things you said | leo valdez

05 | things you didn't say at all

five
things you didn't say at all

"Duck!"

Your body hit the ground before your brain fully registered what was happening. Shout out to those demigod instincts. A roar echoed in the forest around you, resonating from a few meters in the trees in front of you.

A whoosh in the air above you made you look up. Just in time to see the cyclops collapse into dust. A single hammer fell to the ground where the beast once stood. How Leo managed to kill the thing with one throw was beyond your comprehension.

A sigh of relief left your lungs as your forehead fell to the ground again. You were completely exhausted. And anyone could tell you had no fight left in you.

"Oh, thank gods," you heard Leo exhale before he bounded across the small clearing to kneel by your side. He flipped you onto your back and held your face in his hands. "I thought you..."

You shook your head, but couldn't find the energy to reply. Leo's brows furrowed in worry. He needed you to find your strength. He knew more cyclops were on the way, you couldn't afford to give up now.

Before you or Leo could say another word, a second roar echoed from deep in the forest. The sound caused your stomach to drop, but what caused a shiver of dread to run up your spine was the multiple other howls that followed. Coming from all directions around you.

"Gods, they're everywhere," Leo's voice was hoarse and sounded hopeless. The thick tree branches above you protected you from the rain that poured down, but not from the chill. The icy wind blew straight through your thin Summer clothing and raised goosebumps across your skin.

You reached out with a shaky grip to slip your fingers through Leo's. His hand squeezed yours and his eyes met your own. There was nothing but pure horror written across his features. His mouth stood agape for a mere second, his brain searching for words. He had none.

Instead, he reached into his pouch and pulled out another hammer. He reached forward to grip the back of your head and connected his lips to yours. In that moment you knew Leo wasn't going to leave your side no matter what came crashing through those trees. No matter how many monsters he'd have to face. No matter how sore his muscles were or how terrified he really was. He would protect you until his dying breath.

So, the two of you sat and waited. And as the roars grew closer and the ground rumbled under the giant footfalls of the monsters out for your blood, you held Leo's hand and waited for whatever the fates had in store for you.