Sorry for the short chapter, I'm sort of wrapped for time between homework, family and art.
Artemis sat at the table, across from the young harpy. Selene took an immediate liking to the harpy. She was sharing a colouring set that Sally had bought her with the harpy, a colouring set that she chucked an ice javelin at Apollo for touching. Artemis felt what Athena told her was "motherly pride" at the site of Selene sharing her favourite possession. Looking around the RV, Artemis noticed someone missing.
"Where's Percy," she asked.
"Talking to Nico about our little guest," Annabeth explained, "she escaped from the underworld, her real mother might be worried."
Just then, Percy entered the RV. He was carrying a big, grey book under his arm and had a huge bruise on his forehead.
"Nico told me that she ran away because her mother shunned her for looking too much like a human. This," Percy placed the book on the table, "is a guide for taking care of harpies. Unfortunately," Percy rubbed his bruise, "it's a hardcover."
"Please tell me she left before she was named," Artemis said hopefully.
"Nico named her when she hatched," Percy explained, much to Artemis' dismay, "her name is Kai.
"But that's a boy's name." Artemis whined.
"I never said that Nico was good with names."
"I want to be Kai's mother," Khel said excitedly, hugging Percy from behind.
"Shouldn't avians be raised by avians?" Apollo asked, gesturing to Allianna.
"Aw," Selene groaned, "does this mean she's not my sister?"
"Well," Percy said, opening the book, "I'm pretty sure she chose me as her father after I saved her, so she'll still be your sister, though adopted, and with a different mother."
"You hear that Kai?" Selene asked, "We're sisters!"
Selene wrapped her arms around Kai, who, despite having her face now pressed against Selene's, remained focused on her picture, which was starting to look like a family portrait, featuring Allianna holding an unfinished Khel. It looked like she knew who her new family was before Percy said it.
"She's also a mute," Percy added, "born without a voice. Nico figured it out after his father told him that harpies screech for days after they hatch."
Allianna leaned on the back of Artemis' seat and looked at Kai's picture. She said nothing and just smiled at the child's artistic skill.
That night, the sleeping arrangements changed again. Selene chose to sleep with Kai, and they took Artemis' bed. Artemis and Allianna joined Percy in his bunk, stating that it's only right for the girls mothers to sleep with their father. Annabeth and Khel were forced to share the other top bunk, while Apollo and Athena shared the last bunk again.
"It's not fair that they get to sleep with them," Khel whispered to Annabeth.
"Try making that argument with Percy," Annabeth whispered back, "he thinks that their logic is sound."
Khel groaned and rolled over, disappointed at how little a daughter of Athena could help in formulating a plan "Sleep with Percy" plan. She fell asleep trying to formulate the plan herself, not getting very far either.
Apollo was speaking with Athena in silence.
"You know," he whispered, "you don't need to be here."
"I think I do," she countered, "especially since I trust you with my daughter about as far as Atlas can throw the sky."
"Ouch, no trust for your brother?"
"I trust you more than I trust Ares, if that's what you mean. I just don't trust you with my daughter."
Apollo pondered her tone for a moment before realizing something.
"You and Annabeth were having mother-daughter time when Percy called, weren't you?"