𝐈𝐍𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐁𝐋𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 | 𝐩. 𝐣𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬𝐨𝐧

Pig rodeo in New Mexico

The group arrived on the outskirts of a little ski town in the mountains. The sign read: Cloudcroft, New Mexico. The air was cold and thin. The roofs ofthe cabins were heaped with snow, and dirty mounds of it were piled up on the sides of thestreets. Tall pine trees loomed over the valley, casting pitch-black shadows, though themorning was sunny.

"Great," Thalia mumbled. "No bus station, taxis, car rentals, no way out."

"There's a coffee shop!" Grover pointed out.

"Yes." Zoë agreed. "Coffee is good."

"Coffee is great," Evangeline added.

"And pastries." The satyr said dreamily. "And wax paper."

"Fine," Thalia sighed. "You three, get us some food. Percy, Bianca, and I will check the grocery store, maybe even get us some directions."

They made their way to the coffee house and got their orders.

Percy and Bianca found them soon afterward. "We should do the tracking spell," Zoë said. "Grover, do you have any acorns left?"

The satyr had a muffin wrapper half hanging out of his mouth. "Um," he mumbled, quickly stuffing the rest down. "I think so, I just need to"

Grover froze a warm breeze rushing past the small group as Zoë gasped. "Grover," she called. "Thy cup."

Grover had dropped his cup decorated with birds, and the birds suddenly peeled away from the plastic and flew away as a pack of doves. The satyr fell to the ground, collapsing beside the stained snow from the brown liquid.

"Hey!" Thalia said, running up from the street. "I just... what happened to Grover?"

"We don't know," Percy said. "He just collapsed."

Grover groaned as if further proving Percy's statement.

"Well, get him up!" Thalia said as she held her spear in her hand in a defense stance. "We have to get out of here."

They did as the girl ordered, only able to make it to the edge of town before the skeleton warrior appeared. their outfits had been changed, now dressing the part of a Mexican police officer except their skin and eye color had stayed the same.

Aegis spiraled to life in the daughter of Zeus's arms, but the undead didn't care for the sight. Instead, their yellow eyes that seemed to glow were directed to the daughter of Hades.

Evangeline quickly pulled her necklace free and pressed the snake, her sword formed in her hand as she gripped it tightly.

"If I wanted to see the dead, I would've gone home." the brunette mumbled.

"Back up," Thalia said as the group of demigods' weapons aimed toward the skeletons. They were only able to take a step back, but two more undead warriors showed up.

"It's near," Grover suddenly moaned out, his unbalanced weight nearing causing Bianca to drop him.

"It's here," Evangeline said.

"No," he insisted. "The gift... the gift from the Wild."

But they ignored his words, "We'll have to go one-on-one," Thalia said. "Four of them, five of us."

"Maybe they'll ignore Grover that way," Evangeline added.

"Agreed," Said Zoe.

Percy charged.

But then a skeleton raised a gun and fired. She couldn't get the words to form fast enough as the bullet hit the raven-haired boy.

Evangeline's eyes widened as Percy stumbled backward a few steps. She knew he wasn't dead, but somehow it felt like her heart almost dropped out of her chest.