A Battle For Love

Nico//ten

I left the diner about an hour after the guys left. I would've stayed there but Roger had to go see his grandchildren and Tara's shift was over. Before she left, however, she gave me some food wrapped in plastic wrap and some water. And a lot of Ambrosia.

Out on the road, I looked between the near city and back the way I came. I could either go to the city where the three people I seriously didn't want to see went. Or I could go towards the camp. They probably already know I left. But going that way would mean walking the same distance I already did. And the city is so big and there's a lot of people there. The city has to be my best bet.

By the time I got into the city limits it was four. Everything at this time is so clustered. At the sun's angle and all the tall buildings, there were a lot of shadows. I was tempted but I was still scared. I just need to find a quiet and calm place.

I probably walked for two more hours until I came to a huge grassy field. I high-stepped through the yellowing tall grass that came up to my waist. The tall gray buildings were growing distant with every step. I could see the sun setting, turning the sky a light orange. I eventually come to a stop in the middle of the field.

From my pack, I pull out a sleeping bag and lie it down. It was a fairly warm so I wasn't going to make a fire. However, I was starving so I take out one of the many sandwiches that Tara packers for me and chomped it down. The sun was sinking down and soon enough it was dark.

I laid down onto the sleeping bag and put my hands behind my head to act like a pillow. If I squinted at the sky, I'd be able to see some of the bright stars. And my eyes were just getting heavy when I see one coming right towards me. Wait, what? I feel my eyes bug out of their sockets. My brain was telling me to move. To get out of the way but my legs weren't listening.

I sat up, squinting at it. It wasn't a star. It's...it's Festus? But that impossible. Festus was with Leo and he died. You sure about that? No, not really. He was coming closer and I realized that the dragon wasn't slowing down. I ducked down as he flew over me, feeling heat. Then two grunts and a huge crash.

I looked behind me to see Festus just laying there with one of his wings half gone. About twenty feet away was Leo. Leo! He's alive! He was helping some girl stand up. He made sure she was okay before running over to his dragon. He looked mad and sad. I would to if something mutilated my dragon.

I felt awkward just sitting there. Should I say something? I look back over to the girl to see she was staring at me. She was fairly pretty but her face was covered in oil. I gave her a small smile and she returned it.

I stand up and dust my pants off. I push back my hair and walk towards Leo, who was bent over Festus, trying to fix something. What to say, what to say. "Need help?" I ask. Leo stops his actions.

"Calypso, is that you?" He asks.

"No, I'm over here." She says, suppressing a smile. I guess she caught on that I was his friend.

"That's what I thought." Leo said. In one swift moment, he came back up with a huge red ratchet in his hands. I only had about five seconds to duck.

"Leo! Are you crazy?" I scream as I deflect the ratchet and twisting it out of his hands.

Leo's eyes widen when he finally realizes it's me. "Nico? Oh my gods, Nico!" He yells happily and hugs me. If I could have hugged him back, I would have but his grip on me was too tight and my arms were down by my sides. "What are you doing here?"

"That's not important." I say quickly, "What are you doing here?"

Leo takes the ratchet back and swings it, "Now that's an awfully long story."