The Hunt for the lost Hero (Salene's POV)

Chapter 5- "New girl."

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(I recommend listening to "Flowers" from Hadestown in this chapter >.<)
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After a long day of work i decided to go find a tree to sit under and draw. I hummed a song and sat in the sun spacing out. Sooner or later I felt a cold breeze and snapped out of my trance. "Gods, why in Hades is it so cold." I looked down at my sketch book. There was a colored drawing of beautiful green eyes and little flowers in them. I sighed and leaned my head back up against the tree. ("... Why am i so fixated on her.") For a moment i stared at the sketch but after a while I closed my eyes and listened to the birds chirping, the kids playing, The breeze swaying in the trees, and... footsteps? I open my eyes and there she was. The girl with the Spring like eyes. She looked like a goddess standing in the light like that.

"Hey." She spoke kindly. "Oh- uh- Hey!" I sat up with my legs crossed. And i could sense the excitement in my voice. She sat down in front of me and hummed. I continued to stare into her eyes as she looked at all the flowers in the field. "Did you draw that!?" She pointed at my sketch book. "Hm? Oh! Yeah- it's not the best but-"

"HOLY SHIT!!! THIS IS AMAZING?!?!" She picked up my sketch book and examined the drawing. "Thanks!" I suddenly felt really awkward and shy so i tucked my hair behind my ear out of habit. "So do you just sit here all day and draw?" She handed me back my sketch book. "Uhm- well, no. I usually don't have time to draw. This is one of the few times i can." She sat and listened as if she were genuinely curious. "Sorry- I'm ranting-" "NONONONO- please continue!" She sat with her legs crossed and her elbows on her knees holding her head up with her hands. I wanted to speak but words just wouldn't come out. I felt like- like I wasn't being annoying or ignored. For once in my life.

"Well, I think I should know more about you. I promise I'm not that interesting-" i gave a nervous laugh. "Me?" She pointed to herself. "Well? Yeah- where are you from?" She paused. "Some stupid ass town near this camp."

"Soooo- did you get claimed yet?" I grabbed some flowers and began picking off the petals. "No, not yet."
She eyes the flower. "Can i see that?"

"Hm? The flower?" I held it up. "Would you like this one or an alive one?-" she thought for a second. "Both?" I handed her the flowers. "Speaking of flowers which one is your favorite?" I rested my head on my hand and observed what she was doing. "Hmm. Well, lethal? Or non-lethal flowers?" I paused my humming. "Uhm-" I Thought for a second. "why not both?" She gave a small smile along with a quiet giggle. "Well some of my favorites are Oleanders, Orchids, and Roses. Black roses specifically-"

"Those are all very pretty." I looked at the small pile of flowers in between us. She put her hand near the pile and they began to shake. ("Hm- must have been the wind.") Her smile began to fade but i could tell she was trying to look happy. "So what's your favorite?"

"Oh- mines a Sunflower!" I probably sounded like a small child when you give them candy-. "You're Toli right? That's what it said on your medical pass anyway-" The flowers wilted and she looked up at me after a while. Even though the flowers had ironically wilted away she continued to hum the little song that was in her head. "Mhm, what's yours?"

"I'm Salene."