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Chapter Text

Octavian’s POV

Octavian knew his family had enemies.

His father, Titus Octavius, and his mother, Sabina Octavius, were very respected and important people in the legion. They were the envy of many.

He should have expected someone would go for him: but he was only 10.

It was his birthday.

He planned to spend the day with Jason, who was 7, and Reyna, who was 11 and arrived only recently.

They were his friends, of course he wanted to spend his birthday with them and eat junk food and be kids.

But he apparently didn’t deserve that.

Some legionaries lead him into the woods and lead him there.

Then they left him there. Alone.

He didn’t remember the way back: he wasn’t focusing enough to memorise the path.

Now he was sat in the woods.

Hiding behind a tree with a decaying monster corpse nearby, his dagger clutched in his shaking hand.

Dirt under his nails and on his skin.

His hair was messy too.

What was he supposed to do?

Moo!

Octavian flinched.

Was that… a cow?

It ran right into his side.

It was a calf.

He assumed it was a highland cow but it just seemed… off?

Its hair was golden and its eyes a bright blue.

And were its horns copper? Because it seemed as much.

“Are you lost too?” Octavian asked as the cow nudged and nuzzled his hand.

Confused didn’t even begin to describe how he felt.

A golden cow wasn’t what he expected to see today.

He had expected death to be honest.

Not that he was complaining of course!

By the time he realised what the cow was it was seemingly trying to drag him somewhere.

So he followed.

Might as well right?

When a cow says moo-ve then you gotta move.

Bad joke, sorry.

He followed after the cow, holding the straps of his backpack tight.

Inside were scrolls and a leather bound journal.

The scrolls had the prophecies of his grandmother Phoebe, who like Octavian could see the future.

Octavian wasn’t all that good at it yet. But he was getting better!

Slow but steady.

He had been following the cow for an hour before she decided to take a nap.

Yes, the cow is a girl.

Her name is Octavia, named after his ancestor Octavia the Elder. Nicknames Vivi

Octavian was sat at the base of a tree while Vivi napped.

The scenery was nice.

It was a pretty warm day. Clear skies too.

Octavian wondered if it was safe for him to take a nap too.

Just five minutes wouldn’t hurt right?

Michael Yew’s POV

Michael wasn’t sure what he was doing.

Wandering in the woods was never a good idea.

But his dad, Apollo, had come to him in a dream and asked him to.

He said that if he did then he’d owe me a favour that Michael could cash in at any time and a favour from a god was not something he was gonna pass up on.

And plus, if Apollo was offering him a favour to do something then it had to be important.

So he went into the forest.

He didn’t bring anyone with me.

He brought my bow and arrows and his backpack.

And Michael kept walking.

And walking.

Walking.

Running for a minute or two.

Then walking again.

Until he found what he thinks he was sent to look for.

A kid, probably 9 or 10.

He was pale with straight, pale blonde hair that went to his shoulders and blue-green eyes.

He wore a plain purple shirt with baggy denim trousers and black boots.

And there was one of Apollo’s golden cows in his lap.

His dad’s precious cows.

The ones he almost tossed baby Hermes into Tartarus for…

Napping on some random kids lap.

Michael would normally have assumed he was one of my half siblings: Apollo had a lot of kids so he wouldn’t be surprised.

But he didn’t know if the kid was claimed so he couldn’t just assume.

He walked slowly to him. One step at a time. But he stepped on a dam stick like a dumb movie character.

The kid shot awake and that’s when Michael realised he had a dagger on him. It was gold with engravings on it.

The kid looked terrified.

“I’m not gonna hurt you. I swear.”

Personally he doesn’t think that he’s that threatening. Maybe a tad emo but not scary!

He had shaggy black hair with fair skin and honey brown eyes.

Orange camp shirt with black trousers, matching boots and a red zip-up hoodie around my waist.

We’re not gonna talk about his black eyeliner and black eyeshadow.

His younger siblings teased him enough for being ‘emo’.

But moving on.

The kid looked at him.

Staring.

Staring.

Staring.

Then slowly standing up, the cow was awake now too.

“Why do you look like that…?”

Okay so this kid was a little shit.

“Look like what?”

“Like you’re waiting for someone to die.”

Michael sighed.

This kid would get along with Will, Kayla and Austin: the trouble trio.

Little gremlins….

“What are you doing out here by yourself?” That may have been the wrong question to ask because the kid looked really upset.

“I got abandoned…. My parents… friends. My parent’s friends told me to wait here and I don’t think they’re coming back.”

Now Michael didn’t know the kid but as the oldest sibling of many he felt like he wanted to give those people an ancient plague.

It’d be so easy to do.

The kid seemed to almost sense his thoughts and calmed down just a tad bit.

“Who are you….?”

“My name’s Michael Yew. My… dad wanted me to come get you.”

The kid was back to staring again.

“Your dad’s Apollo.” He stated, like he knew something I didn't.

Michael was surprised that he knew: he wasn’t what people imagined when you thought ‘oldest son of Apollo’.

“How did you-“

“I just know.”

That wasn’t weird at all.

“So you know. That’s okay. Does that mean you trust me enough to come with me?”

The kid took a few steps closer. Then looked at the cow. Then back at Michael.

“Okay,”

“Okay?”

“I’ll come with you.”

Michael smiled and offered his hand.

The kid accepted: his hands were small and cold.

“What’s your name kiddo?”

The kid hesitated.

“Cassian….”

Michael raised an eyebrow. “Dam. I think you just won the award for coolest name in camp. And you aren’t even in camp yet.”

Cassian smiled and we began to walk to camp.

“So what’s up with the cow? I don’t see much of my dad’s sacred cattle.”

Michael asked softly, he was still nervous that he’d spook Cassian.

“Her name’s Octavia. Vivi for short.”

Cassian said simply.

“Fancy name for a cow.”

“She deserves a fancy name. Fancy name for a fancy calf.”

Michael chuckled.

They kept walking to camp as Michael explained everything about camp.

He talked about Chiron and good old Mr.D.

Cassian seemed surprised that Mr.D was actually Dionysus. Made sense since Michael described him as ‘a grumpy old man who likes dolphins, Coca Cola and dark humour’.

By the time they reached the camp borders, Michael was quick to be scolded by a few other campers: Katie Gardener and Mitchell mainly.

“Will was crying because of you!” Katie yelled, “he was scared you’d get eaten! You’re so daft!”

“Who’s the kid?”

Mitchell asked, mildly confused.

“Did you and Jake Mason have a kid that you gave birth to on the woods?”

For a son of Aphrodite, Mitchell was a pretty odd kid. Michael didn’t judge: he was a son of Apollo who was emo and Mitchell was a son of Aphrodite who liked gore more than romance.

Katie hit the back of Mitchell’s head and crouched down to Cassian.

“Hi there bud. I’m Katie, daughter of Demeter. That idiot is Mitchell, son of Aphrodite. Though you wouldn’t be able to tell with a face like his.”

“Hey!” Mitchell gestured to his face, “I am a work of art, Miss acne!”

Katie rolled her eyes, unbothered but she still hit the back of Mitchell’s head.

“Shut up. Acne’s completely normal, your hairline however, isn’t.”

Mitchell gasped, hand to his heart and looking downright flabbergasted.

If you saw Mitchell being anything other than dramatic then it’s an evil clone who doesn’t know anything about Mitchell.

“How dare you-“

“Alright! Settle down before you scare the kid.”

Michael really wished he didn’t have to be an elder sibling to his friends but it seems he did.

“This is Cassian. And that is one of my father’s sacred cattle. Her name is Octavia, Vivi for short.”

Octavia moo’d helpfully.

She truly did contribute to the conversation.

“You should probably take them to Chiron,” Mitchell suggested.

“Especially since you’ve been gone for about an hour and then showed up with a 9 year old and a cow.”

“I’m 10,” Cassian mumbled.

“Sorry. A 10 year old and a cow.” Mitchell corrected himself.

Michael sighed. Mr.D and Chiron were definitely gonna scold him for being so reckless.

But he might as well do it now rather than later….

“Come on, Cassian.”

And he headed to the big house.

With the boy and the golden cow.

Chapter Text

Octavian's POV

You may think Octavian lied when he told Michael his name was Cassian but his name wasn't actually Octavian.

Shocker huh?

Well his birth name was Cassian Aventius Octavius.

People in the legion simply called him Octavian because they didn't care enough to know his name.

The legion just has the most lovely people.

Now moving on.

Michael led Cassian and Vivi to the Big House.

The name explained it all really: it was a big house after all.

Michael was an odd guy. Not as odd as Dakota (a child of Bacchus two years older than Cassian).

No one was odder than Dakota.

When they reached the Big House, Cassian's attention was immediately drawn to the giant half horse man. Obviously. There was also an old man with curly black hair and a dad bod. Cassian would have never thought that he was Dionysus (Dionysus? Bacchus?).

He just looked like a dad who hated life really.

Chiron saw Cassian.

Then the very obviously divine cow.

Then back to Michael.

"Michael... you've been missing for an hour and you return with a random child and one of Apollo's sacred cattle?"

Mr.D snorted at how shocked Chiron seemed.

"Don't get your tail in a twist, Chiron. Maybe the kid is one of Hermes’.”

Michael decided not to respond to that.

”My dad wanted me to get him.”

Chiron raised an eyebrow. Mr.D sipped on his drink. Loudly.

Cassian just looked at Vivi. She was having a good time at least.

Running around and looking at everything and anything.

Cassian kept an eye on her to make sure she didn’t drink or eat anything bad for her.

She was a divine cow but that didn’t mean she was the smartest thing.

She was the cutest though. Though Jason is a close second.

Chiron seemed all but frozen in place. Likely wondering how he didn't have grey hairs yet.

"Well.... Welcome to camp halfblood. A safe haven for demigods to grow up, train, discover their abilities and-"

"Cause trouble." Mr.D cut in, seemingly already annoyed with Cassian.

This time Michael did roll his eyes and seemed to be completely and utterly done with the conversation.

"I didn't plan on causing trouble! But my dad really wanted me to go get this kid! He even promised me favour!"

Mr.D choked on his drink, Cassian almost hoped it'd kill him but then he remembered that Gods don't really die. And if they do their presence still lives on in their domains: that's what his mother told him at least.

Chiron took a breath and looked at Cassian.

"Do you know why you're so important to Apollo, child?"

Cassian had the chance to tell the truth here. Tell them how his bloodline was connected to Apollo and how he had inherited slight powers of prophecy. But then her wondered: if he didn't tell them.... then would he just be seen as any other kid? Would he finally get to be a normal kid?

He couldn't let the chance escape him so he simply shook his head no.

Chiron didn't seem to detect his deception. Just quietly nodded.

"You shouldn't expect the brat to know, My Little Pony." Mr.D seemed to not longer be choking.

What a shame.

Though Cassian wasn't sure why he called Chiron 'My Little Pony'. Chiron wasn't exactly little.

Chiron didn't seem to take any offence. In fact, he seemed rather... fond?

"Of course, I do apologise. Some demigods tend to know more about their godly heritage than others. For some its obvious. While for others... not so much."

Cassian assumed that last comment was directed towards Michael and Mitchell. And perhaps himself.

Vivi moo'd loudly, seemingly not happy with the lack of attention she was getting.

So she did what any cow-seeking-attention would do.

She started to chew on the hem of Mr.D's shirt, which she could only do because he was sat down.

Mr.D just stared at her and sighed. "Just another terrible day..." He mumbled.

Cassian picked her up and pulled her away from Mr.D (very reluctantly mind you) but she managed to snag some of the fabric and held it in her mouth victoriously.  

Cassian showed no shame.

Mr.D siighed again. "At camp halfblood where everything's the worst..." He mumbled once more.

Cassian would have help bad.... Actually no. he didn't feel bad and saw no world in which he did.

Suck's to suck.

Michael chuckled nervously and put a hand on Cassian's shoulder. "How about I get the kid to the Hermes cabin huh? Since that's where the unclaimed go."

Chiron nodded and shooed them off.

"Let's go kid. You'll love the Hermes cabin if the Stoll brothers don't bother you much."

Now who in Minerva's good name were the Stoll brothers?

Cassian was convinced the Stoll brothers were daemons. No way they were anything else.

The head counsellor for the Hermes cabin, Luke, was apparently busy so he couldn't be the one to help Cassian settle into camp. So he had to suffer the presence of the Stoll brothers.

They didn't t at all seem sane. Not in the slightest.

They showed Cassian to the bed roll he'd be sleeping in. There were too many unclaimed kids to give them all beds.

It was honestly kinda sad. Especially considering that some of these unclaimed kids could be Hermes kids but their dad just 'didn't have the time' to claim them.

Travis said it was more likely for you to die before 18 than to be claimed in less than a month. The idea of it.... it made Cassian sick.

But he also knew that the legion was no better. Well, at least the unclaimed kids had a space for themselves. And they definitely didn't sort people based on their parentage.

Did they think every child of one god would be the same or something?

But regardless, Cassian got settled in and placed his bag onto his bed roll. The Stoll brothers left him be. Thank the gods

Vivi also got settled pretty well by tricking some of the campers into giving her stuff. She deserved it for sure but it was still funny to see demigods get puppy eyes from a divine calf and hand over their goods.

Vivi shared with him of course. Mainly small chocolate bars.

Mother and father would have never let him have so much sugar in one go.

Eventually he was told that it was time for camp activities. Since it was Thursday, the Hermes cabin would be in the arena with: the Athena cabin, the Ares cabin and the Apollo cabin. So basically the three cabins that can't stand each other based on untrue stereotypes... and the instigators.

How lovely.

Cassian got to watch the Ares cabin and Athena cabin get into a fight almost instantly. It started off with just two people and then escalated.

Cassian decided to sit to the side and do a small hobby he picked up a while back: wood carving. He mainly carved birds. Today he decided to do a screech owl. They were lovely creatures. They could have wingspans of 18 to 24 inches.

Mitchell sat next to him while he did. "Cool craft your doing, kid. You're gonna dominate the crafts table for sure but you are supposed to be practicing with a weapon or two right now."

Cassian didn't respond. How was he supposed to be expected to do anything 'productive' when the Athena and Ares cabin were about to kill each other.

Mitchell sighed as if he expected Cassian to act this way. "Come on kid. I understand that there is a lot of different noises right now and that sucks. Like a lot. but you gotta at least try, okay? Try once and if you still can't then you can sit back down and continue carving."

Cassian considered it for a moment. The legion would have never let him do that: try once and then stop when he just couldn't. It was do it or get in trouble.

Mitchell seemed like an okay guy so Cassian agreed.

"Alright kid. Let's start your first training session." Mitchell smiled.

Chapter Text

Mitchell's POV

If you told yesterday-Mitchell he'd be training a random kid his friend brought to camp, he would have slapped you and told you to shut the hell up.

But here he was. They tried out a couple weapons before getting him a a doru/dory. A doru was a Greek spear that, while not intended to be thrown, was rather aerodynamic. Mitchell was a fan of weapons. He may not love people but he definitely loved weapons.

He helped the kid with his stance and grip. Cassian was able to adapt a lot quicker than most kids his age. He remembered when Clarisse was 10 and she discarded her sword to just fist fight her sparring partner. It was the best thing he has seen that day.

Mitchell realised early on that Cassian was rather independent. So he tried not to add his input where Cassian didn't need it. He knew how annoying it was when someone was teaching you something and acted like you needed training wheels and a hand to hold.

Mitchell would also occasionally look over to the Athena and Ares kids to laugh at how competitive they were. He was sure not even Ares and Athena themselves were this competitive. It was that ridiculous.

Eventually, Cassian decided he was done training and sat back in his previous seat. This time he was reading a books.

Mitchell didn't pry and simply sat beside him and watched the ever so lovely chaos. He was also planning in his mind whether or not he should get Cassian his own weapon. The doru he had trained with was only a practice one and the kid showed way too much potential to be stuck with wooden weapons. Sure, the kid had his dagger, but Mitchell could tell that the kid was made to wield a spear. Call it a gut feeling.

Meanwhile, Clarisse had gotten into an argument with Annabeth. Clarisse was the head of the Ares cabin. Annabeth was the head of the Athena cabin.

It made sense, that with the two cabins' rivalry, they wouldn't exactly be making friendship bracelets and braiding each other's hair. Though to be honest, the two could get along if they tried.

Clarisse was 6'2 of pure muscle with messy dark brown hair and tanned skin with almost red eyes.

So to think that Annabeth -  a girl who was 5'6 with long braided brown hair, dark skin and the iconic grey eyes that all Athena kids seemed to have - had the audacity to yell at Clarisse was hilarious. Almost like a Doberman getting yelled at by a Pomeranian.

Cassian poked Mitchell's side to get his attention. "Do you know why those two are arguing?"

"Nope," Mitchell said simply. "Here at camp, most arguments are over stupid things. Last week, Lee from the Apollo cabin and my half sister Lacy ended up arguing over whose bow was bigger."

Cassian sighed. "So what I'm hearing is... is that everyone here is an idiot."

"Not everyone! I'd say that I am pretty great." Mitchell ruffled the kids hair teasingly. Cassian didn't seem to mind so he assumed that they were basically best friends. Score! "Okay... so other than you, who here has a functioning brain?" Mitchell shrugged. "Not many."

Cassian just looked mildly disappointed and was about to say something when the far away argument got louder.

"At least we aren't mindless brutes!"

"Who are you calling mindless brutes, know it all freak!"

Mitchell smirked: this was gonna be fun.

Cassian's POV

Cassian had never seen people so idiotic in his life. It seemed that most cabins had built up rivalries based on arguments their parents had: ones that said parents likely didn't care about anymore!

Many people here seemed to base their personalities and opinions on others solely on their godly parent.

Did people in the legion do that? No way. Sure, they prided themselves on their lineage, but it wasn't their whole personality! At this point Cassian would prefer to spend his time with Dakota of all people.

He was honestly a little concerned for these demigods. Assuming how people are based on their parent is probably not the best way to make friends. Cassian honestly made friends by accident. Jason just started following him around when he had gotten to camp, Reyna had become attached to Jason and thus Cassian too. And Dakota.... he honestly wasn't sure when he and Dakota became friends.

Cassian was pretty sure he had found the child of Bacchus in a dumpster or something.

Cassian was going to keep reading but then Mitchell yanked him close. Apparently, the currently raging argument had caused a dagger to get flung. If Mitchell hadn't stepped in then Cassian would have had a dagger in his head. Dead on his first day, that would have been fun.

"Not so wise now, are you?" Clarisse taunted Annabeth, whose face went red. "You good, new kid?" Clarisse yelled to Cassian.

"He's in one piece!" Mitchell yelled back. Cassian held his book close to his chest. These people were crazy.

Cassian looked at the dagger that was embedded in the seat he had been sat in moments prior. He assumed it was Annabeth's as it had a small owl charm on it. He pulled it out of the wood and handed it to Mitchell. Cassian didn't feel like interacting with these people to be honest so he simply let Mitchell do all the social work. But Mitchell ended up dragging Cassian over to Annabeth, Clarisse and co.

How lovely....

"Here's your weapon, Lady Chase." Mitchell seemed to be teasing her as he did a dramatic bow when returning the dagger. Annabeth snatched it off of him, seeming more and more frustrated.

"Shut up..." Annabeth grumbled, not even sparing Mitchell a look before turning to Cassian with a calculating gaze. "So you're the one who everyone's been chatting about. The kid Michael brought in from the woods."

Had people been talking about him? He had been trying to lay low.... This was just lovely huh?

"That's me." Cassian didn't even get to introduce himself before Annabeth started trying to figure out his godly parent.

"I guess you could pass for an Apollo kid... but nothing about you has that shine that the Apollo kids have. Probably not an Aphrodite kid for obvious reasons. I doubt you'd be related to Athena or Ares." She tilted her head side to side before deciding: "You're probably the kid of a minor god."

Cassian couldn't help but feel mildly annoyed. He wasn't a fan of being analysed like that. Well he wouldn't have minded but why'd she have to say it out loud? That just seemed a little inconsiderate.

Clarisse snorted, likely seeing another chance to mock Annabeth. "Leave it to one of Athena's kids to go judging people. Do you even know the brats name?"

Annabeth rolled her eyes but she did seem to realise that what she had said may be a little inconsiderate. Cassian was glad she could at least realise when she's done something wrong: it was a good trait to have.

"This is Cassian. I've found he doesn't talk much so don't expect him too. Wicked with s spear though." Mitchell rested his hand on Cassian's shoulder. Perhaps as a comfort or support. Cassian was fine but he appreciated the gesture.

Annabeth nodded at the information. "How old is he?"

"10 last I checked. Unless he's aged by a year in only a day." Mitchell ruffled Cassian' hair again: he was going to have so many knots later. Such a shame.

Annabeth seemed like she wanted to say more before a guy who stood among the Hermes campers - black curly hair, fair skin and blue eyes with a scar - announced that Arena time was over. Annabeth made a b-line for a guy so Cassian assumed that the guy was a friend or brother.

Meanwhile, campers filtered out of the arena to go do other activities.

Cassian decided to take Vivi on a walk around camp while he had the time. After he got changed and brushed his hair of course.

Chapter Text

Vivi POV

When Octavia had been assigned to look after this boy, she didn’t expect to be treated like she was the only thing keeping him together.

To be honest, she expected him to be rather sucky. A lot of mortal heroes were from what her mama cow had told her. Something about an Odyssey? She wasn’t too sure: no one listens to those “back in my day” stories!

But right now, as they walked around Camp together, she felt the most appreciated she had felt in this small portion of her everlasting life.

She was divine cattle, of course she lived a long time. She’d live until she was killed, which wasn’t likely to happen.

But she was also just a calf. Even if she was around 100: divine cattle aged very slowly compared to mortals. And in a way, this boy was too.

He was rather small compared to most of the campers she was seeing on their little adventure. But she still liked the boy a lot. He was much smarter than most boys his age. She could tell from how she had seen a golden haired boy accidentally shoot his older half-brother in the leg at the archery range. His brother was stood behind him by the way.

Cassian was wearing the orange camp half blood, which seems a bit big on him, along with red shorts and black boots that she assumed he got off of Michael. She’s pretty sure they’d called combat boots.

He’s also wearing a braided string bracelet. It has purple and pink string with some green too.

She had seen him wear it when they first met and he named her. Maybe it’s a gift from a friend? Or even better: a crush! Actually no, the boy is far too young for that. Or is he? Mortals are weird like that aren’t they?

Regardless, she enjoyed her walk with him greatly. He was a good kid. She assumed that he was related to her Lord Apollo in some way. Or maybe some other divine being related to the golden god. She wasn’t sure to be honest, she was just a cattle trying to live her best cattle life. By eating weird stuff!

Overall, she cared for the boy a lot. He was good and kind. No matter how many times he huffed at her for nibbling on his fingers when he fed her strawberries, she still found him sweet.

She couldn’t wait for all the adventures they’d go on.

Maybe they would get to travel a lot! Or fight lots of monsters! Or maybe he’d be a healer! Or oracle!

No matter where he went or what he did. She knew that she’d be there for him through it all.

And once it had gotten dark, stars peaking through thin clouds, and he laid in his bed roll in the Hermes cabin, wearing a baggy purple shirt with blue shorts and still wearing that bracelet, he let her sleep right by his side as he kept a hand on her head. She knew she was safe with this boy. This beautiful, young boy. A boy who seemed to have such potential that he didn’t even realise.

She couldn’t wait to see this boy grow big and strong. To see him be happy and make friends and maybe find love - it didn’t matter if he did or didn’t as long as he smiled.

She couldn’t wait for this boy to be great.

She hoped he’d live long enough to do so.

Chapter Text

Cassian POV

Cassian had never liked dreaming.

You’ve probably heard of demigod dreams. How they sometimes see things that help him when they need it.

It was like that for Cassian too.

Except it happened more often because his whole thing was seeing the future.

So yeah. Cassian wasn’t a fan of dreams.

They always took sleep from him when he needed it the most. It was almost like Somnus (or rather Hypnos?) did not like him much. With his complicated bloodline the idea didn’t seem too far fetched.

But regardless, he found himself in New Rome. Right in front of his own home.

He wandered in and into his room where he found Jason, who was curled up in Cassian’s bed. Reyna was trying to coax him out from under a deep blue blanket.

“Jason c’mon. You can’t hide in Octavian’s bed all day!” Reyna tried to pull the blanket off of the kid,  gently of course, but failed.

“No! I’m not getting out until Tavi is back!”

Cassian forgot how attached Jason was to him and Reyna, two people who were kind to him when he was still a feral child raised by wolves and not the child of Lord Jupiter.

He didn’t realise how upset Jason would be and he felt bad. It wasn’t his fault for being gone… but that didn’t mean he didn’t feel horrible for the tears rolling down the kids face.

“He will be back. Mr Titus has sent out a search party for him and Mrs Sabina is praying to every god.”

Cassian hadn’t really thought his parents would worry about him much. They had never been all too affectionate. In the singular day he’s been at camp he’s been shown more love and support from Mitchell than he ever has his parents. Which honestly said a lot.

He’s sure that they’re only looking for him so vigorously because it made them look bad. If two people of high ranking decided to work rather than celebrate their child’s birthday with them and then said child went missing, you wouldn’t exactly respect that person that much. Though many would likely know it was probably a scheme of sorts: that apparently didn’t take blame off of Titus and Sabina though. Why else would they look for him? He wasn’t all too great yet.

The dream shifted and he was at a temple. One he had frequented often with his grandmother Phoebe: only when he was younger and she was actually allowed to see him.

He walked in and saw said grandmother but she seemed more put together than from when he had last seen her and in adequate attire for a woman of her status. A long purple tunic with a leather girdle and red modesty veil. Along with leather sandals much like their ancestors (though she was actually wearing pants and they didn’t). She seemed… distressed as she looked up at the statue of Jupiter. Tall and mighty. Dressed in clothes fit for the king of gods and wielding a bolt of golden lightning.

The hall was lined with oracular gods. The architects in new Rome wanted to be able to honour as many gods as possible to have the best luck with prophecy.

Carmenta. Antevorta and Postvorta. Apollo with a young and cheeky Mercury beside him.

Grandmother Phoebe was crying. Beside her was a younger Cassian. His face round and his eyes wide and as blue as the summer sky.

A small Cassian. One too young to remember what had happened that day.

“Oh Lord Jupiter… have I angered you? Or perhaps my son had done so? If so… please forgive us…. Do not curse my young grandson for my or my son’s crime….”

Curse…. Yes he remembers that bit. He had once tried to play with Grandmother Phoebe after she had had a long day. Her eyes were as manic as they come but Cassian, young and loving, had not realised. She yelled at him and called him a curse. A blight. A punishment. A pain.

She screamed obscenities before she was dragged out of the room.

He didn’t see her again after that.

Sabina and Titus simply told him that Grandma had gotten too old. Even when young, Cassian didn’t believe them.

He had missed her greatly and never understood why she had said what she said.

“How much must I pray great god!?” Phoebe sobbed loudly, Cassian could almost feel the sting of her squeezing his hand.

“Why is my boy so wicked in birth?! He is of your great lineage! Born of our own founders blood! Of your honourable grandson! Oh please generous Lord of Gods! Almighty ruler of the cosmos! Please cleanse my sweet angels soul!”

There was only silence. Not a single sign that the great god was listening. Phoebe dropped to her knees in heavy sobs. Her whole body was shaking and she couldn’t even hold herself up. She cried and screamed until her throat was hoarse.

Cassian didn’t even know when he had started crying but the sight of his grandmother crying for himwas horrible.

“Please… do not take this boy from me before he is to be live. Oh please… take my son, take my daughter-in-law. They are greedy but this boy is pure! Don’t take him from me! PLEASE!”

Cassian saw his younger self begin to cry, likely scared by his dearest grandmothers screaming. Phoebe almost immediately scooped him up and rocked the both of them as she cried too.

Cassian hated how broken his grandmother looked. He took a shaky breath and tried to step closer to her. To reach out and let her know that he was still alive and would do his best to live long. That when he went back to New Rome, he would go see her.

But the scene faded away and he was on an island.

Tears burned his cheeks as he ran through a grove of myrtle (if he had been less emotional then he would have known why there was so much myrtle), desperately trying to escape his dreams.

“Enough! I’ve seen enough! I don’t want to know anymore!” He cried out. But no one was listening.

He knew he would not be granted his escape. These dreams always lasted far too long for his liking.

Too fast but too long. Always switching and changing before he could make sense of them.

He stumbled over branches and hadn’t even realised how quiet everything was until he reached a cliff on the edge of the island.

He saw a figure. She wore a red palla with a golden girdle that had pearls hanging from it in delicate white. Her hair looked like finely woven gold with a red hue and had perhaps maybe four braids that were all tied together into a bun at the back of her hair. And she still had hair left to had 5 perfect ringlets flow down her back and to her knees along with two red ribbons hanging from her bun. And atop her head was a crown of golden laurel. Her skin was warm in tone and yet again almost seemed golden in the way of which it was tan. She was almost decorated in jewellery. From the large disk earrings to her heavy layered bracelets. It was almost as if any part of her that wasn’t gold was otherwise some kind of gem or pearl or silk.

He could not see her face but he was sure she was beautiful.

What part of her did not exude a warm yet regal beauty?

He tried to reach her, wanting answers or at the very least a way out of this horrid dream land, but the cliff seemed to never end. It felt as though he wasn’t even moving.

He was about to panic more. To scream and cry and yell until he heard a gentle voice come from the woman. Her voice was like silk. Smooth and soft. No rips or bumps or creases. Just a gentleness that Cassian wasn’t used to.

“Be still, sweet boy. I will keep you safe and warm. Your grandmother’s love for you has made my gentle heart softer in my chest. Rest for now. You can be ignorant for this one night, Son of my blood.”

He stood rooted in place. “Who are you? Please tell me. Give me some kind of answer….”

The woman did not turn to him but he could almost feel her smiling is the way the surroundings felt warmer.

“You know me, dear child. You’re a smart boy, ever so clever. One would assume you are of Minerva. But no. You are mine. You come from the son of love. My son. Your bloodline has claimed to be descendant of my mortal but heroic son for decades. You know who I am, angelic pearl.”

Cassian didn’t dream for the rest of the night.

Chapter Text

Cassian POV

When Cassian had woken up he found that his cheeks were stained with tears. Vivi was still asleep beside him and the sun had only just begun to rise.

Cassian always woke up unnaturally early but he wouldn’t be able to get up until later because Jason would be asleep on top of him….

He had oddly enough grown used to having that weight on his chest. Being without it felt odd.

He soon got out of bed and dressed:

Orange camp shirt, blue denim shorts and red boots. He brushed his hair and teeth and decided to simply spend time in the cabin rather than being out and about.

He searched his bag for a few minutes for something to do and inevitably took out his grandmothers journal.

She had started writing int it about the day after the incident with a younger Cassian

She had began to spiral after that and people began to respect and trust oracles and other divinations less and less.

He now knew not to blame her. She didn’t deserve that.

If anything he should be blamed for causing her so much distress. Even if he didn’t fully understand why: perhaps it was simply him being born that had caused her such pain.

He opened the book and looked for any answers. Just to try and make sense of his thoughts.

He found himself feeling more confused as of late. It was almost as if being away from New Rome gave him a new lens of which he saw life through. Unraveling and re-weaving what he knows and how he understands it.

It was infuriating but he supposed it was good for him. To look at things from a new angle.

He skimmed the journal and found a page from the day he was born: September 23rd, the same day as his ancestor : the Emperor Augustus.

The page started as well as you’d think. Phoebe talking about how excited she was to have a grandchild and that she couldn’t wait to meet little Cassian Octavius. Her hopes for his future: intelligent and kind and willing to love. How she would dress him in his jewellery if he wished. How she would spoil him rotten. So many things that she inevitably didn’t get to do because by the time she was banned to see him he had been too young to do such things.

Too young to have a bond that he remembered.

By the second page her writing began to get messy. Her worries: would he live long? Would he be happy? Would Sabina and Titus care for him more than they cared for their own pride and image? Would they use the boy to boost their standing in new Rome?

They were reasonable worries. The Octavius family had a firm standing in New Rome, mainly due to his father’s lineage. Descendants of the Julio-Claudian bloodline through Octavia the Elder. Technically many of their connections were not through blood but the gods accepted emotional bonds just as much as they accepted blood bonds. Some would say the bonds you choose are more important and Cassian would be inclined to agree. Reyna and Jason were certainly more important to him than His parents.

By the time he had finished his train of thought, people in the Hermes cabin began to stir awake and he shoved the book back into his bag.

He gently woke Vivi up, the little cattle seemed to be very cheerful in the mornings. She was already going around to collect affection from the groggy campers.

The cabin counsellor: Luke Castellan, began waking up some of the younger campers and he spotted Cassian. Smiling, he walked over.

“Already awake and ready? Normally kids your age and eager to stay asleep.”

Cassian shrugged. “I’ve been awake since sunrise. I always am.”

Luke ruffled his hair. “Well then, I suppose we’ll have to get you to breakfast quickly. I’m sure a little guy like you is hungry.”

Cassian wasn’t particularly hungry but he nodded regardless. If he remembered correctly, campers gave around half of their portion to the gods. Maybe he could get a sign of some kind….

The camp woke slowly and began to filter out to breakfast. Everyone sat at the same table and Cassian found himself sat next to a boy named Percy. He had black messy hair with fair skin and sea green eyes. He seemed around 2 years older than Cassian and had arrived at camp a few days before him.

Cassian had spoken to him maybe once at dinner the other day. Simple hellos and introductions.

“Do you know what activities are happening today?” Cassian asked Percy. Simply curiosity.

Percy tapped his chin and hummed. “I’m not sure…. It’s Friday isn’t it? Everyone seemed excited for whatever the Friday activity is.”

A random child of Hermes perked up and butted in to the conversation. “Friday is an all camp activity! Capture the flag. We do it in the woods just on the border of camp. It’s so that we can train in group attacks. Us in the Hermes cabin are in the blue team, with the Athena cabin. The red team has the Ares cabin. They’re like never allowed on the same team cause it’d be unfair.”

“I guess that makes sense…”

Percy mumbled. To Cassian, it sounded a lot like the war games back in New Rome. After breakfast is when it became clear how serious this capture the flag activity was. Everyone on the blue team gathered in the arena while the red team gathered elsewhere.

Team planning time apparently.

The Athena cabin seemed to be leading the planning, specifically the girl from before: Annabeth.

The blue team was: Athena, Aphrodite, Hermes, Demeter, Poseidon

The red team was: Ares, Apollo, Hephaestus, Dionysus

The blue team had more cabins but because the Poseidon cabin only had Percy it didn’t seem to matter.

The Hermes and Apollo cabins were put on opposite teams because they both had the most members.

Annabeth spoke loudly, stern and commanding. “Okay listen up! Today we have the west side of Zephrus’ Creek. So here’s the plan. Hermes and Aphrodite cabins will be guarding the creek. Hide in the tree lines and trap anyone who tries to get across. Remember, no maiming. The Demeter cabin with guard the flag, which we have planted on top of Zeus’ fist. The Athena cabin will be capturing the flag, of course. Percy, we’ll talk about what you’re doing later. No go prepare!”

Cassian had to admit that Annabeth was a very good leader for her age. He wouldn’t say she rivalled Reyna, that girl would be praetor one day for sure, but she still had a commanding presence and an aura of confidence.

Cassian was soon dragged over to the north side of the arena with the rest of the unclaimed, Hermes and Aphrodite kids. Percy had been pulled aside by Annabeth.

Luke was showing some of the younger ones how to properly secure a net trap.

The Aphrodite kids were practicing their charm speak and minor illusions on the Stoll brothers, as one does.

Luke then gathered a small group of kids, including Cassian, and said that they would be hiding in the trees ready to attack.

Mitchell helped Cassian get a bit of armour on, Greek armour was different to Roman armour and Cassian had little hands.

Vivi was sat in an arena seat and munching on a few snacks. She didn’t need to get involved.

Mitchell then handed Cassian a doru but it was different than the one that he had practiced with.

“Custom made,” Mitchell said. “You’re far too good to just have a generic one. Weapons like these can turn into accessories to hide them from mortals. That one will turn into a necklace.”

Cassian looked at the Doru thoughtfully. He hadn’t expected Mitchell to do something like this for him, a kid he had met barely a day ago. And yet he had….

“Thank you.” Cassian said quietly. Mitchell nodded and patted his head.

“You’ll have fun during capture the flag. Promise.”

Cassian didn’t respond to that, he didn’t like how easily Mitchell could grasp his emotions but it was also rather useful. He didn’t need to say he was uncomfortable because Mitchell simply knew. It made things easy.

Planning went on until lunch. They then ate and were sent into the forest after Chiron stated the one rule: no maiming.

This would be interesting for sure.