Chapter Three: The Search Party

Hermione

I woke up the next morning to the frantic voice of someone calling my name. The frantic voice belonged to none other than Annabeth Chase.

"Annie?" I asked sitting up and rubbing my head. "Please stop yelling. Now, what's wrong."

Annabeth looked at me with tear-filled eyes. "He's gone," she choked, "He's just disappeared."

"Who's gone? Who's just disappeared?" I asked rubbing my tired eyes.

"Percy." Annabeth's lip quivered slightly but she quickly regained her composure and gave me a sort of harsh determined look.

"Percy?" I said, racking my brain for who that was. "Your boyfriend?"

"Yes," Annabeth said, "he kissed me goodnight last night and that's the last saw him."

"This is awful." I said. "How are you going to find him."

"Oh, Chiron's already arranged a search party we leave in an our or so. I've also called the Hunters and asked them to help out."

I gave Annabeth a strange look, knowing fully well Artemis wouldn't be crazy for the idea of helping out a boy.

Annabeth chose to ignore me. "I came to ask if you wanted to come with the search party. Do you?"

"Of course." I said instantly. "Count me in."

Annabeth smiled. "Thanks 'Mione. Oh and I thought you should know but Mr. D's disappeared too."

"Disappeared?" I repeated.

Annabeth nodded. "We leave in an hour or so 'Mione. I'll come get you when we're about to leave."


The search Party wasn't successful at all. We searched all around camp and then proceeded to search in the woods. At that point most campers dropped out pointing out that the wood had been dangerous ever since the wild Dragon had gone, well, wild. Annabeth however ignored them and demanded to go into the woods.

"I'm sure he's somewhere around here." Annabeth was muttering. Besides us two only three others had stayed. To boys and one girl. There was a scream and one of the guys ran straight into me. A guy, who I think was Will from the Apollo cabin, took out his bow and arrow. I took mine out too but stopped dead when I saw what all the fuss was about.

"What is that?" Malcolm, my half-brother asked. Annabeth didn't answer because she didn't know what it was, but I did. Will shot an arrow at it.

"No!" I shouted, "Aim for it's belly!"

Malcolm looked at me like I was insane but Will followed out my orders. Taking my own bow and arrow I shot an arrow at it's belly. After several arrows it fell to the ground with a thud. Annabeth ran over to it.

"Is it dead?" Will asked lowering his weapon.

"What is that?" Annabeth asked staring at it with disgust.

I walked over next to her knowing fully well what it was but wondering how in the world it had got here, in Camp Half-Blood of all places. Standing in front of me was a four months old blast-ended Skrewt and I was sure there wouldn't only be one in this forest.


"I'm sure he's okay," I said consolingly to Annabeth hours later.

"I'm not worried about whether he's okay," Annabeth said. "I know he is."

"Then whats wrong?"

"Why's he gone?" Annabeth asked.

"There's so any reasons." I said. "Maybe a relative got sick and he had to leave."

"So why'd he leave all mysterious like? Why not leave a message or something?" she asked.

I didn't answer because I wasn't really sure how to.

"I'm sure he is okay," I said again.

Annabeth nodded glumly. "We'll look again tomorrow?"

I nodded.

"Thank you 'Mione. Good night."

I smiled and said good night and made my way to the Artemis cabin wondering how many more magical creatures resided in the woods.