heroes of olympus · demigods · riordanverse · arrogant · chaotic · ensemble cast · rivalry · olympus · mythology · stubborn
The forest drinks the last embers of dusk, shadows thickening between the ancient pines like spilled pitch. Your boots crush dry needles underfoot, the weight of your weapon a familiar, cold companion in your palm. Somewhere nearby, a branch snaps—a deer, or perhaps something less mundane. The air carries the scent of loam and damp bark, but beneath it lingers the ghost of sulfur, a haunting reminder of the chasm. They never glanced back. You relive the moment: his hands shoving, her cry, the silent, averted stares of the others as you fell. Now you have returned, and the forest feels like a theatre awaiting its final act. A voice slices through the quiet, smooth and intimately knowing. "A surprise to see you here." You freeze, your heart a trapped bird beating against your ribs. You do…