Snowfall

Make a Friend

Seven-year-old Percy stumbled over the New York borders into Pennsylvania, gasping for breath. Three large dogs the size of a small bus bounded after him, slavering and drooling as their glowing red eyes craved his blood. The boy was crying, the tears whipping off his face as soon as they appeared. He was tired and sweaty and bloody and about to collapse.

Just ahead, the young boy noticed a small cabin situated in the middle of nowhere. He ran over to it, bursting through the door and collapsing onto the wooden floor sobbing. He heard footsteps from inside the house, running over to him and then pausing. He heard shuffling, then the twang of a bow and a yelp from one of the dogs. Two more twangs, two more yelps, and there was silence.

He felt a hand touch between his shoulders and he flinched. "Hey, hey, it's okay," a soft feminine voice spoke. Percy glanced up at her with watery eyes. She had black hair that was cut like a mans, obviously done by herself in an attempt to give the hair a more spikey look. Her eyes were a bright electric blue, shining with pity. There was a large wooden bow slung across her back. "What's your name?"

"Percy," he said. "My name's Perseus but don't call me that."

"Alright, Percy," she said. "Do you know why those dogs were chasing you?"

"No!" He cried. "I was running and all of the sudden they were on me and all I could do was run and run and run. No stopping. Never stopping."

"Woah, you're fine, they're gone," she said reassuringly. "My name's Thalia. I'm like you."

"Like me?" He asked. "What do you mean?"

"Those dogs were chasing you because of what you are," she said. "You and me, we aren't mortal. Those monsters want all of our kind gone and so they hunt us down. That's why we must learn to defend ourselves."

"What are we?" Percy asked, confused. He had never known there was a thing other than a person.

"We're what's called demigods," Thalia said. "Half mortal, half god."

"God!" Percy gasped. "Like the God with the angels and the Devil?"

"No, not him," Thalia said. "The Greek gods. Zeus, Hera, Poseidon. When you were growing up, did you have both parents?"

"Yeah," he said. "My mommy and Smelly Gabe."

"Was Gabe your real dad?" Thalia prodded.

Percy frowned. "No. Mommy married him when I was three. She said it was to protect me."

"What happened to your mother?" Thalia pushed.

Percy suddenly began to weep. "Smelly Gabe!" He cried. "He-he ripped her clothes and did something and then stabbed her and it was horrible and he almost killed me and I had to run!"

Thalia hugged the small child. "I know," she said. "I know."

"You do?" Percy whimpered.

"I do," she confirmed. "I used to have a little brother. Five years ago, when I was seven, like you, and Jason, my brother, was two." Thalia sniffled but didn't stop. "My mother hated me. She didn't care for either of us and I had to take care of my brother. One day, she took us on a picnic and I left for a moment. When I came back, my brother was dead and my mother didn't even care. I ran away, just like you did."

"I'm sorry," Percy said. "Was your brother nice?"

"Very," Thalia said. "He was a lot like you."

"Really?" Percy brightened. "You think so?"

"I do!" She chuckled through her tears. "You would even be the same age as him."

Percy's eyes widened and he gasped dramatically. "I'm like your brother!"

"You could be," Thalia said. "I've lived here alone for such a long time. Having someone else with me would be a nice change."

"You want me to stay with you?" Percy asked. "Really?"

"Really," Thalia affirmed. "Do you want to?"

"Yes!" Percy shouted, squeezing her as tightly as his little arms could.

Perhaps this was her second chance.