A Son From Lands Unknown (PJO x Male Reader)

There's a Dam Problem

At the edge of the junkyard, they found a tow truck so old it might've been thrown away itself. But the engine started, and it had a full tank of gas, so they decided to use it/

Thalia drove. She didn't seem as stunned as Zoe, Grover, or Percy, and (Y/N) was just too out of it to do so. He just kept staring at Tentazione.

"The skeletons are still out there," Thalia reminded them, "We need to keep moving."

She navigated through the desert, under clear blue skies, the sand so bright it hurt to look at. Zoe sat up front with Thalia. Grover, Percy, and (Y/N) sat in the pickup bed, leaning against the tow winch. The air was cool and dry, but the nice weather felt like a slap in the face.

Percy tightened his grip on the figurine that, alongside (Y/N)'s actions, had cost her life. He couldn't even tell which god it was supposed to be. Nico would know, he supposed.

"It should've been you," Percy said before regretting it. "Or, at least, not her."

"I'm aware," (Y/N) grumbled. "Only the third time you've said it to me."

The ride continued in complete silence. Eventually, the tow truck ran out of gas at the edge of a river canyon. That was just as well, because the road was a dead end.

Thalia got out and slammed the door. Immediately, one of the tires blew. "Great. What now?"

Percy scanned the horizon, but there just wasn't much to see. Desert in all directions, the occasional clumps of barren mountains here and there. The canyon was the only thing interesting. The river itself wasn't very big, maybe fifty yards across, green water with a few rapids, but it carved a huge scar out of the desert. The rock cliffs dropped away beneath them.

"There's a path," Grover said. "We could get to the river."

Percy tried to see what he was talking about and finally noticed a tiny ledge winding down the cliff face. "That's a goat path," Percy pointed out.

"So?" Grover asked.

"The rest of us aren't goats."

"We can make it," Grover said. "I think."

"Not happening," (Y/N) said. "I'm taking no risks with a height this big. A walk won't hurt us." He didn't wait to hear any objections, as he started walking as soon as he finished talking.

The group walked along the river for half a mile before coming to an easier slope that led down to the water. On the shore was a canoe rental operation that was closed for the season, but Percy left a stack of golden drachmas on the counter and a note saying 'IOU two canoes.'

"We need to go upstream," Zoe said. It was the first time she had spoken since the junkyard, and she sounded bad, like someone with the flu. "The rapids are too swift."

"Leave that to me," Percy said. They put the canoes in the water.

Thalia pulled Percy aside as they were getting the oars. "Can you take Zoe? I think, uh, maybe you can talk to her."

"She's not going to like that," Percy pointed out.

"Please? I don't know if I can stand being in the same boat as her. She's... she's starting to worry me, and so is (Y/N). Him I can at least talk to without getting angry."

It was the last thing he wanted to do, but Percy nodded.

Thalia's shoulders relaxed. "I owe you one." She turned and helped Grover and (Y/N) get their canoe in the water.

As it turned out, Percy didn't even need to control the currents. As soon as they got in the river, Percy looked over the edge of his boat and found a couple of naiads staring at him. They looked like regular teenage girls, just underwater.