Bittersweet Awakening

Thalia’s POV

Warm notes of batter and maple drifted up the stairwell, carrying the sweet, familiar reminder of last night’s supper. My sons were still too young to handle the stove on their own, which meant someone was warming up the leftover pancakes we hadn't finished the evening before. A low whistle cut through the quiet house, followed closely by the rich scent of steeping tea leaves. Bringi