on a sword."

   "Z," he said, "What the hell?"

   "I didn't even feel it," she shivered, "It- it's like I didn't even notice it until the pain hit and Nathan I swear to the gods," her voice trailed off.

  "What?"

    "I didn't notice he stabbed me, how the fuck did I not notice?  I understand not feeling it from adrenaline, but not even noticing.  It's like," she met his eyes, "It's like he skipped time."