Snowfall

Pizza

It was cold. Not a surprise, since it was mid-February, but the cold could be unbearable without proper clothing. Thalia Grace hugged herself, shivering, with a small golden-haired girl tucked into her side. Their third companion was scrounging the dumpsters, his short blonde hair reflecting in the moonlight.

The boy's face broke into a grin and he pulled out a box of pizza, shaking it a bit to find that it was maybe half full. Thalia copied his expression, nudging the girl by her side and gesturing towards the boy. He was walking back now, and a long scar was now visible, going from his eye to the corner of his lip.

The little girl gasped. "Is that pizza?" She said excitedly, her voice quiet.

The boy grinned. "See for yourself, Annie." he set the box in front of her and opened it. Her face lit up when she saw the treat in the box. It was maybe a day old at most, which was good enough for them.

"Can we eat it?" Annie asked. "Please, Luke, can we?"

Luke smiled at her. "Of course. Take as many as you want."

"Leave some for me, squirt," Thalia chuckled when Annie piled three pieces in front of her. "We're all hungry."

"Don't call me squirt!" Annie complained. "My name's Annabeth!"

"'Course, squirt," Thalia replied, laughing. Annabeth pouted, but there was happiness in her eyes. She reluctantly placed two back into the box. Annabeth bit into one of the pieces, almost moaning with how good it was. Thalia and Luke both took one, savouring the flavour. They sat, enjoying their treat, at least for a little bit.

Thalia heard footsteps and she turned to look, but someone had already bolted past, scooping up the pizza box in his or her mad dash. "Hey!" Luke barked, annoyed about how their pizza had just been snagged. "Give that back, you asshole!"

Thalia shot off after the stranger, her slimmer body granting more speed and agility. The person was obviously a boy, most likely around her age, definitely not a teenager yet. He had black, almost purple hair that was messy and tangled, with his clothes barely hanging onto his unusually skinny form. This was certainly a fellow runaway.

Thalia gained on him slowly, neither caring much for the stares they got from the few people that were actually out on Chicago streets. Thalia was soon right on his heels, reaching out to hook onto his shirt. She gripped the fabric and was surprised when it ripped under her strength. The damage had been done, though. He tripped and toppled, the box sent flying.

Thalia immediately had him pinned. "Who are you to steal from people in need?" She snarled. The boy whimpered, unable to get up with her straddling his waist. She had his wrists restrained above his head and he doubted his legs could to much damage. "Answer me, you bastard!"

"I-I'm sorry," he stuttered. His sea green eyes were filled with anxiety and fear for his life. This girl was fierce. "I was hungry, I'm s-so sorry, pl-lease just let m-me go!"

Thalia then took notice of the fact that he was not just naturally skinny, but so much that his ribs were clear even through his shirt. The skin on his face was stretched out and his collarbone jutted out much more than should be possible. "How long has it been since you last ate?" Thalia questioned, loosening her hold on his wrists but not letting go.

The boy was quiet for a moment. "M-maybe fi-five days? It-it's hard t-to keep tr-track." She gaped at him, her hands fully unclenching. "I can l-leave if you wan-want."

"No, don't," Thalia said. "What's your name?"

"Percy," he rasped. "I'm 'leven."

"Come with me," she said. "Bring the pizza." Percy picked up the box and stumbled behind her. She saw Luke leading Annabeth by the hand in their direction and walked faster. Percy sucked in a breath, increasing pace to stay with her.

"Thalia!" Luke shouted when they were maybe ten feet away. "What are you doing?"

"Let me explain," Thalia said, meeting in the middle. Percy looked down, shivering harshly. "This is Percy. He's eleven years old."

"So what?" Luke snarled. "He stole what was ours!"

"Look at him," Thalia pleaded. "Tell me he doesn't look deathly?" Luke took one long look at him, Annabeth watching from behind his legs.

"So he does," Luke said hardly. "What of it?"

"Can't we share with him?" Thalia begged. "At least give him a slice."

"No, Thalia," Luke growled. "That's final. Come on." He turned and gripped Annabeth's shoulder, leading her back.

Thalia turned to Percy. "Stay here," she said quietly. "Trust me." Percy nodded. He didn't have any better options.

Thalia returned to her companions. "Finish your slice," Luke told her. "We'll save the rest." She did, slowly, her mind still on the poor kid she had left on the sidewalk. "I'll take first watch."

"Let me," Thalia said. "I need to wear off the adrenaline." Luke nodded, settling against the concrete wall with Annabeth curling up in his lap. Thalia waited until they both were asleep before taking two of the four remaining slices and leaving the passway.

She moved as quickly and quietly as she could back to Percy. He looked up at her with wide eyes, then at the pizza, and she swore his eyes got bigger. "It's yours," she said. "Take it."

"But . . . you'll get in trouble," Percy whispered. "I can't accept this."

"You need it. I'm not taking it back." He furrowed his eyebrows. "I'll take whatever punishment."

Percy looked at her graciously. "Thank you," he said sincerely. "No one's ever given me anything."

Thalia's heart broke. She swore she wouldn't leave this poor child here alone.

Not on her life.