The Return of the Demeter Leader (Dawn, Harper.)

[Harper Jones]

Harper nodded her head as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Yeah, I guess," she said, trying not to choke up. "It must be pretty traumatizing being turned into a spider." She sighed. "I guess I'm being too hard on him. I expected everything to go back to normal once he was back..."

[Accalia Phillips]

Accalia squeezed her shoulder, "Yeah. Being a spider would be rough, there would be a constant fear of being stepped on." She shook her head, "Okay, not funny yet. Sorry. It's just that...I really think he can get through this but he needs your help. Don't give up on him." Don't give up on him. Thoughts of Accalias dad began running through her head, but she tried to stay present. Harper needed her now.

[Harper Jones]

Harper took a deep breath as she shook her head. "Yeah... yeah... I guess he does need me..." She closed her eyes and took a couple more deep breaths. "It was a tough quest, Accalia. It really was."

[Accalia Phillips]

Accalia looked out the window for a moment. She had never been on a quest but she knew that she would be just awful at it. She shook it off and turned back to Harper, "The most important thing is that you had experiences you could learn from. Did you?" She asked.

[Harper Jones]

"I... I... I guess so," she said as she opened her eyes. "I mean, I learned I could fight a monster and drive a car at the same time." She laughed at herself. "Oh gods, that was so dangerous, but there's nothing you can do when a monster's on top of your car, you know. And I learned how to outrun the skeleton guards in the Underworld." She rolled her eyes. "That was some fun times."

[Accalia Phillips]

Accalia turned to her with eyes wide, "You...had a monster...on the car?" She laughed and slapped Harpers back, "That's amazing! Congratulations. You must have been a real hero out there! And fighting the dead skeletons? Awesome." She looked at Harper, beaming. She had the bravest sister in the world and she had always wanted to be brave and now she had this great example. But then when it came to her feelings Harper became just like any other girl, which made her seem more human. Accalia thought about Harper as a hunter. She would be great at it.

[Harper Jones]

Harper could only smirk at Accalia's enthusiasm.
"Thanks," she said while shaking her head. "I mean, I had to make sure we didn't get into too much trouble, especially legal-wise. That's why we borrowed the truck from my parents instead of letting Ciel..." She stopped shortly and turned to Accalia. "Did I mention we stopped by my parents' farm? Most awkward visit ever."

[Accalia Phillips]

Accalia raised an eyebrow, "You stopped at your parents farm? Well that does sound awkward...what did they think of your friends?" She imagined her father meeting her new friends at camp. There was some he'd love and some he'd hate. He'd especially love Harper and Dawn though. Which made Accalia happy.

[Harper Jones]

Harper thought about it for a minute. "Mom said she like them, but I got the feeling that Kad creeped her out a bit since he ran into my house before I got the chance to walk in and stuff. And Dad... I think he was just happy to see me alive." She laughed while shaking her head. "And my siblings liked everyone. I guess it was more awkward for me than anything because I haven't spoken to them since I ran away."

[Accalia Phillips]

"Oh Kad..." Accalia shook her head, that kid was a bit too crazy for his own good. Then she heard the words Ran away And Accalia raised an eyebrow, "I had no idea that you ran away. That would make it more awkward..." she thought about how she was jealous that Harper got to see her parents.

[Harper Jones]

Harper covered her mouth once she realized she let her secret slip. Accalia knew that she was back at her second time at camp, but didn't know the reason why she left in the first place. She nodded her head.
"Yeah," she said removing her hand. "That's why I left the first time, I ran away.... And I'm not proud of it." She glanced over at the laurel tree sapling still in the water vase. "I only came back because I lost Jethro..."

[Accalia Phillips]

"Jethro. Was that your satyr friend?" She wasn't really shocked at the idea of Harper running away. It seemed like something drastic that she would do, but she was curious why. "So wait...why did you run away in the first place?"

[Harper Jones]

Harper looked away for a few minutes. She was hoping to never tell her sisters about this, but she had no choice. She looked back at Accalia.
"I've met mother, you know. Demeter, I've met her twice." She took a deep breath. "The first time was during the winter and that was a lovely time." She rolled her eyes. "The second time... the second time was around my 15th birthday... my birthday is the vernal equinox... she stood me up on my birthday for Persephone." She closed her eyes and took shaky breaths trying to control her emotions. "She made me so angry that I almost joined the Hunters right there and then... but I didn't... and I ran away with Jethro... and I think you know the rest." She opened her eyes and looked at Accalia. "I never told you because I wanted you to form your own opinions about mom and I didn't want you to think differently of me..."

[Accalia Phillips]

Accalia listened intently to Harpers story. She kept her arm around her as she listened. "I'm glad you told me this Harper." She stated plainly. She didn't want to judge Harper for her decision, or her mother. She tried to keep a calm face and thought for a moment before replying. "I've never met mother, but I did meet Persephone once." Accalia thought back to the time Persephone had iris called her. She told Accalia not to befriend a daughter of Hades named Hali because it was betraying her family. Accalia shrugged it off. "Harper, i'm sorry mom stood you up. And don't worry about my impression of her," she lookd at the flower bed near her bedroom window, "All I think she's good for is making the Earth look beautiful. Nothing more, nothing less." Accalia patted Harpers back, "Plus-I like you a lot more than her, so i'd never stand you up."

[Harper Jones]

"That's good to know." Harper slightly laughed to cheer herself up. She stretched and leaned back on her bed. "It is so good to be home, you know, with all these fancy accommodations." She then looked outside a window. "Wow, it got dark fast."