Snowfall

Dress Up Your Pet

 Percy had just left the arena when he heard a feminine voice call his name. Thalia was sprinting towards him, a worried look on her face. "Come on, you need to help," she demanded, grabbing him by the wrist and pulling him towards the cabins.

"Hold on, where are we going? What's happened?" Percy asked, very confused. Nothing seemed to be wrong.

"The Aphrodite cabin stole Irimis." His eyes widened and he pushed forward with Thalia. He was incredibly fond of the bird and whatever the love children were doing to him couldn't be good.

When the two cousins arrived, Thalia half broke down the door. Irimis was pretty much her child and she would not let some stupid fucking Aphrodite kids hurt a single feather on his head. That would technically make Percy the father, but she decided not to think about that. They stormed the cabin. "What did you do with Irimis?" Percy demanded, pointing Riptide at one of the boys.

"You mean the bird?" He replied cautiously.

"Yes, the bird! Where is he?" Percy yelled.

"I-I saw some of the girls take him into the closet!" The boy stuttered, edging away from the sword. Thalia cussed profusely and punched the closet door, where it was now obvious the majority of the cabin was. Seriously, how big was that closet?

That question was answered when an Aphrodite girl opened the door. Her eyes widened and she shrieked, slamming the door in Thalia's face. The daughter of Zeus snarled and grabbed the doorknob, seemingly wrestling with an overpowering amount of girls on the other side. She sent an electrical shock through the door and charged through when all the girls screamed.

Percy took maybe a second to observe the vast closet, filled to the brim with the most fashionable clothes he had ever seen, before he crouched next to Thalia on the ground. Irimis, the poor thing, was tangled in maybe about a thousand strips of fabric as if the goal was to cover up every part of him. Thalia ripped the fabric off and tucked the bird against her chest. Irimis chittered happily and snuggled into her, looking pleased to have been rescued.

"Were you trying to mummify him?" Percy demanded, looking at the teens all huddling in the corner. There was no clear answer, only incoherent mumbling and shakings of heads. He scowled darkly but turned to Thalia. "Want me to take him while you beat them up?"

An evil grin spread across her face. "Lovely idea." She scooped Irimis up, who cawed in irritation, and offered him to Percy. Irimis decided to do it himself and flew over onto Percy's shoulder. Percy nodded to Thalia and exited the closet, then the cabin.

Percy took Irimis to the Zeus cabin, not really caring when Zeus protested. He set Irimis onto his makeshift bed and sat on Thalia's hammock. "So," Percy said, extending the word to fill the silence. "How'd they catch you?"

Irimis imitated landing, then pecked at his cushions in a mock eating manner. Percy hummed in understanding. "Caught you with the food. I get you." Irimis whistled in agreement, settling down onto the cushions. There was an awkward silence for a minute before Percy needed to do something. He managed to converge enough water from the air to form a liquid eagle, landing it on the side of Irimis's nest.

Irimis's head shot up so fast and just stared in amazement at the other bird. The water eagle cocked its head, staring at its real-life counterpart with nonexistent eyes. Irimis hopped up and twittered at the bird. Percy's bird mocked the same movement as Irimis had, yet there was no sound. Irimis flapped his wings and the water bird copied him.

Irimis turned and stared at Percy. He shrugged. "Don't look at me!" Irimis gave him a look that clearly meant 'really?' "Why do you think I did this?" Irimis cawed and made frantic gestures with his wings as if exasperated. "I guess it's kinda obvious, isn't it?" Irimis nodded. "Damn. Thought I could get you."

Irimis trilled happily. Somehow, the damn bird was smarter than Percy. Go figure.