Outcast (a Percy Jackson AU)

Beryl Grace

Calypso
     It was cold and we were both exhausted from building the snow fort, but I knew we could not leave a woman outside in this weather when she had somewhere perfectly warm to reside in. I just couldn't leave someone to possibly die in this weather. The snow was thicker than ever now and as we trudged through it our footsteps-and paw prints-were quickly covered. "Do you know where she lives?" Leo asked, shivering.
     "No," I said," but I think Festus does."
      Festus was sniffing at the ground as if he had caught a scent. He set in a determined trot, leaving paw prints trailing through the snow. "Are you sure he hasn't caught the scent of a squirrel," Leo suggested.
    "It's our best guess," I said, feeling somewhat helpless.
     It was getting cold by now and I was shivering and wishing Leo would wrap his arms around me. Alas, he did not. We were both preoccupied with carrying Beryl Grace, who wasn't heavy, but we were both not the strongest. Festus finally stopped in front of a large house. His golden tail was thumping against the snow.
    I ran up to the door and knocked. I didn't know if I would get an answer. It was late and the wind was howling and biting against our skin. By now, I felt like I would shiver until the end of time. Luckily, the door opened.
     A girl was standing there. When she saw us she looked startled, but as soon as she caught sight of Mrs. Grace, she looked relieved. "Jason!"she called. "Thalia! Your mother is here!"
     There was a sound of hurried footsteps and I caught sight of two more people: a teenage boy and a girl who looked to be in her twenties. They all shared the same relieved expression on their faces. "Thank you so much," the boy, who I assumed was Jason spoke. "We were so worried and looking through the house."
      "We should probably let them in," the first girl said, her multi-colored rues full of concern.
      "Of course," Jason answered. "Come in and bring your dog too. I can get my mother in. Piper, can you make some food for our guests?"
    The girl who had first seen us nodded. The other girl went with her. Jason ran to his mother, who was still unconscious and picked her up. Leo and I held the door open and he gave us a quick smile, but he still looked worried. Festus ran into the house, his tail wagging.
     Inside, it was warm. I felt the heat course through my body and the cold seemed to slowly dissipate. I gave a sigh of contentment. "How did you find my mother?" Jason asked.
     He was bending over his mother who he had laid on a couch in what I guessed was the living room. He laid a blanket over her and checked her temperature and pulse. "It was Festus," Leo said and he explained how the dog had found her and led us to her home.
     "That's one smart dog," Jason remarked, giving him a scratch behind his ears, to which Festus wagged his tail.
     The smell of warm food filled the air. The first girl had come back. She had braided brown hair and a pretty face, but she looked perpetually sad and her eyes were like shattered stained-glass windows. She was carrying a tray laden with good food: warm bread, a plethora of cheeses, olives, olive oil to dip the bread in, dates, and a spinach dip. The other girl, the one with the same blue eyes as her brother, but startlingly different features and tousled black hair was carrying glasses of juice. "Eat up," the first girl said and we did.