Splashing through Puddles - Excerpt from Daughters of Olympus

I held my head high as I trekked through the waist length grass. Who knew there was a swamp on the way to Long Island Sound? I sure didn't. If I did maybe I would have chosen to wear more appropriate shoes; the pink pumps I was wearing were now caked in a layer of mud so thick I'd have to saw my foot off to remove the shoe.

"I really didn't think this through" I moaned to my non-existent companion. It wasn't just my fashion choices that I was beginning to regret. Running away from home was never going to be a Nobel Prize winning idea, but I never knew it would be this difficult...or muddy.

It turns out there was a lot more I didn't know about that I would discover at the end of this miniature quest through the labyrinth swamp. Was there going to be a Minotaur at the centre like my favourite Greek myth? My muddy shoes would make the perfect bull fighting weapon.

Onwards I marched, picking up my heavy feet, exerting a little more effort with every step. The rest of my clothes had become uncomfortably sticky, attaching them to my heaving chest. My breath was short as I travelled at a glacial pace, my bag feeling heavier and heavier as I progressed through the bog.

My invisible companion pointed towards a line of trees in the distance. I was delirious. "The trees would offer shade from this merciless heat" I said, swiping sweat from my brow. "Let's go over there" I continued to walk for another fifteen minutes, the promise of shelter from the sun being the force propelling me forward.

I brought out my hand to touch the rough bark of the tree as if I was blind and needed to feel something to know it was real. In my mental state, it could have been just a trick of the imagination.

"Cruel imagination" I whispered, sinking down so that my back was propped against the trunk. "The tree is real"

With all the strength I could muster, I delved into my backpack in search of my bottle of water. The liquid inside glowed like a crystal, the sunlight distorting the fluid. As the water touched my lips it felt like I was drinking rainbows and happiness, for my mind soon cleared once I was rehydrated.

"This doesn't look much like a campsite" I said. Even though no one could hear me it felt comforting to hear my own voice. I'd been alone for two days and the supplies in my pack were beginning to run out, I checked my purse. You really shouldn't have spent that money on the taxi, I scolded myself. What are you going to do when your food runs out? I had packed like I was going on a two week vacation, so I doubted that my food store was depleting until I looked into the cold pack. A chocolate orange sat by itself, in amongst cereal bar wrappers and crisp packets. Maybe I should have packed an actual orange for the journey?

My planning skills were really lacking.

I felt exhausted, like I'd just run for five hours straight. I'd shoved a cell phone into my skirt pocket but, undoubtedly, there was no reception. I told myself severely that I couldn't phone my father to come and get me. The whole reason I ran away was to keep him safe, away from the trail of destruction I seemed to leave behind me. There was no way I was going home. Not after I'd got this far.

I stretched out my legs, which were covered in inflamed scratches from the long grass. Another thing that I should have packed: allergy cream. I crossed my ankles and tried to make myself as comfortable as possible. My muscles ached, my head hurt, my back screamed. Now's a good time to rest, I thought, there are no threats here.

Spoke to soon.

Just as a closed my eyes, relishing in the tangerine colour of my eyelids, my ears picked up a slow rustle in the grass. There was no breeze.

I couldn't see the source of the sound; my ears were oddly in tune with a world beyond the horizon, I'd always been able to hear things no matter how far away from me. It was the most useful super power I'd heard about when on the run. Too bad it was costing me valid sleeping hours.

The rustling continued, getting closer and closer. My eyes wildly scanned the grass, but still couldn't spot anything unusual. When the noise grew impossibly loud for a small insect to make, I jumped up from my resting position.

It was as if my brain had just switched to battle mode. My muddy feet helped me to stand tall and strong. I bent my knees so I could easily pounce on an attacker. Two days on my own and I was already an expert in survival. Must have been all those books I read.

A hissing sound erupted next to me, and despite my prepared battle position I jumped like I'd been electrocuted. Snakes. I hated snakes.

"Young one" a voice said, with a lisp like their tongue didn't belong in their mouth. "Oh young half-blood"

The voice sent icicles into my heart and frozen my brain as if I'd eaten too much ice cream in one go. As the hissing noises increased, I wondered if the voice was simply in my head. I probably didn't drink enough water and was now having a dehydrated delusion. Snakes can't talk, can they?

I looked at the floor, hoping to spot the slimy speaker to prove my sanity but tripped backwards on a tree root when I looked to the sky.

Before me a horrific monster had formed. It was a woman, or half a woman I should say. She had hair as green as grass, with slit yellow eyes that narrowed menacingly in my direction. Her skin was a scaly gold which glinted in the sunlight. Instead of legs, she had two rolling snakes with forest green skins and flitting red tongues. She wore plated armour around her torso and arms, with a spear clad onto her back. When she stared at me it felt like snake's venom was flowing in my blood.

"Daughter of the sky and the sea" she hissed menacingly. "How I long to kill you"

I spluttered awkwardly, not really taking in what she was saying. Daughter of sky and sea? My dad made pottery for a living! She wanted to kill me? I didn't even know her, or for that matter, even believed she existed!

"Who are you?" I coughed. "What do you want from me?" I kicked myself inside for using the most clichéd damsel-in-distress lines.

"Who am I?!" the woman roared. "How could you not know?" She flicked her hair so it hung like ropes down her back. "I am the mothers of all monsters. I am Echidna!"

"Not really ringing any bells" I said. "Did you say Enchilada?"

"Ha!" she hissed. "Like I haven't heard that one in all my years. You are a half blood, are you not?"

"What's a half blood?" As soon as I said the words it was like something was unlocked in my head. Suddenly a whole host of memories came flooding around me, most prominently one of myself as a baby, being lifted up out of a cotton soft cot and being caressed by a woman of stunning beauty. Surrounding us both was an expanse of sapphire sky and marshmallow clouds. What was that?

"You know what it means. You've had your own suspicions all along." Echidna scowled around the swamp. "Aren't you running from something, something that's been following you since you were born?"

"How did you know?"

"My poor unfortunate girl; you are this close to the camp and you don't seem to have a clue what's going on." Echidna's snake legs wriggled around so I could see their menacing mouths. They spit at me violently, the saliva burning anything it touched. Luckily my muddy shoes protected my feet.

"How do you know that's where I was going?"

"Stop asking questions, it's so repetitive and bland. All half-bloods ask questions: "Can your snakes talk?', 'Why don't you have snakes for hair?', 'Do you really have to kill me?'" she sighed. "I'm tired of answering for others. It's time I answered for myself."

I squirmed.

"I want to kill you and so I will. You will suffer pain sooner or later, but why mess with fate? I'm only saving you from killing yourself eventually"

"I don't understand" I felt scared beyond belief. Emotions gripped me, adrenaline pumped through my veins. This snake woman wanted to kill me and seemed to know more about me than I did.

"I think we should slow down a bit. How about instead of me asking questions we have a nice little chat about me? Then we can talk about you and your bloodlust." I babbled.

Words were never my strong point; hearing them I could do just fine, but forming them myself was another can of worms.

"Well, that does sound nice"

"You think?"

"NO! NOW YOU DIE!" Echidna grabbed her spear and clutched it firmly. Before she even had a chance to move a snake-muscle I was up and running, discarding my backpack, and running for my life.

I heard her battle cry hiss and more slithering as she chased me through the sweeping trees. The tree I was resting next to marked the entrance to a forest of willows and large puddle pools which were all varying shades of brown.

I didn't dare slow down as I heard Echidna gaining on me. I bounded around tree roots and flew over bogs so fast it was as if I was flying. Darting through trees, I quickened my pace, sure that I was losing her.

          Stop, sweetie, said a female voice in my head as I rolled around a tree, changing direction. You’re going the wrong way!

I shook my head in disbelief. I whipped my head around in search of Echidna. I was not falling for the voice inside my head thing ever again. But would Echidna ever call me sweetie? Probably in a patronising I’m-going-to-rip-you-apart-way I guess.

          Stephanie, listen to me. The voice spoke with such forcefulness I stood dead still. You’re not imagining me, I’m real.

I scoffed. As if that proved anything, I thought.

          Walk over to that puddle. The voice instructed. There was no hiss or menace to the words. In fact, the voice sounded like how a teacher would talk to a student, or a mother to a child. I suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to listen to the voice and obey their every command.  

A niggle in my brain told me to think about just following this strange woman's instructions, but I ignored it and walked over to the puddle. It was different to the others; it was so clear and pure I could see my reflection in high definition if I stared into it. There was something special about it, I’d have known even if a soothing voice in my head hadn’t told me so.

          “What now?” I asked the voice, desperate for a quick response. I didn’t know how far behind me snake woman was and I sure as heck didn’t want to find out.

          Look into the puddle. Can you see me? The woman gave a silvery laugh that filled my heart like a lullaby. I tried to look past my own reflection and saw the source of the voice.

Unlike mine, her reflection wavered and rippled, not giving me a crystal clear image. It was sort of like when a television screen goes static. However it was obvious that the woman was blond and had eyes that sparkled like precious gems.

          I can protect you, she said. I believed her. I can take you where you need to go in the blink of an eye. Or you could say in a flash of light! Her laughter sounded again like the ringing of bells. Do you trust me?

I nodded, sure that the woman could see me. 

       Imagine the campsite you're heading for. Imagine it as if you are already there. Think of the smells and the sights and the sounds. Think hard, Stephanie. 

I thought as hard as I could. 

     Now jump into the puddle. 

     "Umm...what?" I furrowed my eyebrows, not sure what the woman meant, however I heard rustling in the trees. Echidna was close, I could almost feel her hatred radiating through the forest. There was no time for second guessing.
I knelt to the ground and stuck my index finger into the puddle. It felt thick like syrup. Intrigued by the texture I stuck my whole hand in. It began to feel unattached from my body; I feared I wouldn't be able to take my hand out again. With one hand stuck in the silver syrup puddle, I used my legs to kick my body upwards into a handstand. 
I turned my head just as something exploded from the bushes but didn't get time to gasp before I was submerged in the puddle and started to fall.