Makynna slumped against the wall, gasping for breath.
"I TOLD YOU NO!" Rylee screeched furiously. Hands on her hips, Rylee paced back and forth.
"Every time you do that you get weaker. It's not safe." Catching her breath, Makynna replied irritably,
"It's safer than being eaten alive." Rylee glared her into silence.
"What is Austin gonna say if you don't come back with me?" Makynna glanced down at her hands, the first sign of remorse. With a heavy sigh, Rylee changed the subject.
"Where are we, anyways?" Makynna pushed herself off the wall and shrugged.
"Not sure yet. Let's go have a look, shall we?" As the daughter of Hades reached the alleyway, she abruptly recoiled in shock and turned to face Rylee.
"What?" Rylee demanded. After stammering and tripping over her words, Makynna managed to get out,
"She's not wearing a shirt." Rylee rolled her eyes.
"Good grief, Makynna. Just let it go."
"But-"
"This is 2018, Kyn. Not 1930."
"1934," Makynna muttered with a blush.
"Whatever." Rylee led the way out of the alley and realized at once where they were.
"For real?" She hissed, turning and pushing Makynna back into the alleyway.
"What?"
"Thanks to your lack of navigation skills, we're now in LOS ANGELES. New York is on THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTRY! We were in Maryland- ALMOST THERE- and you blew it!" Makynna crossed her arms.
"Thanks to my ability to SHADOW TRAVEL, we're alive!" She snapped.
"Not for long if we stay here!" Rylee retorted. Makynna threw her hands up in frustration.
"Fine!" She reached out and grabbed Rylee's arm. Before the girl could protest, the shadows around them enveloped the two girls.
Rylee fought the urge to panic as she felt the darkness everywhere around her, cold and empty, yet at the same time the only thing there. Makynna had vanished into the shadows and she was alone. Rylee closed her eyes tightly, as if to give the darkness a reason to exist. Fumbling around, she found Makynna and held onto her tightly. When the darkness faded, they were standing atop a familiar hill. Makynna was swaying on her feet unsteadily. Rylee wrapped an arm under her and supported her friend as they crossed the barrier on Half-Blood Hill. A horn sounded twice and Chiron appeared. When he saw Rylee supporting Makynna a brief flash of worry crossed his face before it became calm again.
"Where's Dakota?" He inquired as he trotted to meet them.
"Stayed in New Rome when we got there," Rylee said. "Makynna's an idiot. She needs help."
"No I-"
"Shut up, Makynna. You do," Rylee ordered. Makynna pulled herself away from Rylee and stumbled to Chiron. He caught her and embraced the girl tightly. She allowed him to hold her close for several long seconds. Rylee caught a brief glimpse of the Apollo cabin walking out for breakfast, then her brother was upon her.
"Rylee Mae I was so worried where have you been I thought you were dead and the fish hadn't seen you and-" Rylee cut her brother off.
"Perseus. We went on a quest. You knew this. It was not in the water. You also knew this." Percy tried to glare at her, but only succeeded in looking like a wounded seal.
"Stop. You look retarded," Annabeth said fondly as she approached.
"He is retarded," Rylee muttered as Annabeth hugged her.
"True," Annabeth whispered in her ear so Percy couldn't hear. Rylee snickered as Percy yelped,
"What happened to her?!" Rylee turned in surprise to see Makynna collapse, and Chiron caught her. He held the girl gently and caught Annabeth's eye. An unspoken message passed between them and Annabeth loped off down the hill.