The Veiled Legacy | PJO - Book Two

twenty

When Leo saw how well Piper and Hedge were being treated, he was thoroughly offended.

"How is this fair!" He whispered to Ariana.

He'd imagined them freezing their hindquarters off in the snow, but the Hunter Phoebe had set up this silver tent pavilion thing right outside the cave.

Inside was a kerosene heater keeping them toasty warm and a bunch of comfy throw pillows. Piper looked back to normal, decked out in a new parka, gloves and camo pants like a Hunter.

She and Hedge and Phoebe were kicking back, drinking hot chocolate.

"Oh, no way." Leo said. "We've been sitting in a cave and you get the luxury tent? Somebody give me hypothermia. I want hot chocolate and a parka!"

Phoebe sniffed. "Boys." she said, like it was the worst insult she could think of. Though she smiled at Ariana. The first time she met the hunters they didn't necessarily like her due to her mother betraying them yet now they seemed to like her.

"It's all right, Phoebe." Thalia said. "They'll need extra coats. And I think we can spare some chocolate."

Phoebe grumbled, but soon Ariana Leo and Jason were also dressed in silvery winter clothes that were incredibly lightweight and warm. The hot chocolate was first-rate.

"Cheers!" said Coach Hedge. He crunched down his plastic thermos cup.

lThat cannot be good for your intestines." Leo said.

Thalia patted Piper on the back. "You up for moving?"

Piper nodded. "Thanks to Phoebe, yeah. You guys are really good at this wilderness survival thing. I feel like I could run ten miles."

Thalia winked at Jason. "She's tough for a child of Aphrodite. I like this one."

"Hey, I could run ten miles, too." Leo volunteered. "Tough Hephaestus kid here. Let's hit it."

Naturally, Thalia ignored him.

It took Phoebe exactly six seconds to break camp, which Leo could not believe. "Woah!" He gaped.

The tent self-collapsed into a square the size of a pack of chewing gum. Thalia ran uphill through the snow, hugging a tiny little path on the side of the mountain.

Coach Hedge leaped around like a happy mountain goat, coaxing them on like he used to do. "Come on, Valdez! Pick up the pace! Let's chant. I've got a girl in Kalamazoo -"

"Let's not." Thalia snapped.

So they ran in silence.

Ariana picked up her pace and caught up to Thalia.

"How are you?" She asked.

Thalia looked at her. "I should be asking you that with Percy gone and all."

Ariana frowned. "I miss hun." She admitted. "Annabeth has been devastated as you would suspect. I just want him back home."

"We will find him." Phoebe reassured.

Thalia nodded. "I promise you we'll bring him back home, Ari."

The Hunters stopped. Leo slammed into Thalia and nearly sent them both down the side of the mountain the hard way. Fortunately, the Hunter was light on her feet.

She steadied them both, then pointed up.

"That." Leo choked, "is a really large rock."

They stood near the summit of Pikes Peak. Below them, the world was blanketed in clouds. The air was so thin, Ariana could hardly breathe. Night had set in, but a full moon shone and the stars were incredible.