AMARANTHINE-ɪ, pjo/hp

AURORA'S GODLY PARENT IS A REAL LIFESAVER AND SALLY IS OUR QUEEN

The next morning when Aurora woke up, it was barely dawn. Saffron was still asleep. Kayla too was snoring away to glory. Aurora shook her head and looked at their 'cozy bedroom' which was basically a small, abandoned garage in the middle of New Jersey. It was definitely warm there but not at all comfortable to sleep. Aurora barely had any sleep last night, first because of the cold and then because of the nightmares. A cold voice kept whispering something and though Rory could not make out the words, the tone of the person's voice scared her to death.

She stood up and yawned. She looked down at her clothes and let out a startled yelp. Her ordinary green shirt which was too big for her had vanished and in its place was a really chic red top. Her oversized elephant pants too were replaced with a fashionable ankle length skirt. For once Rory felt like she was wearing clothes for her age. The children at the orphanage often wore hand-me-downs and Rory usually got the worst ones and most of her clothes had once belonged to boys. She has often seen girls her age wearing cute Minnie mouse dresses and hairbands and would never admit it, but she was jealous of them.

She looked at herself in the grimy steel plate on the wall of the room (she had no idea why it was there) and let out a gasp. Her light blond hair was actually brushed neatly unlike the usual bird's nest. Her face was clean and scrubbed as though she just had a warm bath (most of Aurora's bathes were cold) and best of all she had one of those incredibly cute Minnie mouse hairbands she always wanted. She let out a shriek of joy.

At once Kayla jumped up startled. Aurora turned to look at her. She too had different clothes on. Her old hideous mustard yellow dirty sweatshirt was replaced with a neon green jacket. Instead of the torn tights, she now wore clean blue jeans. Her ginger hair was brushed and braided, and she wore white running shoes. "What happened Rory?" She asked, rubbing her eyes sleepily. Though Kayla wasn't an early bird she definitely was a light sleeper. Most of the time, a rat scampering in her room could wake her up.

She blinked and stared at Aurora. She raised her eyebrows and nodded. "I'm not going to question it. But what's with the hairband?" Aurora shrugged. She glanced at Saffron who was still snoring away. Kayla rolled her eyes at him. "FREE ENCHILADAS," Kayla screamed. Saffron shot awake. "Where? Where?" He then caught sight of Kayla and Aurora who were giggling and rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath. He stared at the clothes. Then he checked his pocket and have out a shriek of joy. "Money! There's real money here! And enough for us to reach Camp! Aurora, Kayla your parents are real lifesavers," he screamed in delight. Kayla and Aurora looked at him with wide eyes as he did a little victory dance. They glanced at each other, laughing and joined him. After a few minutes all three of them collapsed on the ground, panting. 

Saffron stuffed the money in his pocket. "We can take a subway to Long Island from here. It won't take us long. We can use a cab for the rest of the way." Kayla and Aurora nodded, eagerly. Saffron jumped up again, but his face was now serious. "Let's leave now. The faster we move, the faster we'll reach. May the Gods be with us." Kayla and Aurora smiled at him again. "Don't worry, Saf. We'll reach Camp It will be alright," Rory said, smiling, to reassure him. Saffron smiled at her sadly. "I hope so Rory. I've seen so many demigods who died before even reaching Camp. I don't want that to happen to you'll," he replied softly, not meeting her eyes. Aurora sighed and hugged him tightly. He was short for his age, but Rory was even shorter and reached up till his chest. "I trust you Saf. I know that you'll get me and Kay-Kay back to Camp safe and sound," she said, staring up at him with her innocent blue eyes, which hadn't seen the horrors of the world yet. Saffron sniffled and held her tight. "Thank you, Rory. You're the best." Another pair of hands hugged him, this being Kayla. They stood there for a while, Saffron sniffling occasionally. Finally, they broke apart. Saffron smiled at them both, a determined glint in his eyes. "Let's go."