Act I Chapter XL: The Demigods Head Home

"This was the best that I could do on such short notice, but on the bright side, it won't be cramped," Thalia explained. Percy stared at the minivan that they were going to be driving. It was bright pink and had a stick on the window proclaiming that it was the carriage of a little princess.

"Thank you for everything, Thalia, We appreciate it," Luke said as he held out his hand. Thalia placed the key in his hand and met his gaze for half a second. Then, she averted her eyes and looked at the rest of them.

"Make sure to visit us soon," Annabeth smiled as she hugged Thalia tightly. Thalia smiled back and returned the gesture. "It's going to look just as good as when you were there."

"I'm sure it will," Thalia commented. She pulled away from Annabeth and gripped her shoulder gently. Her gaze washed over everyone again. "It was nice meeting you, Percy. And you too, Reyna. Think about my offer."

Reyna nodded slightly but didn't comment. Percy glanced at her, but Reyna didn't seem to notice. Her gaze just remained locked ahead of her. Thalia spoke again, "All of you stay safe. Grover, take care of them."

"They're in safe hands," Grover promised. Percy grinned at him. He was ecstatic when Grover announced that he was going with them. He wanted to protect them on the journey back and also help with anything they needed at the grounds of Camp Half-Blood. Granted, Percy didn't know what Grover was going to do with all of the aluminum cans and reed pipes.

Well, Percy heard what Grover could do with the reed pipes when he tried to play them. The rest of the Hunters did not seem to like it. Thalia gave all of them a once over and then nodded. She turned and walked back towards the camp that was almost torn down.

Percy looked at all of his friends with a beaming smile on his face. Grover and Luke returned a smirk at least. Annabeth was too busy staring at Thalia, who didn't look back at them. Reyna was rubbing her jaw and looked to have her mind a million miles away.

"I can help drive," Grover offered as he shouldered his bag, causing a lot of clattering from the aluminum cans inside. "That way we can drive straight there and not have to worry about stopping."

"How do you drive with hooves?" Percy asked. Grover bleated in shock, and an offended look crossed his face. Percy opened his mouth to speak, but a harsh glare from Annabeth stopped him. Luke hid his mouth behind his hand, but Percy could have sworn he was smiling. "Sorry! I didn't mean it in a bad way."

"I've had practice," Grover answered after a tense moment.

"The fake shoes help," Reyna commented. Percy nodded his agreement as he stared at the shoes. Grover's shoes always seemed too big for his feet, which made sense considering he didn't actually have feet. Grover also had a baggy hat that covered his horn, and it explained so much.

"I'm sorry, G-Man. I didn't mean to offend you," Percy swore.

"I guess I can forgive you," Grover muttered. Percy gave him a sheepish grin, and a smile broke out on Grover's face. "On the way, we should get enchiladas."

Percy always hated long car rides. Being stuck in a small seat for hours on end drove his ADHD insane. His mother would always let him play with the radio without complaint and would do her best to hold a conversation. The only person that would hold a conversation with him was currently asleep on his shoulder.

Percy glanced around the car. Annabeth was sitting in the front seat and had her face buried in a notebook. She had been writing for the entire ride. Percy didn't know if it was a journal or something else. Maybe, he should ask.

"Is that a journal?" Percy questioned. Annabeth's head snapped towards him so hard that Percy was surprised she didn't hurt herself.

"No," Annabeth answered with a roll of her eyes. "I'm making plans for the camp. We still have a lot of work to do once we get back."

"Yeah," Percy agreed halfheartedly. He was kind of hoping for a break of some sort. Percy glanced at Luke, who was focused on the traffic around them and had already told everyone not to distract him. There was one more person he could try to talk to.

"How are you feeling?" Percy asked quietly as he looked to his left. Reyna's hand was gently massaging her shoulder, and her gaze was focused ahead. Reyna blinked and looked at him. "Still in pain?"

"It's not as bad," Reyna answered. She moved her hand to her jaw. "Still can't move my shoulder that well. Hurts to talk."

"Oh, sorry," Percy replied. He sunk back in his seat and stared ahead. What the heck was he going to do now? Percy glanced to his side. He did talk to Grover before his best friend fell asleep. And how did Percy not know that his best friend was a Satyr?

Grover said it had to do with the Mist but was it really that deceptive? Could a monster disguise themselves as a human? Percy had tried to ask Annabeth about it, but all she could add was that Chiron talked about teaching them how to manipulate it, but didn't have time with them having to train demigods so often.

Percy sighed as the boredom became too much to bear. At least on the plane he was distracted with fighting for his life so that he didn't have time for boredom. Now, there was nothing else to do but be bored. His gaze moved to Annabeth again, and he leaned forward.

Annabeth had her notebook turned sideways and was sketching what looked to be a layout of the camp they were trying to rebuild. Annabeth turned her head, and some of her hair hit Percy in the face. He winced and sat back.

"Sorry," Percy began. "I was just curious."

"Chiron told me that each of the Olympians had a cabin," Annabeth began as she turned fully towards Percy. "Well, other than the guy downstairs. He never wanted to be part of the family. But, the rest of the Olympians did have a cabin that their children stayed in. Artemis and Hera had cabins as well."

"Aren't they virgin goddesses?" Percy asked with a frown. Annabeth nodded, and her eyes gleamed. It almost looked like she was proud of Percy for remembering. "Why did they have cabins then?"

"Out of respect," Annabeth answered. "How do you think Hera would feel if she didn't have a cabin, but her husband did? And it housed the children that her husband had with a mortal. Chiron also said that the Hunters of Artemis would stay in her cabin when they visited."

"I wonder how Camp Jupiter did things," Percy commented. He looked over at Reyna. "Did Lupa tell you anything?"

"Barracks," Reyna muttered as her hand moved back to her jaw. "Everyone was divided into cohorts based on merit. Not their godly parents."

"Should we combine the ideas?" Percy began. Annabeth scoffed.

"We're going back to where Camp Half-Blood was. I don't think we should combine anything," Annabeth declined. Her gaze moved to the side, and Percy glanced at Reyna again. Reyna just shrugged and didn't look too bothered.

"Use your blinker!" Luke snapped. Percy jumped and looked at the demigod driving. He felt Grover jolt awake next to him. Luke sighed. "Sorry, guys. Can someone wake up Grover and ask him to switch with me?"

"I'm awake…" Grover replied, clearly still trying to wake up.

"Sorry," Luke repeated. He moved towards the exit. "I think I need to get some sleep."

"Were you not able to sleep last night?" Annabeth questioned. Luke shrugged.

"I would be surprised if Luke or Percy got any sleep in a camp full of man-hating demigods," Reyna commented. She glanced at Percy. The truth was that the two of them didn't get a lot of sleep. They had just relaxed by the water until the sun started to peek in the sky. They didn't really talk, but it was peaceful.

Luke pulled over to a gas station and looked back at them, "If anyone wants snacks or drinks, go get some. Annabeth, can you get me some chips? And maybe a hot dog?"

"I will," Annabeth promised. Luke nodded and got out of the car, with the rest of them following. Percy stretched and sighed tiredly. They had been driving for most of the day, it felt like.

"Do you two want anything?" Reyna asked as she looked at Grover and Percy.

"A hot dog sounds good," Percy answered.

"I'll pass," Grover declined. Reyna nodded and walked inside with Annabeth. Luke moved to the backseat and immediately curled up. That left Percy and Grover alone. "How are you holding up with being a demigod?"

"Well enough," Percy asked. He focused on Grover. "Thanks for protecting me, Grover."

"It's my job," Grover beamed with a smile. "I'm glad you were able to find Chiron. He's the best mentor you're ever going to get."

"He's taught me a lot," Percy agreed. "Can I ask you something?"

"As long as it's not about my hooves."

"Yeah. Sorry about that. But, you said that the hunters hate males. Why did they let you stay with them for so long?" Percy asked.

"I think it has more to do with me being a Satyr than anything. They see me as a creature of nature, not really as a male," Grover explained. "Artemis loves creatures of nature, so I think that's another reason. I plan on staying at this new camp for as long as I can. If you guys will have me."

"If they won't let you stay, I'm not going to stay," Percy swore. Grover grinned at him. "Are you actually fourteen? Or are you older? Like sixteen?"

"I'm about thirty," Grover answered.

"What!?" Percy exclaimed.

"Satyrs age differently than mortals too. Slower," Grover explained.

"I guess that explains your taste in music," Percy commented. Grover gave him a shocked look. "You are not allowed to pick the music."

"It was one time!"

"One time too many. I didn't even know ukulele cover bands existed, and I never want to hear them again."

"But the others haven't heard it. They might love it. I have the CDs packed in my bag!"

"I missed you, G-Man."

"I missed you too, Percy."

The next chapter is the epilogue of Act I, and after that, I will take a break from posting chapters for a month or two. Just so I have time to get my outline in order and prewrite a few chapters.