Remember, Remember the Fifth of November

[unit_girl]

It was much easier to organise the second time round. Even if Evey seemed less than excited about the party aspect, last year's Bonfire Night had been enough of a success to do it all again. Which was good because somehow it wasn't the 5th November without fireworks and they were something you never grew out of

Comments

[percy_jackson]

As I showed up to the party (and who could miss it? Everybody was talking about how good the last one could be), I couldn't help but feel guilty that I'd left Mrs. O'Leary back at home. But then, I didn't know how well she'd take to the fireworks.

I felt a little awkward just coming out, all on my own, but perhaps a festive bonfire was what I'd needed to dampen the memories of the really creepy one I'd seen the other day.

I stood around, ate food, and kept an eye out for a familiar face.

[spirited_hero]

[percy_jackson]

I smiled. "Hello, Zell! It's good to see you here. How are the legs?"

[spirited_hero]

[percy_jackson]

"I think we got off lightly," I said, laughing. "I heard some people ran into some group-hugging zombies, and it wasn't very pleasant." I sobered slightly. "Well, we can laugh now, but I bet it wasn't too funny at the time." Then I brightened. "Still, Mrs. O'Leary had fun. Never had so many chew toys in all her life."

[spirited_hero]

[percy_jackson]

"You might say that," I said. Though she might object to that. "She's... a hound. A big dog from back home. She came to the Island a few weeks ago. Found me right away, too."

[spirited_hero]

[percy_jackson]

"Cerebus," I echoed, my eyebrows up. "_The_ Cerebus? Guardian of the gates of the Underworld Cerebus? You saw him and lived?"

[spirited_hero]

[percy_jackson]

I stared at Zell, open mouthed. Then I closed my mouth. I rubbed my eyes wearily. "This has 'long story' written all over it." I looked up at him. "Maybe it was a different Cerebus; was yours around twenty feet tall? Anyway, yeah, I met him. I... er... had to go into the Underworld with some friends to save my mother, and we had to get past him. We didn't have much time to organize, so I had to come up with a brilliant plan."

Except that the plan hadn't exactly been so brilliant.

[spirited_hero]

[percy_jackson]

"Erm," I said, looking away and fiddling with my fingers. "We offered him a stick to fetch. He offered us ten seconds to prepare ourselves for a quick but gruesome death." I couldn't help but chuckle. "Fortunately, Annabeth had brought a bright red ball, and _that_ worked, of all things."

I looked over at him. "I don't think it was the same Cerebus. It's weird how we all come from different worlds, but that's probably the explanation. I met a wizard from New York. And it's recognizably New York. But I don't think we belong to the _same_ New York. We don't have wizards where I come from. Just, er, centaurs and furies and naiads, and so on."

[spirited_hero]

[percy_jackson]

I couldn't help but laugh with Zell, remembering how much of a relief it had been that Annabeth had come through with a red rubber ball. "Yeah, it's weird." But then I noticed Zell's smile fade. "You okay?" I asked.

[spirited_hero]