The Heroes Of Olympus

Chapter 6

Leo opened his eyes. Closed them again and then remembered where he was and the events that had taken place the previous night.

He got up. He was lying in his bunk in Cabin 9. He saw his brothers and sisters hustling in the cabin working with tools, singing, fighting, complaining, and laughing. He loved the sound of the tools. He loved the smell of grease and smoke, everywhere. And, his favourite thing? The statue of Hephaestus in the centre of the cabin. His friendly and sometimes fiery face grinning at him from above.

'Thanks, Dad. For keeping me alive.'

It took about 5 seconds for his cabin mates to discover he was awake.

'Leo, brother.'

'LEO.'

'Leo, we missed you so much.'

'Leo, it's so good to see you alive'

'Leo, buddy. You are the best'

'You got yourself a girlfriend? Now did ya mate?'

This last unfriendly voice was-. Leo looked up-of Percy's.

'Yeah, good to see you too, mate.' He grumbled, sitting up. 'What are you doing here anyway?'

'What am I-. Yeah. You listen to me. You got a girlfriend, fine. It was Calypso, oh okay. But you brought her here. What were you thinking? Now, I'll have to face her. Answer all her questions. Because of me, she has been stuck in that island. I could have helped. I did ask the gods. Did they do anything? No. Well, okay. So they didn't free Calypso. As if I have to meet her is what I thought but BAM! You bring her here. Now it's gonna be super awkward and-'

'Wait. Dude. Slow down. Slow down man. It is okay...Look, nothing's gonna be awkward, it's gonna be cool, all right?'

'Yeah? Well. How can you say that? That it is going to be cool?'

' Hey Man. I invented cool. All right?'

Percy started smiling.

'No...you didn't because I did.'

'Hey! Nothing can be cooler than Leo Valdez. Get it? Because if you didn't, there is gonna be some serious butt kicking over here.'

'No man. I surrender.'

Percy and Leo started laughing.

'I missed you, Leo.'

'Yeah, man. I missed you too'

They hugged. Leo had never felt so close to Percy before. It was as if they had a special bond now.

'C'mon. You have left everyone in suspense. You still need to explain where in the hell were you?' Percy said.

'In Calypso' island.'

'Yeah, but everyone else doesn't know that.'

They headed together to the Big House.

'Wait.' Leo said. 'Where is Calypso?'

'Noticed? Love your girlfriend, don't you?' Percy joked. 'She slept in the Demeter cabin. She found that place very- homely'.

Leo grinned to himself.