Theo didn't have that many things to bring, but only essentials. Excuse him, he's a minimalist person.
A small satchel slung over one shoulder, containing only the bare necessities: some ambrosia, snacks, books, and a change of clothes.
That was it. He didn't believe in weighing himself down with unnecessary baggage, physical or mental.
As he stepped out past the camp boundaries.
From high above, a streak of white dove down through the clouds. A Pegasus, its coat shining like polished ivory, landed softly in front of him. It lowered its head gracefully, as if it had been waiting specifically for him.
Theo stared, his mouth falling open slightly, the tension leaving his shoulders instantly as he took a step forward. "Wow. Okay then."
He reached out tentatively, touching the soft mane. The creature nickered softly, nuzzling his hand, radiating warmth and calmness.
'Okay,' Theo thought, a genuine smile spreading across his face, light and genuine. 'This is definitely better than walking. Way better.'
He climbed onto the Pegasus's back. It felt natural. As soon as he was settled, the Pegasus spread its massive white wings and with a powerful beat, they launched into the sky.
Theo whooped quietly, leaning forward as they soared higher and higher, leaving the earth behind.
The wind rushed past his ears, clearing his mind completely.
Below him, Camp Half-Blood shrank away and the world turned into a patchwork of green and brown. No walls. No rules. Just freedom.
He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the speed wash over him like a wave.
'Here I come!' his mind sang with excitement. 'Seven days Vacation! Seven glorious days of doing absolutely nothing!'
The journey was swift and dreamlike. The Pegasus knew exactly where it was going, gliding effortlessly through the air, flying with purpose.
Theo just sat back, enjoying the ride, watching the world pass by beneath him.
After what felt like hours, they approached a high, isolated peak. There, standing alone against the sky, was the Temple from his dream.
It wasn't grandiose or intimidating. It was simple, elegant, and bathed in a soft, golden light that seemed to come from the stone itself.
Vines grew gently on the walls, and the air around it felt still and heavy with silence.
The Pegasus landed gently at the top of the marble steps.
Theo slid off and turned to pat the creature's neck gratefully.
"Thanks, buddy. You can go now."
The Pegasus gave a final nod, spread its wings, and vanished back into the clouds, leaving Theo standing before the massive closed doors.
He looked up at the entrance. It felt safe. It felt like home.
"I'm here," he whispered to the air. "For seven days! How awesome is that!"
A sense of relief washed over him. He pushed the heavy doors open and stepped inside, closing them behind him, sealing himself away from the rest of the world.
Back at Camp Half-Blood
Percy Jackson was strapping on his backpack, checking Riptide was secure at his hip, and pulling on his traveling cloak. He looked ready for a quest, not just a walk in the woods.
His jaw was set tight, his eyes constantly darting towards the horizon where Theo had disappeared.
"Percy."
He froze. He didn't even need to turn around to know who it was. That tone of voice was unmistakable.
Annabeth Chase walked up to him, arms crossed, her grey eyes narrowing as she looked him up and down.
"Exactly where do you think you're going?"
Percy kept busy adjusting his glove, avoiding her gaze for a second. "Out. For some fresh air."
"Fresh air?" Annabeth raised an eyebrow, stepping right in front of him to block his path. "Percy, you're packed like that and you've got ambrosia squares in there. You look like you're marching to war. Don't you dare lie to me, Seaweed Brain. I know you better than that."
Percy sighed, finally looking up. His face was serious, that familiar look of worry etched between his brows.
"Look, I'm not lying. I just... I need to go check on something." He ran a hand through his messy black hair, looking frustrated and helpless. "He left, Annabeth. He actually went."
"Then why are you packing?"
"Because!" Percy gestured vaguely towards the mountains. "Because it's Theo! You know how he is. He trips over thin air. He gets nervous, he just doesn't show it. The world out there isn't exactly nice, you know? Even if the Temple is safe... he's too easy to hurt."
He paused, his expression softening, becoming more vulnerable.
"I just... I need to know he made it. What if he gets lost? What if a monster picks up his scent? What if he falls off that Pegasus?" Percy shook his head violently, as if shaking away the images. "I can't just sit here in the cabin playing cards while he's out there. I'm worried."
Annabeth stared at him. She knew that look. It was the same look he had when he was ready to walk into Tartarus for anyone he cared about.
"So you're just going to follow him?"
"I'm not going to bother him," Percy insisted quickly. "I promised I'd give him space, and I will. I just... I need to make sure he gets there in one piece."
"And then what? You'll camp out in the woods for a week?"
"If I have to," Percy said firmly, a small, lopsided grin tugging at his lips. "Relax, Wise Girl. I'll be like a shadow. He'll never know I'm there. I'm just... keeping an eye on things from a distance."
Annabeth sighed, shaking her head, but she couldn't keep the small smile from appearing. He was impossible. But that was why she loved him.
"You are so impossible, Percy Jackson."
"Yeah, yeah," Percy grinned, shouldering his pack. "But I know you love me."
He stepped forward, cupping her face, and gave her a soft, quick kiss on the lips.
"I'm serious," Annabeth warned, though her tone softened and she stepped aside, finally letting him pass. "If he finds you and gets mad? Don't come crying to me."
"He won't find me," Percy winked. "I'm the invisible man. Well... mostly."
He gave her a salute and turned, heading towards the treeline.
He wasn't doing this to be controlling. He wasn't doing it because he didn't trust Theo.
He was doing it because that was who he was. When people he cared about walked into danger, or even just into the unknown, Percy Jackson didn't stay behind.
He followed. He watched. He protected.
He didn't know when, but Theo... Theo had become more than just a friend and somehow felt like family.
Percy was just about to step into the shadows of the forest when the air suddenly grew heavy and sweet, smelling of fermented grapes and summer strawberries.
In a blink, a figure appeared out of thin air right in front of him, blocking the path completely.
Mr. D was sitting on an invisible chair, swirling a goblet of red wine, looking as bored and grumpy as ever.
"Running off again, Peter Johnson?" Dionysus drawled.
Percy stopped short, his hand tightening on the strap of his pack. "Mr. D, I'm just... stretching my legs-"
"Stretching your legs? Or running off again?" Mr. D interrupted, his voice flat and final. "We both know where you're going. Don't deny it."
Percy didn't deny it. He just looked the god straight in the eye, his expression setting into that familiar stubborn line.
"Do you think I don't know how you are continuously hounding that camper?" Dionysus drawled, narrowing his purple eyes. "Following him around like a lost puppy. Watching him from the corners. It's honestly getting pathetic to watch."
Percy's face instantly turned a very interesting shade of tomato red. He froze, his mouth opening and closing slightly like a fish out of water, completely caught off guard.
He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, suddenly finding the grass at his feet very interesting.
"I... uh... I wasn't..." he mumbled, flustered beyond belief, all his confidence vanishing instantly. "I mean... it's not like that... I was just..."
Mr. D raised an eyebrow, waiting.
Percy cleared his throat loudly, trying to regain his composure, though the pink tint remained on his cheeks.
"I need to make sure he's safe," he finally managed to say, sounding much less cool than he intended.
"Theo is guided by his mother's blessing, of course he's safe. You won't be able to follow him easily. The path will shift, and he must make the journey alone."
Percy frowned, his jaw now setting stubbornly.
"We won't know unless I try," he argued. "And yes, he already did go alone, but it never said that he had to stay there by himself."
"Fine. Fine. I'll help you." The god looked distinctly unimpressed, as if doing Percy a favor was the last thing he wanted to be doing. "I'll clear the way so you won't get lost, and I will show you the temple's location."
Percy paused. That was way too easy. He looked at Mr. D suspiciously.
"But what's the catch?"
Mr. D took a slow sip of his drink, his purple eyes locking onto Percy's, suddenly serious.
"Protect him."
Percy didn't even blink.
'As if I wouldn't do it anyway,' he thought instantly. If anyone so much as touched a hair on Theo's head, Percy would drown them or run them through with Riptide before they even knew what hit them. That wasn't a condition; that was his promise to himself.
He looked the god straight in the eye.
"Deal."
Mr. D smirked slightly, seeming satisfied. He waved his hand dismissively.
"Go then, ride your Pegasus. I will guide you to him."
Percy didn't wait another second. He nodded sharply and sprinted out of the tree line into the open fields.
He cupped his hands around his mouth and let out a sharp whistle.
"Blackjack!"
A loud, excited whinny answered from the clouds.
Seconds later, a massive black Pegasus dove out of the sky, landing lightly in front of him, his coat shining like oil in the sun.
"Boss!" Blackjack neighed, tossing his mane proudly. "Thought you'd never ask! Ready to fly?!"
"You bet," Percy grinned, vaulting easily onto his back. "Full speed, buddy. We can't let him get too far ahead."
"You got it, Boss! Hold on tight!"
With a powerful thrust of his wings, Blackjack launched into the air, leaving the ground behind.
They soared high into the sky, cutting through the clouds, heading straight toward the distant mountains where the Temple stood.
Only Dionysus remained in the clearing, swirling his wine as the silence returned.
"Are you satisfied now?" he asked the empty air, his voice echoing softly.
A soft, melodic voice answered, seeming to come from everywhere and nowhere at once.
"I am, thank you, brother."
Dionysus took a long drink, his expression souring slightly.
"Honestly, why would you let that sea spawn follow your son?"
The air shimmered, and a faint, warm presence seemed to settle beside him.
"He also deserves a rest after the war, right?" the woman's voice replied gently, carrying a note of affection. "And he's such a fine young man. He has a good heart."
Dionysus just flatly stared out into the distance, saying nothing.
"Fine," the woman conceded lightly, a soft laugh floating on the breeze. "My baby Theo needs a protector, and that young Percy volunteered himself."
Dionysus scoffed, rolling his eyes, "You're spoiling your son."
"Why would I not?" the voice replied, filled with infinite pride and love. "He's my precious little darling."
"About your gift..." Dionysus started, changing the subject. "The one you prepared for him..."
The woman shook her head, the movement barely visible in the light.
"Say no more, brother. If the gift inherits my baby Theo's personality, how could it protect him?" She paused, a soft chuckle echoing. "So whose character could be the good candidate? A hero. A loyal hero who is willing to protect my little Theo."
She let the words hang in the air, warm and promising.
Dionysus just swirled the deep red liquid in his goblet, watching the way the light caught it. He took a slow sip, his expression unreadable for a moment before he spoke again.
"Won't it make things complicated?" he asked, his voice low.
The air seemed to warm, the presence beside him softening.
"It won't... I think?" the woman replied, her voice carrying a gentle, almost playful uncertainty.
She sounded confident, but there was that tiny flicker of doubt that made her seem human.
Dionysus stopped drinking. He turned his head slowly, one eyebrow raising high enough to disappear under his bangs.
"You think?!" he repeated, the word drawn out, dripping with sarcasm and disbelief. "Oh, wonderful. That is exactly what I like to hear. Famous last words, sister. Simply brilliant."
The woman laughed softly, a sound like wind chimes.
"Relax, brother..." she soothed, her tone light and affectionate. "Stop being so grumpy all the time."
Dionysus just let out a loud, dramatic scoff, turning his face away, looking thoroughly displeased but not actually arguing anymore.
"You're really doing your best for him," he stated quietly, his voice lacking its usual bite. "Going to all this trouble..."
The air shimmered with warmth. The woman's presence seemed to glow brighter, filled with an infinite, radiant light.
"Of course I am," she answered simply, her voice soft but absolute, leaving no room for argument.
"He's my son."