[venturis ventis / to the coming winds]

New York City was covered in a thin sheet of snow, covering the streets and hoods of cars, and linings of buildings. A gentle but bitter December wind blew through the city, causing its inhabitants to bundle up. However, one seventeen-year-old girl was only slightly unfazed by the winter weather.

Even after nearly four years inside a magical barrier-protected training ground, Tessa Brennan wasn't faltered by the chill in the air. She swaggered her way down the sidewalks of New York, her hands in her pockets of her thermal coat. Her jeans were tucked into combat boots, leaving prints in the snow as she walked. Her pin-sword, Tempest, rested safely in her right pocket, waiting to be used. Tessa's dark brown hair was down, covered partly by a light blue beanie. Her sea green eyes flickered with the electricity that came when the daughter of Poseidon was on a hunt.

Tessa turned a corner, her eyes locked on the figure moving through the bustling New York streets. Of course, it knew she was following it. The only question was when it would monster-up and face her.

The daughter of Poseidon risked a glance behind her, checking to see if her companion was still in view. This was their plan, after all. Tessa would go in and deal with the monster primarily, and then backup would follow after a few minutes. A little bit of searching later, she spotted him, and satisfied, turned back around.

With a pang of her heart, Tessa noticed she'd lost track of her prey. The monster had scattered in the time Tessa used to find her partner, and with a curse under her breath, she shoved her way down the streets. She was not about to blow this mission.

Thankfully, she didn't have to go too far. Tessa reached an alley, and nearly passed it, were it not for the man with the glowing golden eyes standing inside of it.

Tessa entered the alley, pulling out Tempest in one swift motion and turning it into a sword. She smirked her signature smile, spreading her hands. "I told you," She taunted the demon. "You can run but you can't hide."

The man hissed. "Silly half-blood girl, I am Eidolon, shape-changer. You cannot dispel me from this body."

Tessa mocked a pout. "Aw, rats. I really thought I was going to get through this without the whole speech coming from your side. 'You're on the losing side', 'I'll destroy you', blah, blah, blah." Tessa's vision sharpened, to a dagger's point.

The eidolon hissed once more, and Tessa sighed as if bored. "You made me do this." She said in warning. Then before the demon could let out one hiss in protest, she flung Tempest forward like a throwing knife. The Celestial Bronze blade swept forward, but the monster dissolved into golden light.

Tessa blinked. That wasn't supposed to happen.

"Tessa!" A voice called. "What happened? I lost you back there."

Tessa whirled around to see Reese, her combat companion, enter the alley. He wore a black thermal jacket over jeans with tennis shoes. A quiver was strapped across his back, with his golden bow in his hand. His blue eyes were as sharp as the cloudless sky above them, filled with the son of Apollo's signature obliviousness.

"Had to move quickly," Tessa responded, turning back around. She retrieved Tempest, tapping its hilt and sticking it back in her pocket when it had changed forms. She pivoted back to face Reese, an irked look in her eyes. "It got away."

"Yeah, I can see that." Reese exhaled. "Eidolon?"

Tessa nodded.

"Damn," Reese looked around, as if the monster would make a matinee appearance. "What is it with those guys nowadays anyway?"

The duo walked out of the alley, heading back the way they'd come. Argus would be waiting for them at the rendezvous point, with the white minivan waiting to escort them back to camp.

"No idea," Tessa pulled her beanie off and ran a hand through her hair. "But they're starting to get on my nerves."

"Agreed," Reese chorused. After a while of walking in tension, the son of Apollo's typical sunniness shone through the cracks. "Hey, it could've been worse."

"How so?" Tessa regarded as they turned a corner.

"Could've been a Hydra in the middle of a train station."

Despite what he'd brought up, Tessa tossed her head back and laughed. The memory of their quest that summer surfaced, and she remembered the panic that had ensued in Chicago as a Hydra materialized in the train station.

"You have a point," Tessa noted. As they walked, she found herself thinking back to that summer's quest, and how much things had changed since then. Here she was, five months later, and still haunted by the events of July.

Reese and Tessa walked the remainder of the way back to the parking lot where they'd left Argus. The many-eyed security guard of Camp Half-Blood saw them, a few of his bright blue eyes widened in expectation, and with a shake of Reese's head that he thought Tessa wouldn't notice (she did), the man frowned.

Tessa crawled into the van, reclining against the seats. She shut her eyes, taking a deep breath. A moment later, she felt the van kick into gear, and she, Reese, and Argus were back to camp after a failed mission.

"So how do you want to break this to Chiron and the others?" Reese drawled from the backseat.

Tessa blew out a long exhale. The old centaur wouldn't like hearing that they'd let the demon get away, but he would have to understand. Eidolons were tricky little devils. "I'll let you know the plan when I think of it," She responded.

Reese made a noise that could have been a scoff or a laugh, and as Tessa settled in for a short nap, she hoped it was the latter.

~~

As it always was during the holidays, camp was decked out in lights and décor. The barriers had allowed a thin sheet of snow to cast over the hills and cabin tops, glittering in the winter sunlight. Colorful lights lined the roofs of each cabin and the central paths of camp. Seeing Camp Half-Blood at Christmastime was always one of Tessa's favorite things to see, but not when she had just failed a mission.

The daughter of Poseidon sat in a chair around the ping-pong table in the rec room: the makeshift meeting room for head counselors and war counsels. She and the other head counselors of camp were reclined in folding chairs and various other stools, listening to that day's report.

The head of the Hermes cabin finished their report on new stocks at the camp store, but Tessa hadn't focused. Before she knew it, it was hers and Reese's turn to stand and speak.

"Tessa?" Chiron asked when the room got quiet.

Tessa looked up, glancing around the ping-pong table. Everyone was looking at her expectantly: Sophia of Athena, trying to gauge Tessa's reaction with pursed lips, Calum and Nova, the Hephaestus twins; Dale of Demeter, Tessa's best friend; even Reese, who had apparently already started speaking.

"Yes?" Tessa mused. If it was one thing everyone at camp—including Chiron—knew about Tessa, it was that she didn't like to be bothered or interrogated if she was stressed. And right now, she was stressed about her failed mission.

"How did the mission go?" Chiron asked. His wise eyes were sincere, and Tessa didn't want to disappoint him, but straightened her posture with a sigh.

"We weren't able to apprehend the eidolon," Tessa said shortly. "It evaded our scopes, and the trail ran cold."

Okay, so not a total lie. She met Reese's gaze across the table, who looked like he'd been stabbed; the kid hated lying, and was not the best at it. A forceful gaze from Tessa was enough to get his gaze back to normal, and the son of Apollo began to answer Chiron's technical questions. Tessa sat and as she scanned the table, her eyes fell upon the representative of Cabin Ten.

Kaden Gray, Tessa's charming boyfriend, slouched in his chair. His chestnut hair was windswept as always, his green eyes glimmering. To everyone else, the son of Aphrodite looked normal. He laughed, he smiled, he made girls—but mostly Tessa—swoon. But it was the burden Kaden felt like he was carrying that Tessa worried about.

She still remembered their conversation from the last day of the summer session, where she'd seen the odd marks on his arm that claimed him to a different world. Kaden was Roman. Not Greek.

Ugh. The whole concept gave her a headache, but even with the worry Kaden was dealing with, he was still her loving and supportive boyfriend.

You okay? He mouthed, his green eyes filled with concern.

Peachy. Tessa responded, flashing him a thumbs-up.

Kaden gave her a look. He knew her better than anyone, who was she to try to pretend she was okay?

I'll be fine. Tessa mouthed.

Kaden sighed. Meet me outside after the meeting. He mouthed, and with that, stood when Reese sat down to give his report of the annual Christmas and New Year's Eve parties that the Aphrodite cabin would be holding. The stereotypical news seemed to be jokingly painful for Kaden to deliver, but his expressions as he shared it was enough to make everyone crack a smile, even him.

Tessa sighed. She missed hearing his laugh more often. Whenever it was just the two of them, sure, things were lighthearted, but easily turned to tense. There was just too much to keep track of in these past few months, too many fears and worries.

Chiron trotted to the head of the table. "Well, then, I'll see what I can discover on these sightings of eidolons, but for the most part, good work to our agents." A scattered round of applause went out for Reese and Tessa, who forced smiled. "You all are dismissed."

The demigods stood and ensued chattering, walking out of the rec room. Reese pulled Dale into a conversation, even if the daughter of Demeter seemed...gloomier lately.

Tessa frowned as she watched Dale and Reese disappear. She knew what was still striking a chord with them both: Mark's death. It affected her too. He was her best friend too, despite his being glued to Dale's hip. Over time, Tessa had learned to deal with the absence of his smart remarks and jokes, but it was like part of her heart was gone, buried under the landslide of Crystal Cave.

"Hey, Tess," Kaden's voice brought Tessa out of the prison that was her mind.

The daughter of Poseidon glanced around, and realized that she'd managed to walk outside. Leaning against the railing of the Big House was Kaden, just like he said he'd be during the meeting.

"Hey," Tessa managed, walking up to him. She leant in and kissed him shortly, the surge of butterflies in her stomach enough to lighten her mood a little.

Kaden pulled away from the kiss a little brighter too, and seeing the smile on his lips was enough to make her kiss him again. She could feel him smile even more into the kiss, wrapping his arms around her waist, and when they pulled away, he was grinning.

"What's got you in a kissy mood?" He quirked an eyebrow, a laugh laced in his voice.

Tessa laughed. "Nothing, I just like kissing you."

"Ah, good, I thought the feeling wasn't mutual."

Tessa whacked him, and the both of them laughed. They linked hands and walked down the Big House steps, into camp. As it normally was during the winter, camp wasn't as packed as it was during the summer. Sure, there were still plenty of campers, but a good chunk of them had lives to live during the school year.

"So," Kaden swung their linked arms. "How're you feeling?"

Tessa sighed. "I don't know," She revealed. "You know I don't like failing at things."

"Oh, I know." Kaden said impishly. "I still remember that time you and I almost lost that baking contest."

"I would've killed."

"Or when you and Reese were about to lose the chariot race."

"Ugh, dark times."

Kaden laughed. He stopped in his tracks, and turned to face Tessa, pulling him to her. "But the thing is, Tess, that you never totally fail. You think you will, but you always pull through. You can do anything." He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, cupping her cheek.

Tessa leaned into his touch, sighing in content. "I hope so," She said. "Just with...y'know, everything that's been happening, it can be a little discouraging sometimes."

"I know," Kaden said soothingly. "But you'll get through it. I know you will." He kissed her forehead sweetly, and the gesture made Tessa want to melt.

"I know what'll cheer you up," He smiled. "Come on."

And so Tessa allowed her silly boyfriend to whisk her through camp until they'd arrived at the canoe lake. Frozen over with ice but still enchantingly placid and beautiful, Kaden and Tessa sat down on the edge of the dock. Tessa cuddled into Kaden's side, resting her head on his shoulder. They sat in silence, save Kaden humming something under his breath to calm her down.

"This is where we first met," Tessa mused absentmindedly. She looked up to see Kaden blush and smile, as he always did when any memory of their past was brought up.

"Who would've guessed that we'd be here like this now later on?" Kaden said, turning to look at her. His eyes shimmered, but Tessa could see the worry behind them. He realized his mistake too late, but if it was one thing Tessa was good at it, it was reading her boyfriend.

"What's wrong?" Tessa asked.

Kaden sighed. "Nothing, Tess." A pointed look from her made him bite his lip. "Why'd I even try that?" He laughed weakly.

"Not sure, so I suggest you better spill," Tessa said, sitting up straight. She held his hand, squeezing it reassuringly. "Is it about...you know what?"

Kaden nodded. "It's just...you know how anxious I've been these past few months. Ever since the memories and the marks showed up, I've been so nervous that someone would find out. Gods, I haven't even told Reese." He ran his free hand through his hair, making it stick up in odd places.

"Hey," Tessa said softly. "Everything's gonna work out, okay? I promise."

"I hope you're right," Kaden exhaled slowly. "Can I tell you what specifically is worrying me?"

Tessa nodded, listening attentively.

Kaden stared out at some point on the lake that Tessa couldn't discern. "When the marks showed up, it meant that they'd found me, or at least found out I was alive. But that was in August, and it's been four months, and nothing's happened." He looked at Tessa, and she could see the distress as clear as day in his gemlike eyes.

Tessa pursed her lips. "Maybe they know you're happy here? That they shouldn't just steal you back?"

Kaden sighed. "I hope that's the case," he said. "But if it's one thing I know about Camp Jupiter, it's that it isn't."

Something twisted within Tessa. He spoke of this Roman camp, this Camp Jupiter, as if he'd been there his whole life, like it meant more to him than Camp Half-Blood did. Each time it happened, that his adoration of this other camp slipped through, Tessa couldn't help but imagine what his life had been like there.

How did the camp work? Who were his friends? What did he do? And possibly the most painful question to consider, were there any girls she needed to know about?

Tessa opened her mouth to speak, to try to reassure him, but footsteps echoed on the dock. She turned and saw Ben, son of Athena and one of Kaden and Reese's newest bro buddies, walk towards them.

"Tessa," Ben nodded in acknowledgement.

"Ben," Tessa stated.

The son of Athena turned to look at Kaden, who had wiped away his true visage of distress and replaced it with his usual sheer confidence. "What's up, Ben?" He asked.

"I hate to interrupt, but your siblings want you." Ben informed, a hand on the sword at his side.

Kaden let his head fall back as he groaned. "What do they need me for?"

"I don't know, I didn't ask." Ben shrugged. "I told them I'd come get you."

Kaden sighed in defeat. He turned to Tessa and smirked impishly. "No rest for the wicked, right?"

Tessa's heart panged painfully. "Right," She responded, a weak smile on her lips.

Kaden smiled and leant forward, kissing Tessa passionately. She could feel the apology he intended to be behind it, and kissed back. Before it could get awkward for Ben, he pulled away. "I'll see you at dinner, Tess." He pecked her lips once more before walking off with Ben.

Tessa watched her boyfriend go, and with a dejected sigh, eventually walked back into camp. She couldn't help but feel that no matter how hard she tried, there was one part of Kaden that was slipping from her, and she feared the day when these Romans might swoop in and take him away from her forever.

She'd lost too many people these past few months; she refused to lose someone else.

As Tessa walked back to Cabin Three, her footsteps leaving tracks in the sugar-like snow, she couldn't shake the frost that seemed to be spiderwebbing its way across her heart.