Temple Talk (Lyn)

Lyndis was supposed to be in classes learning about the gods, and the myths behind them. The main part of that sentence was “supposed to”. Instead of that boring task she had decided to place her offerings to the gods at temple hill. A bag tagged at her back as she made her way happily along the road. Despite his feelings Edmund had agreed to help her make the gifts, and she was fairly proud of them. The book Charlie gave her was very useful in both letting her know what kinds of gifts the gods liked and why. It was an interesting book and Lyndis could not help but read the entire thing, even if it had some rather terrible thing about certain gods. She hoped with all the hard work she put into them, and the input she had coxed out of Ed, they came out with something each god would like. It had been a lot of planning, and a lot of work, but Lyndis made something for every single god.

The bag was a lot heavier than Lyndis had originally thought, and it was pretty heavy to begin with. She got to the bottom of the hill out of breath, but smiling. Her breathing was heavy as she forced herself to climb the hill. Bent forward she propelled her little body forward just as much as she could, climbing to the top before collapsing with a great sigh of joy. Her knee's hit the ground with a thump, and she laughed exclaiming how the journey would all be worth it. Falling forward a bit she put her hands on the ground and let them support her as she caught her breath.

Only a few seconds passed before she got up, ready to make her way to each of the temples. Finally her head was up, and her eyes saw in front of her. A broad smile spread across her face as she saw another person there. She raised her arm to stand up straight and wave but began to fall backward, quickly she leaned forward again but over compensated trowing herself to the ground. She threw her arms down in front of her to protect herself, dirt and rock flew at the sudden impact. Lyndis got up and dusted herself off “I'm fine, I'm fine. Just a klutz.” she said with a brilliant smile. Her hand stung and as she looked down at it she saw a rock imbedded in her skin, pulling it out made her begin to bleed. With her other hand she rummaged around for a small band-aid to put on it.

No matter what was happening Lyndis could normally be counted on for a smile. She offered it freely, which was something she had come to realize a lot of people did not do here. She was fine with that, it just meant she had something to bring to the table, even if it was only a smile. Even now, a fresh bandaid on her hand and shirt full of dirt, she smiled. She had fallen more than enough, she had been a klutz all her life and doubted it would ever stop. Something else to add to her quirks list, that she would simple throw out the window since everyone had quirks. The face she saw was one she had recognized, a person in charge. The thing began with a 'p' that was all she could remember. The people here had such odd names for things, centurions she could remember a little because it sounded kind of like sentry. They had sentries back home, people who kept watch. She could remember associating the word to call him with hunters. Though she could not remember why.

“Yep! Lots of stuff! Ed and I made something for all the gods, because there are super lots of them. I can't remember all of them yet though, but I have a list! List of them and the stuff we made for them.she said with a smile, she had been rather proud of getting help from Edmund to make things, anything. The idea that she had gotten him to help make tributes to the gods had not crossed her mind as being anything too surprising. “Thank you for the offer Mr. Remus, but I want to do it myself! It will mean more!she said in her normal excited sometimes loud voice. It was cut down in volume only because she was still a little tired from her walk from the barracks, and up temple hill.

Everything in the bag was hand made by a girl who was not very good in a lot of the crafts she had attempted, but with Edmund's help they were able to overcome both of the ocd they had. Lyndis' was the fact the god had to like it, and it had to have an equal amount if not greater amount of work from Lyn herself. Edmund was a stickler for details, and of course the main set of hands for teaching Lyndis what to do. She had even made a dagger like the ones back home for Mars, then Edmund made it straight, and she made it sharp. Lyndis knew how to sharpen weapons at least.

“What are you doing up here? Did you want to come with me? I don't know where I'm supposed to put peoples stuff. I know the big buildings belong to certain gods, but what about all the others?She asked as she finished making her way to Remus and carefully set her bag down on the ground. Things shifted around, and the clank of metal on metal could be heard from inside.

It was not that Lyndis had found everyone in the legion to be nice people, there were quite a few that seemed to get really annoyed with her, but she seemed to find some of the nicest people. She included Edmund in the list so it might be a slightly warped list, and Remus had made his way to the list too. She had strange friends, though she herself did not realize this. For Lyndis there was no such thing as a strange friend, or perhaps no such thing as a normal friend. She didn't think about it, only she she liked them and there for they were friends. She liked Prometheus, and he let her hug him so they must be friends. Remus, she had only seen him when she got in trouble, so calling him a friend might be a little soon. However she was ready to quite possibly after this encounter.

Remus was being nice, and it made Lyndis smile widely. He could tell she was trying, at least that's what she was thinking. He even let her know he didn't remember the names, now if only she could remember his position name. He was the main person in charge, and to admit a fault to someone younger felt like quite the accomplishment to her. She wanted to say its was hunter, but hunter did not begin with a 'p', what else could it be? Oh right predator was a hunter and it started with a 'p', but still not right. She felt like she was getting closer. "How long have you been here? Is it normal to not know all their names? Do you know all the campers names? I'm trying to learn everyone’s names, but it's super super hard. Maybe harder than learning all the gods, but the gods names are kinda weird. Maybe they were normal before, but it's kinda hard to pronounce, and some of them have names that sound alike."

Lyndis got a lot more conversation from him than she did from Edmund, but Edmund was just so cool! Remus was cool too, he was Mars' son. That was pretty cool. He was in charge of a whole big legion of people, and was still pretty young. He was going to help her figure how to navigate the temples, and since this was her first time there it would be a very big help. Lyndis wanted to bounce like she normally would when she was this excited, but the heavy bag had made her tired. Yes the hyper active full of energy never ending nonsensical speaking Lyndis was tired. "Yep, we can give Mr. Zeus and Mrs. Hera their stuff first! Good idea since they are the top boss ones." she nodded looking up at him, the shoulder straps of her bag still in her hands.

When Remus started walking she leaned down to the bag, lifting it on to her back before walking with Remus. His long legs took only about half as long to cover the same distance that she did. She took two quick steps for every one that Remus took, and did not mind at all. Perhaps this took a bit more energy, but there was nothing Lyndis could complain about. She much preferred to walk quickly, and people around here did not tend to slow down for her. It was good, Lyndis had a ton of energy anyway. "Mostly working hard on the things, but I have been trying to go to my classes and things, and not get in as much trouble! The fighting here is weird, swords and shields and the line fighting? You need more horses! I like riding horses. But I guess we don't fight lots of people, more like we single out a target and go after it and surround it. So I guess horses might not make as much sense for this place. Okay, I think I get it. It also keep horses from getting hurt yes?"

"Puppies! Awww, what was their names? You name them weird, Goldean and Quick Silver! Yes!" Tessa looked at the dogs curiously as they seemed to eye her bag. "Oh, what about the latin name for gold and silver? That might make sense, do you know what it is Mr. Remus?" Lyndis let them examine her bag as much as they wanted, sure it had weapons and stuff in it but didn't plenty of people have then around there? "So they guard you? But you're...you know. You can protect yourself." Lyndis had her bag open on the ground in case they wanted to look inside her bag. She had only slightly stopped caring about going to give the presents, or offerings to the gods, because she couldn't resist the dogs.

Hundreds? Had there really been that many? Lyndis tried to count how many gifts she made, and was pretty sure it didn't get up that high. She didn't make gifts for all of them, mostly avoiding the titans and anyone older than them because of the thing about Jupiter over throwing, and stuff. Lyndis was still learning it all, it was kinda interesting but some how the people who taught class made it not interesting. Lyndis didn't know how they did, but they managed. She wondered if it had to do with being in this place too long, but Mr. Remus had been here for nine years but he didn't seem boring. Looking up at him she guessed he was a little ridged, stiff like a board, but not boring. Remus was cool in her book, just another person who was in charge of discipline and what not. He seemed to do a pretty good job, at least the camp seemed to run pretty smooth for being so big. Even Lyndis could tell that much.

Looking up at him she listened to his criticism of her word use. Weren't they the same person? Zeus and Jupiter, and Hera and Juno? Still Lyndis listened and nodded, she remembered they were a little different, maybe? She should have paid a little more attention in class. Now she was doubting herself and having trouble remembering which ones were called what names. Jupiter just had to have the longer name. Lyndis was glad she didn't write name on any of the actual projects, pulling out her paper she looked it over. On the paper she had Jupiter and Juno, her brain must have just switched something somewhere while speaking. "What's the difference between the Greek ones and the Roman ones?" Lyndis couldn't even remember if her class had gone over that tiny bit of info, possibly just that the Greek ones were weaker and they should go with the Roman ones. It seemed like something that was quickly passed over.

"Argentum and Aurum? Argentum, Aurum, Argentum, Aurum" Lyndis started saying quietly and slowly trying to make sure she was pronouncing it correctly, and that she could actually remember the names. It seemed like a tongue twister. She seemed really focused on trying to remember the names, perhaps one of the few times she actually focused on something was people, and anything with a personality's, name. After a few moments of making sure she remembered their names, she started to unfurl her brow from its concentration and smile at them. They were very cute, and seemed too like sniffing around in her pack like any animal. They didn't take things out to play with though, and she was glad for that. She'd hate for teeth marks to be on something she gave the gods. "Honor guard? Is that just for ceremony and stuff? Do they always follow you around? Shouldn't one be with him even If he is training? Isn't it better just in case he hurts himself training? Have you hurt yourself?" Lyndis was about to ask more question but paused before asking her nest "Do I ask too many questions?"

Lyndis patted the metal dogs on their head as she started closing up her bag. She was sure that Edmund would be able to get to the point where he could make something just like these dogs, maybe better. He had just started making cool little creatures and Mr.Metal was his first ever, what did he call it? Automation? That was probably it, but either way it was his first and is possibly the best thing she had ever seen. These dogs where cool too. "So Mr Jupiter and Mrs. Juno first?" rummaging through her bag Lyndis pulled out the things she had made for the gods, nothing big or fancy, but she made it herself.

Remus was so nice to answer Lyndis' question with a well thought out and well worded explanation. She knew she should pay attention, especially since she had asked the question, and she tried. For the majority of his answer she was focused, and it was kind of interesting, but soon her eyes caught something moving or shining, she wasn't sure, either way the next thing her knew he was done. She had missed something, she knew she had, and it seemed like it was the most important part, the part that had actually answered her question about the gods. Her head and eye refocused on him again, she had to pay attention this time. Another question to be answered, another of her questions. She was always so curious about things, but some how the answers never seemed as interesting, except when Ed gave them. Quick, to the point, no time for little minds to wander. Her little head nodded as he confirmed she was okay to ask all the questions she wanted. That was good, she wasn't entirely sure what she'd do without them.

Remus tapped his leg, nothing unusual, but the sound caught Lyndis' attention. Possibly for the best, she was now able to get a better look at the building they were going to and it had some interesting architecture. She looked up at Remus as he told her about the little puppy automatons. Had the real Rome been that violent? She tried to remember a little about what she had learned so far, the violence or more aggressive nature of Rome was probably what made the gods different. She vaguely recalled the start of Remus' last answer with Romulus and emus. She mostly only remember because the name was the same as the person next to her. A butterfly flew across their path and Lyndis' eyes immediately followed it. Snapping back to Remus quickly she caught the end of his next sentence. It was good she had at least caught the question, though she really wished she had heard the rest. "Camp is good...." she said hoping he hadn't really noticed the fact her mind completely did not catch anything he said. She was pretty sure the other people could at her age, so it made her feel a bit self conscious about it.

"I've gotten used to the solid trap like buildings, and the unusual food is okay because there are lots of fruit, and training is easy because I grew up training at home, even if it is a lot weirder it has the same basics. I don't know how use to not hunting my food I am. It's weird." she said, still not quite looking Remus in the face. A clap of thunder sounded as the got closer and her head shot up. She was fine with thunderstorms, just not outside in them. "I like rainstorms, and thunder doesn't hurt you but....lightning does...." she couldn't help but go over all the little things her dad told her about thunderstorms to calm her down. Her dad. She missed him and the games and stories they would tell when it was thundering outside. Thinking about it missed him more and more, but she wouldn't say it. Everyone here was going to have to stay for a long time. Lots of people missed people, and they didn't say anything, so neither was Lyndis.

"Ed and I made everything. I'm not as good with crafty things like him, and we made lots of things with metal since we did it in the forge. You think they will like them?" She said looking at the gifts, in her bag the largest was maybe a foot long. Most things fit in her little hands, and that was why she was able to fit them all in one bag. Sure not every single god and goddess was included, but anyone Jupiter and younger was included, and his siblings. It was still a lot, and she couldn't get all the oceanids and things, but she tried to get as many as she could. Mostly if they had a name she tried. She had a good thirty items in that bag, presents for the gods.

Slightly shorter answers! Yes Lyndis could deal with this, and understand this much. She smiled up at Remus and nodded “Yep I understand. More straight lines and muscle memory than survival instinct. I might not like doing the same stuffs over and over again but I know why we're supposed to. No thinking, just doing right?” It was the same concept as fighting in general, though Lyndis had gotten a few of her sword stances and things from home, they were no where near as crazy about them as it was here. Besides, at home sword fighting could be turned into a dance, they didn't seem to like the idea much here. Sword dances were really cool though, especially when people with longer limbs did it. She couldn't help but look down at her short arms and legs. She was still fairly little, especially when standing next to Remus. She was pretty sure he was over a foot taller than her. Maybe closer to two foot taller, because he was certainly taller than Charlie. They were kind of siblings right? Biologically anyway, since they had the same dad. Lyndis wondered if they were close, because not many blood relatives seemed very close so far.

The statue was certainly intimidating, with the ominous thundering clouds behind it? Not entirely the best first impression, at least Lyndis didn't feel it was. She liked when people made nicer impressions, friendly, even if they were supposed to be in charge. It was never nice to rule with fear. Lyndis wasn't sure, but she was pretty sure that people worked better in nurturing environments, not necessarily soft squishy ones. The type that rewards good work just as much as you punish the bad, and where people can make a mistake or two without too harsh punishment. This place was certainly not bad, maybe a little strict, sometimes violent, and too stationary for Lyndis' tastes, but not bad. She had met plenty of people she liked after all.

She still couldn't help but scoot closer to Remus, not purposefully, but she did. The thunder was still something that normally brought lightning, though she trusted Remus wasn't lying about the lack of electrical impulses. “Metal-earl-gee?” the word felt weird coming off her tongue, looking up at Remus with her normal inquisitive gaze. She supposed it meant metal expertise, or something like that. It was Ed they were talking about after all. At a rather slowed down version of her normal trot, Lyndis made her way over to the alter. It certainly was different, doing something like this. She wasn't sure what her families gods or things were, since they never really did anything special like this. Object already in hand, she placed it gently on the smooth surface before giving a slight bow. She wasn't entirely sure what she was supposed to do, or what was supposed to happen, but it should be nice to get presents right? Everyone likes presents.

Listening to his explanation, her mind wandered only slightly near the end. Wandered to the noise over head, though she tried her best to focus on Remus in an attempt to drown out the thunder. She nodded at she spoke "I didn't mean completely without thinking or anything. I just mean more focused in different stuffs. Do I get to do hand to hand training? What's that? Is it grabbing, or punching or kicking or everything? I never did hand to hand before. We just did bows and curved swords. Short bows at that, not the long ones like here. Mine was even shorter, because I'm still little."

A clap of thunder rung over her head, startling the small ten year old girl that stood in front of the alter. She wanted nothing more than to jump a foot in the air, and run back to Remus, but he told her it was okay. He told her there was no dangerous lightning, so she kept herself together. Only a small spasm of her wanting to jump in the air showed at the sound. Turning back to him as she heard his voice and was more than happy to leave the place she stood. Trotting with new enthusiasm back to Remus, of course glad to be next to the older camper again. Her near white teeth showed in her smile as she looked up to him, her smiles weren't often just little closed lip ones. When she smiled, she certainly looked like she meant it every time. Perhaps that was because she did mean it, normally wearing her heart on her sleeve she smiles widely when happy and her entire demeanor drooped when sad. Not many people saw her sad, but that was because she didn't exactly have things to be sad about.

"Mrs. Juno would be good, I'd like to get the married peoples together. Then maybe Mr. Pluto, and Mrs. Persephone, and Mr. Neptune..." Lyndis had to stop a moment to think. She couldn't remember having heard about Neptune getting married or having a wife. She supposed she could be wrong, she was that a lot. Especially about the gods, and training, and, well, maybe everything. That was probably the closest to the truth, that or she could list the things she was often correct about. That was a fairly short list, though she'd have to count her own assumption on the word metallurgy. Not exactly right, but she was going to put it in her little point column. Count the good things, and let the rest just kind of go away. There was no real use remembering bad things anyway. There were always times that it couldn't be helped, even she had experienced those times once in an incredibly long time, but keeping count of all the good things that happen to you is a better use of brain space. She could count all day the bad things about being here, away from her family, in a world she wasn't used to, but instead she thought about Edmund. One of the best people to ever enter her life, and Charlie was really nice, then Remus was helping her here and now. Good things, good people. She got to try new foods, good or bad. Lots of new ways and flavors for chicken, which was her favorite type of meat. Most of the things she could count were people though. Lots of new interesting people.