'River Anise was like the morning sun. Her rays were gentle and calm, accompanied by a light breeze. Her light painted the skies with a beautiful array of colors that Percy thought no painter could ever truly capture.'
-
(Percy Jackson)
(The Lightn...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
chapter fourteen: home again
~
River had slept the entire ride home, snuggled up in her seat with her head resting on Percy's shoulder. He hadn't dared to move an inch in fear of waking her up. Especially when, as soon as they had gotten in the air, she had started crying and was refusing to talk. Annabeth had explained briefly that she was just having a meltdown from sensory issues. Percy vowed then that he would be picking up every book possible on autism when he finally got home. After he saw his mom again, of course.
The news had changed around the entire story after the fight. Ares had been painted as a kidnapper, and the group was their victims. There was talk of a whole 'odyssey of terror' and things like that. Their names were completely cleared now.
When they got to La Guardia, Annabeth led the press away in her invisible Yankees cap, shouting that they were over by the frozen yogurt. River was eternally grateful and exhausted. She just wanted to go home and not leave her bed for the next few months.
At the taxi stand, Percy turned to his friends.
"You guys should go back and let Chiron know what happened. I've gotta do this myself."
Annabeth and Grover were quick to protest, and River set her innocent, puppy-dog eye look at him to try and get him to come, but Percy was stubborn.
Percy unclipped Midas from his belt loop and reached forward to put it back in its rightful place, "Thanks for everything."
River watched him walk away, clenching tight onto her sun keychain with one hand. She didn't want him to leave.
~
They were met with warm welcomes when they got back to camp, before questions were thrown about how it had gone and where Percy was.
Luke stood out from the crowd, pushing to the front, "Annabeth, River, Grover! You guys made it!"
River's bottom lip trembled and she rushed into Luke's arms. He was just one more person she felt safe beside. He was like an older brother to her, and she a little sister. Ever since she had stuck by his side after his quest, she had wormed her way into his heart.
"Woah. Are you ok, Riv?" Luke asked.
River just let out a groan, still not feeling up to talking.
Chiron came into the center of the crowd, "Enough, enough. You two come with me. Luke, take young River to bed. She looks tired."
Luke just nodded and slung his arm around River's shoulders, "Come on, kid."
Luke took her back to the Apollo cabin, helping her settle into bed and pulling the sheets up over River's shoulder, "Is Percy ok?"
