Chapter 7 Friends with Nature

Ash PoV

After we killed the hellhound, I secretly absorb its shadow which I'm gonna summon later at home because I can't show a giant black dog made of shadows to a possibly innocent mortal girl.

We approached the girl that the hellhound was chasing. Now I got a good look at her I noticed the she had wavy brown hair with emerald green eyes unlike Percy with his Sea green.

"Hi I'm Ashbourne Smith, but you can call me Ash." I said as I gave her my hand for a handshake.

She shook it and said.

"Katie Gardner, but you can call me Katie and thank you for taking care of that big dog or whatever it was." She said with a thankful smile.

"Hellhound, that was a hellhound." Percy said.

That got Katie to look at him and ask.

"Hellhound?" She asked.

"Yup!"Percy replied with a smile.

I nudge at him.

" Oh right! I forgot to introduce myself I'm Percy Jackson, but you can call me Percy. "He said with a sheepish smile.

" Can you be our friend?" Percy asked with a big smile.

" Of course, you guys did just save after all. "She said with a smile of her own.

...

...

...

Akward silence...

" Hey you guys wanna play in the playground? " I asked to break the silence.

" Sure! "Percy/Katie replied.

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On the way to the playground I asked Katie why she was being chased by a Hellhound. She said the moment the hellhound saw her it sniffed and started running after her.

'So she's a demigod aswell. Now that she mentionsed it she does radiate a bit of power like me and Percy but not as strong as us. And it looks like Percy also realize the she is also a demigod.'

"Should we tell her?" Percy whispered at me.

"Do you want her scent to get stronger?" I asked.

"But we cant lie to her. She saw how we killed that hellhound." He said.

"Yeah he's right." I thought as I turned to look at Katie.

"Hey Katie wanna know why that Hellhound was chasing you?" I asked her.

"Yes." She nodded seriously.

One long explanation later.

"Wow that's a lot to take in." She said.

"I know right?" Percy said smiling at her.

"But atleast he didn't try to drown you." He muttered but Katie heard him.

"What?!" She screamed/asked.

I coughed to get there attention.

"It doesn't matter. What matters now is that your scent got stronger, so might aswell help you get to know who you're godly parent is. So noticed any special powers or have your dad ever described your mom?" I asked her.

She gained a thoughtful look for a few seconds and look at me and said.

" Well when I entered the woods I felt a bit stronger and I think plants grow around me faster than normal. "She said.

I nodded at that getting an idea who her mother is. Percy looking very confused. She continued.

" The only things my dad ever said about my mom is that she liked nature and likes to plant and grow different types of plant to help the economy." She said.

'So it Demeter huh? Another cousin from my father's side of the family.' I thought.

I looked at Percy and see him still very confused.

I decided to tease him a bit.

" Hey Perce I think I know who her godly parent is. Do you? "I said with a smirk.

Percy looked embarrassed and said.

" Yeah of course I know who it is. Its uhh. "He said.

I raised an eyebrow at him.

" Alright fine I dont know who her godly parent is. "He admitted stomping his foot.

I laughed while Percy just pouted which made me laughed even more. Until I heard a cough from beside me.

" Ahh! Katie sorry forgot you were even here. Sorry about that. "I said apologetically.

She did not look amused.

" Your mother is Demeter. "I said trying to calm her down.

She looked a little confused while Percy had a look of realization.

" Demeter? "She asked.

I nodded.

"Yep Demeter goddess of agriculture. That explain why plants grow faster with you around and why you also feel stronger in the woods. Demeter was also said to love nature greatly and loved to grow plants wherever she goes." I explained to her.

"Agriculture huh,so that's why those thise keep happening...." she keep murmuring while looking at the ground.

We didn't realize because we were deep in the conversation but we have arrived at the playground.

I looked around it was starting to get dark our parents will come and get us any minute now.

I decided. It was a small sacrifice if it means to protect my cousin, my family.

" Arise. "I said.

The hellhound we just killed appeared from my shadow startling Katie. She looked horrified and was about to scream but Percy reacted quickly and covered her mouth. I gave Percy a thankful nod.

" Katie, Percy will remove his hand from your mouth, but you have to promise to not scream alright?" I asked with a serious tone.

She nodded. Percy removed his hands from her mouth.

I pointed at the the shadow hellhound and said.

"Since you're scent got stronger from knowing you're a demigod now the chances of monsters attacking you have increased. He will protect you from the shadows, well your shadow." I said as I told the hellhound to go to Katie's shadow.

Yeah me and Percy found out that my shadows can hide in any shadow not just my shadow. Pretty useful for information gathering since I can share thoughts with my shadows.

" His name is Max and will protect you and follow your orders, ain't that right Max?" I asked the shadow.

It barked from Katie's shadow.

Even though Max is my second shadow and first monster shadow I'm okay giving him to Katie if it means that it could help protect my new friend.

"How can you do that?" Katie asked me.

"Its my power as a son of Hades." I replied.

Katie perked up at that.

"Wait Hades, then does that mean you're my cousin?" She asked with hope?

"Yep and Percy too since he's a son of Poseidon making the three of us cousins." I said with a smile towards her.

She grab me and Percy by the neck and hugged us faster than we could react. We stayed like that for a while until she pulled back and sternly said.

"Give me you guys address so we can Keep In Touch with letters, okay?" She asked with a stern glare.

Since we demigods can't use phones this will be our only way of communication.

I just smiled at her and said.

"Of course."

"Yes mam!" Percy said with a salute.

Katie just smiled at us fondly.

"Ash, its getting late! Where are you and Percy?!"

"Percy, Ash where are you?!"

"Katie, its late where are you, its time to go home ?!"

I heard my mom, Aunt Sally and a man's voice yelling for us.

"We're here!"I/Percy/Katie yelled.

When they arrived we introduced our parents with each other and they seem to get along with each other. Our parents exchange their numbers and address so they can prepare playdates for the three of us which made is jumping with joy, well both Katie and Percy was jumping for joy. We also found out that the school Katie goes to is a few minutes walk away from our own school and decided that we should meet up after school and hang out when we can.

After that we each went our separate ways with me and my mom going straight for home.

"Did you have fun?" My mom asked with a strange look. I didn't pay it much attention and said.

"Yup! I even made a new friend." I said with a bright smile.

End.