/ thálassa | pjo \

/ chapter one | weird dreams & unwanted suggestions \

edited.

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 Dear penpal,

Congratulations on nearly finishing this school year! I know it has always been challenging in the past, but you're almost there! I am excited for you! My siblings told me to say congratulations as well.

I wish I could be there the day you finish to celebrate. Unfortunately, I am unable to do so–so with the help of my siblings, I have posted a package to you. I do not know if it will get to you before the school year ends and you leave for your summer camp, but I pray it does.

Please let me know it reached you!

Also, everything here has been well. A little boring to be honest–everything is very monotnus (I fought with my sister on how to spell this for about ten minutes. I think we are both wrong–apologies if that is the case).

Also, also–thank you for your poem you sent in your last letter. It brought tears to my eyes, but it also gave me a comfort I cannot explain.

I wanted to tell you that my father has arranged to come and meet us soon. I am nervous, but I will let you know how it goes. So if you could keep us in your thoughts–that would be very comforting.

Until next time, S.

Always,

K

I could hear the imaginary voice of my pen pal in my head from his last letter as I was walking across the dim plain. There were nights I got so sick of doing the same thing over and over and over again–but the second the ground gave out under me, and suddenly I was running away from something–I desperately wished to be back there.

I had been running away from things a lot recently–literally and figuratively recently.

But tonight's dream was different.

I wasn't running from something this time. I was running with something.

And what is it, you must be wondering?

It was a lobo, a wolf.

It was always a wolf. We always were running through the forest in the middle of the night. We always were racing to something I never got to–because I either woke up or my dreams shifted into something else very on-brand for a demigod to have.

This happened again as the treeline broke, and my feet padded to a stop on a wet stone street. It was still nighttime, but I could feel the wind whipping my hair around my face while the palm trees groaned–rain cutting into my skin as lightning flashed across the windows of the buildings on either side of me.

Turning in my spot, I realized I was in Florida.

How did I know this?

...

I have no idea, but I did know it was Florida.

I furrowed my brows but spun when the sound of hooves came flying towards me.

My eyes widen at the sight of Grover the satyr (yes, a satyr, didn't you read the first book? Half-human, half-goat if you needed reminding), one of my best friends, sprinting towards me looking like he was ready to crap himself.