SoA: Kale's Turn

Chicago was amazing. It reminded Flynn a lot of New York: tall skyscrapers and loud noises, snow falling in the late December chill. Kale dragged them all through the city. Flynn and Thalia lagged behind. They had both felt more at home in the forest than in the city.

The only thing that kept Flynn going was the dumb smile on Kale's face. "I can't believe I'm back home!" He grinned, lost in The Windy City, "I have to show you guys everything!" Flynn didn't have the heart to tell him they were on a tight schedule as it was. He looked like a kid brought back to his favorite candy store. Flynn would pay to see that smile again and again. He felt almost ashamed and cliché to think that, so he just kept quiet, letting Kale blabber on and on. He probably said more than he had in his entire lifetime.

Kale led them all through the major city and into the suburbs on their way through town. He knew his way perfectly, though he said he didn't live downtown. His old home, as he said, was in Lincoln Square, on the north side of the city. "We'll be able to go through on the way." Kale beamed, but almost regretfully. He was nostalgic, but it was like he wanted to keep it that way. "I know where to get the supplies."

Soon enough – surprisingly soon on foot – the gang made their way into Lincoln square. Flynn had to admit. It was quaint: the sort of homey, apple pie suburb a superboy like Kale could be raised in.

The three turned down a side street when a wailing siren split the air. Kale froze. Flynn looked at him, seeing his face tense up. The pungent smell of smoke hit them as a fire engine and truck screeched around the corner, heading towards the dark blotches in the sky ahead. There was a fire, which meant people were in trouble. Kale clenched his fists, and Flynn saw his muscle tense. Kale looked to Flynn quickly, shooting him a look that told him everything. Sorry.

Kale bolted off down the street, sprinting at top speed after the fire trucks. Flynn let out a disgruntled sigh, turning to Thalia. "He's like a freakin' puppy!" He and Thalia chased after Kale, struggling to keep up.

The trucks pulled into the parking lot of a massive building, looking almost like a school or recreation center. Flynn caught the name of the establishment as they ran past: Lawrence Hall Youth Services.

The fire was raging in full force. Flames burst from every window, billowing smoke into the sky. Multiple firefighters attacked the building from every angle, but they didn't seem to be making any progress. They needed help. They needed Kale.

Flynn and Thalia caught up to Kale, who wasn't even tired in his rush of adrenaline. Flynn doubled over, catching his breath. "It's a youth center," Kale said, scrupulously analyzing the burning building. "I used to come here when I was younger." He glanced back at Flynn. "There are people still in there. I'm getting them out." Kale said, racing into the fray. He dodged around firefighters and leaped into the flames without a second thought.

"Y'know," Thalia breathed, shaking her head, "He really seems to have a death wish."

"Trust me," Flynn rolled his eyes, "It's more like a death guideline. He can't help it." Thalia didn't have time to question Flynn's cryptic language. Instead, the two dropped their belongings on the sidewalk and followed him in.

The feeling of running through a burning window was new to Flynn, and surprisingly his clothes were only lightly singed. Thalia ended up the same, the two of them crouched down in a smoke-filled hallway.  The two stayed low and tried not to breath in as they split up, looking for survivors. Flynn checked as many different rooms as he could, but found no one. The smoke wasn't helping either. It was dark and thick, but it reeked with a tang of bitterness. Also, Flynn didn't know whether it was just the smoke getting to him, but he swore, through the roar of the flames and the creaking of crumbling building, he could hear diabolical hissing.

He made it to a stairwell when Kale came rushing down. He managed to carry five little kids in his arms, their adult supervisor trailing behind and grasping Kale's shirt. "I've checked the rooms on this wing. We're good. Did Thalia get the other end?"

Flynn coughed, nodding through the haze. It was a wonder Kale went into super-mode when he was saving someone. He breathed perfectly fine. "Good." Kale began to run past Flynn, but he stopped beside him. "Thanks." With that, he disappeared into the chaos, heading for salvation. Flynn knew his thanks were for more than helping him get the people out. It was for understanding his curse, and helping him with that. Kale was thanking him for something Flynn had actually thought was endearing.

But there wasn't time to get sentimental. If Flynn didn't get out, he'd be the one that needed rescuing. As if Kale didn't do that enough. The only problem was that these hallways all looked familiar. Which way did he come, exactly? Blindly, he chose, stumbling down a long linoleum tiled maze.

After a few minutes, Flynn stopped, just about to pass out from smoke inhalation. The hissing he thought he heard got louder. It couldn't have been air escaping from somewhere – it had a distinct, reptilian sound to it. Flynn leaned closer towards the sound, apparently coming from the other side of a nearby wall. As he did though, he heard a crash behind him. He turned around just in time to see a massive, scaly tail come ripping through the wall towards him. Before Flynn could make a run for it, the tail pile-drove him through the wall – and into fresh air.

Flynn rolled onto cold, frozen snow, coughing and wheezing from being stuck inside the flames. In his daze, he looked up at the sky above, smoke billowing from the surrounding windows and curling up into the bright blue. The building must have had a central courtyard.

Then, a humongous, dragon-like head peered down at Flynn, the source of the hissing. Its sharp teeth gleamed as it hissed, shining with an eerie tint, like they were coated with some sort of liquid. Then another, identical head came into view. And another. Another. Oh, and another.

Five identical monsters stared down at Flynn's recovering body. This sight – paired with the uncontaminated air he had been breathing for the past few minutes – made him leap to his feet, stumbling backwards. It was only then that he saw the truth.

There weren't five monsters. It was one with five heads. "A hydra." Flynn coughed, "As if the fire wasn't enough." It must have been the size of a dump truck, each head connected to the bipedal main body by snake-like necks. Twin tails flicked back and forth behind it. Surprisingly, the Disney depiction wasn't far off.

The hydra eyed Flynn hungrily. Then it did something completely unexpected. One of its heads made a gurgling sound, like it was coughing something up. As it did, it ground its teeth together, managing to make sparks. As soon as the sparks appeared, the hydra opened its mouth and poured out flame, straight at Flynn.

Flynn rolled to the side, dodging the fire. "What the—!?" Flynn cried, stumbling to his feet. Hydras didn't breathe fire. Mostly, they spat acid. He knew because he and his dad took down a few smaller ones some time ago.

The hydra turned, but a barrage of arrows forced it back, away from Flynn. Flynn looked up to find Thalia leap down from a second story window. The smoke had affected her too, and it kept her from landing so gracefully. Flynn helped her up, patting her back and helping her catch her breath. "A hydra!?" She gasped for air, looking to Flynn. "Our luck sucks."

Flynn nodded. "Watch out, though. It can breath fire."

Thalia's eyes widened out of sheer skeptical disbelief. "Don't be preposterous. Hydras can't –" Flynn pushed her out of the way, just as another blast of flame from the hydra separated the two. The hydra roared, angry that it hadn't gotten its proper meal yet.

Flynn looked back to Thalia. "Told you!" The two rolled to their feet, brandishing their weapons: Flynn took out Crescent Fang, and Thalia taking out her own dagger. "The acid it breathes must be similar to gasoline."

Flynn tightened his grip on Fang. "And the sparks make flame." He glanced around at the burning building encasing them like a fiery cage. The Hydra had caused it. "Dang, since when are monsters smart?"

Thalia shook herself out, standing beside Flynn as they stared down the hydra. "So, we just cut off each head –"

" – and make sure we burn the wound, so it doesn't grow back." Flynn finished. The two looked to each other and nodded. This wasn't their first rodeo. Hydras were widely known, mostly because everyone knew the story on how to defeat them.

Before the two could move, though, a window to their left burst open. They looked to see Kale leaping through the air, screaming in rage and brandishing his club. The hydra was caught of guard, and Kale was able to smash one of the heads into a bloody pulp on the ground. He leaped back, lining up with Flynn and Thalia. He smirked at them. "It looked like you two needed some help."

Flynn tried to think up a witty retort, but Thalia grabbed a branch, sticking it into a nearby fire. "Quick!" She cried, "Burn the neck so –"

There was a low rumbling sound, and the three demigods turned to the damaged head. Two more heads burst up from the bloody stump, snarling and spraying acid everywhere.

" –so that won't happen!" Thalia screamed to the two boys.

Kale cringed. "Whoops. My fault." He took one look at the hydra, standing tall on his twin legs and glowering down at them. He looked one of the heads in its eyes, and Flynn noticed the corner of his mouth flick up, with a strange glint in his eyes. It was odd to watch, Kale facing down the Hydra. It gave Flynn a subtle feeling of déjà vu. Kale looked down at Flynn and grinned. "I smash. You burn." Kale said, almost playfully, like it was a sport. He looked up at Thalia. "Thalia, cover us with the arrows. Make sure no heads take us by surprise."

Thalia was surprised enough by Kale's straightforwardness, nodding dumbfounded. She handed the burning branch to Flynn.

Flynn grabbed the branch just as Kale grabbed his arm, dragging him towards the screaming hydra. Kale leaped up at one of the heads, roaring in time and smashing it to bits. Without missing a beat, Flynn ran towards him, stepping off Kale's back to vault over him. He thrust the burning branch down, cauterizing the hydra's wound. The two jumped back, watching the stumpy neck flail about like dead weight.

The two boys grinned at each other. They had figured out their game plan. Working together, it came like clockwork. The two of them worked fluidly off of each other, it was almost like a dance. Kale bashed each hydra head in with his club, and within seconds, Flynn swooped in to flambé the neck. All the while, if another hydra head tried to attack, Thalia's arrows distracted it.

Soon enough, the hydra fell to the ground, each of its now seven necks (Flynn wasn't quick enough on the third try) burnt and motionless. The trio stood together, catching their breath. The fire was dying down around them, no doubt the work of the firefighters outside. The hydra's body began to dissolve into sand, sinking into the depths of the ground behind them.

"Nice job, boys!" Thalia laughed, patting the two of them on their shoulders. "You two make quite a pair." Flynn of course looked away. Every time he heard something like that he acted like a complete schoolgirl, and he hated it. "But what's that?" Thalia said after a short pause.

Flynn looked back to find Thalia and Kale examining Kale's club. Near the lion marking – the one that appeared after they defeated the Nemean Lion – an etching of a hydra with three heads appeared. "Weird." Kale muttered, examining the etchings closely. "Looks like whatever monster I kill ends up on the club, somehow."

"What happens when you run out of room?" Flynn poked casually.

Kale snorted, glancing sideways at Flynn. "Then I get a new club." The two laughed with each other, only to be brought back to reality by Thalia slapping their arms.

They followed her gaze to find a firefighter watching them from a nearby doorway. The glare from his oxygen mask hid his face from view, but he hadn't moved for a few moments. "I think he watched us kill it." Thalia whispered back to them.

Just when it couldn't have gotten any weirder, the firefighter began waving them through the doorway. "This way!" He yelled, "Let's move!" He must have been sent in to see if there was anyone still left inside.

The three demigods didn't question his strange actions. Maybe The Mist would take care of it on its own. They ran after the firefighter, who lead them outside to where the ambulances were attending to the survivors. They stopped short, but the firefighter was gone. In fact, there weren't any firefighters around wearing gas masks and oxygen tanks. They were all taking care of the fire engines and helping the EMTs. The mysterious firefighter had vanished.

Standing amidst a crowd of emergency officials, covered in soot and singed clothes, the three were bound to get some attention. One of the stray firefighters ushered them over to a nearby ambulance, where a female EMT attended to a young boy. The EMT finished her work and the boy was sent off to his family, after which the woman stood up. She put away some extra gauze and turned around to face the three.

The woman was tall, with long blonde hair tied into a ponytail behind her head. She had a strong face and an athletic build, covered by a navy blue uniform shirt and pants. Flynn managed to catch her nametag, which read "Samson, M."

The EMT looked to Thalia first, until Kale spoke up. "Mom!?"

Flynn did a double take, between Kale and the EMT. She turned to face Kale and immediately began to tear up. "Kale!" She rushed forward and embraced the boy in a hug, the boy quickly reciprocating. Flynn backed up to Thalia, who shared his confused expression. The EMT pulled back from Kale and looked him over like a mother would her son. "You've grown! Oh, I've missed you so much. How's camp, sweetie?" She seemed to rush words together, needing to get it all out first. She wiped a tear from each eye and settled herself.

Kale smiled wider than Flynn had ever seen him smile. "It's great, mom, great." Kale noticed Flynn and Thalia standing nearby. "Oh, mom! These are my friends, Thalia and Flynn."

"Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Samson." Thalia nodded, very formally.

"Hi." Flynn waved as discretely as he could.

Kale's mom smiled back at them, shaking each of their hands. "It's nice to meet you as well. Call me Meg." Flynn noticed that Kale and his mom had the same golden blonde hair, as well as the beautiful blue and brown hazel eyes. Meg looked them over as well, then knit her brows together, looking sideways at Kale. She whispered aside, "Are they…special too?"

Thalia and Flynn glanced to each other, surprised.

Kale rolled his eyes and nodded. "Yeah, mom, we're on a quest." He mumbled in a lower register.

Meg's eyes widened and she suddenly turned serious. "Everyone in the ambulance, now." Her forceful tone left no room for argument. The three demigods filed into the back of the ambulance, with Meg closing the doors behind them. "We're safe here." She sat beside Kale, opposite Flynn and Thalia. "Alright, now, what's this about a quest?" Meg looked over to Kale. "I sent you to this camp thinking they would help you with your strength."

"It has, mom!" Kale complied, holding out his hands. "I've gotten a lot better at it. Enough so, that I can go on a quest with Flynn." He motioned to his friend sitting across the ambulance from him.

Meg turned her scrutinizing gaze to Flynn. She sat upright, her hands in her lap. Her expression was so serious, and her tone was forceful. Flynn got the feeling she was the person who took control of a situation immediately. "Flynn, you're a demigod too, then?"

Flynn nodded. "I'm a son of Artemis, ma'am. Thalia is one of Her immortal hunters." Flynn thumbed beside him to Thalia.

Meg furrowed her brow. "A son of Artemis? She's a virgin goddess."

Kale looked surprised. "Mom, you've been reading up on mythology?"

Meg nodded with a smirk – the same smirk Kale used so often. "I find out my son is also the son of some greek god? Of course I'll catch up on it. I want to know what I'm dealing with here."

Flynn stepped in. "Artemis is a virgin," he conceded, "But I was some kind of loophole. Long story short, the Gods dislike my existence."

Meg scrunched up her nose, like she found that idea disgusting. "Well that's ridiculous. Obviously she wanted to have you. What does that matter to them?"

Flynn smiled. Thalia nodded. "I like your mother, Kale." She grinned.

Meg smiled in return, but it soon faded. "So if you two have some sort of relation to Artemis, this quest must have something to do with her, I'm guessing?"

Flynn nodded. "Someone is using my mom's symbol of power to weaken her. We're trying to find out whom so we can stop them before…" Flynn looked away, unable to continue his sentence.

"I see." Meg nodded, looking down. "Then," she spoke, looking back up to Kale, "Does that mean you're related to Artemis?" She looked thoroughly confused. "I could have sworn I had slept with a man that night."

The color drained from Kale's face. Thalia quickly stepped in. "No, no, no, Ms. Samson, Flynn is the only son of Artemis. And if you're Kale's mother, then that must mean his other parent is a god, not a goddess."

Meg sighed. "Good, I knew I wasn't that drunk."

Kale just let his forehead slam against the ambulance wall, which actually managed to shake the vehicle a little. Flynn tried to hold back his laughter. Thalia spoke up again. "So, that means you don't know who Kale's father is?"

Meg shook her head. "No. I met him for one night." She smiled, looking at the floor of the ambulance. She must have been recalling a wonderful night. Kale looked back up, suddenly eager to listen to his mother's story. "We had a major run that day. There was a huge fire at the convention center in town. They called in a bunch of us to help treat the survivors. After we got off for the night, a couple of us went out for drinks to celebrate. And that's where I met your father." She smiled, looking to Kale, who barely reciprocated. His father was a tender subject with him, that much Flynn knew.

"He was perfect." Meg sighed. "Handsome. Polite. He said he'd heard about the fire today and nodded to my EMT uniform. We swapped stories. Apparently he was a soldier at one point, though some of his battles didn't seem very…normal. I assumed it was the two beers I'd had already when he said he fought a giant lion before." The three demigods immediately made eye contact, a silent message communicating between the three of them. They knew a giant lion, alright. The same lion that appeared on Kale's club.

Meg shook herself back into the present. "Well, you can guess the rest. I fell for him, had one amazing night, and he was gone." She sighed, shaking her head. "The only other time I ever saw him was when I went into labor. I lived alone and I got the worst contractions ever. Even as a baby, my boy had strength." Kale smiled and looked down, embarrassed, which Flynn thought was adorable. "I couldn't reach the phone to call an ambulance, or my keys to drive myself in. I fell to the floor of my apartment, and the next thing I knew, your father busted through my door and whisked me off to the ER. All I found of him after it all was that little lion keychain he left." She pointed to the keychain dangled from Kale's belt loop.

Flynn glanced over at Thalia, and found her expression very brooding. He was about to ask her what she was thinking about, but Meg spoke up first. "So, no, I never knew Kale's father. I thought you'd find out at camp, but I suppose not. Now, about this quest…" She looked sternly to Kale again, "Are you sure you're up for this, sweetie?"

Kale nodded. "Of course I am, mom. It's my chance to prove myself to…to dad." He nodded up to the sky after a short pause.

Meg softened, smiling warmly to her son. "After today, I'm sure you did, Kale. You saved a lot of people today. He's bound to notice you, if he hasn't been watching already."

That seemed to give Kale some hope, as Flynn noticed the gleam in his eyes brighten. Meg stood abruptly. "Well, enough of this. I need to be getting back to work and you guys need to save Artemis." She smiled warmly and opened the doors to the ambulance.

"Dude," Flynn leaned over to Kale as they got out of the vehicle, "Your mom rocks."

Kale nodded like he already knew. Meg stopped him when she got out of the ambulance. "Just be careful, honey. You know how much I worry about you."

"I know, mom." He responded as she gave him a hug. "I will." Meg then took the time to hug both Flynn and Thalia, wishing them luck on their quest.

"I know you'll do great." She beamed to each of them as she got into the ambulance. "You kids are heroes already." With that, she drove off, the ambulances leaving with their cargo to deliver to the nearby hospitals.

Kale watched his mom drive off with awe and admiration, until he remembered that Flynn and Thalia were there as well. "Uh, we should get going, huh?" He said, quickly looking around for their stuff. When he spotted it on the other side of the parking lot, he jogged off to retrieve it. Flynn guessed he needed to a chance to compose himself back into his natural poker face before anything else happened. Now, though, Flynn needed answers of his own.

"What was that all about in there?" He said, turning and speaking quietly to Thalia. "You just went all dark on me in there." Even now, Thalia was looking critically after Kale as he jogged, like she was trying to figure something out.

"I wonder who Kale's father is." She said, looking up to Flynn. "He's undetermined for now, but that has to change sometime. And what Ms. Samson said in there…"

"What? Flynn asked, looking back to Kale.

"I have a theory of who it might be," Thalia murmured, crossing her arms, "But it's impossible. It's improbable. It…just doesn't add up."

Flynn looked back to Thalia. "Then how'd you come up with it?" He noticed out of the corner of his eye a nearby firefighter talking hurriedly into a walkie talkie from a patrol car, and every so often he would glance over at them.

"Lions, Flynn." Thalia said, and apparently, by the way she said it, it was the most important fact of the universe. "Think. Who in mythology is known for his involvement with lions, an animal which seems very prevalent in Kale's life?"

Before Flynn could come to an answer, Kale arrived back, jogging with their stuff like it was nothing. That's super strength for you.

"Thanks," Flynn said as he took his stuff. Just then, the firefighter on the walkie talkie set it down inside the car and made his way over to them.

"Excuse me!" He interjected, addressing all three teens. Hesitantly, they glanced between each other, wondering why a mortal firefighter wanted to talk to them. "You were the guy who rescued those kids, right?" The firefighter addressed Kale, to whom all eyes turned.
"Uh…" He spaced, looking between Flynn, Thalia, and the firefighter, "Yeah…that was me." He sounded cautious.

The firefighter smiled and motioned to the patrol car. "The Fire Chief wants to talk to you personally." He began walking to the car when he waved for them to follow. "Your friends can come too, he said."

"Wait," Flynn thought out loud as they followed the firefighter. "Thalia and I never left the building. How does the chief know we helped?"

Thalia shook her head as they filed into the back of the car. "This is not good." Flynn got in first, followed by Kale and Thalia. Kale, with his enormous bulk, squished the other two against the sides of the backseat, but Thalia didn't seem as squished as Flynn felt. Thalia continued, turning to the two of them and whispering. "We shouldn't draw attention to ourselves. If this mortal makes a spectacle of Kale, our whole operation will be all over the news!"

Kale's eyes widened, the magnitude of his actions finally hitting him. Flynn breathed in quietly. "Look," he said, "We'll figure a way out of it. Kale helped someone today. If not for him, the kids may have suffocated in there!"

Thalia sat back, crossing her arms. "I'm not saying what he did wasn't a good deed, just that it may have cost us our secrecy."

Kale looked down, silent. Flynn could tell by the look in his eyes that he blamed himself for ruining their quest. He looked so sad, that Flynn couldn't help himself.

Flynn squirmed around enough to pat Kale's arm. Kale looked up to Flynn, his eyes remorseful. "Hey," Flynn cautioned, "Don't worry about it." He smiled as best as he could, just letting Kale know it was ok. Kale stared at him for a few moments before he too reciprocated, nodding to himself. At least Flynn had done something good today too.

The patrol car pulled up to a fire station in Lincoln square. The three demigods filed out of the car to view the firehouse. It was a tall brick building with three garage doors out front. Each door had a sign above that designated which rescue vehicle was inside: Engine 110, Truck 12, and Ambulance 40. It seemed like a commonplace firehouse, nothing special about it.

"This is the Chief's favorite house," the firefighter said as they walked into the fire station, "He's worked on Truck 12 since he was a rookie." The firefighter led them up a flight of stairs to a corridor of rooms. Flynn guessed they were the firefighter's quarters whenever they stayed overnight. The firefighter stopped in front of one door and knocked. "Sir," he called, "The three kids are here."

"Send them in!" A voice bellowed from within, a voice that took Flynn by surprise. It was deep and forceful, but at the same time sounded kind, and genuinely interested in who they were.

Flynn opened the door and poked his head inside, followed by Kale and Thalia. The room was the size of a standard bedroom. To the right, a neatly made bed lay against one wall. To the left, there was a glass case filled with awards. In the center of the room, a massive desk faced the three, a tall figure standing behind it. His back was turned, admiring some framed newspaper headlines or articles the lined the back wall. Judging from his figure, the man was muscular and strong. He had black hair the feel to his shoulders, though he was dressed in the uniform of a fire chief: black dress pants and a white dress shirt. "Welcome, children." The man spoke, his voice hearty and strong. Everything about this man screamed that he had great strength. Flynn looked at some of the pictures on the desk, but something was off. The man in these pictures had a family, but it wasn't the man standing before them. He was older, a bit heavyset, and his hair was graying.

"I appreciate you coming here." The man glanced over his shoulder, back at the three of them. Flynn still couldn't see his face. "I won't keep you long from your quest, I promise you."

Thalia tensed. "What are you talking about?" She shot a look to Flynn, wondering the same thing he was. How did this guy know about their quest?

The man chuckled, looking back at the newspaper headlines. "You three are demigods, are you not? Yes, I can tell. You were sent from Camp Half-Blood, judging from the orange shirts you're wearing." Flynn glanced down at his camp shirt, visible beneath his open button up. Kale hadn't zipped up his track jacket all the way, which let some of his shirt out into the open. "No ordinary teenagers could do what you just did. Slaying a hydra? Impressive. Although I must say," Finally, the man turned, revealing himself to the three. "I did it first." He smiled at them knowingly. His dark hair was parted to either side of his face. His eyes were hardened and deep, but his smile crinkled the edges of them into crow's feet. The man's skin was tan, almost bronze, and taut over his muscular body. He looked like a bodybuilder around the age of 40, but one that could pound you into the dust with ease. Even so, his personality made him seem like he wouldn't hurt a fly unless that fly had destroyed an entire town. He wore the black tie and patches of a fire chief, with a shining gold badge over his left breast.

"How do you know of us?" Flynn cautioned, making sure to stand close by Kale and Thalia. He glanced over at the awards case, noticing some strange awards. There were trophies shaped like huge pigs and lions, some even looked like a hydra and a three-headed dog. There were awards from bravery in the line of duty, but also cleanliness. Flynn noticed aging arrows caked with a strange violet hue, and a bushel of fruit that gleamed in the light.

The man turned his gaze on Flynn, looking him over and studying him. "I have been watching you on your journey. Flynn Winchester, you are the Son of Artemis." He raised an eyebrow. "Very intriguing." He looked to Thalia. "Thalia Grace, daughter of Zeus and Hunter of Artemis. It is always a pleasure, knowing a Hunter." Thalia narrowed her eyes as he said that. She was starting to put everything together.

Finally, the man looked Kale over, admiring him with approval. "Kale Samson. You are a fine warrior, young man, a great hero – if only in the making." The man made it seem like he was the authority on heroes.

Kale tensed his shoulder, standing upright in confrontation to the man. "Sorry. I'm not the son of anyone yet. Still undetermined."

The man's smile seemed to grow bigger at this. "Well, you are now." Kale was too shocked to say a word. He let go of the tension in his arms and seemed to stand limp in confusion. The thought crossed Flynn's mind too. Could this man be…?

"Children, I am Heracles. God of Heroes." The man introduced himself, crossing his arms and causing his biceps to bulge out. "And I am Kale's father."

A golden light burst into the room, originating over Kale's head. Flynn and Thalia shielded their eyes, trying to see more clearly the spinning hologram of a club and fur cape. After a few moments it diminished into thin air, leaving a breathless Kale beneath it. "…Was I just–!?"

"Claimed?" Heracles finished his sentence. "Yes. Hello, son." He smiled warmly as Kale seemed to stand more proudly. Flynn recognized what this was; he had felt it too. When you're claimed, you have a new sense of purpose. You feel like someone wants you, and you're living for a reason. It's a wondrous feeling.

"I knew it!" Thalia yelled, pointing to Heracles. "All of the lions! It was you!"

Heracles looked back to Thalia. "You are a very intelligent young woman, Thalia. You knew of my battle with the Nemean Lion." He glanced back to Kale and smirked. "By the way, nice jacket, kiddo."

Kale had totally forgotten he was wearing the silver track jacket that was really the Lion's fur. He smiled and nodded, eating up every bit of compliment his father was giving him. Kale turned to Flynn and grinned. "Dude! I'm claimed!" He rushed over to Flynn and enveloped him in a giant bear hug that took Flynn by surprise.

"Yeah!" Flynn wheezed, gladly hugging his friend back and trying to survive being squeezed to death a few feet off the ground. Kale mercifully let him go so he could breathe, but the two laughed together. Flynn looked back up to Heracles to find his expression had changed. It eyed the two of them, particularly Flynn, with a level of disapproval. The harshness in his eyes only lasted a moment, until Thalia spoke to him.
"But I don't get it. You died. I didn't know you became a god." She said, crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes.

Heracles quickly looked back to Thalia. "I know what you are thinking, Thalia, and no, I did not escape from the Underworld. Rest assured. I am a god." To prove his point, he pricked the tip of his finger with a nearby bronze letter opener. A small drop of golden liquid bled from the wound instead of normal blood.

"Ichor." Kale spoke up, looking to Thalia. "Blood of the Gods!" Kale grinned in triumph, holding up his fists. "My dad is a god!"

Heracles chuckled, closing his fist and healing the wound.

Flynn looked him over more closely, imagining Heracles slaying the same hydra that they just defeated themselves. "You look nothing like the Disney movie." Flynn said absentmindedly. It was all he could think of.

The disapproval in Heracles' gaze softened, replaced by amusement. "It's the hair, right?" He chuckled, pointing to his dark locks, rather than curly red hair. "They got me mixed up with Achilles. Kevin Sorbo was more accurate."

Thalia tilted her head. "I definitely see the resemblance."

Heracles shrugged. "I'm not a very mainstream god. I was always known for being a hero anyways. I figured it wouldn't be too bad to appear to the casting director in a dream and reveal myself." There was a glint of mischief in Heracles eyes, a spark that Flynn recognized all too well from Kale.

"How you become the God of Heroes?" Flynn asked. He knew a fair bit of mythology from his dad teaching him, and he certainly knew the tales of how Heracles slew the Lernean Hydra and defeated the Stymphalian birds. These all helped with his hunting, but as he recalled, Heracles died. There was nothing about him becoming a god.

Heracles turned to him, nodding. "You know the stories well, Flynn. That I can tell." Sighing, Heracles made his way around the desk and sat against it, motioning for them to sit in the three chairs that suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Once they sat, Heracles began. "You all must know of my Labours, yes?"

"Twelve labours you had to perform to redeem yourself in the eyes of the gods." Kale spoke up.

Heracles smiled and nodded. "Very good, my son." He looked back to the three of them. "Well, by the end of those labors, I was redeemed. My father," He took the time to look to Thalia, "Our father," He smiled, and Thalia couldn't help but reciprocate, "granted me immortality as my reward. That is, after I died. Over the course of many other adventures…I died." He looked down, recalling his death in his mind. "And when I did, I grew immortal." He looked back up with a smile on his face. "The part that's left out of the myths is that I was made the God of Heroes. I watch over mortal heroes and guide them on their paths."

Heracles stood, looking around the room. "I never liked the halls of Olympus very much. I'm a more hands-on type of god. I make my rounds amongst mortal heroes, spending time in their presence and watching over them. Soldiers. Rescue Workers. Civil heroes. All of them are under my protection. That's why I'm here." He gestured to the Fire Station around them. "I've always had a soft spot for Firefighters. I am momentarily taking the place of this station's Chief." He thumbed to the pictures of a man that wasn't Heracles. "Only so that I could talk to you. Usually I'm just a nameless worker, but I figured for this occasion I could spiff it up a bit."

Kale smiled. He was so happy to be claimed, that Flynn couldn't help but be happy along with him. Only Thalia was skeptical at this point. "Well, now it makes sense." She spoke up, ushering herself from her thoughts. She looked up to Heracles and motioned to Kale. "That's why those monsters appeared on his club. The Nemean Lion and Lernean Hydra were your first two labours. When Kale did just what you did, the image of the labour appeared on the club."

Heracles nodded. "Tests." He grinned. "And you passed, my boy." His smile lasted only for a moment. "You see, life is never easy for my children." He spoke to Kale, talking to him seriously. "You already know your fatal flaw."

Kale looked down and patted his stomach, remembering the familiar pull in his gut. "I can't help but help people." He murmured to himself.

"You are a natural hero." Heracles explained, "You cannot deny someone in need of your aid. You must save them even if all they need is help opening a tough jar. Or if it means your life." Heracles looked away. "Hence why my children are scarce. I do not have many as it is, but the ones I do have do not live for very long."

Kale played with the lion keychain in his palm. "I've proven myself, haven't I? I'll survive." He stared forcefully at the keychain. Kale made it this far, he wasn't about to give up just after he was claimed. He spoke like he was trying to prove that to the keychain in his grasp.

Heracles looked back at his son. "I have no doubt of that. But I have higher hopes for you." Kale met his father's gaze, intrigued. "I sent the lion and the hydra to test you, but the tests are not over."

"You sent them!?" Flynn exclaimed. "Were you trying to kill us?"

"I was trying to see if Kale would be the one I would choose." Heracles met Flynn's gaze coldly. He broke contact and looked back at Kale. "I was on the last journey of the Argonauts. I am under the impression there is another coming, very soon. I need you on that journey, Kale. We all were needed the last time. They will need your strength."

Thalia was surprised. "Are you saying Kale is…?"

"One of the Seven Demigods of the Great Prophecy, yes. But only potentially. That makes five. The team is almost assembled." Heracles said with pride.

Kale made eye contact with Flynn. They'd be going on the same quest again sometime in the future. They were both demigods of the prophecy. Inside, Flynn was rejoicing, if only for the most idiotic reason. He liked spending time with Kale, more so than anyone else. Now, it just meant that more time like that would be guaranteed. Flynn noticed a tiny hint of a smile grow on Kale's face before he looked down. "This is all so much." Kale breathed, shaking his head with a laugh. "I've been claimed and given the weight of the world to bear all in few minutes."

"I know how that feels." Heracles muttered aside, before continuing more loudly, "Anyway, Kale, son, I have sent you the Nemean Lion and the Lernean Hydra to test your strength and your character. They were my first and second labours. If you can complete all twelve labours, well," He paused, taking a moment to admire what he was about to say, "you would be a true Son of Heracles." Kale beamed beside Flynn. Obviously, Kale wanted nothing more than that. "And in that case, you would be the demigod I choose to fulfill the Great Prophecy."

Kale nodded. "I won't let you down."

"Oh! Also," Heracles exclaimed, remembering something else. He made his way back around the desk and sat behind it, leaning back in his seat and crossing his legs on top of it. "I have some information that will be of great use to you." He grinned, knowing he held the ace the trio so desperately deserved. All they knew so far was that the Ceryneian Hind was being held captive somewhere, and it was weakening Artemis.

Thalia and Flynn leaned forward, exclaiming in unison, "Really!?"

Heracles nodded. "It's not much, but I know the adversary you face. His name is Gration, one of Gaea's gigantes. He has captured the hind and is keeping it in some sort of cage."
"Why are we fighting a cheese grater?" Kale mumbled to himself, confused. He may have been strong, but sometimes, half of his brains were in his biceps.

Flynn tightened his grip on the arms of the chair. So, Gration was the one trying to kill his mother? Flynn swore Gration would be killed instead, whoever he was. Thalia must have been as clueless as Flynn was, because she spoke up in earnest. "Gration? Never heard of him. And the Hunters have studied every possible threat to Artemis."

Heracles nodded. "Not a very well known giant. He doesn't even have a page on Wikipedia." Heracles added, like that was a valid fact, "He's the Bane of Artemis, born specifically to take down your mother." Heracles explained, looking to Flynn. "He's an exceptional hunter. I assume that's why he was able to track down the Hind. I mean, only one person could do it before." The way Heracles grinned made it seem like it was him.

"Wait," Flynn furrowed his brow, "You? You tracked down the hind?" Flynn may have known some of Heracles' myths, but not all.

Heracles smugly held up three fingers. "My third labour. Boy, that was a tough one. I chased it for a full year around Europe." Heracles shook his head, no doubt remembering an entire year of his mortal life dedicated to chasing after a hind.

"How did you do it?" Kale interjected, his eyes calculating. "If it was your third labour, then it's also my next task. I have to catch it." Flynn sat back and admired Kale. Ok, maybe he wasn't as clueless as he looked.

Heracles nodded, "Yes, your next labour is to catch the hind. Which leads me to my next little tidbit." He looked back to Thalia and Flynn. "I do not know the cage that Gration is keeping the hind hostage in. Somehow, it siphons the life energy from the imprisoned. Gration is using that energy to make himself stronger, and in the process, he is weakening Artemis."

"The perfect strategy," Thalia mused bitterly, "Kill your enemy, strengthen yourself, all in one move."

Heracles nodded grimly. "Something like that will not be easy to break." He turned to Kale. "But once you break it, I can guarantee that thing will run like hell. You need to catch it, Kale. All I can say is to be on your toes. It's almost as fast as Hermes. The only way I caught it was when it was asleep." Flynn thought back to the dream he had the night before his prophecy was given. A man in fur catching a deer…that must have been Heracles! He was the same one Flynn saw slaying the Hydra. But then who was that smaller man that helped him?

"You didn't have any help?" Flynn  prodded, "No one else helped you catch it? Perhaps someone a bit smaller than you?"

Heracles narrowed his eyes in confusion. "I don't know what you mean." But Flynn caught the slip-up in Heracles' tone. He did know. He just wasn't telling.

Thalia interrupted, "Hang on. It's Flynn's quest. Shouldn't he be the one to save the hind?"

Heracles simply shrugged. "I cannot change what a prophecy foretells. But that Hind is a pain to track down and catch. Kale's next test is to catch the hind, and this quest will give him the opportunity to get a head start. It leads him straight to the hind. I'm simply saying not to pass up this chance. It took me, one of the greatest heroes ever, a year to catch it the last time." Not only was Heracles strong, he was humble too.

Thalia looked like she was about to argue, but Flynn spoke up. "It's fine, Thalia." He glanced aside at Kale and shrugged. "We'll figure it out." Kale looked away, a bit ashamed. Maybe it was finally hitting Kale that this was Flynn's moment.

"There!" Heracles grinned, "I knew you'd see it my way." He rapped on the desk and sat forward. "Well, now that that's settled, you guys need to resume your quest." He stood up, motioning for the three demigods to stand also. When they did, the chairs were gone. He walked over to the door of the Chief's room, each step resounding on the tile like a boulder was dropped with each step. "Lt. Williams outside will show you to the supply room down the hall. I've taken the liberty of filling it with anything a young demigod might need. As well as two new packs for you two." Heracles snorted, eyeing Flynn and Kale.

Thalia was the first to make her way over to Heracles. Heracles placed a hand on the young Hunter's arm, looking in her eyes. "I trust you to gather whatever you need from the supplies, Thalia. You're a fine hunter."

Thalia nodded, unfazed by Heracles' compliments. She crossed her arms and spoke up, "Thank you, Heracles. Perhaps you're not the egotistical man I thought you were." She stressed the word man, as if that was insult enough. "Not completely, anyways." She glared at Heracles with a level of uneasy friendship, like something was still holding her back.

"Ah," Heracles closed his eyes, "You're referring to that." He dropped his arm and sighed, keeping his gaze away from Thalia's condemning eyes. "When I was mortal, I did not have all of my priorities straight. Mortality clouded my vision. I regret not being able to apologize…" He took a stray glance up to the ceiling, "…to her. To Zoë. But take my word when I say I would if I could."

Thalia shrugged, putting on her best fake smile. "Just some food for thought, Heracles. Thanks for all the help. Good luck with your heroic deeds." Thalia's last words chilled the air as she left the room, walking with Lt. Williams to the supply room.

Heracles stared up at the ceiling, letting out a disgruntled sigh and rolling his eyes. He shrugged and looked to Flynn and Kale, who had hung back while Thalia unloaded. Kale stepped forward, Flynn nipping at his heels. Heracles rediscovered his cheer when he saw Kale. "Son," He said proudly, squeezing the boy's shoulder. "It has been wonderful to finally meet you."

Kale smiled back, and…were those the makings of tears Flynn saw? Coming from Kale? "Thank you." Kale paused, "For claiming me." It looked like he wanted to say more, but he just sniffed and held out his hand.

Heracles smiled, nodding, as if that was all that really needed to be done, and he was proud of Kale for doing so little. He grabbed his son's hand and shook it firmly. Flynn stared wide-eyed at their hand shake. Both father and son had bone-crushing super strength. He imagined that the magnitude of that handshake probably could have leveled mountains, and here the power was being consolidated into such a minute gesture.

Kale dropped the handshake and looked happily to Flynn. "Ready?" Kale's expression reminded Flynn of a small puppy ready to go on a walk. Flynn nodded with a grin and made his way to the door, following Kale out.

Heracles stopped him. "Actually," He intervened, halting Flynn with an upheld hand. Kale turned, seeing his father's hand and looking concerned. Heracles continued, "I'd like to speak with Flynn alone for a few minutes. You know, advise him on his quest. Go help Thalia with the supplies, Kale, he'll be out in no time."

Kale looked questioningly to Flynn, almost asking for permission. He was seeing if Flynn was alright with it. Flynn nodded reassuringly. "Go ahead. I'll catch up." Kale nodded, taking one last look at Heracles before disappearing down the hallway outside. The moment that Kale started walking, Heracles abandoned his façade and turned sharply back into the Chief's room. Flynn followed cautiously. With a flick of Heracles' hand, the door whisked itself shut, locking Flynn inside with the God of Heroes. That made him think…was he one?

"This isn't about advice on the quest," Flynn began, crossing his arms over his chest, "is it?" He looked to the disgruntled God, now standing by the left wall trophy case.

Heracles leaned against the case with one arm, the other on his hip. He didn't even look at the trophies within. He simply stared decidedly at the ground, his black tie hanging limply, oddly reminding Flynn of a noose. "No." Heracles shook his head. "It's not." His voice gave his words an air of bitter solemnity. He looked back up to his level, staring into the class, almost past the trophies. "It is about you, Flynn Winchester." He turned and looked Flynn square in the eyes, "And how quite frankly I question you. You, and all of your endeavors, to the point of partial disdain." His words began to take the offensive qualities Flynn had suspected. "You are the son of the goddess of chastity. You simply should not be."

Flynn blinked. He hadn't expected anything very different. He remembered the glances and the looks Heracles gave him throughout their meeting. Heracles didn't like Flynn at all. But now, Flynn wanted to know why. "Join the club." The young boy deadpanned, making his way quietly over to Heracles. He stood near him by the trophy case, facing the god. "All of the other gods were leaping at the chance to blast me into oblivion, why shouldn't you?" Heracles stood his ground, glaring down at the Son of Artemis. "The question is, though: why haven't you yet?" Flynn asked.

Heracles shook his head, standing up and turning away. "As much as I would like to eradicate an accident such as yourself, I cannot go against my father's decree."

"Really?" Flynn countered, "Is that all? Or is there something more you're not telling me, Heracles?"

Heracles spun on his heels, rage lighting up his eyes. "Do not speak to a god in such a manner, half-blood!" His fists shook, as well as the entire room. Flynn did his best to maintain composure in the face of an enraged god with super strength. Heracles breathed for a few moments and calmed down, after which he rolled his eyes and turned back to the trophy case. His eyes found a fixed spot and stared, almost going on autopilot. "Iolaus." Heracles spoke at last. "His name was Iolaus."

Flynn furrowed his brow in confusion. "Pardon?" He relaxed his arms by his side, wondering what that name even meant.

"You mentioned before," conceded Heracles, "about someone helping me with my labours. His name was Iolaus." Heracles stared at a particular trophy. Flynn followed his gaze to see it was shaped like a Hydra. "He first helped me with the Hydra. I sliced its heads, he burnt them. Much like you did with Kale today."

"Oh." Flynn mumbled. He thought back to his dream. The smaller figure was Iolaus, helping Heracles slay the hydra. But why had he dreamt of that in the first place?

Heracles was caught up in nostalgia and continued. "He helped me with many of my labours, in fact." There was a long pause, and Flynn saw the hurt in the god's eyes. "He was my best friend." Something about the way Heracles said it made Flynn uneasy. He couldn't quite put his finger on why, though.

Heracles tore his gaze from the trophy and looked back to Flynn. His eyes now did not hold disdain so much as nostalgic pity and remorse. He did not like something about Flynn, and he wanted to change it, but deep down he knew that wouldn't do anyone any good. "I feel that Kale needs your help, just as I did Iolaus'."

A blow like that left Flynn speechless, a shocked expression marking his features. He wouldn't have expected that out of Heracles, of all people. It took him by surprise. He quickly gathered his thoughts and spoke, "I'd help Kale with anything, in a heartbeat. I'd…" As the words left Flynn, he realized how much he meant them. "I'd do anything for him. Even if he wouldn't do the same."

Heracles looked like he heard what he was looking for. Not so much what he wanted, but what he expected to hear. He nodded and looked away. "Kale is…different." Heracles said, almost worriedly. Flynn assumed it was because of Kale's super strength, or his unique heritage.  "I see the way he acts around you. It reminds me of Iolaus and I. That's why I brought it up. You are…" Heracles tried to find the right words, but he grappled with them as if he did not want to say them. "…important to him, and to his future. Even if he does not realize it yet." Heracles looked somewhat disappointed, but he stared silently into the trophy case, trying to lose himself in his past accomplishments.

After a few moments of silence, shut out by Heracles' burly arms crossed over his massive chest, Flynn decided to leave. He nodded out of courtesy. "Thank you, sir." Flynn turned and walked to the door, until Heracles called out to him again.

"One last thing, Flynn." Flynn stopped and looked back as the god continued. "Do you know why I had to perform my labours?"

Flynn turned all the way around now, his hand still on the door. "No, I don't."

Heracles' eyes did not leave the trophy case, but he spoke aside to Flynn. "I murdered my family." Heracles let his words resonate in the atmosphere before he continued. "The Labours were the price of my redemption. I slew my wife, my children, in a blind rage."

Flynn shook his head, almost terrified of the god that stood before him. "Why are you even telling me this?" The way that Heracles was just staring off into blank space and talking so calmly about murder made Flynn want to run off.

Heracles turned to look at Flynn, his face expressionless and cold. "Kale and I aren't so different. When we mess up, we mess up big, and the ones we love are the ones that pay." Heracles turned and walked back to his desk. "Keep that in mind, Flynn." He sat down in his chair and opened a nearby newspaper to the crossword section, showing that their conversation was over.

Flynn stood in stunned silence for a few passing moments before opening the door and bowing. "It has been an honor in your presence, Lord Heracles." Flynn said, strictly formally, and left without a word. He wanted out of this god's presence as fast as he could.

As Flynn made his way down the hall towards the supply room – he saw Lt. Williams waiting by the door for him – Heracles' words haunted him. So, Flynn was important to Kale? Flynn loved hearing that. Kale was Flynn's best friend, and he'd help him with anything. But what did Heracles mean about Kale being different? Flynn wondered if they were talking about the same Kale. Kale was a simple, all-american, apple pie kind of guy. He didn't talk much, but he was always polite, even if it was sometimes hidden under his serious countenance. Every so often that manner broke, showing a happy-go-lucky interior. How was that different?

Also, why did Heracles mention his family? Flynn didn't know that was his reason for his labours. Penance for slaughtering your family? That was terrifying. Kale wasn't like that. He couldn't be. Flynn knew Kale wouldn't do that.

But Heracles had said they were similar.

Flynn thought back to the Nemean Lion. Kale looked so angry. He remembered the rage in Kale's eyes when he smashed down the Hydra. Kale had anger in him, but could he ever be driven to hurt someone like that? Flynn let his jaw slack when he put it all together. Who would Kale hurt if that was the case? Would it be Flynn? But Flynn couldn't be that close to Kale…could he?

His heavy thinking made Flynn forget what he was doing, so when he turned into the supply room and saw Kale, he jumped. Thalia looked up from shoving about a dozen packs of ambrosia into her enchanted bag when Flynn entered the room. "Done already?"

Flynn nodded, reaching for his backpack, which he found was already packed to the brim. "I packed it for you." Flynn looked up to see Kale zipping up his own bag. "I didn't know how long dad would have you in there." Kale shrugged, patting Flynn on the shoulder.

Thalia left the canned goods sections of the supply room and made her way over to the boys. "Well, I think we're all set to continue. I think it's time we leave town and meet up with Beast, huh? We need to know where to go next."

Flynn nodded in agreement. "Sure. He said he'd wait outside the city limits." He shouldered his bag and followed Thalia from the room. Once they thanked Lt. Williams for his help, they made their way out of the firehouse.

"Now we're even!" Kale said, playfully punching Flynn in the arm. Flynn jumped a bit, but played it off with a nervous laugh. "Now we're both claimed!" Kale's smile was harmless and happy, but in it, Flynn only saw a man murdering his family. It was drastic, but Flynn had been frightened of Heracles' words.

Kale noticed Flynn's silence and spoke up. "Hey," Kale asked, extending a concerned arm around Flynn's shoulder. "You ok? You're super quiet since you met with dad."

Flynn looked away to conceal the red of his cheeks coupled with the nervous look in his eyes. "Heracles." Flynn corrected, a shakiness to his voice. "His name is Heracles."
Kale shrugged, which moved Flynn's entire form around so much he felt like a rag doll. Kale let go of Flynn and shoved his hands in his silver jacket. "Yeah, but he's my father. Why shouldn't I call him dad?"

"Oh, I don't know," Flynn held up his hands as they turned into the stairwell, "Because he's a god? You don't call gods stuff like that. Even I called my mom Artemis!"

Kale snorted, almost in disbelief of Flynn. "Your mom is also the goddess of Chastity, so I don't think she'd like being called that in the first place!" Kale shook his head and walked up with Thalia, leaving Flynn to wander on his own a few steps behind.

They left the firehouse and followed Kale out of Chicago. On their way, they passed by a huge fountain in a small town square. The mist from the water caught the light of the setting sun, shining a rainbow of colors into the air.

Flynn was far behind the other two, who were making their own conversation. When he passed by the mist, an image formed, causing him to stop and look. It was blurred and paused, like a video, but a voice spoke. "Incoming Iris Message for Flynn Winchester."
Flynn looked around, surprised that a cloud of mist was speaking to him, but he nodded at the image. It somehow recognized that he accepted, and began playing, coming into focus. Surprisingly, it was Trixie and Jag!

Jag narrowed his eyes, looking closer into the mist. They were standing on the porch of the big house, in the middle of the night. Jag suddenly recognized Flynn and exclaimed, "There he is! Whaddup, Flynnster?"


Flynn's face lit up as well. "Hey guys! It's so great to see you!"

Trixie smiled, looking as beautiful as ever. "We were wondering how you were doing there, Arrowhead."

Flynn shrugged. "We're in Chicago right now. We're making our way west. We've already fought giants, a hydra, even the Nemean Lion! I mean, aside from the gods thinking I should die, it's going pretty well."

Jag gasped, "That's intense, dude! How'd you do it?"

"Oh," Trixie chimed in, a smug look on her face. "I bet he had some help from Kale." She looked directly at him through the mist, emphasizing Kale's name.

Thankfully, Jag didn't noticed the death glare Flynn sent Trixie's way. "We heard about Kale, too." Jag mentioned. When Flynn looked confused, he continued. "About an hour ago, Kale's bunk in Cabin 11 lit up with a holographic symbol."

"The club and furred cape." Trixie said, popping open her mirror and checking her eyeliner. "Chiron told us they were symbols of Heracles." Trixie looked aside to Flynn and popped her eyebrows suggestively. Flynn made a mental note to punch her when he got back to camp.

"That's some intense news. Within a little bit, the news spread all over camp. Chiron let us call you and check up. He said, since we don't have a Heracles cabin – frankly, we don't have Heracles campers, like ever – he's being moved to the Zeus Cabin. Closest thing to him."

"Wait, so, he'll be rooming with Jason Grace?" Flynn asked, realizing what Kale moving meant. Granted, Jason was another demigod of the Great Prophecy like Flynn, but, frankly…he was better than Flynn. He was stronger, more powerful, better looking. Flynn suddenly felt inadequate.

Trixie nodded. "Oh, what I wouldn't give to be a daughter of Heracles right now." She stared off dreamily until Jag backhanded her arm, ushering her back into reality. She held out her arms innocently, the two of them turning back to Flynn. "Well, anywho, we just wanted to see how you were, Flynn."

"Y'know," Jag interjected, "Make sure you're still alive." Flynn smiled along with Jag. At least Flynn had friends back at camp that wanted him alive. "Don't be a stranger now. As far as we know, Iris doesn't hate you."

The two waved goodbye, the Iris Message dissipating into thin air as they did. Flynn stood still for a few seconds, savoring the fact that his friends wanted to check up on him like that. It meant a lot to him. Absentmindedly, he looked around to find Thalia and Kale about two blocks away. Flynn sighed. They hadn't even noticed him.

After a few minutes of running, Flynn caught up with Kale and Thalia, and they left the city. Just as the sun was setting, they discretely turned into the surrounding countryside, veiled by the dark forests around them.

"So, how do we let Beast know where we are?" Thalia wondered, looking around the forest.
Flynn was thinking of the exact same thing, when he heard Beast's voice in his mind. "No need." Flynn turned in the direction to find Beast walk silently up behind Thalia, nudging her in her back with his massive snout.

Thalia screamed and spun around, dagger raised. Kale nearly fell over laughing, and Flynn tried to mask the laughter he desperately wanted to let out. Even Beast let his tongue hang out of his massive maw, imitating laughter. Thalia begrudgingly sheathed her dagger and tried to stand a bit taller. "There you are." She addressed Beast.

Beast turned to Flynn. "I trust your trip was successful?"

Flynn nodded. "Our packs are fully stocked."

Beast blinked and nodded his head, then sniffed the air a few times. His eyes opened and he smugy looked to Kale. Flynn had no clue how he could interpret an animal's look as smug, but he just had a feeling in Beast's case. "So, the Strong One has been claimed."

Kale was just beginning to stand properly, wiping the tears from his eyes and slowly coming down from his laughter. Beast raised his eyebrows questioningly, glancing to Flynn. Flynn rolled his eyes and just began walking, in any direction whatsoever. Beast caught on and trotted up to Flynn, guiding him on the right path. The quest moved on.