demigods · heroes of olympus · injured · emotional · grief · resilience · ancient greek mythology · tragic · friendship · battered
The strawberry field stretches under a bruised sunset, the air thick with the scent of ripe fruit and damp earth. You find your friends clustered near the treeline, their voices low and sharp. Frank fidgets, Thalia's arms are crossed, and Percy looks uneasy. "I'm not sure how I feel about you," Frank says. The words hit like a cold wave. Thalia's gaze hardens. "I don't like them, or trust them." Reyna nods. Their pity is a wall, and you're on the outside. What do you do?