Luke and Lucas decided to camp out in a cave that reeked of a dragon, probably a previous tenant who thankfully moved out.
The cave flickered with firelight, shadows dancing across the stone walls. The night was quiet, except for the occasional crackle of burning wood.
Then footsteps.
Unsteady.
Lucas and Luke looked up at the same time, hands moving subtly toward their weapons.
A figure appeared at the entrance. A girl, about their age, maybe a bit older. Clothes torn, arm scratched, hair tangled and wet from the storm outside. Using a spear as a crutch.
She stared at them with sharp eyes that tried to veil her exhaustion.
Neither of them moved.
Then Lucas gestured to the fire.
"You're welcome to sit," he said. "There's warmth. And food."
She hesitated. The flicker of mistrust passed across her face. Then she stepped inside.
Luke moved to the edge of the cave, grabbed a spare blanket from his pack, and without a word, draped it across her shoulders. He handed her a bowl of stew and sat beside her like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Lucas shifted closer. "You're hurt," he said quietly, noticing some injuries on her arm.
"Hold still."
"Sarcio"
The girl flinched as he pressed two fingers lightly to her arm, the wound glowing faintly before the pain faded. The gash sealed with only a faint mark left behind.
She stared at him. "What... was that?"
Lucas offered a small smile. "Magic."
Her brow lifted. "Like… spells? Potions? That kind of thing?"
"Pretty much," he said.
The girl looked between them. Her guard hadn't lowered completely, but her shoulders weren't as tense.
Lucas glanced at her quietly. "You never gave us your name, by the way."
She hesitated, the firelight flickering across her face, casting uncertain shadows. "Thalia," she finally replied, voice softening. "Just Thalia."
"Welcome, Thalia, I'm Lucas, that is Luke" Lucas said, offering a gentle nod. "Rest for now. We can talk more when you're ready."
"You should get some rest we have a long journey ahead of us tomorrow"
"You think I'm just going to join you?" she asked, raising a brow.
Lucas studied her. "You've got the same look Luke did when I first met him. Tired. Not sure where to go next. Alone."
She glanced at Luke, searching.
"He's annoyingly perceptive." He offered a grin. "You don't have to decide anything now. But if you don't have a place to go… we're headed toward one."
"What place?"
Luke sat up straighter. "Camp Half-Blood. It's where people like us go. Demigods. Kids with one divine parent. It's not perfect, but it's safer than most places. Safer than this cave."
As if summoned by the words, a low growl echoed from the mouth of the cave.
Then another.
They turned.
A pack of hellhounds stepped into the opening, red eyes glowing, teeth bared.
No hesitation.
Lucas and Luke were on their feet in an instant.
Daggers drawn.
The cave filled with snarls, the clash of blades, and the blur of motion.
And Thalia, still holding the bowl in her hands, spear leaning against her, watched the battle unfold.
Watched how they didn't hesitate to protect her, a stranger who led monsters to their dwelling.
She felt warm, and it wasn't all due to the fire and blanket.
The last hellhound fell with a heavy thud, dissolving into shadowy vapor that quickly faded away. Lucas exhaled softly, wiping his dagger clean as Luke scanned the cave's mouth, alert for further threats.
Thalia remained seated, bowl still gripped tightly, eyes wide.
"You two fight like you've done this before," she said, voice steady despite the lingering surprise in her eyes.
Luke shrugged, sliding his dagger back into its sheath. "You get used to it."
She watched them for a moment, cautiousness still present but slowly giving way to quiet gratitude. She settled near the fire, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly.
Luke caught Lucas's eye and gave a small nod. Without words, they agreed to take shifts keeping watch. Lucas sat nearby, drawing out his journal and beginning to scribble quietly. Thalia studied them curiously.
Outside, the night stretched long, filled with distant whispers of wind and rustling leaves. Lucas settled beside the fire, keeping watch as Luke drifted into sleep, and Thalia stared thoughtfully into the flames.
Eventually, her voice broke the quiet again, small but steady. "How long have you two been traveling together?"
Lucas glanced up from his journal, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "Feels like longer, but just a few months now."
"And you're sure about this camp? It's safe?" she asked carefully.
Lucas met her gaze evenly, sincerity in his eyes. "It's safer than running forever. It's a place where you won't have to fight alone."
Thalia was quiet, watching the fire. "I guess anywhere's better than nowhere."
Lucas nodded. "Exactly. Now get some rest, me and Luke will take turns taking watch"
Thalia finally closed her eyes, lulled by the gentle crackling of the fire.
The morning broke gently, sunlight slipping softly into the cave entrance, chasing away the shadows. Thalia woke slowly, blinking at the brightness. For the first time in a long while, she felt rested, protected, and not completely alone.
She sat up slowly, noticing Luke by the fire, carefully stoking the embers back to life. Lucas slept curled beside the fire. The scene was peaceful enough to make her feel oddly at ease.
Luke noticed her stirring and offered a reassuring smile. "Morning."
Thalia stretched, feeling the stiffness from days on the run fading somewhat. "Morning," she murmured softly, surprised by her own voice, clear and steady.
Luke, nodding in greeting. "Sleep well?"
"Better than I have in weeks," Thalia admitted quietly.
"Good," Lucas said simply, returning his attention to the fire. "We should move soon."
"Why do you offer a kind morning to the first pretty girl you see but not your own friend?"
Lucas woke up stretching, breaking the silence.
Luke handed her a small portion of breakfast, ignoring Lucas' jest, leftover stew and a chunk of bread. "Eat something. We don't know when we'll have time for another meal."
She ate slowly, savoring the warmth and flavor more than she'd admit. As they packed their things, she watched the boys quietly, still hesitant, but feeling a strange trust begin to grow. They moved with practiced ease, coordinating without speaking, clearly accustomed to traveling together. She wondered briefly if she'd fit into their dynamic.
"Ready?" Lucas finally asked, adjusting his pack.
Thalia stood, pulling the blanket off her shoulders and folding it carefully. "Ready as I'll ever be."
The journey from the cave was slow, the three of them walking in relative silence. Thalia noted how Lucas often glanced at the sky, as though reading invisible signs. Luke moved quietly ahead, his eyes scanning the trees, hand never straying far from the dagger at his side.
She finally broke the quiet, curiosity getting the better of her. "So, how did you two meet?"
Luke looked over his shoulder, grinning slightly. "Lucas caught me pickpocketing in North Carolina."
Thalia raised an eyebrow. "And he invited you along after seeing that?"
"Something like that," Lucas said lightly, his eyes distant as he smiled. "He looked like he needed somewhere to go."
Thalia considered this, falling back into silence. She had needed somewhere to go, too, and somehow, she'd stumbled into exactly the place she needed to be.
They traveled through the forest for hours, keeping off main roads to avoid unwanted attention. As dusk fell, Lucas guided them to another secluded spot, a clearing hidden among dense trees and thick brush.
"We'll camp here tonight," he said decisively, dropping his pack.
As they set up camp, Thalia found herself watching Lucas carefully, intrigued by his quiet confidence and the magic she'd seen the night before. She asked him hesitantly. "Could you teach me? About magic?"
Lucas paused, considering his answer
"While I wouldn't mind, learning on the go isn't going to be productive. It takes patience and focus to truly understand magic and I doubt we can do that during our journey, that's not even taking into account if you have talent for it. My mother is Hecate, a goddess of magic, it comes natural to me."
"Can Luke do magic too?" she asked curiously.
Lucas chuckled. "No, not exactly. Luke's talents lie elsewhere. Like stealing my dagger and not giving it back"
Luke didn't even turn around to comment, merely flipping Lucas off and returning to setting up camp.
Thalia laughed softly. For the first time in what felt like forever, the weight of loneliness eased from her shoulders. She looked between Lucas and Luke, suddenly realizing she'd found something rare, a place where she belonged.
Later, when darkness fully enveloped the camp, they sat around the small fire once more, their conversation drifting to quieter matters.
"So," Thalia finally asked, her voice barely audible over the crackling flames, "what exactly awaits us at Camp Half-Blood?"
Luke leaned back against a tree, looking thoughtful. "Other demigods, training, safety. Or so we're told."
Lucas nodded slowly, eyes fixed on the fire. "Hopefully answers, too. Though I've learned answers usually lead to more questions."
Thalia raised a brow towards Luke asking a silent question.
Luke merely sighed and shook his head, a question he was too tired to answer.