Golden Animals

Problem

To say they were at peace was an understatement.

After the war, Frank immediately noticed how Reyna looked like one of the walking dead, tired and worn out up miraclouly on her feet. She seemed as if she might collapse at any moment. After a lot of persuasion and a deal of charmspeak from a visiting Piper, they got her to have a holiday for a few weeks.

As he soon found out, Frank wasn't anywhere near ready for praetor-ship on his own. By the time she was back, he was the walking dead. Even after all the help he got from the Centrions, mostly his girlfriend, being a single preator was like holding up the sky.

So, then, he and Hazel took the rest of the day off.

They were both at the Glacial Warmth café, at New Rome. The amazing view of the city called their gazes to drift fondly from side to side. Hazel sipped her hot chocolate. Frank got his second- third? Fourth? Seventh, probably- cup of black coffee. The two sighed in relaxation, the chilly autumn wind blowing their hairs.

The sat in silence. None of them dared to say something like 'This feels good' or 'I am glad to have time to relax'. They didn't challenge the Three Sisters of Fate.

They didn't have to.

'I think we should go to...' Hazel started.

A sound made them tense. Behind another table, something shifted. A girl at another table stood up in fright as a flash of gold lurked under her table.

In a few moments, with that thing running in cover right and left in light speed, everyone was on their feet or the tables and chairs. All of them, being demigods and legacies, had their ADHD instincts kicking in. Some reached for weapons that weren't there, silently cursing the strict rules.

Terminus.

The last straw for Hazel and Frank's anxiousness was when the weird flash of gold leapt into Hazel's pocket and grabbed a certain piece of fire wood. It landed and in the same moment, it exited the café.

Hazel realized what happened after a second. Horror climbed up her throught. That was...

'Hey, bring that back!' She darted out, Frank hot on her heels.