A/N: Hey, guys! First off, I'd like to thank everyone who has favorited, reviewed, and followed Wanderlust and The Solace of the Sea. It means a lot to me. Secondly, lots of you seem to want a second chapter to The Solace of the Sea, which I was not planning on writing. However, I've been wanting to explore Will's backstory for a while now, and I think that this might explain some of what Will felt in my other story. I will put warnings in the beginning of chapters as I see fit. I'm trying to be as consistent with the books as possible, but please forgive me if I'm not exactly correct about a character's age or something. I hope you enjoy!

"Will! Come inside, quickly!"

Will looked up from where he was playing with his doctor's kit. It wasn't a real doctor's kit because Mama said he couldn't have a real one until he was a real doctor. But he had really wanted one, so she went to the toy store and bought him a plastic one so he could practice. Right now he was putting away his stethoscope after trying to listen to his own heartbeat. Mama was too busy to let him try it out on her. She always was. Will wished he had a sibling. Or a dad.

When his mother called him, he stood up and, gathering up his doctor's kit, said, "Why?"

His mother moved from her position in the doorway and started walking toward him hurriedly. Her green eyes glowed with concern, and strands of her auburn hair had escaped the messy bun at the nape of her neck. Will looked nothing like Mama. He had blue eyes and blonde hair. His skin had always had a natural tan tone to it, he was tall and he had freckles. His mom was on the shorter side, with pale but flawless skin. She was making her way to him, her pace quickening by the second.

"Will!" She called. "Will, come here!"

Will was confused, but he ran to meet his mother. Without stopping, she grabbed his shoulders and directed him toward their small suburban house. The wind was starting to pick up. Mama's skirt was whipping around, and Will was squinting from the force of it. They made it to the house, and Mama threw open the back door and practically shoved Will inside. The wind was so forceful by now that she had to push her shoulder against the door to close it. When she had, Naomi Solace turned around and looked at her son.

"Will, you need to get out of here,"

Will was so confused. What just happened? Why did Mama look so scared? Why did she want him to leave? Did he do something wrong? "But-"

"Will, I need you to go. Now. It's for your own good. You can't live here anymore."

Will's eyes widened and filled with tears. "I don't want to leave!" he wailed. Naomi pulled him against her chest and kissed his forehead before taking his doctor's kit from his hands and shoving a suitcase in it instead.

"I've packed your stuff for you. Listen, Will, I don't know when I'm going to see you again, but you have to believe me when I say that you leaving is for your own safety. Henry is waiting for you outside. He'll take you to your new home." She started speaking very quickly, as if afraid she wouldn't be able to finish what she was saying. Her next sentences made little sense to Will. "We can write each other every month, and you can come visit on holidays. Be a good boy for Henry, okay, Will? You'll be happier where you're going, anyway. I'll see you soon." And with that she walked him to the front door and called for their neighbor, Henry. "Henry! I have Will! He's ready, but you two have to hurry!"

Henry Thicket was one of their neighbors. He was tall and gangly, with curly black hair and eyes the color of cinnamon. Henry was around fifteen years old, but he still played with Will when he could, even though Will was only seven. Will didn't know why his mother wanted him to go with Henry, or why Henry had agreed to take him there.

All Will knew as he was ushered out of the door and into the backseat of Henry's van was that his mother hadn't even told him that she loved him.

"Where are we going?" Will asked Henry. Henry glanced back at him. He was driving- speeding, really- down the highway.

The muscles in his face tensed as he said, "We're going to a place where you'll be safe, Will. You'll like it there; there are lots of fun things to do. I'll give you a tour once we arrive. But it'll be a long time before we get there. It's all the way in New York."

"New York?" Will gasped. He had never been outside his Tennessee town. Going to a different state was an alien concept to him, but going to New York was as foreign as snow in his mind. Will had heard many stories about the Big Apple- how great it was, how people went there in search of adventure, how it helped people discover who they were. Will supposed that it would be nice to feel like he had a purpose, but did he really have to leave Tennessee to find it? And did he have to leave Mama? He asked Henry the question that had been burning in the back of his mind ever since his Mama called his name. "Why do I have to leave?"

Henry didn't ease the accelerator at all. "...something is chasing you, Will. It was about to find you, and we had to get out of there to keep you safe from it. Where we're going, it can't get you. You'll be protected. But we have to get there quickly."

Will was feeling very frustrated and impatient. "But where is this place? What's chasing me? Why- why couldn't Mama come?" Tears pricked the corners of his eyes as he said the last sentence.

"We're going to a place called Camp Half-Blood. That's all I can tell you right now, Will. I'm sorry. As for your mom...well, she isn't allowed at Camp Half-Blood."

Will was about to ask why? when something slammed into the side of the car.

Will and Henry were screaming as they skidded off the highway and into a ditch on the side of the road. There was a long gash on Will's forehead; he could feel the blood trickling down his face. Henry's arms and face were littered with scratches from the shrapnel. Honestly, they were lucky it wasn't worse. Will was sitting in his seat, shell-shocked, when Henry yelled at him. "Will! Get out of the car! Go through the window! Hurry!"

Will could barely comprehend what was going on, but he was able to register the window to his left that had been smashed to pieces during the collision. Hands shaking, he undid his seatbelt and climbed out of the demolished vehicle. Henry was waiting for him. He grabbed Will's upper arms and helped him to his feet before taking off running, not relinquishing his hold on Will. Henry kept murmuring things like, "I promise you'll make it to camp. I won't fail. You'll survive," It all sounded like delirious gibberish to Will, but it seemed to motivate Henry, so Will didn't comment, even though he wanted to.

"W-what's happening?" Will asked, trying to keep up with Henry. "The car, it- what just happened?"

Henry glanced back at Will, and there was fear and sympathy in his cinnamon eyes, as if this was a scene in a story that he had heard over and over again. He knew what would happen to the main character, but he still felt worried about what would happen to him, and felt intense sadness for him. "It was a monster, Will. An anemoi is after us- well, you."

Will didn't even know how to pronounce that. "A what?"

"An anemoi. A storm spirit. Mortals will think that they're just seeing another tornado, which will provide the best cover for the anemoi to kill you."

Will nearly stopped running out of shock. The sky was slowly darkening and the wind had started to pick up even more speed. It matched Will's mood. "Kill me? What did I do wrong?"

"Nothing, Will. It's just that...the monsters don't like you."

"But Mama said monsters don't exist,"

Henry's face was grave when he responded. "Oh, they're real. Very real. And you'll die at the hands of one if we don't find help soon."

Will didn't know where they were running or how long they had been at it, but he did know that he was getting tired. Quickly. But when he voiced this to Henry, Henry just started to run faster, tugging on Will's arm and dragging him along.

The wind continued to pick up. Thankfully, it was blowing toward them, so they didn't have to run against it. However, that didn't stop all the dirt and dust from swirling in the air around them, entering their lungs and stinging their eyes, momentarily blinding them. Will was panting heavily and coughing frequently. Still, he run as fast as he could. He didn't know why, but he felt a sense of urgency that told him he needed to get to the place Henry had described.

"Henry! Henry! Over here!"

Henry looked around for the source of the voice, Will trying to follow his gaze, but it was almost impossible with all the dust. Henry seemed to like whatever it was he saw, though, because he started to pull Will toward it. As they got closer, Will saw the silhouette of a boy who looked around the same age as Henry. The boy had pale blue eyes and pale blonde hair. He was tall and had an athletic build. But Will didn't focus on any of that. All he was able to process was that the boy was carrying a bronze sword in his hand.

"H-Henry," Will began. "Is that a sword?"

Henry didn't look at Will as he answered. "Yeah. I'm hoping that that sword will kill that anemoi."

Even though he knew that this anemoi thing was trying to kill him, Will couldn't help but feel that that was the wrong answer to their scenario. Hurting people...it didn't sit right with Will. Right then and there, Will knew that he would never be able to kill one of those monsters. It just wasn't right. He helped people, not hurt them.

Henry and Will reached the boy. The guy had a commanding aura around him. It was like people couldn't help but obey his orders. He seemed so sure and confident in the way he stood, and even in his silence. This guy, Will figured, knew what he was doing.

"Henry, you and the kid get behind me. I'll kill that storm cloud, no problem." Blonde Guy spoke, and yeah, Will found himself obeying without any hesitation.

Then the winds formed a silhouette in front of Will. Grey clouds and particles of dust and dirt all swirled together and made the shape of a human. Well, the top half, anyway. The bottom was still a vortex of clouds and wind. Soon the head and torso of the creature had solidified enough that it looked exactly like a human's would. If he didn't know better, Will would have that that this guy really was...a guy. It looked like he had flesh, not skin of dust. But he did. His eyes were just as fiercely grey as the clouds he was made of. His hair was dark and windswept. The look in his eyes was unpredictable, the way storms could be. Honestly, the guy- monster?- was handsome. Even Will could appreciate that.

The anemoi spoke. "Well, well. What do we have here? A satyr, sent out to protect a young demigod. Will Solace, no less. Well, I hate to break it to you, satyr, but he isn't even worth protecting. That kid will be nothing but a burden to you. Just like he was to his mom."

Blonde Guy thrust his sword slightly forward, threateningly. "No one is a burden. Everyone is worth protecting. I don't care who their parents are; your parents don't define you, and they never will. We are who we choose to be. No one can tell us that we're supposed to do something, or that we're not supposed to do something. Who are you to decide that this kid isn't gonna do great things?"

"Who are you to talk, son of Hermes? Do you even know what you will do, much less this child? You talk about no one being a burden, but what of your own mother? Was she not a burden to you?" The anemoi snarled. "I'll make you a deal: Hand over Will Solace, and I'll let you and the satyr go free. That's more than fair, is it not?"

Will didn't know who Hermes was, but his 'son' got in a fighting stance, brandishing his sword in front of him. "I don't bargain with my enemy. All three of us are leaving Tennessee alive. You, however, are not." And with that Blonde Guy sprang into action, battling the storm spirit. Will could barely follow what he was seeing. The fighter seemed almost unaffected by the winds buffeting his clothing. His sword was a blur of dim light, and soon it hit its mark. The storm spirit exploded into dust, and the winds stopped abruptly. Will was amazed. He had never seen anyone do anything like that before. It was- incredible.

Henry's shoulders relaxed for the first time that day. "Thanks, man. You came just in time. I didn't know how much longer Will would last, and I did not want to go against an anemoi with my reed pipes while defending a seven-year-old."

"Don't mention it," Blonde Guy said. He turned to Will. "Hey, Will. It's nice to meet you. I was sent to help you and Henry get to Camp Half-Blood safely. I'm Luke Castellan, son of Hermes."

Luke guided them toward another van. He'd told Will that after they all got some dinner, he'd answer Will's questions. Which was good, because Will had a lot of questions.

They all loaded themselves into the van and started driving. Will was ecstatic that he didn't have to sit in a booster seat. Henry explained that it was okay because they were in an emergency situation. Once everyone had settled, Luke started to drive down the highway.

"Do you have a license, Luke?" Henry asked.

Luke shook his head. "Just my permit. But I look old enough. Besides, we won't get pulled over by the police; I'm a careful driver."

Will stayed quiet while Henry and Luke made casual conversation. Even though he knew it was ridiculous, he felt kinda left out. Well, he always felt left out. His mother was always too busy to play with him or spend time with him, claiming that she needed to practice for her next concert. She had only ever even taken Will to see her perform a couple times, and she usually left him with one of the stagehands. Once the concert was over, she would go to her dressing room, where Will wasn't allowed to go, and take a nap.

He didn't have many friends at school. All the other boys his age were obsessed with pirates and superheroes. All the girls stuck together and played with dolls, which Will was not interested in doing at all. His teacher was fairly nice. She had given him an interactive diagram of the human body so that he could disassemble and reassemble it, putting the bones, muscles, and organs in their proper place. That's what Will always did during recess. He stayed inside with his teacher and sat at his desk reviewing human anatomy. Alone. But that was okay. Will liked- or rather, was used to- solitude.

Finally, they made it to a Chik-Fil-A. Will was happily eating his chicken nuggets and french fries when Luke asked him a question.

"So, Will...do you happen to know who your dad is?"

Will shook his head. "No, Mama said he was mean and left right after I was born."

Luke nodded like this didn't surprise him. "But did she ever tell you his name?"

Again, Will shook his head. "No. She never really talks about him." Then Will asked, "What does my dad have to do with anything?"

Henry answered him. "The whole reason Camp Half-Blood is a safe place for you is because...your dad is a god, Will."

Will was confused. "My dad is God?"

Henry shook his head. "No, one of the gods, plural. Have you ever heard of the Greek gods, Will? Like Zeus?"

He vaguely remembered hearing about Zeus and some of the other gods, but only in passing. "I think so,"

"Well," Henry said. "Your dad is one of them. We're just trying to figure out which one." And with that, Henry took a big bite out of his...fork?

"Henry," Will said, eyes wide, "You just ate your fork,"

Luke started laughing, and Henry looked slightly sheepish. Henry said, "Yeah, I eat forks and napkins and things like that. I'm a satyr."

"What's a satyr?"

Luke answered him. "A satyr is a creature from Greek mythology who has the upper half of a human, and the lower half of a goat. They're protectors of demigods. I'm a demigod. My dad is the god Hermes. You're a demigod, too, Will. We just don't know who you're the son of yet."

Henry removed his shoes just enough to show Will the hooves where his feet should have been. Then he lifted up the cuff of his jeans to reveal shaggy brown fur.

"Woah," Will said.

Henry and Luke both laughed a little. "Do you have any questions for us?" Henry asked him.

Will nodded eagerly. "Who's Hermes?"

Luke's face soured just slightly before he smiled again. "Hermes is the Greek god of messengers, thieves, travelers, and just about anyone else who walks down a road."

Next question. "Who do you think my dad is?"

Luke and Henry both had thoughtful expressions on their faces. Henry said, "Well, none of the Big Three. They aren't allowed to have children anymore."

"Maybe you'll be my brother," Luke said, though he looked doubtful.

To Luke, Henry said, "He has an obsession with doctor stuff, but any kid could go through a phase like that. I wouldn't say Ares, though. Will's too gentle for that."

They turned to face Will again. "Whoever you're the son of," Luke said. "You'll have plenty of people to look out for you at camp. It'll be a home to you."

As they continued eating, Will thought about how much he'd like that. A real home, with people who loved him. Suddenly he couldn't wait to get to Camp Half-Blood.

A/N: Well, there's Chapter 1! I should have Chapter 2 up soon. Thank you for reading!