Khoines revenge

Chapter 14

Hi guys. Sorry about what was here before. I write little summaries of what the chap will contain at the top and forgot to delete it.
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Annabeth

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"I'm putting us down where we were last night." I heard Piper inform us over the whistling wind. Festus made a spiral decent and in front of me, Jason held Leo like a beloved teddy bear. Close, safe and warm. He had moved Leo around a bit since we took off. So Leo's head and chest were pressed against Jason's chest. Jason had a protective hand holding his head in place and his other wrapped tight around Leo's midriff/waist. Jason rested his chin on Leo's head and made sure to wrap him up well.

Festus landed us as gentle as he had ever done on this trip and Jason began to carefully move Leo around again so he could take him down.

Piper & I hopped off first though and when Jason had briefly, and quietly instructed us to start getting a bed ready (which we were doing regardless but who can blame Jason).

Jason cradled Leo like a china doll where he was still seated on Festus. Leo, despite the two snow jackets and Jason shivered relentlessly.

The others arrived just as we had finished setting up the bed and Percy started on resetting our fire from last night. As soon as I started helping him it set alight and the cave flooded with warmth. Jason was still holding Leo up on Festus. Gently rocking and rubbing his best friend. It was only when the fire really picked up that Jason moved. This time he didn't fly. Festus set him down as carefully as he could, using his wing as a ramp for Jason to walk down. Leo looked so small in his arms. Like a toddler, a child.

Piper looked emotionless as Jason set Leo down gently on our makeshift bed. Hazel came up behind me and Jason muttered "we need to tend his injuries." As she crouched behind Leo and lifted him up gently. Frank had already gotten the first aid kit and Percy went to see what was usable on Festus' back.

I made myself busy by crouching at Leo's feet and removing his boots. Handling his feet gently, praying that there was little to minimum frostbite. Percy returned. With another first aid kit and clothing. Including gloves and new socks. I snatched them, and as the others started cleaning, disinfecting and bandaging Leo's major injuries I carefully removed his soggy and frozen socks from his feet. Using a sick from the fire as a be on to warm his feet up. When it was satisfactory I slid on the socks and rubbed the extremities. They were still too cold. Grabbing a wad of bandages I tightly bound them.

When that was done I started helping the others. Piper was on one arm. Frank, the other. Percy was rubbing his thighs and calves. Possibly hoping to warm them up. Jason, meanwhile was dabbing his back, I stepped around to help him. We all wordlessly ~ in too much shock to form conversation ~ worked. His back was a mess. Several long, nasty gashes littered his back. Similar white ones ~ scars ~ also decorated it. I couldn't help but wonder where they came from.

Piper, I noticed left his arm temporarily and tilted Leo's head back. Percy left his legs to help her and she fed him a small bit of nectar. Only then did I notice his disturbing breathing patterns. After the liquid disappeared down his throat it evened out. But it was still forced and painful - wheezing. Percy kept holding his head and Piper went back to his arm.

Jason and I finished off pasting his back together. The bloodied marks only just under control. As we lay him back gently - a team task that everyone helped in did we hear a gasp and a small whimper. Hazel shushed him gently and Piper hummed under her breath. A relaxing time and he soon fell silent again. His body completely limp.

Silence rang off the caves walls. Not even the fires gentle cracking could tear the six's minds from their thoughts. Percy and Frank worked together to spread out travel blankets over him, Hazel, with almost a maternal care tucked him into the covers that seemed to swallow his small(er) frame. Jason folded up a spare hoodie and gently tucked it under his head to form a pillow before he crossed his legs and petted at Leo's hair. Running his fingers through bloodied strands to disentangle them. When a knot proved too much to go through he pinched the strands just before the knot and tugged them out then so he could avoid harming his friend more.

We all nearly suffocated under the silence while i pulled out our food. The obvious theme of thought being 'who's going to break the ice?'

"I'm going to kill her."

Turns out, Jason would. Threading his hands through Leo's hair. Neglecting the food next to him. A strangled, on edge whisper.

"You can't kill a goddess." i noted meekly. Not much behind the statement. I was too numb to think.

Silence reigned once again. So we let it settle. We all eventually turned in. Curling up on the floor next to the fire in our respective sleeping mats. Percy sided up next to me while frank and hazel did too. Piper tucked in to the left of Leo and Jason, the right. Both gently draping an arm over him to reach each other.

Before we all slept though, i heard Frank mutter "We'll get him through this."

Because, Khiones unspoken words; 'He'll never be the same.' Echoed each mind as if we were still there in her palace.

"We will." He followed up.

"On the River Styx."

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I'm sorry that was so shit & to leave you all like i am. I'm off to Vietnam tomorrow though so i thought i should at least give you all something. (See previous chapters notes for any other info).

I may squeeze another in. But no promises.

Dedicated to Pearlceles