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𝐀𝐋𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓! 𝐀𝐋𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓!

𝐂𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐒𝐓, 𝐌𝐀𝐍!
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CHARLIE WAS ON A LEASH. Or, at least, she might as well have been. Jason was yet to release her hood, fist clenched around the furry part whilst he conversed with the rest of the group, asking about alternate options. Charlie was fully leant forwards, looking a lot like Michael Jackson, so much so that Raccoon Leo was able to lay and sleep on her back without holding on, as she longed for gravity to take its turn. Whilst her fighting techniques had improved a lot, like Thalia said, she still wasn't the smartest.

Leo watched in amusement, from the other side of the small circle they had all formed, he had realised the second they had put the coats on that the fur was detachable, that was how Jason had his whole hand clenched around it.

All Charlie had to do was take it off, and he could tell her that, sure, of course he could, but this was more entertaining.

''What do you think, Leo?'' Piper said, turning to him with a slightly worried expression.

''Oh, um,'' Leo cleared his throat, fist coming to his mouth before his hands crossed, trying to appear like he was listening the whole time, puffing his chest up subtly for effect. ''Honestly, I can't believe we're seriously considering crossing that.'' His thumb jerked over his shoulder, towards where the bridge that might as well scream 'DANGER' was.

Thalia shrugged. ''I'm not a big fan of heights, I'll admit. But if you want to get to Aeolus's fortress, this is the only way.''

''Is the fortress always hanging there?'' Piper asked. ''How can people not notice it sitting it on top of Pikes Peak.''

''The Mist,'' Thalia shrugged. ''Still, mortals do notice it indirectly. Some days, Pikes Peak looks purple. People say it's a trick of the light, but it's actually the colour of Aeolus's palace, reflecting off the mountain face.''

''It's enormous,'' Jason said.

Thalia laughed. ''You should see Olympus, little brother.''

''Overrated.'' Charlie huffed from her position, arms still crossed as she watched the snow hit the floor.

''You're serious? You've both been there? I— They let Charlie in?''

Thalia grimaced, as if it wasn't a good memory. Charlie would've liked to point out it wasn't a good one because of elements outside their control, and it had nothing to do with her, but Thalia spoke before she could cut in. ''We should go across in different groups. The bridge is fragile.''

''That's reassuring,'' Leo said, taking a deep breath in and holding it in his cheeks as his hands patted the outer sides of his thighs. ''Jason, can't you fly us up there?''

Thalia laughed. Then she seemed to realise Leo's question wasn't a joke, which Leo found a little disappointing. The one time he had got her to laugh, and he didn't even mean to. Why couldn't Thalia have the same shitty sense of humour as Charlie? ''Wait... Jason, you can fly?''

Jason gazed up at the floating fortress. ''Well, sort of. More like I can control the winds. But the winds up here are so strong, I'm not sure I want to try — hold on, Thalia, you mean you can't fly?''

For a second, Thalia looked genuinely afraid. Then she got her expression under control. Leo realised she was a lot more scared of heights than she was letting on.

''Truthfully,'' she said, ''I've never tried. Might be better if we stuck to the bridge.''

''I second that motion!'' Charlie said, holding her hand up, although she overestimated how small of an angle she was standing at, and the hand nearly took Jason's eye out. On second thought, that might have been on purpose. ''We can use woman-hater as a cushion if it comes to it, I guess.''

''Woman-hater?'' Thalia asked raising her brows as her pupils darted between them all, trying to figure who it was. Phoebe eyed Jason and Leo up suspiciously.

Jason sighed through his nose, closing his eyes for the briefest of moments. ''I don't know where she got it from.''

''It's you?'' Thalia asked, chin tilting towards her neck as she stared at him with wide eyes.

''Yes, well, no, but, you see— I don't hate women!''

''Uh, huh, then why are you holding me captive.''

''I can let go if you want.''

''What? Was me trying to claw your eyes out not big enough of a hint?''

''Okay.''

Charlie hit the snow, face-first, and though snow was thought to be sound-proof, they could faintly hear her scream his name, followed by a few ineligible words that they could fill in the blanks themselves.

Raccoon Leo, who had been unwantingly disturbed from his nice little nap, squirrled, crawling in a circle quickly before standing on his hind legs and waving a fist at Jason, squeaking what could only be insulting things before placing his other hand on his furry hip, his fist unclenching to gesture at him, disgusted.

Coach Hedge nudged Charlie's back with his hoof, before turning around suddenly. ''Piper and I'll go first! Piper, come on, girl. I'll give you a hand.''

''No, that's okay,'' Piper said distractedly, still waiting for Charlie to come out from under the thin layer of snow that was beginning to form on top of her. But the Coach grabbed her hand and dragged her up the bridge.

When they were halfway, the bridge still seemed to be holding them just fine and Piper turned back to wave.

Thalia turned to her Hunter friend. ''Phoebe, I'll be back soon. Go find the others. Tell them I'm on my way.''

''You sure?'' Phoebe narrowed her eyes at Leo and Jason, like they might kidnap Thalia or something. She stared at Jason a little more, and if Charlie could see it, she would've been proud.

''I'm fine,'' Thalia promised, reassuring Phoebe whilst Leo awkwardly cut through what was left of their circle to crouch next to Charlie. The second he was within jumping distance, Raccoon Leo switched carriers, settling on Leo's shoulder, who, annoyingly, found he didn't mind all too much.

''Dude, you okay?''

''I'm dead,'' was what he could make out.

''No you're not.''

''I can decide if I'm dead by myself, thank you very much.''

''Dead people don't talk.''

''Oh yeah? Then how's a dead person talking to you, Leo, huh? Explain that.''

''You're not dead, Charlie.''

''...Give me five minutes.''

Leo raised his eyebrows, once again struggling to tell if she was joking or not, Charlie wasn't the best with tone, sometimes forgetting to animate her words and just saying them, leaving them all confused. He had thought he'd managed to decipher at least some of her micro-expressions, but when she was face down in the snow contemplating death via frostbite, he couldn't see them.

''Alright, c'mon, I don't want the anti-feminist to be my bridge-partner.'' He grabbed her shoulders, pulling her up as her knees automatically slid up so she was sitting rather than being folded in half.

Charlie stuck her tongue out at Jason, distracting him enough to kick the back of his leg, causing him to kneel in the snow with a surprised grunt. ''No need to worship the ground I walk on, Grace.''

Jason rolled his eyes, but a fond smile still played on his lips as he decided it was best to stay there until she had safely passed.

''Charlie, Leo, just be careful where you step,'' Thalia said. ''It hardly ever breaks.''

''It hasn't met me yet,'' Leo muttered and Charlie's head had never snapped so fast, staring at him before turning to look at the other two.

''Is it too late to change partners?'' She held her hands out in mock surrender, allowing Leo to reach up and grab one as he walked past her, dragging her behind him as their fingers laced.

''Nah ah, no take-backsies.''

''Take-backsies?'' Charlie scoffed as she followed. ''What are you, five?''

Leo looked at her over his shoulder. ''I literally just used that phrasing cause it's the phrasing you use.''

''Awh, are you mimicking my behaviour?'' Charlie pouted and Leo turned to face the front again, rolling his eyes as he tugged her hand harshly, causing her to stumbles lightly.

''Awh, are you admitting you use words like 'take-backsies'?''

Now Charlie narrowed her eyes. ''Mimicking my tricks too, huh.''

''They're good tricks,'' he sent her a goofy grin over his shoulder again, turning and pulling her hand one more time.

''I know they are, that's why I use them.'' Charlie rolled her eyes, letting herself be pulled along. She glanced over her shoulder to see Jason and Thalia about to cross. ''What do you think they're talking about?''

''Sibling stuff— or, you accusing Jason of being against women, you do think she'll figure out it's a joke before she and her friend kill him, right?'' Leo glanced at her, the two sharing a slightly worried glance before Charlie shrugged it off.

Three quarters of the way, something went wrong. Leo stopped walking. Piper and Hedge had already made it safely to the top and were waving, encouraging them to keep going, but Leo didn't seem to hear them. And behind, Thalia and Jason were about a quarters way, but they were catching up fast. Leo was thinking about bridges— how he would design something way more stable than this shifting ice vapour business if this were his palace. He was pondering braces and support columns, when the revelation hit, stopping him in his tracks.

''Why do they have a bridge?'' He asked and Charlie pulled a face, this was why he had caused them to stop?

''So people can cross? Look, Leo, I'm all for talking to you about the history and connotations of bridges, but this isn't a good place to stop.''

''They're wind spirits though,'' Leo said, cocking his head towards her enough to show that he was listening, but wasn't looking, eyes fixed on the rope his hand had been skimming, using it as a handle-railing. ''Can't they fly?''

''Well, yeah, but sometimes they need a way to connect to the world below. Plus, I'm sure flying takes a bit of effort, they might want a break occasionally.''

''So the bridge isn't always here?''

Charlie shook her head. ''The wind spirits don't like to anchor to the earth, but sometimes it's necessary. Like now. They know we're coming.''

Leo's mind was racing. He was so excited he could almost feel his body's temperature rising. He couldn't quite get his thoughts into words, but he knew he was on to something.

''Leo, c'mon, we have to keep  going. Tell me what you're thinking as we walk, okay?''

Leo didn't move, and Charlie jumped out of her skin when her back got prodded. ''Is everything alright? Why've you stopped?''

Charlie pulled a face, puffing up her cheeks as she shook her head to show she didn't know.

''Oh, gods,'' Thalia said, going a shade of green. ''Look at your feet!''

Leo shuffled backwards, back bumping into Charlie's chest. With horror, he realised his body temperature actually was rising, just as it had years ago at the picnic table under the pecan tree, when his anger had gotten away from him. Now, excitement was causing the reaction. His pants steamed in the cold air. His shoes were literally smoking, and the bridge didn't like it. The ice was thinning and Thalia's green face darkened by a shade or two.

''Leo, stop it,'' Jason warned. ''You're going to melt it.''

''I'm trying,'' Leo mumbled, eyes staring at his feet with worry.

From where Leo's back was still lightly skimming against her, Charlie inched forwards to wrap her arms around Leo in a gentle lock. Her arms reached up under his and her palms rested on his shoulder blades, gently pulling him towards her as her cheek pressed against the top of his head, doing her best to comfort him, but she wasn't the best at hugs.

''Okay, talk me through it, what's going on?''

''But my feet, Charlie, I can't, they're gonna—''

''I didn't ask about you're steaming hot shoes, Leo. Tell me about the bridge.'' She turned her head an inch to the left, giving Thalia a comforting look and Jason placed an arm around his sisters shoulders, promising her that he'd fly her out if anything started to worsen.

''In Jason's dream, what did Hera refer to him as? Charlie, she called Jason a bridge.''

''Okay, and what about it? You don't think it's a cute little nickname?''

''No, I think she meant literally— or at least, metaphorically. If Jason is a bridge, what's he connecting? Maybe two different places that normally don't get along — like the air palace and the ground. You had to be somewhere before this, right? And Hera said you were an exchange.''

Charlie didn't get it, but Thalia did, her hand moving to her forehead. ''An exchange... Oh gods.''

Jason frowned. ''What are you talking about?''

Thalia mumbled something like a prayer, and that's how Charlie knew it was bad. ''I understand now why Artemis sent me here. Jason — she told me to hunt for Lycaon and I would find a clue about Percy. You are the clue. Artemis wanted us to meet so I could hear your story.''

''I don't understand,'' he protested. ''I don't have a story. I don't remember anything.''

''But Leo's right,'' Thalia said. ''It's all connected. If we just knew where—''

Leo snapped his fingers. ''Jason, what did you call the place in your dream? The ruined one, the house... The Wolf House, or something.''

Thalia chocked. ''The Wolf House? Jason, why didn't you tell me that! That's where they're keeping Hera?''

''You know where it is?'' Jason asked.

Then the bridge dissolved. Jason lost his footing, his hand leaving Thalia's shoulders as she screamed. Charlie lifted her foot backwards, kicking Thalia to an area the bridge was still in tact whilst using it to push off and fall with Leo to the other side of the gap. Jason grabbed the edge of it just as he began to fall. Charlie, eyes wide and frantic, was off Leo within seconds, (almost too quick, Leo was almost offended, he didn't smell, did he?), just grasping his hand as he began to slip.

''Can't you fly!''

''Not here!''

''Well think about that before you gain any more pounds!'' Charlie grunted, struggling to find footing on the ice. An arrow pierced their ears, sticking itself just before Charlie's toes. ''A little close, don't you think?''

''All I can think about is how if this happened before you 'died', you would've let us all fall to our deaths!'' Thalia laughed, not at all worried as another two arrows landed where Jason's feet were, letting him stand on them until he was pulled up.

''Maybe I will next time!''

Leo, once out of the shock of this being his fault, scrambled to join Charlie, reaching for Jason's other hand and he was pulled to safety. ''See? I knew you could do it,'' Thalia said, grinning way too wide for a girl who had nearly lost her brother. ''I'm liking this new Charlie.''

''Slightly offended, but okay.''

Unfortunately, the thirty-foot chasm was beginning to continue melting. ''Go!'' Thalia shouted, backing down the bridge as it crumbled. ''Find out where the giant is keeping Piper's dad. Save him! I'll take the Hunters to the Wolf House and hold it until you can get there. We can do both!''

''But where is the Wolf House?'' Jason shouted as they continued to take steps backwards.

''You know where it is, little brother!'' She was so far away now that they could barely hear her voice over the wind. Charlie was pretty sure she said: ''I'll see you there. I promise.''

Then she began to jog back, holding up her hand, the fingers bent inwards, hooked over, and her thumb pointing straight down, from so far away it was hard to make out what it was, but Charlie seemed to understand. She held her hand upwards too, the opposite hand to Thalia, and did the same action.

Then she turned and raced down the dissolving bridge leaving Charlie to let her hand drop.

They didn't have time to stand around either, however, Jason having to grab Charlie's shoulder and spin her around manually before they could hurry and race to the other side, running for their lives. Several times, Jason placed an arm around each of his friends to keep them aloft, but it was more like bungee jumping than flying.

When they reached the floating island, Piper and Coach Hedge pulled them aboard just as the last of the vapour bridge vanished. They collapsed on the floor, gasping for breath at the base of a stone stairway chiselled into the side of the cliff, leading up the fortress.

''What happened?'' Piper demanded. ''Leo, why are your clothes smoking?''

From where Charlie laid on her back, chest rising and falling dramatically, she held a hand up. ''My fault.'' Jason and Leo's heads snapped toward her so fast they nearly had whiplash. ''My foot got stuck on some ice, Leo had to melt it to get it off. Did not go to plan.''

Leo nodded slowly. ''Yeah, uh, you're welcome, by the way.'' He turned to Jason. ''Sorry, man, honest I didn't mean to, uh, get carried away like that.''

''It's all right,'' Jason said, but his expression was grim. ''We've got less than twenty-four hours to rescue a goddess and Pipers dad. Let's go see the king of the winds.''

Charlie groaned, slowly rising into a sitting position, making eye-contact, and then falling back down, rolling over to show she wasn't moving any time soon.

''I am prepared to drag you,'' Jason crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow. Charlie lifted a hand to dismiss him, continuing to snuggle onto the floor. ''Alright.'' He grabbed her ankle, not at all hesitating as he began to walk towards the slippery staircase. Charlie waited for him to give in. He didn't. Her head banged on the lowest floor and she cried out.

''Alright! Alright! Cease and desist, man!'' Jason let go of Charlie and she fell into a backwards roll, landing at the bottom of the stairs, still clenching the back of her head with a glare. ''Dick.''

''Sexist.''

''What?—''

''Just cause I have one, Charlie, doesn't mean you get to strop about like—''

''Oh, shut up.'' Grumbling, she scooped up the golden backpack and began marching up the stairs, leaving them all behind. She looked over her shoulder at them all when she was about ten steps high. ''You coming or what?''

''Someone's in a mood,'' Piper whistled, smiling after and waving at Charlie as she hurried after them, not wanting to get on her bad side.

Leo and Jason followed at their own pace.

Piper fell into step beside Charlie. ''How come you took the fall?''

''How'd you know?''

''Jason and Leo aren't the best of liars, you should see the faces they pulled. And, I am a charmspeaker, I guess I'm good at spotting lies because of it.'' Piper shrugged, hands intertwining behind her back.

Charlie hummed, looking forward again. ''True.'' She took a second to think. ''I don't really have an answer, though. It kinda just happened.''

''You know none of us are mad at Leo for accidentally burning the bridge, right?''

Charlie nodded, side-smiling at Piper fondly. ''Yeah...But I thought he might, y'know, I guess I was just taking pressure off his shoulders.''

Piper bit back her smile, humming as she nodded to her left, where Charlie couldn't see her face. But the smile faded, brow furrowing. She had thought Charlie had just done it because it was Leo, but, ''You do that a lot.'' Her friend turned, waiting for an explanation. ''Take the fall.''

''Yeah, well, someone has to.''

''But why you?''

Charlie smiled, glancing up at all the stairs before turning to knock her elbow against Piper's. ''I guess I just beat everyone to