Never Leave Family Behind (Percy Jackson Fanfiction)

Chapter 7

We left the camp not too long after. I held Nico's hand as we ran into the shadows. The same cold feeling prickled across my skin. The world goes dark and then we're somewhere completely different. I look up and see the sign above me 'ZOO' the fist 'o' was made out of a spiralled green snake. Underneath it said 'Staten Island Zoo'.

We walked over to the ticket counter and Nico handed the lady t the counter some money and she stamped the inside of our wrist with a green snake. I pulled Nico by the hand through to the first display. There was one just outside. I walked up to the fence. The one area was split through the middle. On the left side were a very light brown animals lying in the shade. On the other side were two really big birds strutting around.

"Woah! What are these called Nico?"

Nico read from the sign, "Kangaroo's and Emu's. The Emus are one of the biggest birds, native to Australia. The Kangaroo's are also native to Australia."

"Cool. Where's Australia?"

"Look here, they've included a map."

I look across at the sign. Nico points to one country and says,

"This is America, and we're currently over here," He points to the far right of the country before sliding his finger to the right to land on a much smaller country. "This is England, the country that you're from. And then down here is Australia," he finished pointing to a fairly large country floating by itself towards the bottom of the map.

"Thats a long way away. Do they miss Australia?"

"I'm not sure, why don't you ask them?"

"Okay!" I walk over to the closest emu. "Do you miss Australia?"

The bird looks at me for a second before bending over and nibbling at something off the ground.

"Fair enough! I guess the food here would be rather nice."

It went on like this. We'd move on and see the next creature and I asked each of them if they missed their home. I translated what ever gesture they made and assured Nico that they were happy. Eventually we came to the reptile wing. I gaped at the giant snake skeleton that hung along the roof on one side. It was really really big! I moved over to the first glass case display. Inside was a fairly small brown snake wrapped around a branch. It was about a meter in length. Glancing around its cage I notice that there was another one curled along another branch. Then the are 8 really small ones here and there.

"The Childrens Python, The two adults are from Australia but the children were bred in captivity," Nico tell me reading off the sign.

I peer through the glass.

"Do you miss Australia?"

Almost immediately I have the attention of both adult snakes.

"You are a ssssspeaker?" The closer adults hissed back to my surprise.

"You're the first animals to actually speak back."

"Harls?" Nico Asked.

"Not many can ssssspeak the ssssserpent tongue," it hissed.

"The serpent tongue? I didn't know that I could speak that. It must be very boring just watching people walk by each day."

"Yesssss but it isssss sssssafe. We have ample food and it isssss never too cold."

"Well that's great for you guys, but don't you ever wish to go home? Take your children to see it?"

"We are happy here. My youngessssst however, ssssshe is not doing asssss well."

"What's wrong?"

"Ssssshe is sssssickly, too weak to fight for food asssss her brothersssss can."

"Oh no," I say, "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Unlesssssss you could take her with you then there isssss nothing you can do."

That made me a little sad and a little angry. I wanted to help the snakes but I couldn't.

The lights flickered and died suddenly.

"What's going on?" I ask Nico confused.

"A magic user asssss well?" The snake hissed, "Quickly child, while the glasssss isssss gone."

Suddenly realising what I had to do I plunged my hand into the display and I fell one of the snakes slither onto my hand. It was very small, It coiled into my hands easily.

"Come on Harley, lets get out of here," Nico said finding my elbow and leading us out. I held the baby snake gently to the fabric of my shirt careful not to lose it.

As we left the reptile wing I saw several men and a woman go in with torches and tool kits.

"I wonder what happened to the lights," I ponder out loud.

"Probably just some wiring issues. What was with all the hissing though Harley?"

"What hissing?"

"When you were talking to the snakes. At first I thought you had decided to hiss at them but then it looked like a whole conversation."

"I don't remember hissing. I was just talking to the adult snake. I was surprised when she started talking back."

"Did you just have a conversation with a snake?"

"Yes, it told me that they were very happy in the safety of the zoo. The youngest wasn't getting enough food."

"Snake whisperer huh?" Nico says nudging my side. Then he notices the snake in my hand. "Is that what I think it is?"

"When the lights went out the snake told me that the glass was gone. I wanted to help so i just stuck my hand it."

"Where did the glass go though?"

"I don't know."

We started leaving the zoo after that. We had looked at all the other animals. On the way through the souvenir store I found a pretty postcard for the zoo. Nico brought it for me and we made our way out of the zoo.

"Well I think We're going to need to find a pet store. Your new friend can't just live in your pocket."

We asked for directions to the closest mall, which wasn't too far away. Nico taught me how to play I spy on the way there. Once we were at the mall it was fairly easy to find the pet store- 'PetSmart'.

We approached the sales woman, who helped us choose a box of Pinky mice and a glass aquarium with wood shavings to fill the bottom. We also picked up a small water dish. Once we were finished in the pet store we went out to the Boston Markets. It was a food place by the mall. We had a bowl of mac and cheese each before showing down of chocolate cookies.

"So what are you going to call your new friend?" Nico asks me as we leave the Market.

"I'm not sure," I help the small snake out of my pocket and ask her, "What do you want your name to be?"

She paused for a moment, tasting the air.

"Sssssusssssie," she told me. "That was the name of the lady who cleaned our home at the zoo. She was very nice."

"Susie it is," I looked up at Nico and repeated this.

"Susie it is then."

We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn that night, renting out a room to share.