Olympus High

I join the eco community

Theseus jumped into the lake, splashing wood nymphs and Satyrs.

"How'd you find us, boy?" I said.

He growled, livid that I left him at the small lake.

"Sorry, Theseus. Blackberry?" I said. I threw him a blackberry as he jumped out of the water, snapping it up in his jaws.

"Get away, you freak." A voice said.

Me and Payton turned around and saw a group of young wood nymphs, cornering Courtney. They looked about Courtney's age but taller and meaner.

"Back off, Malley." Courtney said to a blond girl. She had freckles on her cheeks and pale skin. Her eyes were startling blue, beautiful yet serious, like she was analyzing the best way to kill you in combat. She wore a petal pink chiton and had a pink rose in her hair.

"Whatever, weed nymph." Malley said. Her troop laughed. Courtney melted into a maple tree.

"Check it out," one of Malley's friends teased, "She's an even bigger weed nymph now."

Malley and her friends grinned. They circled around Courtney and kicked her trunk.

"Weed nymph, weed nymph, weed nymph!" They chanted.

Courtney's leaves started turning red and orange and her trunk turned a dull shade of brown.

"They're hurting her." I said to Payton.

I stood up and made my way to the group.

"Hey." I said.

Their head swivelled towards me.

"Leave Courtney alone." I demanded.

"What do you care, DemiGod? She's just a"- Malley turned to Courtney and shouted-" WEED NYMPH!"

"Weeds, weeds, go away, come again another day!" They sang.

Courtney's leaves started falling off.

"Let's give Weed nymph a haircut." Malley said. She went on her tippy toes and picked off five leaves from Courtney.

Her friends joined in.

"Stop!" Payton said.

"Son of the sea God." They said, bowing.

"That's right. Now, unless you want to have a drought and lose all of your lake water, I suggest you stop hurting Courtney." Payton barked.

They stood still, frozen.

"What are you waiting for? An invitation? Get your lousy butts outta here!" Payton thundered.

Theseus jumped in front of Malley.

"Good domesticated wolf." She said in a nervous tone. She backed up and landed splash in the lake.

She gave exasperated breaths as her friends giggled.

"This isn't funny!" Malley bellowed, her face turning a furious shade of cherry red.

Her friends started chanting around her. "Seaweed nymph! Seaweed nymph! Seaweed nymph!"

Courtney shrunk back into her normal self. She had a hair that was about a little after the shoulders, unlike earlier when it was running down her back. She looked flushed and nauseous.

"Are they gone?" She said, looking around weakly.

"They're gone." I reassured her.

She saw the wooden bowl of berries next to the lake and scooped it up. She tipped the bowl sideways and dumped it in her mouth. Her hair grew at least two inches longer and her skin was smooth and soft. She dipped her legs in at the water's edge. Her eyes turned a deeper shade of hazel and her hair was less tangled.

Courtney sighed. "I've been thirsty for quite sometime now."

"Let's get you back to the cottage." I said, taking her wrist. "You're all beaten up."

She stared at her bruised legs and her muddy and dirty chiton, full of footprints and dirt.

I led her to Gabby. She was twirling a small strand of her hair, talking to a satyr with Chocolate- coloured skin.

"Gabby, we need to go to the cottage." I said. "Courtney got in a fight."

Gabby's eyes went wide and she walked away from Connor.

"Bye, Connor!" She called.

"Iris- message me!" He whispered, drawing an invisible rainbow in the air.

Gabby grinned goofily as she took Courtney to their cottage.