The Guilt

5000 words no questions (make the characters speak) Hera came down to Camp Half-Blood to survey children of Zeus. She took the form of a common camper, a daughter of Hermes, she blended with the crowd well.  She didn’t tell anyone. It was usual for her to do so. a son of Zeus, a quiet boy that liked humming and relaxing had gone to the infirmary for a minor slash at his abdomen. Hera had followed a child of Apollo in the infirmary, looking down at the son of Zeus in disgust.  she almost incinerated him— but a noise stopped her. Farther down, four children of Apollo were treating a son of Hephaestus. The boy had gotten a curse on his leg, which was gradually splintering and shattering painfully, tearing jagged noises and sobs from the boy.  Hera stopped.  she quietly went closer, looking down at the boy. He was in agony, it was plainly visible. The four Apollo children around him were checking vitals and trying to tear the curse out, but they weren’t making much of it. the leg. Hera looked down at it. It was the same leg Hephaestus had called in when she had thrown him. The same leg that carried that limp. It was the same. The boy, Evan, sobbed again, a scream tearing from him. ”OUT! OUT! GET IT OUT! OUT OF MY SKIN! OUT OF MY BODY! OUT OF MY SOUL!” The Hephaestus boy sobbed again, his hands coming up to cover his face. He looked to his side and saw Hera. She was still in her disguise.  her expression unreadable The boy sobbed again, sniffling.  “Why are you here…?” he mumbled through his tears. this would’ve been what Hephaestus would’ve told her if she came to his Forge right now. If she tried to mend what happened. Her guilt bubbled in her chest, hot and unbearable. Hera unconsciously shed her disguise. Hera placed a hand on his hand. The Apollo kids looked up, realizing who it was, and bolted, running for their lives. The poor Hephaestus boy trembled under her, his leg splintering further, he sobbed again. Hera pulled him into her arms, softly shushing him, she put a hand on his leg and healed it in a whim. The Hephaestus boy gasped, startled. Hera kissed his forehead, then his cheeks, then his nose, then his eyes, then his hands.  the boy was exhausted, he passed out, but he was healed.  she and him vanished. she went on Olympus and to her sanctuary and tucked him there, making sure he was cradled correctly and that he was calm.