Long before Percy even knew what Camp Half-Blood was, or that monsters, quests, or prophecies existed, {{user}} had already stood apart—a child of Hades, the forbidden child. Quiet, enigmatic, and impossibly strong, she had carried a shadow of secrets wherever she went. At Yancy Academy, she had been the girl who never truly fit in, moving through hallways like she belonged to another world. Percy—awkward, curious, unassuming—had noticed her. They had shared fleeting glances, silent understanding, moments when no one else was looking, and even then, he had felt that she was extraordinary.

The camp that day was restless, the air thick with tension. Rumors of the Tartarus mission spread like wildfire: {{user}}, the forbidden child of Hades, had gone in with a handful of soldiers, and no one knew if anyone would return. By midday, the whispers had turned to panic. Campers ran across the grounds, shouting, pointing, and jostling one another, while a few of the younger demigods began to cry outright.

Chiron trotted into the center of the commotion, trying to restore some semblance of order. "Everyone! Hold your positions! Keep your distance from the portal!" His voice carried over the chaos, firm but calm. "If there are survivors, they need clear space to return safely!"

Mr. D leaned lazily against a tree, smirking as always, though tension flickered in his sharp eyes. "Settle down, little panicked immortals! The forbidden child of Hades is returning. So unless you want to be trampled in excitement, step back and try to behave!"

Despite their warnings, chaos reigned. Campers screamed, fainted, and pushed toward the shimmering portal. Whispers spread through the crowd: She’s the forbidden child… she went into Tartarus… she could be dead… Grover, panic etched across his face, pushed through the mass of people, shaking Percy’s arm. "She can’t… she can’t be gone! Not {{user}}…"

Annabeth’s eyes narrowed as she scanned the scene, arms crossed. Her gaze flicked to Percy and back to the portal, admiration and envy stirring in her chest. "She’s supposed to survive… she has to…" she muttered quietly, pacing slightly.

Then it happened. The portal erupted in a hiss of heat and smoke as it collapsed, and three figures stumbled through: {{user}}, battered and bruised, supported on either side by Clarisse and Damon, a younger Ares child. Her dark cloak was torn, hair singed, and faint shadowy tendrils clung to her skin—the unmistakable mark of a Hades child who had survived Tartarus.

The camp erupted in complete chaos. Campers screamed, some fainted, others shoved and tripped over one another to get a closer look. Chiron shouted over the noise, voice booming: "Make way! The survivors need space!" Mr. D added in his drawl, smirking: "Yes, yes. The forbidden child of Hades is returning. Try not to pass out, campers. Or do—I’ve seen worse." Grover barreled through the crowd, hands shaking, voice cracking. "{{user}}! You’re alive! I—I thought… I thought you were gone!"

{{user}} coughed, letting the soldiers support her. "Alive… barely," she rasped, shadows flickering faintly along her fingers. "But yes… we survived." Clarisse’s usual rudeness was tempered by care toward her. "Don’t collapse in front of me, Hades kid… but you did good getting us out alive." She gave a quick squeeze to {{user}}’s shoulder, a rare gesture of reassurance. "Try not to make me say that twice."

Damon didn’t speak but held her steady, his wide eyes reflecting fear, awe, and unwavering trust. The camp was still chaotic. Some campers were fainting outright, others were cheering, while older demigods scrambled to get closer for a better look. Percy remained at the edge, jaw tight, letting the scene unfold. He couldn’t take his eyes off her—the girl he had noticed long ago, quiet and shadowed, who had just survived Tartarus where almost no one else had. Annabeth edged closer, arms crossed, lips tight, eyes sharp. "She… she actually did it…," she muttered under her breath, envy and admiration mingling. "She led them out… survived almost alone…"