σɾɳιƚԋαʂ (ρʝσ x ɱαʅҽ σƈ)

I Decide to Sneak Out

Percy's POV

The least the Oracle could've done was walk back to the attic by herself.

Instead, Grover and I were elected to carry her. I didn't figure that was because we were the most popular.

Grover: Watch her head!

BONK!

I whacked her mummified face against the trapdoor frame and dust flew.

Percy: Ah, crap.

I set her down and checked for damage.

Percy: Did I break again?

Grover: I can't tell.

We hauled her up and set her on her tripod stool, both of us huffing and sweating. Who knew a mummy could weigh so much?

I assumed she wouldn't talk to me, and I was right. I was relieved when we finally got out of there and slammed the attic door shut.

Grover: Well, that was gross.

I knew he was trying to keep things light for my sake, but I still felt really down. The whole camp would be mad at me for almost losing the game to the Hunters, and then there was the new prophecy from the Oracle. It was like the spirit of Delphi had gone out of her way to exclude me and Theo. She'd walked half a mile to talk to Zoe, of all people. And she'd said nothing, not even a hint, about Annabeth. Or David.

Chiron: What will Chiron do?

Grover: I wish I knew.

He looked wistfully out the second-floor window at the rolling hills covered in snow.

Grover: I want to be out there.

He had a little trouble focusing on me. Then he blushed.

Grover: Oh, yeah. That, too.

Percy: Why? What were you thinking?

Grover: Just something the manticore said, about the Great Stirring. I can't help but wonder...if all those ancient powers are waking up, maybe...maybe not all of them are evil.

Percy: You mean Pan.

I felt kind of selfish, because I'd totally forgotten about Grover's life ambition. The nature god had gone missing two thousand years ago. He was rumored to have died, but the satyrs didn't believe that. They were determined to find him. They'd been searching in vain for centuries, and Grover was convinced he'd be the one to succeed. This year, with Chiron putting all the satyrs on emergency duty to find half-bloods, Grover hadn't been able to continue his search. It must've been driving him nuts.

Grover: I've let the trail go cold. I feel restless, like I'm missing something really important. He's out there somewhere. I can just feel it.

I didn't know what to say. I wanted to encourage him, but I didn't know how. My optimism had pretty much been trampled into the snow out there in the woods, along with our capture-the-flag hopes.

Before I could respond, Thalia tromped up the stairs. She was officially not talking to me now, but she looked at Grover.

Thalia: Tell Percy to get his ass downstairs.

Percy: Why?

Thalia: (to Grover) Did he say something?

Grover: Um, he asked why.

Thalia: Dionysus is calling a council of cabin leaders to discuss the prophecy. Unfortunately, that includes Percy.

Timeskip