"This is me trying..." (Book 1 of the Storm Decology)

"No I didnt talk to the lion Percy"

I opened my eyes to find Annabeth looking down at me, she put her hand on my shoulder. She was wearing her invisibility cap, why could I see her? She pressed her forefinger to her lips, telling me to be quiet. I stayed where I was, not moving, not making a sound.

"Man!" One of the truckers said, waving his hand in front of his huge nose. "I wish I hauled appliances." He climbed inside and poured some water from a jug into each animal's dish.

"You hot big boy?" he asked the lion, then splashed the rest of the bucket right into the lion's face. What the hell?

The lion roared in indignation.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah" the man said.

I felt myself tense, the way this asshole treated the lion made me angry.

The trucker threw the antelope a squashed Happy Meal bag. He smirked at the zebra. "How ya doin Stripes? Least well be getting rid of you this stop. You like magic shows? Youre gonna love this one. Theyre gonna be sawing you in half"

I jumped slightly as a loud knock on the trailer door startled me, I put my hands on Εκδίκηση and έλεος.

The trucker inside with us yelled "What do you want Eddie?"

A voice outside, mustve been Eddies said "Maurice? Whatd you say?"

"What are you banging for?"

Knock, knock, knock

"Outside," Eddie yelled. "What banging?" I decided to look up and see Annabeth, one hand on my shoulder, still transferring some of her invisibility to me, and with the other hand, she was banging on the side of the trailer. I smirked, that was my wisegirl.

Maurice rolled his eyes and went outside, cursing at Eddie for being an idiot.

"This transport business cant be legal" Annabeth said, I sat up, getting off her lap.

"There's no possible way anyone gave them a permit" I said, looking around and wrapping my leather jacket around me tighter, I winced as it rubbed against my cut. Grover looked at me and raised his eyebrow in an I told you so manner. I rolled my eyes at him.

"No kidding," Grover said. "The lion says these guys are animal smugglers"

I stood up, and walked over to the lion's cage. I'm freeing him, I dont give a damn, he wont hurt me I said. I had this feeling, this strong feeling pulling at my gut that he wouldnt hurt me. I wrapped my hand around the padlock and concentrated. I pulled the lightning I had been saving for later and channeled it though my hand. Lightning flowed from my hand to the padlock. It exploded.

Annabeth just stared at me, she clenched her jaw as though there was no stopping my stupidity. (There wasnt)

The lion stepped out of the cage. He towered over me. Well, I thought. It's now or never, he had the opportunity to kill me right there. He stared down at me and lowered his head, it looked like a bow. He pressed his muzzle to my cheek, his fur was dirty and matted, he smelt like mcdonalds too. He let out a small rumble, and just like the zebra Percy released, he ran.

"Did you talk to the lion?" Percy asked me, as we began stumbling through the hot as balls dessert.

"No I didnt talk to the lion Percy" I kept walking, The heat was making my eyeballs burn. I kept sweating, it kept getting in my eyes, except it was cold sweat?

"Vicky" Annabeth says, turning around to look at me, her clothes soaked. Is it really that hot out?

"Wait a minute" Percy says, raising his eyebrows. "Are you saying that Vicky is the reason it is storming right now?" Percy said, looking at me, and then the rain pouring from the sky.