Freezing {Jason Grace}

And They Were Off

_______Katerina_______

The doors to the cabin burst open. Half a dozen campers spilled in, led by the Butch. 

"Hurry," he said, and Kat couldn't tell if his expression was excitement or fear. "The dragon is back." 

Kat dashed out of the cabin with Jason following closely behind her. 

Sure enough, she could see the dragon. The surprise was that Leo, the child of Hephaestus who was accompanying them on the quest was sitting atop a giant bronze death machine and grinning like a lunatic. Even before he landed, the camp alarm went up. A conch horn blew. All the satyrs started screaming "Don't kill me!" Half the camp ran outside in a mixture of pajamas and armor. The dragon set down right in the middle of the green, and Leo yelled, "It's cool! Don't shoot!" 

Kat had her doubts, but she listened and yelled "Listen to him," to the archers. 

Hesitantly, the archers lowered their bows. The warriors backed away, keeping their spears and swords ready. They made a loose wide ring around the metal monster. Other demigods hid behind their cabin doors or peeped out the window. Nobody was anxious to get close to the dragon after all the damage it had caused. 

Kat couldn't blame them. She had never actually seen the dragon up close, but she knew too well of the wreckage it could make. If she looked past that point, she admits the dragon was quite gorgeous. It glistened in the morning sun like a living penny sculpture-different shades of copper and bronze-a sixty-foot-long serpent with steel talons and drill-but teeth and glowing ruby eyes. It had bat-shaped wings twice its length that unfurled like metallic sails, making a sound like coins cascading out of a slot machine every time they flapped. 

"It's beautiful," Piper muttered. The other demigods stared at her like she was insane. 

Kat couldn't help but smile at the awe in Piper's voice. "I don't you would think so after you learn what that thing has done. But franking speaking, it is beautiful, I suppose." 

The dragon reared its head and shot a column of fire into the sky. Campers scrambled away and hefted their weapons, but Leo slid calmly off the dragon's back. he held up his hands like he was surrendering, except he still had that crazy grin on his face. 

"People of Earth, I come in peace!" he shouted. He looked like he'd been rolling around in the campfire. His army coat and his face were smeared with soot. His hands were grease-stained, and he wore a tool belt around his waist. His eyes were bloodshot. His curly hair was so oily it stuck up in porcupine quills, and he smelled strangely of Tabasco sauce. But he looked absolutely delighted. "Festus is just saying hello!" 

"That thing is dangerous!" an Ares girl shouted, brandishing her spear. "Kill it now!" 

"Stand down!" Kat was surprised to know that it Jason, who ordered it. 

He pushed through the crowd, and Kat followed, flanked by Nyssa. 

Jason gazed up at the dragon and shook his head in amazement. "Leo, what have you done?" 

"Found a ride!" Leo beamed. "You said I could go on the quest if I got you a ride. Well, I got you a class-A metallic flying bad boy! Festus can take us anywhere!" 

"Unbelievable," Kat muttered. "How did you-" she shook her head as if he didn't even want to imagine. "No, never mind. Great job" she said the look of relief evident on her face as she looked at Leo and Festus. 

"It-has wings," Nyssa stammered. Her jaw looked like it might drop off her face. 

"Yeah!" Leo said. "I found them and reattached them."