Grover's POV:
Damn it. Damn it! Damn it! This is bad. This is so very bad! How could I lie to Annabeth like that? Oh my gods, what is she going to do when she finds out? What the Hades am I going to do when she finds out?! And of course she is going to figure it out, like come on, it is Annabeth for crying out loud! For the love of- not just Annabeth either, but the counselors too? Okay, okay, what am I going to do? What did Percy tell me to do if it came to this? Right- yea- that's right, Percy slapped me to stop me from spiraling. I need to calm down, take a deep breath in and let it out slowly. In and out. In... and out. In... and... out.
Now just think, recap I guess. Clearly trying to steer her away from Percy didn't work, even with a false bravado. I knew it wouldn't. At least Quintus managed to get her away from Percy long enough for him to do his thing. I'm glad that worked out at least... Then there is the lie I told everyone, Percy missing for a day and a half? Yea, right. It's only missing if no one knew where he was. But I did, I knew. Hell I was with him for ninety-nine percent of the time anyway. Granted it didn't feel like thirty-six hours either, but to me, down in that maze? I couldn't wait to get out of there.
I don't know if we were lucky or not for finding Quintus when we did. He smells... alright, albeit a little weird. Other than the smell of Mrs. O'Leary on him, he has the scent of any other demigod. Well, not quite, but close enough to distinguish along with some other odd smells... Luke didn't smell like an enemy either. So I don't know what to think. Percy definitely seems to trust the guy, so it isn't a stretch for myself to trust him too. I just don't want it to backfire in the end.
Ugghh, if only I knew what Annabeth meant about today. I just know that it has something to do with our mutual friend, it always does.
Now, I don't know if I want to meet with her so damn early in the morning. What if she catches on that I was lying? Seriously, what am I supposed to do then? She trusts me and is one of my closest friends. Why would Percy ask me to lie about the whole thing? And why her too? Surely, he knows that it'll be better if she at least knows, right? I mean, it's not just his secret. Oh my gods, what if Juniper finds out?
"Hey Grover."
"Ahh!" I yelped, jumping back a from the scare before realizing who it was. "Jesus Christ, Annabeth, where did you come from!?" I started catching my breath, with a hand over my chest like that was going to help my nerves.
"My cabin, obviously." She looked like she was about to burst out laughing, but I can't tell if it is from my reaction or exhaustion. Why is she exhausted? "Anyway, I figured something out!" Oh my gods! The invisibility cap?! No no nonononononnoo! When did she!?
"Uh-hh y-yyeah?" My voice is beyond shaky. Hey, it is hard enough as is trying to keep a calm composure while keeping a calm voice! I'm not that good at it.
"Yea! I spent all morning on it and I think I finally got something!" Annabeth is very excited, she's practically beaming. And what in the Hades does she mean all morning? It is freaking six-thirty! There's barely been a morning.
I didn't mean to take a step back, I just did. "W-what do you mean?" This can't possible be what I think it is. Her face isn't showing any signs of hurt because of me.
"I can't tell you yet, but boy will you be surprised!" Like in a good way?... When did I get so damn paranoid? It feels weird and I don't like it!
"You sure are excited." I smiled, relaxing my sort of shaky legs. I just have to calm down.
"Yep! You see I had this dream last night and it was all about Percy and his little disappearing act!" My eyes started growing. There is no way she knows I had any part in it. Right? "You know, the one where he disappears at night?" Okay, alright! So not that night. Good. "It's big, and I already have a plan. So can you do me a small favor?" My breathing is finally relaxing, as is my heart beat.
I chuckled a little, "Uh, yea. I don't mind." As long as it doesn't have to do with anything Percy related.
"Can you find Percy and bring him to the dinning pavilion?" Of course, just my luck. "You probably have the best chance of tracking him down." I know I do, but she doesn't know that. Ugh, I am really starting to hate this.
"Yea, but can I ask why?" I might as well warn Percy while I'm at it. Not that he'll care all that much.
"I won't spill too much, but I'll say it has to do with the capture the flag game tonight." Well put me in a cave and call me a cyclops, she really did figure it out! "Hurry, I'm gonna go talk with Chiron and the counselors!" This is... yea this is certainly something.
"Great. Just great." *Sigh* This is going to suck. I guess it is I am off to find Percy, better not be too quick about it though.
If Annabeth suspects anything about me, she isn't showing it. That's good, for me at least. That is one less thing to worry about, for now. Gods, I hate all of this technical talk. It's like I have to think about every single word before I say it. And make sure I mean every part of it without succumbing to a lie, while not giving anything I don't mean to away, with the added bonus of being casually let out. It's mentally exhausting. I don't get how Percy manages to do it.
I have literally been doing the same dance over and over whenever I am asked to look for my friend. It is always up to me to play the part. Whether it be using some woodland magic with pine cones to track him, or sniff him out when I get close enough. It is always something because, honestly, I don't know who's eyes are on me. Granted, it isn't my plan but, I feel like it is up to me to watch Percy's back with these new plans of his. I know where I have to go. I now know where I have to go always if I need to talk with Percy. I hate having to make it look real when every backtrack and loss of a track is fake.
Still, it always leads to the furthest ends of the camp forest where few dare to even go and even fewer come back. I get scared every time, it doesn't matter how reassuring Percy tries to be. At least the small clearing is always free of monsters. A small clean peaceful bit of nature unsullied by man's filthy hands. It is a perfect place to relax. No wonder why he chooses to come here often. And with his strength, it is undoubtably easier.
I enter and, as usual, Percy is laying down soaking up the sun next to his little comfort creek. "What's up G-Man?" I smiled at the same ole greeting he has given me for the past few months. I like to think of it as a sign he has gotten better and is not a cold-hearted bastard.
"I think Annabeth might be onto us." Yea, I know, straightforward. But we agreed, no small talk.
He didn't even twitch. His hands are still crossed under his head and one of his feet is dangling over the other, typical. "What do you mean?"
"She said she had a dream last night about you and wants everyone to know, I think." Why does it have to be me in the middle of all of this?
"I'm not worried," Percy sat up, cracking his neck without taking his eyes off of me.
Right, his eyes. That's how I know he's changed. They are no longer that deep dark blue, but rather a more lively seaweed green. I remember a couple of times when they'd flicker back to a dark shade, but for the most part I think he is finally back. Whatever help he's got, or whatever he seems to be doing here with all that alone time, it sure is working. And I'm glad.
I shook my head snapping myself out of it, walking closer and saying, "Percy, I think she wants to confront you in front of the entire camp!" This isn't the time to reminisce.
"That's fine. It won't change anything." He smiled.
I sighed, sitting beside one of the few friends that stuck with me. "Right, it never does."
"Grover, I know it is hard right now, but I promise, in the end it will all be worth it. You'll see." We each have our part to play in this upcoming war, I'm just sad Percy's is so monumental.
"Gods, do I hope so." It feels like we are battling more what if's than actual physical battles.
"Do you trust me?" I know that he isn't telling me everything, but I believe it is okay. I do trust him, so I nodded. "I will do everything I can to get us through this alive." I believe he will, just as much as I believe Pan is still out there, if not more. "Even if it is a little excessive." I know that whatever he is planning for, whatever he is perhaps running away from? It has enough need to be excessive. And subsequently, it scares me.
"So what now?" You know when you ask a question and already know the answer?
"We wait until evening, right before the game we show up." Yea, I know exactly what I have to do. "And make our move." I pray it all goes well.
"And if things go sideways?" I sighed, wondering how much Annabeth knows.
"Same as before." Right, if it all goes downhill then I just have to throw my best friend under the bus, "I promise, no hard feelings." I groaned. Maybe not for you, Percy. "Look, no one can know. No. One." Isn't it funny that not even I know the whole truth? It is all in bits and pieces.
"Not even me?" I already know what he is going to say.
"...Not right now at least." Yep, I was right, again.
Just as I have started using technical talk, I recognize it a lot more. And this, is just more of that.
~()~
I have been watching the sun move across the sky the entire day since I got here. Not directly because that's stupid, but more or less I've been tracking it. When it hit midday, I still chose to sit and do nothing. I didn't even bother getting up to stretch my legs, nor feel the need to get up and tell Annabeth anything. And now the sun is about the punch the horizon and I'm still here, in the forest, with Percy, wasting away my day.
That's because I've never been so anxious in my entire life! What the hell am I doing thinking about the sun?! I have to make it all believable! I have to stay in the loop, on both sides! And, if that weren't enough, I think Juniper thinks I'm cheating! This day can't possible get any worse. No wait, it can, and probably will since I JUST jinxed myself!
Oh and guess what!? Still not moving! Still have my butt planted firmly to the ground! Even though I'm thinking these thoughts over and over again, trying to get my furry behind to move! Yet, whoopie doo, nothing!... This is fantastic! Still nothing! There isn't even jittering, just a scary dead calm. He heh, oh this is going swimmingly!
"I'm sorry G-Man." Percy sighed, standing up from his relaxed position, notably facing the direction of camp. I know the others say that he is closer to the campers since the whole coma incident, but I don't think that's the case. If anything, he's been isolated even more.
"What?" For some reason that shocked me, getting me to stand with him. I don't think he has to apologize for anything, not to me at least.
"For making you go through this." I'd like to think I actually had a choice in the matter, but I digress.
I scoffed slapping him on the shoulder, "Dude, you're my friend. It's fine."
Perc chuckled, slapping my shoulder in return. He took in a deep breath then turned so fast, I thought he'd get whiplash, but he just looked at me with big eyes, "I'm calling an audible. Same generic plan, but a couple of twists." His eyes and attitude said, sure, why not? But his mischievous smile, is the similar to one you get from a Hermes kid. And that is never a good a sign. "You in?" He leaned in a little more, creepy. Plus that statement? It only would make it ten-times worse.
"What kind of twists?" I let out a nervous chuckle.
"Trust me, you'll love it!" Well, it can't be that bad.
()
Hey! Remember thinking it wasn't going to be so bad, Grover? Never think that way again! Especially not with Percy around! I know he said I'll love it, but guess what fish-brain? I don't! I don't! I don't! Am I the fish-brain for believing him?! This is stupid!
"AHAGH! Stop trying to bite there!" I screamed with a couple of tears in my eyes as I ran back to everyone else with this damned ginormous scorpion on my tail! They should all be gathering for the game tonight and hopefully somebody can actually help me get rid of this thing!
I swerved around a couple of trees trying to get some distance between me and the monster, but damn this thing is really fast. I thought I wasn't supposed to be chased. Percy you liar!
I finally broke through the tree line, spotting the campers gathering near the bottom of the hill. Their armor glinting in the bright moon tonight. It is such a relief seeing everyone, and with weapons. That makes this a lot easier. I sprinted towards them waving my hands, jabbering, trying to get their attention. This has to work otherwise Percy's plan is going to go way off the rails!
Most of their backs were turned towards me, but that is okay. "Grover!?" Annabeth stared at me with saucers for eyes, standing and gawking in front of everybody. Even Chiron. "What the hell is going on!?" She jumped towards me, retrieving her dagger as a couple of the older campers did the same.
"Isn't it obvious!" I can feel the giant scorpion nipping at my hoofs, way too close for comfort. "Just help me already damnit!" I screamed as Clarisse slid behind me with her javelin, slicing the thing between the eyes no doubt. I skid to a stop almost crashing into Annabeth, just in time to see the remnants of the monster disappear. I sighed a big breath of relief, falling on my butt in front of everyone. I know it was part of the plan, but damn did it feel really close. My legs and arms are still shaking. Gods, even my breathing is still trying to catch up!
"Where the hell have you been!?" Annabeth knelt down beside me, looking me over for injuries. Thankfully there aren't any. "We've been looking for you all day!"
"I was tracking Percy, found the guy, but I fell into a freaking cave! With monsters for crying out loud!" I spoke so fast, my tongue had a hard time trying to keep up with me, "I got so freaked out, I climbed my way out like a bat out of hell! That's when Percy grabbed me and he told me to hightail it out of there to get you guys!" Honestly I didn't wait for him to clear anything up, I just went! I'm still feeling the adrenaline from that disgusting underground nightmare.
"You left him? Where's Percy? And what cave?" Annabeth jumped at the chance to ask. I took my shaking hand and began rubbing my neck.
"Hey! You know I can't deal with underground places." And yes, that is exactly how it happened to any spectator at least. I did fall, there were monsters, and I did run. All for show... Mostly for show. "And Percy told me to! We have to go help him!" Okay, maybe, just this once, it wasn't all apart of our little plan. My reaction was very genuine because caves are disgusting!
"We'll put Capture the Flag on hold for now. Let's go aid Perseus!" Chiron ordered, getting a cheer from the campers. I stood up, still a little wobbly, but otherwise fine. I will never get used to that labyrinth.
"How many monsters? Where?" Silena asked this time around, spit firing away.
"A dozen or so hard hitters by Zeus's fist!" I pointed and we all began running. Annabeth jumped on Chiron's back and we flew through the forest.
"What cave? What happened?" Annabeth prompted.
"I dunno! I was going in circles looking for Percy when I finally spotted him at Zeus's fist. I shouted, he looked, screamed wait, then poof! I'm underground!" That's the truth, I swear. Even his reaction didn't look like an act. Oh gods I hope I'm wrong about this and didn't accidently leave my best friend alone out there. Hopefully it was just the twists he was talking about. Yea that's it! Nothing to worry about.
"Wait, he was already there?" I nodded. I can hear her gears turning, probably wondering where all the time went, like what I said doesn't account for it all. And it doesn't. Not unless she and everyone else figure out what the cave is. Gods, I'm going to have nightmares of that place for a long time coming.
I looked up and since I am behind her sprinting, I can see her whisper into Chiron's ear from atop his back. She's catching on.
As we neared, I can hear the sound of clashing. Once we cleared onto the creek, we can finally see what lies ahead.
Oh shit.