Indigo Eyes

Chapter 57

Percy was beyond glad that Cressida was ok because her hugs were like magic. And he really needed one after having to explain what happened to Bianca. He was less glad about it when she slapped his arm for feeling guilty and blaming himself but he needed it.

It was still silent between everyone as they got into a tow truck they found. Zoë drove as Thalia rode shotgun and Grover, Cressida and Percy were sitting in the back. Percy was clutching the figurine that Bianca had given him and you could see the guilt in his expression. And while Cressida had never been especially close to Bianca, she was close to Percy and she knew all about his promise to the little boy who was supposed to be gifted with it. Her hand laced with his and Percy was grateful for it as they drove along, also worrying about Grover. Ever since the encounter in New Mexico – whatever had happened when that wild wind blew through – he seemed really fragile, even more emotional than usual.

Eventually, the tow truck ran out of fuel at the edge of a river canyon. That was just as well, because the road dead-ended. Thalia got out and slammed the door. Immediately, one of the tyres blew. "Great. What now?"

There was desert in all directions, occasional clumps of barren mountains plopped here and there. The canyon was the only thing interesting. The river itself wasn't very big, maybe fifty metres across, green water with a few rapids, but it carved a huge scar out of the desert. The rock cliffs dropped away below them.

Grover eventually spotted a goat trail and tried to convince them to walk down it but Percy suggested that they go upstream. Thalia looked grateful because both Percy and Cressida saw how pale Thalia got at the height.

It was a good idea too because they eventually found a canoe rental operation that was closed for the season, and they 'borrowed' two of them. Percy left a stack of golden drachmas and a note saying I.O.U two canoes but they probably would forget about it.

Thalia had also asked Percy to try and talk to Zoë who had barely said a word since Bianca.

So, there he sat in a canoe with Cressida and Zoë as he asked the Naiads to help take them upstream.

Cressida was quiet as the two spoke at first, but when they both started blaming themselves, she couldn't keep quiet.

"Ok, that's enough from both of you," she interjected after Zoë was talking about how her wisdom had not improved in the two thousand years she'd led the hunt and now Artemis herself was in danger. "You blame yourself for getting Artemis kidnapped? Well, we are never going to be able to rescue her if you are drowning in your own guilt. And as for Bianca, she died a hero. She died saving her fellow Hunter because she knew that we could save Artemis without her. You may have insisted she come on this quest but if she really didn't want to, she could've said no, but you were her sister and she proved herself of the title and of being a Hunter. It was not your fault and if you tried to intervene, you would've prevented Bianca from becoming the hero that she is."

Her words seemed to have quite the impact on both Percy and Zoë as she put things into perspective. And then she turned to Percy who was already staring at her before she said words meant just for him.

"And as for you Barnacle Brain, you were the one who told me that it wasn't my fault about my m- the woman who gave birth to me. And if that wasn't my fault then this wasn't your fault," she said before she lifted his hand up and made him watch as she threaded their fingers together. "You carry the weight of everyone's decisions on your shoulders. It's a weight that you shouldn't be carrying, and it will crush you if you don't let it go. And I know that telling Nico about all this is probably not going to be a fun time but one day he'll understand that his sister was a hero." And she sandwiched his hand between hers. "But for now, you need to learn the difference between feeling guilty and feeling grief." She brought their hands to her lips as her hands began to glow and her eyes became fiery. "Calm."