I'm slumped in the cage after all that brawling. We're in rodent form and we're wiped out. My body is covered in scratches and bite marks. What a mental girl—how can she love fighting this much?
I see her getting up, looking at me with a smirk.
"Let's go again, see who's tougher," she says with a rodent grin, which honestly makes me laugh in this squeaky voice of mine. She gives me a weird look.
"No, I'm done. We've been here all damn day and I haven't eaten a thing besides this fruit," I say, looking at the little bowl of fruit and water in front of me. They're really treating us like vermin, those sons of bitches.
She stands up, looking like whatever I say goes in one ear and out the other. She just glares at me, spoiling for a fight.
"How about a story? Tell me about your life and I'll tell you mine—how I ended up here," I say, lying down and looking at her. She turns red, which makes it even funnier. She lies down too.
"NO!" she barks in that squeaky voice, but then she looks at me. "You first. Maybe then I'll think about talking."
"Fine by me. I'll start from the beginning," I say, settling in.
I'm gonna make up a good one. Who knows, maybe we'll become friends. She's tough and could help me out later—and even if she doesn't, I'd rather have her as a friend than an enemy. She just nods, staring into my eyes in silence. Now that I'm looking, our stupid brawl left some scratches on her too.
"As far back as I can remember, I was in an orphanage. This was before I knew I was the son of such a powerful, kind Goddess, obviously. But I was always bullied. I was pretty weak at the start. I didn't eat like the others because there was only dry bread and water left by the time I got there. I only got a break once I started school, but my ADHD and dyslexia made my life a mess," I speak slowly, pausing to see her getting interested before I go on."
By the time I hit ten, I decided to run away. It was a few days before my birthday, but who'd give a damn? Just another orphan kid, he'll be back. I figured that's what everyone would think. So I walked for days, scavenging food from the streets or stealing what I needed to survive. Sure, I thought about going back, but when I remembered the looks, the words, and the pain, I told myself: I can't."
"I turned eleven, and that's when everything seemed to shift. I found a garden with a small greenhouse. I could feel the plants there, so I decided to sleep. The earth literally hugged me—even with the wind, I stayed warm. Sleep came fast," I stop, head over to the water bowl, take a drink, look at her, and continue.
"When I woke up, I sat near an old tree that was dying. I knew it was dying, even if I couldn't explain how. I closed my eyes and it felt like a lock clicking open. I felt this power surging out of me and into the ground. I got exhausted fast. When I stood up, my legs were shaking and my clothes—which weren't great to begin with—were soaked in sweat. But when I looked at the garden, it was a total shock: everything was alive, bursting with color. The old tree was healthy, the grass was green, flowers everywhere."
"I smiled. I was genuinely happy, you know? A feeling I didn't even know how to express. I asked myself how long it'd been since I felt happy."
"I went for a walk through the city. Of course, humans always rejected me, said words that hurt... but I get it now. But I owe a thank you to a cop if I ever get the chance. Thanks to him, I'm still breathing, 'cause I found what I thought was my end," I pause for more water, wait a bit, and laugh at the way she's staring at me. I give a thin cough and keep going.
"Walking down the street, I found this woman. Probably the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen. Her voice was lovely. Blonde, skin as perfect and white as a pearl, and a huge smile. My eyes were glowing. She invited me to her place for a real meal—proper food for the first time. I thought it was a great idea."
"But I felt a shiver, and she seemed to notice it too. Her smile got wider and her teeth turned sharp as razors. Drool was leaking from the corner of her mouth, and when she spoke, her voice chilled me to the bone," I stop, and Clarisse is staring wide-eyed.
"What did she say? Was it a monster? Did you kill it? Then what happened?" she asks, sounding almost hyped.
"'You smell wonderful,' she says. Her voice was distorted, her eyes turned red and gold. She smelled like sulfur. That beauty was gone; she was a creature. Her hair turned into flames, one leg looked like bronze and the other like a donkey's. And well... I did what anyone else in my spot would do," I finish with a smirk. She looks at me.
"An Empousa! You killed her! Now I get why you're so strong," she says, all excited. I shake my head. She looks confused.
"No. I ran. After all, I'm not an idiot," I finish laughing, watching her face turn bright red with rage.
"Coward! You're supposed to fight to the death, not run away!" she shouts, rolling around and punching the air, which makes me laugh even harder. She stops and glares at me.
"Wait, you're alive, so what happened next? Finish the story!" she says, sitting up. I just shake my head.
"Nah, nah. Leave it for another day. My voice is getting hoarse and I'm sick of fruit. Nothing against fruit, but it's been years since I've had a piece of meat," I say. She looks at me like I'm a moron.
"You talk like you're some weird old man. Your story is ridiculous, I don't even want to hear it. Don't bother finishing," she turns her head, ignoring me. I just chuckle, but stop when I hear a voice.
"Mr. D, I think they're ready. They won't fight anymore, what do you think?" I see Chiron looking at me with a smile, but his eyes, which were tense before, are calm now.
"Yes, yes, fine. This ridiculous story can end now," I hear Mr. D's voice, though I don't see him.
The cage lifts into the air, my body spins, I see the world twirling and I hit the floor. Clarisse is lying next to me and jumps up quickly; I get up too. I check my body and I'm fine. Did he really heal us while we were rodents? Is that even possible? That's badass.
"Go take a shower, you both stink. And no fighting. I expect you at dinner," he waves his hand toward the exit.
Clarisse gives me a mocking smirk and leaves. I sigh and head out too. I see campers standing around, laughing at us. Clarisse ignores them and just heads to her cabin.
I stand there and look ahead, seeing Katie with a scowl on her face. I walk over to her, already feeling what's coming, but I let it happen.
She gives me a smack on the head that sends my face downward.
"Ow! Sorry!" I say quickly, half-smiling.
Even though we barely know each other, she acts like my big sister. I feel a connection with her, but I'm also nervous and a bit spooked since it feels like the plants themselves want to kick my ass.
"You irresponsible idiot, Mom is furious. Come on, I'll find you a change of clothes, and you'd better not try to pick another fight," she says, her voice sharp. She grabs me by the ear—I let her, but it hurts—and drags me toward the cabin.
I see people laughing, but I look back and see Chiron looking at me, appearing relieved. I give him a smile and he nods.
When we get to the cabin, everyone is glaring at me, except for Lucas, who's silent and looking down. Katie lets go of me; my ear is throbbing.
"My bad. From what I'm feeling, I guess Mom must be pissed. I'm really sorry," I say with a grin, scratching my head.
"Jackass," Miranda says, looking at me with pure rage.
"Idiot," Olivia adds with a smirk.
"I thought it was cool," Mel says, looking down before glancing at me. I lock eyes with her and she looks away—must be shy.
"I wanted to apologize, Caleb, for not helping," Lucas says, his voice barely a whisper.
I walk toward him, passing by the tree, but suddenly I feel a sharp sting on my butt. I tumble forward as the laughter erupts.
"Ow! I already said I'm sorry!" I shout, looking around. I thought it was Katie, but I didn't even feel her move. She looks me in the eye.
"Wasn't me. It was Mom. She's livid. Good luck," she says, sitting down on her bed.
I go over to Lucas and run a hand through his hair. He looks at me with teary eyes.
"You know, an old man once told me that true courage isn't about knowing when to take a life, but knowing when to spare one," I say calmly. He gives me a weird look.
"I don't get it. I didn't want to kill anyone, I'm just scared of fighting," he says, still looking confused.
"Yeah, well, I didn't get it when the old guy said it either, but I thought the line sounded brilliant. Fear is good. We're all afraid, and when you overcome that fear, the victory tastes a lot sweeter," I say, sitting on the bed and glancing at the tree, which still looks like it wants to take another swing at me.
"Alright, I'll shut up now. Sorry, Mom. Anyway, let's go eat," I say, scratching my head.
Miranda looks me up and down.
"Go take a shower, you stink. We'll wait for you at the door so you don't embarrass yourself or make Mom even angrier," she says.
Everyone looks at me. Lucas cracks a smile. And me? Well, I guess even if I don't fully understand it yet, this is what family feels like. I feel a warmth in my chest. What a crazy magical world this is—pretty cool, even if it is dangerous.