The Heroes of Olympus, #1
The Lost Hero
by Rick Riordan
Contents
XXII PIPER
Overview
Piper, Jason, and Leo survive a fall into an abandoned Detroit factory after Festus is seemingly destroyed. Jason resets Piper’s ankle; Piper later heals it fully with ambrosia. Jason recalls his sister Thalia, hinting at larger ties to their quest. Separated from Leo, Piper is ambushed by a voice-mimicking Cyclops.
Summary
Piper, Jason, and Leo are thrown from Festus midair at dawn. Jason manages to slow their fall and gather Leo, but they crash through the roof of an abandoned Detroit car plant, Monocle Motors. Piper badly injures her ankle. Using supplies from Leo’s bottomless tool belt and ambrosia from Piper’s pack, Jason resets and splints her ankle.
Below them, an explosion rises from the factory grounds; Leo fears Festus has been destroyed. Debating their next move, they realize overland travel is dangerous and Jason cannot carry them all by air. Piper nearly confesses her secret about her father but withholds it, fearing Enceladus’s leverage. Leo, shaken, goes alone to search for Festus.
Left together, Piper and Jason talk. Jason describes his fragmented memories and reveals the photo is his sister, Thalia, a clue Hera left that may be important but dangerous. Strange banging echoes through the warehouse; Jason goes to investigate, leaving Piper with the pack and her dagger.
Alone and afraid, Piper hears closer noises and eats more ambrosia, fully healing her ankle. When “Jason” calls up from the darkness, her instincts say to flee. At the stairs a Cyclops appears, mimicking Jason’s voice and announcing she is just in time for dinner.
Who Appears
- Piper McLeanFalls with the others, injures and heals her ankle, hides her father’s peril, and faces a Cyclops.
- Jason GraceControls the fall, sets Piper’s ankle, recalls his sister Thalia, and investigates noises.
- Leo ValdezPanics over Festus’s explosion, reveals his magic tool belt, and goes alone to find the dragon.
- CyclopsImitates Jason’s voice to lure Piper, revealing an ambush in the darkened factory.
- FestusBronze dragon mount; malfunctions midair and seemingly explodes near the factory.