Chapter Text
My legs got sorer every day. I felt dizzier daily. I wasn't eating nor sleeping enough for how much continuously walking I was doing. I didn't know how much longer I could keep this up.
Everything had sounded clearer than ever for hours as I my heavy legs trudged along. Gradually my hearing got more and more muffled within a half hour. I ignored it despite a headache starting, my breathing getting a slight bit deeper, my head feeling lighter, and overall feeling like I was gonna pass out. I couldn't focus on it, couldn't think about it, if I did I would probably have a panic attack and make it worse, besides, I've felt worse.
My vision started darkening.
My limbs got heavier.
I felt a cold feeling wash over me.
I passed out.
I fell foward, unable to catch myself, falling gay onto the forest floor.
I felt like I was unconscious for hours. I couldn't think, it was jst a void. It didn't feel like I'd wake up.
~~~
(leo rn)
~~~
Slowly, I regained consciousness. My eyes blinked open. I was confused when I didn't feel dirt underneath me.
I sat up confused.
I immediately panicked when I saw my surroundings. Sliver. Sliver fabric. Held up by sticks. A tent. A specific tent.
I tried slowing my breathing as I felt my eyes widened.
That effort was void when someone walked in. And of course it had to be one of the only ones that I actually met beyond shameless flirting one time.
She rushed over. "Hey, hey, hey, breath. You're okay. We're not going to hurt you, you're in a safe space. Let's do box breathing alright? Breath, two, three, four. Hold, two, three, four. Exhale, two, three, four. Hold, two, three, four." She kept going until I calmed down.
"Okay. Can you tell me your name?"
Okay, okay, okay! I practiced for this. I even had found a way to keep the spell reinforced with some basic magic from research and watching Hekate kids enchant things.
Shit. What was my fake name again? Ah she's gonna wonder why I'm taking so long to respond.
"Do you remember your name?" She asked confused. It was clear in her tone she thought he was an idiot. Great. So no different then before.
Fuck. Well I guess fuck the fake name at this point.
"N-no, I know my name, I'm not that stupid. My names Leo."
"Leo? Nice to meet you Leo, I'm Reyna. Can you tell me why you thought I'd be a good idea to walk through a forest, for I'm assuming days with barely eating and sleeping?"
"It was longer then a few days. And That's none of your concern."
"Oh really?" She stood up. "That's really something you're gonna say to someone who helped save your life? And someone with a army of girls to behind them to help them beat you up, not that I need them to beat your scrawny ass but y'know."
"I don't want any of your help anyways. And I know you wouldn't beat me. You wouldn't, some of those girls would though."
"How do you know that?"
I shrugged, "you don't seem the type and I know I can piss people off real bad, and a lot of people wanna beat me."
"Well. Anyway. What do you know about greek gods?"
"I know they're real. But I don't wanna go to either camp. I wanna be on my own."
"Were you claimed?"
"Yes. I'm a child of Hephaestus."
"Ah that explains the no discipline and toolbelt."
subconsciously my hand moved to my waist in a protective gesture towards my tool belt. Then I realized I didn't have it on. I looked down for the first time and panicked realizing I was in clean clothes. Somehow I had a binder on, how the hunters were able to put that on me well I was sleeping, I had no clue, I had enough trouble getting it over my arms when I put it on when I'm awake. I thought for a second they just left it on, but then I realized I didn't feel the sweat and grim that normally collected under my binder. I was pretty sure none of them had ever worn one though because your not supposed to wear it in your sleep, that didn't stop me, but still. I was also surprised I hadn't felt my lungs constricted when I first seen Reyna and the tent. Although that may of been because I was too anxiety filled to notice my lungs were constricted because of more than just heavy breathing and fear.
I was really scared of them knowing I was trans though, I hadn't told anyone I met since transitioning.
Then I remembered my cuts, Gods, I hope they didn't notice them.
"Hey, no need to panic. Greeks and Romans remember? Bacchus was trans in both sides od the myths. Also there's some trans girls in the hunt.
That made me feel a little better. Not because Bacchus or other trans people. But because Reyna was so chill. She was always chill though. It helped a lot that she was the first one that knew. Well besides people that needed to know because like medical. Like Chiron, some medics at camp, Jo and Emmie, Coach Hedge.
There was still the cuts thing though. That left a cold bubble of anxiety in my chest. I really hoped they just took them to be from monsters or something.
"Anyway, can I ask why you want to be on your own?"
"Personal reasons."
"Alright. You are really good at shutting down questions I'll give you that. I coukd interrogate you more but I'm trying take every chance I get to not be in charge, so I'll let Thalia take this over. She's be in a just a second."
Reyna walked out. A few minutes later she came back with Thalia, she stood with her arms crossed smirking as Thalia moved towards me. Ah how I loved Thalia grace and how eagerly I anticipated her "interrogation".
"What's your name?"
"Leo."
"Full name."
I sighed, "You're not gonna find any information on me, but Leo Valdez."
"Where are you from?
"Texas."
She rolled her eyes, "Where in Texas?"
"Houston."
"Are you greek or roman?"
"Greek."
"Who's your godly parent?"
"Hephaestus."
"Why are you not at camp half-blood?"
"Because I don't like camp and would rather be on my own."
"Well I'd be fine if you were with other people but going on your own is not a good idea."
"I'll be fine. I've been fine on my own for weeks."
"But what happens when you aren't fine?"
"Then I die, whatever. Most Greek demigods don't make it to 20, right? then its not out of the ordinary."
"Look. That may be true but that doesn't mean we want that to happen. Most people wanna live a littke longer then just to their 20s."
"I never said I did wanna live to 20, I just said a lot don't live to 20."
"Fine. Then where are you planning to go?"
"I don't know, wherever my feet take me."
She rolls her eyes and walks off very annoyed at me.
"She's getting hunters to see what they can find about you and probably getting lady Artemis and asking what to do with you."
"Let me go. That's what you should do with me."
Reyna sighs.