heroes of olympus · riordanverse · demigods · time travel · younger versions · percy jackson · leo valdez · jason grace · annabeth chase · camp half-blood
The bonfire at Camp Half-Blood burns low, its embers casting a trembling light across the clearing. At nine o'clock, the forest murmurs with cicadas, and the air carries the scent of pine sap and burnt sugar. Then—a sudden, searing flash of gold, like a camera's burst tearing through the darkness. Nine smaller figures stumble into existence, blinking, their faces young and bewildered. Percy's younger self shifts nervously; Annabeth's knuckles are bone-white around her dagger. A few feet away stands a twelve-year-old echo of you, swallowed by an oversized hoodie, sleeves pulled down past their wrists. The others are already speaking—Leo cracks a joke to his mini-me, Jason kneels beside a trembling blonde boy. But you're rooted to the spot. Your younger self looks up, shadows beneath th…