Leo is shaken awake. Percy stands over. "Wake up. It's time to get ready before we go." A freezing shiver run up Leo's spine. "Do you usually sleep with your feet in the fire?"

"What?" Leo look down to see that his feet are in the fire. "Not really. Might be a new habit." He sits up with a yawn. "Is it still night?"

Nico pack the blankets away, "Yeah. Percy helps before he turn back to dragon mode. His small dragon paws are useless." Leo laugh.

"Hey," Percy frown. "They're not useless when I get more fish than your flimsy net and pole." Nico throw a blanket at Percy. His respond is laughter. Leo feels warm by watching their interaction. Yesterday, he also felt warm while grabbing on Nico.

Why is this the only warmth he can feel?

"I'm surprise that the blanket Leo is using didn't get on fire," Nico comment.

"I'm surprise too," Leo also agree. He pull the blanket off to fold and pack it away. Nico attach everything to a saddle big enough to fit a dragon. Leo looks at the fire. "Do you want me to put out the fire right now?" He looks at them to see Percy getting undress. This time, Leo advert his gaze to the rocky ceiling. "Why are you stripping off your clothes?"

Percy laughs, "My clothes tear when I turn. I have no more socks and only this underwear." He walk in the water butt naked. "I wish I can take my clothes with me."

Nico pick up the abandon clothes. "That would be so much easier for us both," he says. "It's okay Leo. You already saw him last night." Water squirt at Nico. "Gods dammit Perseus. Stop that." Perseus does it again with a hearty laugh. Nico shoves the clothes in the saddle bag.

Leo smiles at the exchange.

"You're going to ride on me either way. Just like yesterday," Percy comment. Leo guffaws.

"Really?" Nico gives a distaste look. "You have to say it like that? Turn into a dragon now, I don't want to hear you anymore." Nico motion Leo to him. "Help me move the saddle closer to the water." Leo grabs the other side of the saddle.

"I don't control the sun Neeks!" Percy submerge himself in the water. He pull up drench.

"I saw everything last night," Leo says softly. "I didn't want to see it again."

"That's okay," Nico comfort. "I didn't want to fix his clothes every night. Leave the fire on, you and Percy can't see in the dark. He'll put it out before leaving. How're you feeling?"

Leo sigh, "Cold." Leo sits down. "I'm freezing." Nico sits next to him. He awkwardly pats Leo's knee. They sit there, in silence, with Percy swimming. Nico throws pebbles at Percy out of boredom. Each one missing him by an inch. Leo look straight to the other side of the cave. "Why did you left your kingdom?"

Nico click his tongue. "The sun is taking forever. I think Percy woke us up too early." Leo nod.

Nico doesn't want to share his past. Leo can understand that. It's probably something traumatizing to remember. Leo doesn't need to know.

Instead, Leo ask, "How did you meet Percy?"

Nico makes a face. "Wash up on the beach by my cottage all hurt as a dragon. I healed him, hopefully he'll leave, yet he stayed. Now here we are, looking for his witch."

"He must have been a pain."

"Still is." Leo laugh.

Blue light flash from the water. Temporarily being blinded. Sloshing in the dark water is a long, black water dragon. Bright green eyes staring straight at them. Leo remember what his dad told him, "Don't look them in the eyes. It provokes them." Yet this is Percy, not really a dragon. He'll be fine, right?

Percy swims to the bags. Slide the saddle over his head to on his back. Nico walk up and strap it tight under the neck (above the front legs) and then the one under the chest. Nico pat Percy's back, "Okay. Let's go Leo." Nico pull Leo on top. "Hold your breath." Leo grab Nico's waist. Percy spits water on the fire. Everything goes dark.

Percy dive into the water. Leo see the small light. Dim yet bright. When they emerge from the cave, Leo can see the fishes swim by. Rocks of different shape cover the floor. He can see the turtles roaming on the bottom. Before Leo can take in everything else, Percy zooms to the top. Exit out the water, and land on green grass.

Nico gasp for air. Leo also gasp for air as well slip off Percy. He groan on the floor.

"Shit," Nico curse. "Are you okay?" Leo nod. Nico jump down to help Leo up. A gruff comes from Percy. He didn't say anything, only made noise. Maybe it was a laugh.

Leo brush off the grass. Which did not help. They only transfer to his wet hands. "I'm fine. Lost balance. That's all."

Nico take a step back. "Uuhhh."

"What?" Nico looks away from Leo.

"Nothing. Let's go." Percy gruff at Nico. "Shut up. Do you want to tell him?" Percy responds with pushing Nico with his snout.

Leo shiver. "Tell me what?"

Nico groan. "Your hair is going white." Leo blink at him. "Yeah. The white curl got bigger."

Leo pat his head. "Wha? Does it look bad?" Nico open his mouth as he stare at Leo's head. "Nico?"

Nico blink. "No. It looks good."

Percy grunted, "You hesitated." Nico hush him.

"He looks good. Nothing to worry about it. But to know, how did you get a piece a white curl?" Leo gets on his knees next to the river. He stare at his reflection. "Like, were you born with it?"

Leo watch part of his dark hair turn white. "Oh Gods. This is not good. I have to go to the main road."

Nico turn away. "Great." He comb through his hair. Frustration radiates off him. "I have another cursed boy with me. Great! Come on, get on Percy."

~My Flame~

Jason watches the snow fall.

He have gotten tired of watching the snow. Day after day. Morning to night. None stop. He hated it. It was one of the reasons that kept him away from Leo. One reason that made Zeus wanted to break the contract. A reason Hera doesn't visit him. It kept him from his siblings. Jason refused all marriage meetings; so many were ignored. He meet girl after girl that he have slam doors on.

Jason only wants his flame back.

The warmth of the laughter. The soft fire burning in brown eyes. Dark curls that flow like flames. Mischievous smile that looks ready to burn anything. Pointy ears red from heat. Flesh that radiates heat to his body when hugged. He miss all that. For eight long years, and he finally have the fire back in front of him.

It was there to take, but then it wasn't.

He still couldn't touch it. Not yet.

Jason is afraid that he might put it out on accident again. He probably already did. Leo said his chest felt cold and heavy. When Leo fell, Jason have accidentally let out a shot of ice to Leo. He didn't see where it hit. He wish it missed. No, it have to hit Leo's chest. Now something else is wrong. What can happen to him now? Will Leo have to fully lose his memories? Does Jason have to keep away for the rest of their lives?

"'Be glad it was his head, not his heart'," Jason repeat from what Athena had said eight years ago. Apollo look to his little brother with a hm? sound. Jason stare at his hands, one missing a glove. "Athena said 'not his heart', what does that mean? Apollo, what happens if I struck Leo's heart?"

Jason meet Apollo's eyes. The whole night, Jason haven't made any eye contact until now. Those blue orbs are full of fear. Apollo exhale, "Well, if that happens, Leo will feel frozen. Unable to love or even move. He'll die of a frozen heart. But, if he is full of love at the moment, Leo will be fighting while slowly freezing."

"Is there a way to stop it? Like how Athena did before?"

Apollo sifted in his seat. "The heart is a bit complex compared to the head. The head can be easily manipulated. It's full of thoughts and memories that can be rewritten since they can be easily forgotten. The heart can't. It's impossible to manipulate feelings that have been etch deep in you. You have been wiped from Leo's memories but that didn't mean he wouldn't have fallen in love with you again. His feelings never changed."

Jason wants to feel happy.

"I'm sorry Jason. There isn't a way." Apollo watch his brother shove his face in his hands. No sound came out. Silence is the worst to hear after bad news. The morning sunlight turn dim and the wind get harsher. Apollo see the snow fall faster. He wish his little brother wasn't in pain.

The carriage stop.

Apollo look away from his brother to where the driver is at. "Why did we stop?" They had a break about an hour ago, so there isn't a reason to stop.

"There seem to be someone in the way Your Highness," the driver respond.

Jason look up to Apollo. Apollo shrug. Jason didn't wait, he rush out the carriage. Everything seem to stop. Snow, wind, cold, his heart. Pass the horses could be Leo. He would be stupid enough to run out all injuried. Smiling like an idiot. He didn't even want to stay under the covers when he got sick. Wanting to go out and play in the snow.

Not a care in the world.

It isn't him.

Ten feet away from them stand a girl with long brown hair wearing a long white gown. Her brown almond eyes glare at Jason. Who is this girl? She is not giving a good vibe at all.

"Calypso?" Apollo tilt his head. "I haven't seen you in awhile. What are you doing here?"

She groan in annoyance, "You know, taking a walk. Doing some errands." Jason's eyebrows pinch together. She turn back to Jason. "I have to take out the trash. No biggy."

"Wait, Cal-" With a flick of her hand, Apollo goes flying. His screams fade.

Jason watch his brother go beyond. He snap at the driver. "Turn around and go to my brother. Help him." Driver obey.

Jason and Calypso are left. "You know," she starts, "I was hoping this thing you had forced Leo in was going to flop, but it looks like I'm gonna have to do it. I hate getting my hands dirty."

"I thought you are suppose to be Leo's friend? Why are you stabbing his back?"

"That's easy, I want the throne." Calypso throws her right arm out, a gush of air whip to Jason. He jumps to his left, dodging it by a little. "Oh, you can see my winds! Interesting. What are you, a wind-bender?" She flick her left hand, a harsh air slice by Jason's right arm.

He didn't dodge this time, only because he knows Calypso was taunting that time. "That's a dumb name, wind-bender. There must be a better one." Jason slide a foot back, getting ready to fight. "You've been using Leo."

"As a stress relief at first, then I found out he is the heir to the throne about a month." Calypso laughs. "A fucking bastard. Unbelievable. A bastard being the next king. I thought I finally get to be queen but then he fell in love with you."

"What's wrong with that?"

"It ruined my plans. Something also does and I have to always try to fix it."

"'Always'? Maybe you should stop trying to get the throne."

Calypso grits her teeth. Another gush of air, wild yet sharp. Jason wave his hand, moving the wind to another direction. Then he charge. He have to fight again.

~Hard Times For Legs~

Leo stubble off Percy. The main road strength out in an endless dirt path. Olympus looks impossibly far. On foot, it would take forever.

"Are you going to be okay by yourself?" Nico ask from on top of a dragon.

Leo nod. "Yeah. Thanks for everything. I owe ya'll."

"No problem really," Nico says with a tiny smile. "Which way?" Leo point towards south.

Percy decided to lick Leo's upper body. Saliva stick to the flame prince's face. Nico smack him. "Be safe little fire."

Leo turn to the opposite. "It's getting a bit chilly, right Percy?" A gush a wind hit Leo's back. They left, and Leo limp forward.

After about five miles of walking, Leo register that Nico said. It is getting cold. That mean Jason is on his way. Leo feel happy. He can't feel the cold in the air, nor the heat from the sun, but there is a bit warmth in his chest. Snow fall while he smiles. He can't wait to see Jason.