Thalia and Luke shifted into their battle stances, their weapons at the ready.

Luke looked at her, then at the dumpster. "We lunge at three?"

Thalia nodded, brandishing Aegis.

One, two, three,

Right before they attacked, a small, quick figure jumped out from behind the dumpster and swung an axe-no, wait, it's a wrench, at Luke's head.

Luke grabbed his arm tightly, causing the figure to drop the wrench.

"Let go of me! Monsters!" the boy screamed.

"No, we're not monsters," Thalia said indignantly. "We're actually two pretty awesome demigods,"

Green shining eyes looked up at her from under his messy shag of black hair. "You're like me?"

Luke nodded. "So, kid, why you out here anyway?"

"Mommy drowned at the beach," he said, wiping his eyes.

Luke muttered something about Poseidon, and dirty rotten.

"He's pretty quick, Luke. Maybe a knife?"

Luke nodded. "What's your name, kiddo? How old are you?"

"My name's Percy, I'm six years old," he said hesitantly.

"I'm Luke, and this is Thalia," Luke said.

Thalia smiled at him. "We won't fail you like your parent," she said, with apparent loathing added to the last word.

Thunder boomed from above.

"SHUT UP!" she yelled at the sky. Looking back at Percy and Luke, she shrugged.

"This is a knife. I don't think a wrench would help you against monsters, kiddo. Now, listen, if you stay with us, we'll treat you like a family, nothing will ever tear us apart, okay?" Luke said.

"Promise?" the six year old asked.

"I swear on the River Styx," Luke said.

Thunder boomed from above.

Percy smiled happily,