Riley Ross

"You brought me back here, Hera?"

Riley wondered where Hera was bringing her. He initially thought they were going to explore the streets around the hotel, as that was what Hannah and the Baby Crew wanted to do—but no. She grew wings on her back before they could hit the ground and flew away from the city, landing straight back in front of the Phoenix Wrath monument.

"Yeah."

Hera’s large wings flapped behind her before fading into her back. She walked toward the monument, placing her hand on its uneven surface and tracing her fingers across the names of those who died.

"Do you know why you and your friends are taking this trip?" She asked Riley, glancing back at him with her eyebrows lowered.

"To clean the area around the monument, Hera." He answered while looking at all the trash scattered everywhere, his eyes slightly twitching, "But it is littered with trash now, more so than before due to the explosion."

"And other than that?" Hera sighed, slightly spinning around before resting her back on the monument. She tilted her head forward, a tiny smile creeping on her face as she looked at him, "What other meaning do you think this trip has?"

"Should there be another meaning to it, Hera?"

"That’s up to you," she chuckled as she pushed herself away from the monument, "That’s the point of all of this—to find meaning. Some reflect on their powers and what they could do, some become resolved not to use their powers for bad, some just... become more in tune with their mental health and shit like that."

"And what does it mean for you, Hera?"

"Reliving a memory," Hera closed her eyes, her lips slightly quivering, before her entire body shivered, and she had to shake it off. "I was here when it happened."

"Oh? And you are still alive, Hera?"