Zephyr felt slightly guilty about just dragging her along, but he wanted to get it done before they were actually doing something important. "Next time." He promised, more guilt lacing his voice, as he was alreasy pulling her into the void again. Once they were actually at the house, he got ready for a full apology, waiting until she was done speaking. "I do apologize for dragging you along. I wanted to get the meaningless stuff out of the way before we had to do something important." He stated, then continued. "Just for context, this was my home till I was 4 or 5. After my mother died, it just .. sat here. I came here every once in a while to rest, and I know it's a fairly safe place." He explained quietly, listening to her plans. They were like he'd expect, and he was in full agreement that they were a good idea. "That makes sense." He nodded, readjusting the leather, wishing it felt like his old jacket. He then stared out the window for a couple moments, not wanting to think about the foreboding journey ahead, but feeling like he had to. He closed his eyes for a moment, sucking in a breath through his nose and biting the inside of his cheek. He didn't want to believe the last demigods were dead, and he didn't want to believe these Cyclops were so deadly, but he knew both were most likely true. He hoped Tempe would be okay... she was still limping, and now he couldn't bear the thought of her getting hurt. Even the slightest bit made his stomach broil with anger. He wished he could shield her from all harm, but he of all people knew he couldn't. He bit his lip before glancing back at her. "Do you want to rest until tomorrow? It's already the afternoon, and although we should get a move on asq quickly as possible, I want to make sure we're both rested and ready for anything that may come." He commented, his voice low. His dark eyes were tired, and a bit wary of the work ahead. Dead at 18, that seemed to be his destiny. He didn't care about that, though. Only Tempe.

Tempe let out a small breath, waving off his apology. "Its fine." She muttered, peering through the windows and trying to get a hang of where they were. She nodded slowly at his explanation, her anger melting at the melancholy story. "Jeez. Sad, but thanks for the background." She answered, turning to walk back toward him, still limping just slightly. She gently leaned against his chest, settling her head comfortably over his heart, her hands settled against his stomach. She blew out a breath and closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them again. "We'll be fine." She murmured softly, more for herself than for him. She looked up at him as he began to speak, taking in his words and then giving a nod. "Yeah. That sounds fine, if we can leave early tomorrow." She nodded, gently leaning back from him to peer up for a few moments. She opened her mouth to speak, hesitated, and then shut it once more. After a few seconds of contemplation, she opened her mouth to speak again. "Does it... hurt, being back here?" She asked softly, hesitantly, almost.

Zephyr watched her for a moment more after her muttered words, not really believing her. He didn't say anything, though, not wanting to dig himself into a deeper hole. "Yeah. Just wanted to give you why we're here." He answered, still looking out the window. As she walked over, he glanced down at her, his gaze softening. He let out a quiet breath, resting his forehead on her head for a moment, wanting to just fall asleep and not wake up for a while. "You sound so confident." He said quietly, letting out a small sigh. "Early tomorrow sounds like an okay time." He didn't exactly want to wake up super early, but they were now on a quest. He had closed his eyes and was thinking, quite hard, about the journey ahead, but he was distracted as she started talking. Her question was surprising, but he guessed it would've come up. Sooner or later. "... I've kinda gotten over it. I barely even knew her, considering I've spent my whole life wandering around. It's all I remember. I really only have one or two memories of her, or of this place." He glanced around the run down house, his eyes slightly sad. "But there is no time to worry over the past, only learn from it. There's your wisdom for the day." He smiled faintly, looking back towards he r

Tempe smiled softly at his response to her comment, taking in a deep breath. "Fake it till you make it, right?" She teased faintly, closing her eyes again at his comment. "I know. This whole thing sucks, but I... I dunno, I feel like this is important. This quest." She muttered.

She peered up at him quietly as he spoke, gently curling her arms around his waist as he continued. Her lips twitched downward into a slight frown, perturbed by the sadness she noted in his eyes. She tilted her head up at him as he looked back at her. "I'm sorry." She said simply, standing tall to press a gentle kiss against his cheek before she settled again. "As long as you're okay with being here. Where, exactly, are we though? What state? Are there shops nearby or is it all country?" She asked, unsure if she was being insensitive- but it felt better to get off the subject than seem like she pitied him.

(Tempe? Unsensitive? Neeeever... xD))

-

Zephyr snorted quietly, looking less than convinced. "Not a good tactic, if you ask me, but if it works for you, by all means." He commented, his gaze still flitting around, scanning for any sign of anything. "I hope all the demigods aren't actually ... dead..." He mumbled, his jaw tightening for a moment. Zeph then glanced back down at Tempe, not being able to help but smile slightly at her concerned expression. A week ago, it would have been, 'Boo hoo, suck it up, buttercup'. He preferred this. "Don't be. There's nothing anyone .... could've done." A slight hint of anger sliced into his voice. There was stuff that could've been done. Posideon didn't have to murder his mother, and Hades could've stopped the water god. Hades could've prevented it. But he didn't. Zeph wondered why he still remained loyal to Hades, even now. "We are in Minnesota, far north. Far, far north. About an hour away from Lake Superior. There is a very small town about fifteen minutes away, with more bars than anything else, if I can remember correctly. A convenience store, gas station, and restaurant. That's about it. Also, a church, I guess." He answered, thinking back a while ago. "Thankfully Montana is only a state over... I want to avoid Shadow Travel as much as possible, and the farther we go, the harder it is for me to keep hold of you." He mused quietly, thinking back to exactly where they were. "It's a good thing it isn't winter, or this house would practically be buried in snow, and it'd be -30 degrees out. We're lucky to live at a forever summer camp." He added with a snort.

Tempe rolled her eyes at his comment, still smiling. "It doesn't necessarily work, but it makes me feel better." She mocked, gently releasing him and letting out a breath at his comment. "Yeah, me too. The way Chiron avoided the question though? Not a good sign. She stayed silent as he continued, rather than press. That was obviously a lie, so she let it lay where it was. She raised her eyebrows at his comment and slid away from him, glancing around the house curiously. "Well, not the worst. I was hoping to get some clothes, but I doubt it's worth the thirty minute round trip just to confirm theres none. I'll snag some on the way to Montana." She shrugged, soft crackles of lightning crawling over her fingers. An anxious working, really. "That's fair. We can probably ride most of the rest of the way." She nodded, chuckling at his last words. "That would make my life a little hard. It's really hard to wield in snow- the sky isn't hot enough to force air apart without a lot of effort. At that point, it's easier using myself or the ground as a source rather than the sky." She huffed, letting out a small breath.

(By the way, are you playing the demigod we meet so that I'm not fighting with myself when Zeph finally blows his top, or should I, so that you aren't talking to yourself lol?)

-

"Well if it does something, then keep going." Zephyr chuckled lightly, though his dash of comedy was erased as soon as his mind was brought back to those demigods. Tempe and him were lucky to have made it out alive the first time, but it sounded like they weren't as lucky. "My mother did not wear the most Dashing clothes. Plus, they're probably all gone now. I can show you were they would be if they were there, though." He said with a small smile, gesturing to the hallway. "Ride on my creation or yours?" He teased, knowing how much she disliked his skeleton horse's sense of adventure. "Minnesota is known for its impossibly deep and cold winters." He said cheerfully. That was definitely his favorite part about living here, even as a child. "There's a bedroom down the hall to the left, and another right across the hall, but it's full of my childhood things that haven't been stolen yet, so I wouldn't suggest using that one." He was joking, fully, as the bedroom was almost bare. A couple pictures, and that was it. His mother wasn't the type that believed in toys. She thought that children should learn to entertain themselves with nothing but what's around them.

Hmmmm

I was thinking that I would play him, but we could always switch? Like you play the character when Tempe is interacting with him, I play the character when Zephs fighting with him? I really dont mind, cuz I'd be okay to play him the entire way through))

Tempe let out a soft huff at the idea of kids their age, maybe younger, being sent out to slaughter like they had been. She drew herself from her thoughts as Zephyr spoke, smiling slightly. "I think I'm all right. I wouldn't take them even if they were here." She shrugged, stretching out and letting out a scoof for his question. "I love Opal. I really do. But bones are the least comfortable surface to sit on for an extended period of time." She huffed, rolling her eyes at his next words. "Yeeeaaah, maybe I shouldn't sleep in your childhood room. Are you okay to share a bed with me or am I confined to the couch?" She mocked.

(I would love to say that I'm perfectly fine with switching, but starting tomorrow at 3 am, life gets insane for me. I may not even be able to reply to this thread, just to warn you. So, if it's okay, could you play the new character?)

-

Zephyr nodded at her answer. It did make sense, and they could stop on the way. It wouldn't hurt anyone. Hopefully. "Bones are extremely comfortable, but suit yourself. Just pointing out your Pegasus sill has boned, they're just slight cushioned. Miss Luxury Vehicle." He snorted, looking amused. Not many people he had showed Opal to had taken a liking of her. That was okay, as long as he took her on joy rides every once in a while. "Okay, number 1, if anyone was confined to the couch it'd be me. You should know that by now. 2, I may be a introverted skeleton but I do appreciate being near you." He snorted, leaning down slightly to press a kiss to her lips. "If I can fight giant snakes and cat like beasts as big as a building, then I can manage sleeping in the same bed as you for one night." He teased lightly, his dark blue eyes lightening slightly.

Oof! Something to do with the Olympics or something else? And also, it's fine! Dw, I got it lol))

"Oh hush. Luciana has considerable padding." She huffed, stretching. She rolled her eyes playfully as he continued. "Mmmmhm. You seemed less than thrilled the first time I offered, and then you were fine sleeping on the couch with me. Just making suuurrreeee." She mocked, grinning as he leaned down to kiss her. She stood taller and reciprocated it, tilting her head as he pulled away with a chuckle. "Are you comparing me to a monster?" She asked sarcastically, a grin settled on her face.