Hedge carries Piper out himself, and I follow behind. I'm not feeling too hot either honestly. I feel like I could pass out face first in the snow. Changing that dagger sucked the life right out of me. I think that the more I practice, the easier it gets. But man, I don't want to feel like this.
Phoebe sees us and immediately rushes into action, pulling out what looks like a pack of chewing gum. She presses a button, and a tent folds out, with walls and a door and everything. I'll have to tell Leo about it. He'd love this. I grimace to myself. No, stop it. He hasn't apologized. He hasn't even really spoken to me.
Phoebe waves us inside. It's warm and cozy, with a kerosene heater and a bunch of pillows. She hands me a stack of new clothes and a square of ambrosia, and goes to work on Piper.
Hedge waits outside while I change. I hadn't realized how disgusting I am. I was still in the shirt and jeans I wore when we fixed Festus. Gross.
Once we settle down, Piper manages to sit up with us, and Phoebe passes out hot chocolate. They make polite conversation, but I get lost in my own thoughts. We're going to have to find a way to save Piper's dad and save Hera. But we can't be two places at once. And her dad is a trap. And there's going to be giants. And a freaky sleeping dirt woman.
Once Piper gets more of her strength back, Phoebe gives her her own parka, gloves, and camo pants.
"Oh, no way." I hear Leo poke his head into the tent. "We've been sitting in a cave and you get the luxury tent? Somebody give me hypothermia. I want hot chocolate and a parka!"
Phoebe sniffs. "Boys."
"It's alright, Phoebe," Thalia says, coming in too. "They'll need extra coats. And I think we can spare some chocolate."
Leo settles himself down right next to me again, and Phoebe hands him his own thermos.
"Cheers!" Hedge crunches down on the plastic cup.
"That cannot be good for your intestines." Leo notes.
Thalia pats Piper on the back. "You up for moving?"
Piper nods. "Thanks to Phoebe, yeah. You guys are really good at this wilderness survival thing. I feel like I could run ten miles."
Thalia winks at Jason. "She's tough for a child of Aphrodite. I like this one."
"Hey, I could run ten miles too." Leo pipes in. "Tough Hephaestus kid here. Let's hit it."
We all get up and exit the tent, and it takes Phoebe just as much time to take the tent down. It folds right back up into its little box.
We take off, Thalia leading us up a mountain path. I fall in step behind her. I haven't run through snow before. We're already running uphill. Snow does not make it easier. At least I'm doing better than Jason and Leo, who are struggling in the back.
"How's everything going?" Thalia asks me, falling back a bit to talk to me.
"Oh, fantastic." I reply. "Having the time of my life."
She grins. "You can always come with us"
"Thanks T, but swearing off men forever? I don't think I could do that."
"Right." She laughs. "How's that going for you?"
"That's going fantastic too." I frown. I glance back at Leo, who is looking up at me and Thalia. He quickly looks away.
"Really?" She asks. "That guy?"
"I know. It's... complicated."
"Well, uncomplicate it! You're on a deadly quest! No time like the present!" She gives me a pat on the back and runs ahead again.
