(Untitled)

[curiously_cora]

There were things on the island that didn't happen very often and when they did they devestated everything and everyone in their path. Like the hurricane that had destroyed peoples homes or the bad people that came and hurt people or the island kidnapping people and leaving them stuck in dinosaur territory or like the teenager in a mood hellbent on

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[percy_jackson]

I was feeling very alone. Things had already been difficult before Luke's arrival, with Annabeth so awkward. And then to have Thalia run out on me, just leave me there with Luke? Suddenly, I felt as though I couldn't count on my friends as much as I had counted on them.

I could go back to my hut and spend some time with Mrs. O'Leary, of course, but I was in the sort of mood where, though I was alone, I didn't particularly want company. I kicked at a stone with more force than I'd intended. It skittered up the pathway and smacked the trunk of a tree.

Then something dropped from the tree and whacked me in the head. I stumbled, and rubbed my scalp. "Ow!"

[curiously_cora]

Coraline hadn't meant to hit Percy on the head. She hadn't really even noticed him to be honest which was very unlike Coraline. But she had hit him which on some level made her smile even when she was not noticing Percy, she still managed to get the jump on him.

"Sorry, Percy." Coraline said, pulling and kicking at another plank of wood until it came free and fell noisily to the ground away from Percy. "I didn't see you there. You shouldn't walk under people's treehouses though when they're demolishing them. It's very dangerous."

[percy_jackson]

I rubbed my head and glared. "I'll keep that in mind, thanks," I said. Then my brow furrowed. "Wait, why are you demolishing your treehouse?"

[curiously_cora]

"It's ruined," Coraline said simply. Everything she had stored in there, all her treasures and bits of artwork were ruined. The one place she had to get away from it all was gone. She hated the island. "The storm got most of it. I'm just finishing the job. And it's not like Adam has any time now to fix it."

Not that she didn't love her little sister because she did. She just missed it being just her and Adam.

[percy_jackson]

"Oh." I grimaced. As bad as I felt, I couldn't help but feel bad for Coraline. She loved that treehouse. A lot of people had had their homes damaged by the hurricane. I'd gotten off lucky. In this respect, I was luckier than Coraline. Strangely enough, that did not make me feel better.

"So, what are you going to do? Just leave it?" I said, frowning. Surely she knew her way around a hammer. How hard could it be?

[curiously_cora]

"What's the point? It's ruined, it won't be the same now and I can't- I'm not good with buildings." Coraline said. Knowing Coraline she would have spent half the time in the clinic with nails in her hand rather than nails in the treehouse. "So, what's the point in trying?"

[percy_jackson]

"Well, it will be sad to see the treehouse go," I said. Then, more quietly, more to myself than to her, I added, "Everybody needs a place to retreat to." I thought a moment. I knew how to handle a hammer. I could get friends to help. Jack, maybe, if he wasn't too busy with his own place. Maybe Zell. Polly was Coraline's friend. She'd help. That's assuming that Coraline wanted help.

I looked up at her. "Do you want help?"

[curiously_cora]

Coraline didn't want to ask for help. She didn't want this to be just another project, another reason for the grown ups to treat her like a child. Like she was someone they could overprotect in one moment and then tell to grow up in the same breath. Grown ups were stupid, she wished she could have been like Peter. Never growing up and free forever. She missed Peter, she missed all her friends.

"I guess, its silly though isn't it? Childish," Coraline said. She was thirteen years old. She shouldn't feel sad and angry about a stupid treehouse but she did. "Sure. It's not like you can do any more damage then is already done."

Coraline picked up a fragile looking model she'd made. It was beautiful, a bright green balloon that she'd made for Cain but had never had a chance to give him. It was beautiful but it was also broken. Just another piece of rubbish now.

[percy_jackson]

"I don't think a treehouse is silly." I grabbed the trunk and hauled myself up onto the branch beside her. I worked loose a stray piece of wood and let it drop to the ground on the pile that was forming beneath us.

"I'm serious," I said. "This building is as important to you as the huts are to others. It's been a few days since the hurricane. I can help you build a new one. I think I can find a few friends to help as well."

[curiously_cora]

"Would you? Really?" Coraline asked curiously, her face brightening at the thought. Coraline waited for him to steady himself before she threw her arms around Percy and hugged him tightly. He was the best friend she could ever ask for. She was sure Lucy wouldn't mind her being replaced by someone as cool as Percy. "You're the best Percy. I mean it. You're my best friend. I've not had that many best friends before. Just you and Lucy."