daylight | percy jackson

running away from the orphanage

˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

BOOK ONE

CHAPTER SEVEN.

❝ lot's of sadness. and soup. ❞

ARIA HATED walking. Her now severely injured leg contributed to this hatred, as the group trudged through the forest, sweat building on their foreheads. Silence, mixed with the sound of distant animals, were the only audible things until Annabeth's voice rang through the trees.

"Percy, you didn't have to intervene back there," Her tone was laced with annoyance. "We had a plan, and you just–"

Percy cut her off, his voice defiant. "I couldn't leave you guys to face those Furies alone. It's not like I could just sit back and watch."

Aria, trying to keep up with their brisk pace, winced as a sharp pain shot through her injured leg. Despite her attempts to conceal her discomfort, it became increasingly evident that she was struggling. The forest floor seemed to sway beneath her, and she stumbled, her vision blurring for a moment.

Annabeth's irritation transformed into concern as she noticed Aria faltering.

"Aria, are you okay?"

Aria, a tight smile on her face, nodded. "Yeah, just a little tired. I'll catch up."

But the strain on her face betrayed her true condition. As they continued, Aria's steps grew increasingly unsteady, and she finally collapsed to the forest floor, her injured leg giving way beneath her.

Percy's eyes widened with worry, and he rushed to her side. "Silvers, what happened?"

Annabeth, her frustration momentarily forgotten, joined Percy in assisting Aria. She inspected the leg with a critical eye. "It's that whip from the Fury. The wound reopened, and it's affecting her. We need to find a safe place to rest."

"And eat." Grover chided in, his stomach rumbling.

Aria, gritting her teeth against the pain, forced a reassuring smile. "I'll be fine. Just give me a moment."

But Percy, his concern unabated, helped her up, placing her arm around his neck for support. "We're not taking any chances. We'll find a safe spot, and you can rest there. No arguments."

This action from Percy was extremely surprising to Aria. Why was he actually being nice to her?

Amidst the dense forest, vibrant neon lights illuminated the darkness, revealing the presence of an old diner. The alluring scent of food permeated the air, leading the group towards the worn-out sign that proudly declared, "Aunty Em's Garden Gnome Emporium." Aria's dyslexia momentarily played tricks on her, conjuring the whimsical notion of a "Meong Emporium." A second glance clarified the misunderstanding—it was, in fact, a gnome emporium. The realisation brought a wry smile to Aria's face, marking a welcome distraction from her current ordeal.

Grover, sniffing slightly, cast a wary glance at the diner. "Garden gnome emporium? I don't know about this guys. Gnomes can be tricky."

Aria, still leaning on Percy, couldn't help but smirk. "Well, if they have food, I'm willing to take my chances."

They decided to wait outside, finding a relatively sheltered spot where Aria could rest and heal. With a deep breath, Aria began to sing, her voice carrying a soothing melody. It was a hymn to her father, a plea for healing. The others watched in awe as a warm, golden glow enveloped Aria's leg. Slowly, the pain ebbed away, and when the light faded, her leg was restored to its normal state.