Thia's POV

The glowing trail lead us to a darkened land mass. We'd finally made it in tact across the wild waters. Andy and I dragged the boat onto the rough shore while Leah gathered our things.

It felt more than amazing to be on solid ground. Andy laughed and flipped onto his back. "I have never been so happy to see land. Sweet beautiful land!"

The sand was course and damp near the waves but I made my way unsteadily to the drier area of the shore. Here it felt like a fine powder, a nice blanket of silk compared to the constant moisture of being on the ocean.

Sighing, I laid down in the sand closing my eyes, "Sorry Poseidon but this is way better than the ocean."

Andy laughed happily and I glanced over to see him making a sand angel. It was funny seeing him so amused by something as simple as sand. Leah laughed and jokingly kicked him.

"I think Algeria is my new favorite place," Andy smiled brightly, sitting up. His hair was a wild salty and sandy mess but he didn't seem to mind.

"We can't stay long. We can rest here but we have to head towards Italy remember?" Leah asked, sitting cross legged in the sand.

"Right. Italy, the place of pizza," Andy grinned. At the mere mention of pizza my stomach roared excitedly.

"Ugh, Andy don't talk about food." Groaning I could feel my mouth start to yell at me demanding food. Pizza would be amazing.

"Or a burger with bacon," he sighed wistfully.

"And," Leah whined. "Shut up!"

"Sorry dudes, I'm hungry," He chuckled, laying on his back and looking at the stars. "Hey guys look."

"Hm?" Leah questioned following his gesture at the sky.

"That's Orion up there," he noted. tracing the three stars that made up the belt of the constellation.

"Yeah." Leah nodded, laying down in between us. "Hey Thia you know about stars right?"

"Yeah, Mama and I look at them all the time. She taught me all the constellations." Laughing, I remembered something else as well, "Artemis made sure I knew the entire moon cycle as well."

"That's right! You're in with the moon goddess." Andy glanced over at me. "What's that like? Got any secrets?"

"Never pegged you as the one for gossip," Leah mused, smacking him lightly on the back of the head.

"Please, Venus kids have a knack for it, it's instinct," I teased. Andy looked slightly offended but he brushed it off. "What do you want to know?"

"So does she like Apollo or is he super annoying?" Andy questioned.

"He's annoying but they get along sometimes. The point is they're siblings  so they have each other's backs," I shrugged.

"Cool," Leah smiled, settling back in the sand. "Is it true she stabbed out Orion's eyes?"

"Yeah but that's a sore topic so you shouldn't mention it. Orion tried to kind of kill my parents too so he's not up there on my well respected list but apparently he's a bit nicer now." Leah and Andy nodded taking in the information.

"So like...has she ever you know, liked a mortal or something?" Andy questioned.

"What? No!" It was such a ridiculous question I had to laugh.

"Oh come on! It's a valid question. You can't tell me someone can live for thousands of years and not even have a fling with someone," Andy argued, flicking sand in my direction.

"Fair enough," Leah shrugged.

"Okay maybe so but mortal men are like the lowest of lows," I explained. "Especially for the Hunters. They have zero tolerance for them. Partially because they're a majority of the reason this mess is even happening. Let's be real, men are the ones who start chaotic and pointless wars."

"I'm starting to think that moon goddess brain washed you," Andy mused, wiggling his eyebrows.

"She did not! They just have very good points. Girls are much cooler and level headed. We don't do things in broad daylight, we can slit a throat and get away with it. Especially because men made sure we were good at cleaning," I explained. Leah gave Andy a smug look and held up her hand for a fist bump. I happily obliged.

"Yeah yeah. Fair enough." Andy rolled his eyes. "Rumor has it she's got someone on her radar. She has the big old heart eyes."

Andy held up his hands and made a perfect heart. I was impressed by his skill. Not really.

"It's not a rumor." It was my turn to roll my eyes. "Seriously, who even gives you your information?"

"Intuition and instinct," Andy shrugged. "I guess I just get a feeling."

"That's the cheesiest thing I've ever heard," Leah laughed, earning a punch on the arm from Andy.

"Spill, kid." Andy leaned on his elbows looking at me expectantly for an answer.

"Hey, I'm not telling you any personal secrets. It's supposed to be private anyways and I was sworn to secrecy. Zoë made me take an oath when I was four and my parents insist I uphold it." Why they trusted a four year old I had no idea.

"I knew it!" Andy yelled sitting upright. "It is the lieutenant."

"Wait... what?" I asked, confused as to how he came to his conclusion until I recalled what I'd said. Technically I hadn't broken my oath. Right?

"Oh don't be so smug," Leah snorted, rolling her eyes. "I think it's kind of cute. Picture it. You have your lieutenant being around for thousands of years who was probably your best friend. Then they turned into you lover but you're forced to keep it a secret. Then one of you dies tragically but eventually comes back. It's like a book."

"Ew, that's sappy." My nose wrinkled slightly.

"Thia you're the type of person who still believes in cooties," Andy chuckled.

"It's not my fault my Mama said I can't date until I'm like thirty five," I protested. Leah and Andy both laughed at my statement . "What?!" 

"Mama? I've been meaning to ask why you still use that. It's toddler language," Andy smirked.

"You shut up! I love my parents very much." Grumbling I crossed my arms. "You're just jealous I have two of them and you only have one who doesn't even talk to you."

Admittedly, that might have been a bit harsh but he clamped his mouth shut as did Leah. 

"It was just a joke," he mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Great, it was super funny." Frowning I curled up on my side and tucked an arm under my head. "Aren't we supposed to be getting to sleep?"

They didn't say anything which was fine by me. They didn't need to laugh. Quite frankly I missed my parents more than anything. Sometimes, I thought I'd rather have them here with me just because they'd know what to do. I knew quests weren't perfect and I knew from my Aunts and Uncles that you could argue but still be close. It's just that things were trying sometimes. Like now.

After a moment I assumed they'd gone to sleep when the sound of feet moving unsteadily in the sand came closer. I opened my eyes only slightly to see Andy sit down next to me.

"Look, kid, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make fun of you. I just, never really called my parents that sort of thing." I wasn't that inclined to forgive him so quickly but he seemed sincere. "So I apologize. I was a jerk."

I couldn't help but smile very slightly. Out of this entire quest I didn't think Andy had apologized to me once. Sure he had at CHB but never in private. He'd only ever apologized in front of both Leah and I like he wanted to make sure she witnessed his upstanding character.

"You deserve better from me especially since you saved my life and got us here. I'm sorry about your hands. I was stupid and it was my fault. Are we cool now?" He asked, his eyebrows raising slightly.

"Yeah." Nodding I shook his offered hand. "I don't mean to be so sensitive, I just miss home. But to answer your question, I've always called them Mom and Mama. It was an easy way to differentiate between whose attention I wanted. It's all I've known and it feel weird to say something like mother."

"I understand. Listen, I promise you I'm going to get you back in one piece. I bet your parents are worried sick just as much as you are." He gave me a small smile and ruffled my hair before heading back to his previous spot.

Shaking my head I closed my eyes and slowly drifted off to sleep. When the sun rose I wasn't too happy about waking up. Soreness from our previous ordeal was beginning to settle into my muscles.

"Alright sleeping beauty get up." A gentle hand shook my shoulder and I grudgingly peeled my eyes open. "We have to get to Italy as soon as possible."

"I'm up, I'm up." Groaning, I sat up and rubbed my eyes.

Leah smiled and tugged me to my feet. "Andy has everything accounted for. We're ready to move when you are, Leader."

As if on cue Andy tossed me a backpack and saluted. "Soldiers are ready."

"You guys," I laughed, shaking my head. "You're complete dorks."

"True enough. Now let's go see if we can find a bit of food to steal," Leah decided, patting her stomach. I noticed that we all looked a bit thinner than we had before. Lack of nutrition was bad especially if we needed to fight or fend off any monsters.

"Good idea." With that we headed off in search of something edible. It took what felt like ages before we stumbled upon civilization. Once we had, I could smell hundreds of tasty things to eat. The problem was finding something to take without getting caught. It proved easier than I expected especially during the morning crowds as the entire place seemed to wake up at once.

It was some sort of fluffy pastry that we'd managed to snag and it tasted better than ambrosia. The dough melted in my mouth and whatever covered it in a sugary powder was like gold for your taste buds.

Andy looked like he was going to pass out from how good it tasted. Leah just sighed and closed her eyes appearing to be in heaven.

"I swear this is the best thing I've ever eaten," she grinned, taking another careful bite. While she savored hers Andy practically inhaled his.

"Sweet Jesus that was amazing!" He laughed.

"I couldn't agree more," I smiled. A soft bark caught my attention and I glanced over from where we sat on the side of the street to see a skinny dog weaving through the crowd sniffing for scraps. It was a female, and from the looks of it it was trying to nurse puppies. It wasn't hard to tell by the way it's poor chest and stomach sagged.

Bystanders paid it little attention. I had a good three quarters of my meal left but the angry hunger in my stomach had been satisfied so that it was only a minor ache.

Standing, I dusted off my hands and wove through the people to where the dog was sniffing in an alley way digging through knocked over garbage cans.

"Hey there." The mere sound of my voice startled the poor thing. It's rear lowered to the ground and it's ears flattened in submission. "Easy, I'm not gonna hurt you. See? I have something for you."

The poor dog didn't bother to take a step forward. It stayed there shaking with a weary look to its eyes. Turning the pastry over in my hands I tore off a tiny piece and leaned forward setting it a good distance away from myself. Sitting down again I crossed my legs and watched.

The dog didn't move for some time but it's hunger got the best of her. She very hesitantly slunk forward and like lightning snatched up the small scrap before retreating as though she expected me to take it back.

"Good girl." Smiling. I did the same as before. It took three times before she even came close to approaching me. "Like I said, I'm not gonna hurt ya."

Holding out the remaining half I remained still as the dog sniffed it curiously. She tore off a large bite and just like Andy, she inhaled it. The food was gone quickly and soon the dog was sitting in front of me as if it expected more.

"I'm sorry girl I don't think I have anything else. I can check." Slipping off my backpack I dug through the small amount of items that remained. I managed to locate the crumbled edge of a granola bar and a piece of dried fruit. "Here, that's the last of it. Not as appetizing as the pastry but it'll do, yeah?"

Setting the small portion of food on the ground I watched as she once again ate it in a flash. "I bet your pups miss you, go on, get back to them."

Seeming to understand, she hesitantly nuzzled my hand in thanks before scampering off, nails clattering on the pathway. Smiling, I stood and pulled my backpack back on over my shoulders. Turning I noticed Leah and Andy waiting patiently.

Making my way over I noticed Leah's gentle smile and soft gaze. "What?"

"Nothing. Come on." She shook her head and gestured for me to take the lead. It was a very long walk and by the middle of the day my feet had grown sore. Our shoes were beginning to look worse for wear. We would have to replace them eventually.

Kids in the street ran past playing a game of soccer. The ball rolled to Andy's feet and he messed around with them for a moment before falling back in line with us.

"I didn't know you liked soccer," I noted.

"Always have. I used to play," he smiled, straightening his pack. "The old life was good."

The sound of nails scraping on the ground caught my attention once again. For a moment I thought it was the dog again, only it wasn't. The monster was familiar. I'd seen it in a few drawings and the way it scuttled about made me uncomfortable.

"Manticore. Run!" Leah and Andy didn't need to be told twice. If I was being honest, I figured we'd run into something eventually. It just surprised me that we hadn't been smelled sooner. After all, we were three demigod kids traveling together.

Feet pounding into the ground we sprinted through a small town before it dissolved back into the country side.

"Manticores are bad!" Andy yelled. Just as his sentence finished the sound of spikes whizzing past greeted my ears.

"Don't run in a straight line. Fan out!" Leah instructed. The three of us broke apart. I darted between rocks and trees of all sorts. One of the spikes grazed my calf and the poison in its tip made my skin burn. A cut so small shouldn't have hurt so bad.

Lungs heaving and heart racing I leapt over a large rock. My foot caught the edge and as I went down I was already planning on the quickest way to get up. Rolling to my feet I stumbled on just as a tree not far from me was impaled.

Up ahead I spotted Andy dart into my path. The two of us drew even for a moment before he sped up and moved slightly to the left. We zig zagged back and forth with one another.

Andy glanced over his shoulder, eyes wide. His foot clipped my leg and the two of us went down. I expected it to be a short fall. It wasn't.

There was a moment of weightlessness as we tumbled through the air but it was quickly replaced by a painful jab to the ribs. Falling again, I slammed into something else. My head and elbow cracked against tough rock. The sky flashed in my line of sight for a brief moment and I heard a sickening crack come to my right. My senses were smothered as I crashed into water.

I had no idea which way was up or down. My lungs burned desperately for air and I clawed my way through the water until at last my head broke the surface. Panting, I assessed my surroundings. I was in a small lake next to a cliff.

My vision swam angrily for a moment as I moved slowly and painfully towards the gravelly shore. There was blood coming from my head and arm, that much I knew. Eyes aching and vision blurry I glanced about trying to find Leah and Andy. I didn't spot Leah at all but there was Andy.

I couldn't make out much but there was a lot of blood. Too much. Blinking, I tried to make a move in his direction. Standing, my legs gave out quickly and I toppled to the ground. Whatever I'd smacked my head on had done a number on me.

Laying on my back I looked up at the bright blue sky. It was cloudless. Nice actually. Huh, I felt a bit tired. Maybe I could close my eyes. Just for a little. The thought flashed by briefly and my eyelids were already drooping. The pretty blue sky was slowly replaced with black. For the briefest of moments I felt like I was falling all over again.

Then everything went still.