The tides uclaimed

Just keep running

Adria
I was running, my legs burning with every step, my breath ragged, heart thumping in my chest. Every nerve in my body screamed, but I pushed myself forward. I could hear them—two grotesque, flying creatures—hissing behind me. Their wings sliced through the air like knives. They were getting closer. I stumbled, catching myself on the rough bark of a tree, but I couldn't stop. I couldn't slow down.
What the hell is happening?
I was supposed to be safe, wasn't I? I had run away from the police station. Ran because I didn't know where else to go. I just needed a place to stay for the night—somewhere to think. But now I was being chased by monsters that looked like something out of a nightmare.
"Just keep running, Adria," I muttered to myself, though my voice was trembling, "Just keep running."
But that wasn't enough, was it? Because what kind of life was this? My mother's dead, and I'm stuck in a world I can't even understand. I never had friends. Never had a family who cared. I was always the weird, dyslexic kid—out of place and alone. My mother never wanted me, my father never bothered to visit, and I didn't even know any other relatives.
And now, I was running through some strange forest, being chased by two—what?—flying lizards?
I could feel the tears threatening to spill as my lungs burned, my feet heavy, but I kept running.
Then I tripped. I felt my body hit the ground hard, scraping against the sharp rocks, but somehow I forced myself up. My knees were bleeding, my hands raw, but I kept pushing forward, ignoring the pain. I didn't know what would happen to me, but I sure as hell wasn't dying out here, alone, by some freak accident.
I leaped over a tree root, nearly twisting my ankle, but I didn't slow down. I wasn't stupid. I knew the second I slowed, those monsters would catch up.
I glanced behind me. For a split second, they weren't there.
"Ha!" I shouted, a laugh escaping from my cracked lips, "Told you, you couldn't catch me!"
And just as I thought I might have outrun them, I saw something flash through the trees. A figure moving impossibly fast—faster than anything human—closing in on me with terrifying speed.
"I'm dead," I thought, as I watched it hurtle toward me like a freight train.
I barely managed to dodge, throwing myself over a fallen log and scrambling for my footing. But the thing didn't slow down. It was almost on top of me, and then—suddenly—it stopped.
I spun around to find myself face to face with a girl my age, her dark hair flying in the wind, eyes gleaming like she was born for this kind of madness. She stood in front of me like she owned the entire forest, sword drawn, ready to strike.
"Well, aren't you a mess?" she said, her voice filled with a dry amusement. "Jude, daughter of Ares," she added casually, giving me a once-over. "And you're lucky I showed up when I did, because you'd be drakon food otherwise."
"Uh, I'm Adria, nice to meet you?"
I blinked, trying to process the situation. "Drakons?" I repeated, heart racing for a whole new reason. "What are you talking about?"
"Don't tell me you didn't notice the flying lizards chasing you," Jude said, raising an eyebrow. "Classic. They're drakons. Like giant winged snakes. Seriously, kid, what kind of demigod runs without a weapon?"
"Wait. Demigod?" The word hit me like a punch to the gut. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
Jude made an exasperated sound. "Really? You're one of us. Welcome to the world of gods, monsters, and random weirdness. Now, you're lucky I was close enough to take care of the drakons. You were on your own before that."
My mind was whirling, spinning faster than the world around me. "Gods? Monsters? What are you talking about?"
Before Jude could answer, another voice cut through the air, calm and soothing, yet carrying an unshakable authority. "Jude, give her a break."
I turned to see a girl who looked like she'd stepped out of a dream. Her long, blonde hair caught the moonlight, and her eyes—gray like a stormy sky—studied me with careful interest. She had this quiet strength about her, something that made me feel like I wasn't quite as alone in the world anymore.
"I'm Annabeth Chase," she said softly, offering a reassuring smile. "Daughter of Athena. And you're safe now, Adria."
"Safe?" I echoed, my voice sounding hollow. My whole body was still shaking, my mind reeling, but her calm presence made the chaos around me seem a little less overwhelming.
Annabeth's eyes softened as she looked at me, sensing my confusion and fear. "You're a demigod, Adria. You have a parent who's a god. That's why you're different. Why you could see them. The monsters, I mean. But don't worry. We're going to take care of you."
"Demigod," I repeated. It didn't make sense. Nothing made sense. "But I—I don't even know who my father is."
"Then we'll figure it out," Jude chimed in, grinning mischievously. "Lucky for you, figuring stuff out is kind of my specialty."
I barely registered what she said. All I could focus on was how their words were starting to sink in. I'm a demigod. It didn't sound real. I wasn't ready for this—whatever this was. And still, Annabeth and Jude seemed... like they belonged here. Like they understood. Maybe I could too, one day.
Annabeth gave me a sympathetic look, one that was both understanding and firm. "It's a lot to take in, but we're going to help you. Camp Half-Blood is a place for kids like us. You'll be safe there. But you're going to have to trust us."
I didn't know what else to say. The night was still dark, and the monsters were gone, but I was left standing in this strange new world. Yet for the first time in a long time, the idea of belonging somewhere felt... possible.
I looked at Annabeth, at Jude, at the strange and beautiful night around me. "Okay," I whispered, barely able to believe the words. "Okay."
Annabeth smiled gently, her gaze steady. "Let's get you to camp. We'll explain everything. You're not alone anymore, Adria."
And with that, they started leading me through the trees, guiding me into a world I never knew existed—one where gods walked among mortals, and where, maybe, I could finally find a place to belong.