Keena, the pegasus neighed when I walked in and I couldn't help but smile. I walked over and patted her neck. Keena shuffled her feathered wings and kicked the stable door with her hoof.
"Do you want me to open the door?" I asked her and Keena neighed in agreement. I opened the stable door.
The pegasus flicked her tail at her back.
"You want me to get on?" My eyes widened.
Keena neighed as if to say, of course!
I was careful as I climbed onto the pegasus. I hadn't ridden a horse since before my cousin's moved to Canada which had been four years ago when I was eight.
"Hey, Keena I don't know how to ride a pegasus, so you're in charge," I said once I was sitting comfortably. "And, uh try not to get us both into trouble, plea-"
I was cut off when Keena took off in a burst of speed. First, she ran out of the stables then flapped her wings and within twenty seconds we were in the sky.
The wind blew my hair behind me as I looked forward. We were soaring above camp, it was all going great until I saw the border getting closer and closer.
"Keena! The border, go left! Go left!" I cried.
Keena seemed to know what she was doing because she closed her wings and they dove down.
I felt panic rising in my chest, why had I decided to ride a pegasus? Oh, right because I thought it would be fun and I wouldn't die!
Keena extended her wings and they started soaring again. I was trembling so much I thought I was going to fall off, I buried my face in Keena's mane as we soared back to the stables. Keena carefully set her hooves on the snowy ground as they landed. I hopped off and sat down.
"Gods Keena! I thought you were trying to kill me!" I looked at the pegasus, my eyes full of terror.
The pegasus replied with a snort.
The small patches of grass turned dark with death and I took a breath.
"Who let Keena out of her stable?" Someone came running out of the stables and tripped over me.
I fell face-first onto the ground, groaning in pain.
"Oh, gods, I'm sorry, are you ok?" The kid looked over at me.
I looked up and my eyes met a girl's eyes, they were a soft yellow with a tint of green. The girl sitting in front of me had braided hazel hair, she had dark olive skin. A knife hung on her belt and she wore blue jeans, a blue sweatshirt that said: Can't Pretend by Tom Odell over an orange Camp Half-Blood shirt.
"I'm fine, are you alright?" I got to my knees then stood up brushing the snow from my black jeans and black sweatshirt that said: Everything Moves by the Bronze Radio Return, one of my favourite bands.
"Yeah, whats Keena doing out here?" The girl stood up.
"She wanted to go for a ride," I responded, the butterflies in my stomach fluttered around.
"Gods, she didn't scare you half to death, did she?" The girl walked over to me and made sure I wasn't injured.
"Yeah, she kinda did," I said embarrassed.
"Oh, well that Keena for you, I'm Juniper and you are?"
"I-I'm Peck."
"You're the daughter of Hades! I've been dying to meet you, well, not literally of course. I'm a daughter of Apollo."
"Well, nice to meet you," I smiled.
"Can you give me a hand with Keena? She seems to like you." Juniper took my hand and pulled me over to the pegasus.
"Yeah, I'll help," I followed her to Keena who was nibbling on a small bit of grass.
As we worked together to get the pegasus into its stable the butterflies in my stomach wouldn't leave me alone.
"Hey Juniper, I, uh I was wondering could you tell me about healing?" I asked looking into her soft yellow eyes.
"Yeah, I could give you a lesson sometime, how does tomorrow sound to you?" Juniper responded.
"That'd be great," I smiled.
"Perfect," Juniper smiled and looked into Peck's eyes.
I couldn't stop the blood that rushed to my cheeks. I looked away quickly hoping Juniper hadn't noticed and closed the stable door.
Keena neighed at me and shook out her wings.
"If I am to ride you again, you will never repeat what happened today unless some huge monster is attacking." I rubbed her neck and leaned against the stable wall. I crossed my arms waiting for Juniper.
I zoned out playing a song by Cavetown over in my head and was startled when Juniper tapped my shoulder.
"Huh?" I jumped.
"Its dinner, we gotta go," Juniper responded.
I nodded and we made our way down to the Dining Pavillion.