(Quick Foreword before I begin, I have been thinking of doing something like this for a month. And this is the first official side story I have for you guys. Every original character will have one, and I decided to start with Loretta. These will start at the same canonical time Son of Time did, so around the Sea of Monsters if you are looking into that. Now let's begin Child of the Vine. First one is short, but worth it)
"I'm so cold," a young girl says as she hides in the woods. Her name is Loretta Fin. She's just been thrown out of her home. The house had been pierced by multiple roots. She was blamed for it all, and she knew it was her fault. That still didn't make it right.
"I don't know where to go," she said, ready to burst into tears. At that moment, the trees around her seemed to part. Almost as if making a path for her. "I'm not going to trust you!" she cries out, "I know you made me do it!"
As she looks up, a young man with a red mouth is in front of her. "Aaaah!" the young girl screams. "It's okay," the boy says, "Looks like we're in the same boat. My name is Dakota. You thirsty?" The boy had a few packages of Kool Aid. "We just need a cup and water," Dakota says with a smile.
Loretta was still didn't trust him. But she felt better knowing she wasn't alone. "Okay," she says happily. Together, they head to a nearby gas station. As they go, Dakota and Loretta begin talking. "Dakota, why are you alone?" Loretta asks. Dakota looks up, almost as if looking at heaven. "I'm not alone, but I think you are a lot like me. Why were you alone in the woods? Where's your home?"
Loretta looked down. "I broke it," she said after a few minutes of silence. "Mommy said I can't go back. Ever." She was nearly in tears. Dakota and Loretta had reached the gas station. Sadly, it looked abandoned. Dakota turned to the young girl. "Wait here. I'll be right back," he says.
Loretta looked him in the eyes. "Promise?" she asks.
"Of course, I won't leave you no matter what." The little girl smiled. "Now, I'm going to go get us some Kool Aid," Dakota says as he runs to the gas station. He returns with two big cups of red Kool Aid. When Loretta takes a sip, she notices it's really sweet. "It's good!" The young girl screams in joy. Dakota's eyes shine. "I never thought I'd see the day..." he begins to say. Loretta had a green and purple glow above her head. "Loretta, I will watch out for you as long as I can," Dakota says. The young girl was too busy messing around in the parking lot to hear him. "Little sister," Dakota finishes.