Anika

“Bow and quiver coming up," Nico said.
"And ukelele," Will added.
Nico winced. "Do we really hate Python that much?"
Will raised an eyebrow.”
― Rick Riordan, The Tower of Nero

“Sadie was still a kite.
"You can turn back now," I told her.
She tilted her head and regarded me quizically. She let out a frustrated croak.
I cracked a smile. "You can't, can you? You're stuck?
She pecked my hand with her extremely sharp beak.
"Ow!" I complained. "It's not my fault. Keep trying."
She closed her eyes and ruffled her feathers until she looked like she was going to explode, but she stayed a kite.
"Don't worry," I said, trying to keep a straight face. "Bast will help once we get out of here.”
― Rick Riordan, The Red Pyramid

“Scythe Anastasia was equally dumbfounded.
"You?" she said.
"No," Morrison blurted, "not me! I mean, yes, it's me, but I'm not the Toll, I mean." Any hope of strong, silent intimidation was gone. Now he was little more than a stammering imbecile, which is how he always felt around Scythe Anastasia.
"What are you even doing here?" she asked.
He started to explain, but realized it was way too long a story for the moment. And besides, he was sure her story was a better one.
The other scythe in her entourage—Amazonian by the look of his robe—chimed in, several beats behind the curve. "You mean to say you two know each other?"
But before either of them could answer, Mendoza came up behind Morrison, tapping him on the shoulder.
"As usual, you're in the way, Morrison," he grumbled, having completely missed the conversation.
Morrison stepped aside and allowed the curate to exit. And the moment Mendoza saw Anastasia, he became just as befuddled as Morrison. Although his eyes darted wildly, he managed to hold his silence. Now they stood on either side of the entrance to the cave in their usual formation. Then the Toll emerged from the cave between them.
He paused short, just as Morrison and Mendoza had, gaping in a way that a holy man probably never should.
"Okay," said Scythe Anastasia. "Now I know I've lost my mind.”
― Neal Shusterman, The Toll

“No one seemed awed or incredulous—just confused.
Someone whispered to a friend, "What's a sun?" Another asked, "What's a Lester?”
― Rick Riordan, The Tower of Nero