Raised from the Depths: The Apple of Their Eyes [A Percy Jackson FanFiction]

Nineteen: Escape from the mountains

I stroked the gryphon's beak as Sol gathered up the stuff from camp, preparing to fly out of the Rockies.

"You need a name." I cooed, carefully combing my fingers through his feathers. "How about Midnight?"

The gryphon shook it's head, huffing. "Yeah, that's a bad one. Black Lightning?"

He growled, shaking his head more vigorously. "Okay, how about Onyx?"

The gryphon paused, before snuffling, butting his forehead on my chest. I laughed, "So, Onyx it is."

"Alright, Gryphon lady, let's head out." Sol sighed, attempting to climb up Onyx's side. Onyx rolled his eyes and set his wings on the ground, like a step. I carefully climbed up onto his sturdy back as my stomach did flips. We were about to fly again.

"Alright, Onyx. We're just trying to get out of the Rockies, so land near the first city you see." I directed, hugging onto his neck. He roared in response, and as soon as Sol was on, his wings boomed with a giant flap, and we were off.

And I was out.

🔥 🌙 🔥

I woke up when I felt a jolt hit my body, and I slammed onto the ground. I shot up, dazed and dizzy, on the grassy ground. I sighed in relief, laying down in the grass.

"Oh, sweet heat, I have missed thee." Sol whispered, collapsing onto the ground near me. Even Onyx laid down, in need of a rest.

I rolled out to my back, staring up at the clouded sky. "Got money on you, Sol?"

"Some. Why?"

"Food." I explained, pointing to Onyx, who's eyes were dull. "You feeling KFC?"

"I know the big guy is. I'll go get it, you stay here with him and keep watch." Sol instructed, standing and finding a sidewalk, following the pavement.

I sat up, crawling over to Onyx, taking in my surroundings. It was a peaceful park, leaves crisp and bright with reds, yellows, and oranges, the grass losing it's pigment. Still, people were out jogging, walking their dogs, and pushing strollers, completely unphased. And after being up in the Rockies, I didn't mind the nip of the wind either; anything was warmer.

I led Onyx to a bench, where we sat down and watched for Sol. I couldn't help but wonder what the mortals were thinking of a mythical gryphon laying next to a bench with a demigod armed with a bow and arrow sitting on it, but if they noticed, they did't seem to care.

As walkers came by, I could hear them talking. Monster storms were sweeping the nation; orchards, farms, and plantations were being demolished, dried out, and eaten by lotus. It all seemed too coincidental for me. How strange we were looking for the golden apple of Discord when orchards were being destroyed in their own desperate search.

Eventually, Sol came striding up with a bag full of food. We split the sides and a each stole a piece of chicken, but I tossed the rest of it to the famished Onyx, who demolished the chicken- box and all. I tried not to let the savage behavior bother me. Who knows how long he's been waiting to eat.

"So," Sol started after finishing his food, "next stop, Zephyr's castle?"

"That's the plan." I sighed, picking up the trash and putting it in the trash bin.

"And, you have to complete tasks all by yourself?"

I paused, the air suddenly stinging against my skin. "Yes." I whispered, turning to him.

"Affinity, you don't-"

"Don't start, Sol. I do have to. For Mico. I have to do this for Mico." I snapped, walking towards Onyx, who stood, his eyes flashing in sadness. "Come on, boy. We got a little ways to go still." I scratched under his chin, and he melted into my arms.

I ran my fingers down to his furry chest, my hand shaking. "Let's go." I whispered, disguising the fear in my voice.

🔥 🌙 🔥

I watched with a flipping stomach as Onyx soared slowly above the frost crusted ground. We had finally made it to Cape Alava, the western most point of America- well, besides Alaska or Hawaii.

I knew things much harder than the autumn air or the fly to the state of Washington were coming my way. I had to find Zephyr's castle, and I had to go threw a series of challenges to save Mico.

I knew from my mythology class that I was going to go through the Tasks of Psyche. To win back Eros, Zephyr gave Psyche a series of impossible tests that Aphrodite had planned out, but no matter how hard I searched my brain, I couldn't remember what the quests were. Something about sheep and grain, I think.

"So, where exactly is Zephyr's castle?" Sol wondered, searching the ground, only to find the tops of trees and houses spotting throughout a sea of green.

I searched the ground with him, pursing my lips. "He's the god of the west wind, maybe his castle..." I glanced ahead at the direction Onyx was flying, "is in the air."

Straight ahead was a ancient-looking building, pearl white with classic Greek columns connecting each floor with the one prior. It didn't seem solid, it looked like a mirage; transparent, and it seemed to be connected to the ground below through a strong current of wind, disguised as a storm.

"Well, here we go." Sol whispered from behind me.