we pass the mantle to the loved
Written for Musafreen's Parental Unit Competition
1. Gift
Jason Grace was a gift to Juno, but he may as well have been one to her.
2. Old
Lupa is as old as anything, but she's never seen a warrior quite like this.
3. Maze
Lupa is just a maze to him, something to beat, to unravel. He didn't care about anything else.
4. Phase
Young pups had their phases, but Jason Grace's were worse than most—it was times like these he'd try to run away.
5. Love
It's a silly notion, one Lupa's never believed in. It didn't matter, because Jason proved it existed.
6. Young
He's too young to begin the journey to camp. They almost always are. Now, though, is the first time she's ever cared.
7. Dead
He's been gone long enough, and maybe she has to accept that he is. But he's strong, and he may not be dead yet.
8. Cry
Wolves can't cry, but Lupa knows that if she could, right now she would.
9. Song
The lullaby isn't anything special. It's just a song, but it warms her heart. It reminds her of when he was little.
10. Sun
The sun rises, painting a pretty picture in the sky. The mood is peaceful, longing. Lupa is content to stay that way until he comes back.
11. Rage
It swirls inside of him, rage gnawing at his heart. He doesn't know why, but his family was gone.
12. lost
The house is big, and his sister isn't here to guide him. He is lost, emotionally more than anything else.
13. Four
He's four when Lupa first trains him. He wishes it happened more often.
14. Fun
Lupa never believed in fun, but boy, does he get in trouble for his pranks at camp.
15. Abandon
It feels wrong, being at the Greek camp. What would the camp say? What would Lupa say?
16. Neutral
For now, he has to act as an intermediary. Things could get ugly pretty quick. It feels wrong, though, to remain neutral when Clarrise kicks Bobby's ass.
17. Gold
He sees the imperial gold, and he realizes that Rome is his home. Not Greece, not anywhere belongs here—with the legions, and with Lupa.
18. Human
Lupa sure is pissed when Jason steals the Greek's cookies. He doesn't understand. It's only human.
19. Pack
Rome works as a team, a pack. He never understood that till now. Lupa would be proud.
21. Pair
Together, they are the perfect pair, a deadly weapon. Lupa can see that, and she know that with her, Jason will be happy. That's good enough for her.
22. Party
Meeting Bacchus really puts it into perspective. He's glad the party god wasn't the one to raise him.
23. Once
He used to be impenetrable, once. Now, he knows he can't lose her—she may as well have been his mother.
24. Hero
A Hero of Olympus, they call him. He knows it could never have been achieved without her guidance.
25. Son
Shes never felt this way before, not even when Romulus and Remus were under her care. He is just like a son to her. A weakness—not that she cared.
20. Worth
He doesn't know why she cares for him. He cares for her though, and that's what matters. Sitting on the empty hill, with the wind in his ears, he wonders if he ever proved his worth to her.