Camp Half Blood: One "Salty" Adventure

Camp Half Blood: A Salty Sequel//Chapter Eight

Myra's POV:

After I said bye to Nathan, I sat down on my bed and grabbed a book off my nightstand. The Care and Training of Griffins and Their Hatchlings. Khione had mentioned to me that we might be getting a breeding pair of Griffins. I wanted more than anything to be their caretaker. I mean, just imagine riding on a massive griffin's back skimming the water of Lake Superior! Or racing across the sky! Or even just sleeping in the nest and having the safety and protection of two giant griffins. Maybe I would actually sleep. I opened the book up back to where I had left off. I ended up reading for a few hours until I realized it was midnight. I didn't bother trying to sleep. Between the nightmares and my own paranoia it really wasn't worth it. I decided to look for Nathan. Maybe I would sleep better if I felt safer. I had become at ease around him. I was right at his door when he walked up to me.

"Snowflake? What're you doing here? I thought you'd be asleep." Nathan asked looking tired. I immediately noticed a mark on his cheek.

"I don't sleep much and... wait, what happened to your face?" I asked.

"What're you talking about?"

"You're bleeding a bit, come here let me see." I made him kneel down so I could get a closer look. It was a cut and it was still bleeding. Nathan touched it and flinched a little. I gave him a worried look.

"Oh! Yeah I went to go train a bit after I left you and I may have cut myself by accident. Didn't even notice it." He said shrugging his shoulders. I looked at him, still concerned. "Snowflake, I'm fine." He put his hands on my face gently. "Don't worry about me. I have some bandages I found in my room. I'll patch it up." Nathan leaned down and kissed me lightly on the lips. "See, that's how you kiss someone, Snowflake." He smirked. I laughed and fake punched him.

"You suck. Go get some rest, we'll be training tomorrow." I instructed. Nathan looked tired and I didn't want to bother him any longer. Another night without sleep wouldn't kill me.

"Alright, see ya." Nathan smiled at me. I turned and walked back to my room. I grabbed out the piece of paper I had gotten from Cole and sat at my desk. I turned on a light and inspected it for the millionth time. I wish I knew who he was or at least if he was alive. I had shown the picture to Viper, but she had simply told me that she was pretty sure she'd killed someone like that. I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach. It shouldn't matter to me anymore. I had Nathan now, right? I folded the picture back up and stored it away in my sword sheath again. I went back to reading about different magical creatures and their properties and abilities.

At 4:50 I raced up to one of the top spires of the castle. I used my ice powers to make a small ramp so I could sit at the very top and watch the sun rise. I had discovered this spot during my first few weeks here and now I was up here as often as I could be. I could see for miles around the castle. I noticed a bit of smoke, but it was probably from some mortals who were camping in the woods. All of a sudden, the sun's radiant glow reflected off of the castle. Since ice covered so much of it, the light was refracted into a bunch of rainbow shadows sparkling on the lake. I realized there weren't too many Apollo kids at the castle. Were there any at all? If not I would like to meet one. I wonder if they wake up at dawn every day...

"Snowflake? You up here?" I heard Nathan calling for me inside. I really didn't want to go back down, but the sun continued rising and the refracted light faded. I clambered back down into the castle and tripped onto my face just as Nathan saw me.

"Falling for me?" He smirked and helped me to my feet.

"Oh yeah Nathan, you're so clever." I fake swooned and then rolled my eyes at him.

"So I was thinking you and I could practice fighting outside the castle today? We passed a good spot on the way here yesterday."

"Sorry, Nathan. Today is group training. You did say you wanted to meet everyone didn't you?"

"Well yeah, but-" I cut him off.

"Nathan, we can go outside tomorrow. I've got to keep some order around here. Now let's go, the arena is probably empty still."

"Wait, Snowflake! What about breakfast?"

"Huh?"

"You know that meal you eat in the morning..."

"We don't eat everyday here. Unless you catch your own food outside, but the animals 'round here are wiry and tough to chew. Khione normally gives us food every three days or so." Nathan seemed a little horrified. "The hunger pains will fade off, don't worry. Khione says it keeps us on our toes and alert or something like that." I shrugged. "You ready to go?"

"Yeah... Let's go." Nathan followed me as I traveled back down the stairs to the arena. The room was empty at the moment, but the others would start arriving soon. Nathan withdrew his axe and stood by my side.

"We really should check out that clearing, Hailstorm. It's the perfect place to practice."

"Nathan I told you we could look tomorrow." Before he could protest, the first group of demigods walked in. One of them was Knox, a little seven year old boy whom I had grown attached to. He ran over to Nathan and I, hugging my legs because he was too short to reach any higher.

"Hailstorm! Who's that?" Knox asked, pointing at Nathan.

"This is Nathan, my boyfriend. Nathan, this is Knox." Knox stuck his tongue out at Nathan.

"You're too good for him!"

"Yeah, I know, Knox." I laughed.

"Hey!" Nathan protested. Soon the arena filled up with the other demigods. I jumped up on a pile of crates in the center of the room. Nathan and Viper stood near the bottom. The demigods were quickly silenced and everyone stared up at me.

"Okay! I want everyone in their pairs practicing hand to hand combat today! If you have any questions ask Viper or me! You know the drill!" I jumped back down and the crowd dispersed. Nathan was quietly observing everyone while Viper looked bored.

"You fighting Pretty Boy?" She inquired, sounding bored.

"Nah, he can train more later. Right now I'm just gonna stick to supervising. Nathan, you can stay with me. I'll take left side of the room. Viper you take right side." Viper nodded and walked off without another word. Luckily Knox was on my side of the room. Nathan and I walked over to where he was struggling to fight a girl who looked to be around nine or ten.

"Shouldn't he be fighting someone his age?" Nathan asked me, watching the uneven fight carefully.

"He's the youngest." I replied and stopped the fight. "Knox, she's twice your size-" Knox cut me off.

"I know, Viper told me to just give up..." He trailed off and looked frustrated.

"Give up?! Knox you just gotta be light on your feet! Nathan come over here for a sec!" I called. "Now see, Knox, Nathan is a bit bigger than me." I glared at Nathan while he smirked. "Nathan throw a punch at me please." Nathan did as I asked and tried to punch me, but I moved out of range before he could hit me. I demonstrated this a few times. "Can you try that for me, Knox? And Gwen, make sure you keep your footing when you're attacking ok? It will make your punches land harder." I stepped back and gestured for them to continue.

"So Snowflake, think we can sneak out for a bit?" Nathan asked.

"Nathan I'm in charge here, I can't leave."

"But I really want to show you-" I cut him off.

"Nathan what is with you and this spot?!" All of a sudden, the door burst open and a boy with blond hair burst into the room. A few seconds behind him another boy and a girl appeared. Ben and Rose. I tensed up and I felt Nathan put a hand on my shoulder in an attempt to calm me down.

"Do you remember them, Hailstorm?" Nathan asked me softly.

"Do I remember them?" I withdrew my sword and started to summon an icicle in my other hand to prepare for battle. "I never forgot." I snarled.