Chapter 27

Grover POV

(didn't see that coming did you?)

The pale arm in my view reflects light off tiny iridescent scales scattered across his arms and face, like diamonds embedded in his skin. He looks at me and I feel safe, something I never felt with the other satyrs, who don't like me because I can't seem to do anything right, a screw up they'd say. I never had a Pack, being an orphan does that, no pack to start with makes it hard to know what to do to get one. But he, just, let me in. Into his pack that he protected from his own MOM. My eyes water, I've always wanted a pack, most campers don't understand the feeling, they don't make pack bonds, they don't have mates, they don't scent mark, and without a family of my own, I've never been able to do any of those with anyone before.

He coos and my satyr brain just fries, so so long I've waited to hear a sound like that, welcoming, caring, kind. Sure there's Chiron and Mr.D but they spend so much time with the demigods it's like they forgot that satyrs aren't. That we have different needs, different biologies and makeups. I can feel everyone's eyes on me, the confusion and slight uncomfortable undertones that make the air just slightly stagnant. Slowly I shift my eyes away, looking to Chiron is hard, seeing the understanding and guilt in his eyes is harder. I gulp, and before I can speak Lady Artemis begins,

"What was that? That thing you just did? How did you get him to trust you so quickly?" she fired off back to back, I cringed back only to see Percy put an arm in front of me and growl at her. Everyone stared, his teeth weren't fully bared but the threat was clear, Don't upset him. Chiron cleared his throat,

"I believe Mr. Underwood was accepted into Percy's pack, am I correct Grover?" I nod slowly, a soft blush coating my cheeks, packs were like family, but most demigods see them as polyamorous relationships because of how close they can get, they're not of course, but it's always a rumor that goes around when a pack becomes too close to one another. Chiron smiles,

"Good for you Grover." I smile, yeah, good for me.

"Pack? What does that mean?" Annabeth asks, ever a daughter of Athena looking for answers.

"A pack" Mr.D begins, all eyes shifting to him, I'm still not used to twenty something Dionysus, sitting in a leather recliner, "is something many animal human hybrids take part in such as satyrs, centaurs, sphinxes, of course not all do, however most family units and close friend groups end up making one, although our own Mr. Underforest never found one of his own, it appears young Perry has taken him under his fins so to speak." We all stared, I think that's the most I've ever heard Mr.D speak at once. " What?" He grumbles. Shaking his head Chiron continues,

"Yes, while that is true essentially a pack is a tightly knit group usually of hybrids that take care of each other, many are family units with parents and children, others close friends, and others still a mix of family and friend alike. Many hybrids create packs when they find their mates as a way to ensure their safety almost like making sure there are more to help protect their mate. I believe young Percy had already created a pack bond between himself and Leo, and had recently imprinted upon our young Nico, so when the change overtook them, they were already pack bonded which would explain why he was so protective of them both."

I look at Percy, his blank and distrusting eyes told me he understood none of what was said, quickly repeating it to him in a language he could understand he blushed and gently ran fingers through Leo and Nicos hair. I felt, strangely jealous... at the action. Until he looked at me and tilted his head,

"Can I?" he asked softly, slowly I lean my head toward him, picking his hand up from Nicos hair he slowly runs it through the curly mop atop my head, careful to avoid my horns and I melt, a happy croon escaping my throat.

Eventually, Chiron relayed the prophecy to Percy and told him that it meant he'd have to go on a quest, a vague recognition flashed through his eyes and he glanced to Lady Artemis and then me. I nod thinking back to the Minotaur he'd defeated. He nods back and gently shakes Leo awake, he fluffs his feathers and makes an angry squawk but his orange eyes open blearily, and he glances around the room, eyes becoming more alert as he realizes there were people he didn't recognize in the room. His white and grey wings puff up as he tries to mask his fear with bravado.

I smile, and watch as Percy gently shakes Nico awake, he grumbles and leans closer to smush his face into Percy's stomach. Percy freezes and seems to check out mentally, his eyes going cloudy, but then Nico makes a bleat and he's back like he'd been drug from whatever place he'd drifted to he looked around in confusion before seemingly focusing back on Nico. Who was fighting waking up with every fiber of his being. Percy snorted and leaned down, an almost uncomfortable angle to his spine and purred very softly in his ear, in response Nico let out a soft keen then coming to his senses Nico shot back, red as a tomato and making half destroyed bleats and choked off whines, Leo and Percy immediately broke into laughter, loud and bright for Leo and soft and sweet for Percy. Nico looked like he wanted to curl into a ball and die and honestly his half asleep pout was adorable.

Shaking my head I smiled and looked to Percy, my new pack leader, my very own Alpha, brother, protector, I couldn't quite help the slight disbelief in my face, I have a Pack. As if sensing that someone had been added to the pack Leo leaned closer tilting his head in a very bird like way and cooed at me questioningly. I looked to Percy and after making eye contact slowly tilted my head to expose my neck, the ultimate sign of trust in a Pack. Leo's pupils widened and after looking back at Percy he excitedly leaned even closer rubbing his neck along mine, scenting me I realized, and suddenly Nico was there scenting me too and when they both seemed satisfied Percy leaned forward slowly and scented me too. I could hear Annabeth's confused ranting and Chirons amused laughter but honestly my brain was so fuzzed out with endorphins they could have been talking about skinning me and wearing my pelt for all I noticed or cared.

Percy POV

The new Pack member was kind and scared, soft like mate and nervous like brother. I dubbed the new Pack member Kid brother. Some part of me giggled at the little joke but it was muted and distant, I looked to Kid brother and I could tell we needed to actually plan to leave for the quest now. I relayed all the information to brother and mate. Determined stares were my answer, I look to the horse man, centaur -Chiron- I remind myself and clear my throat,

"When do we leave?"

He startled but nervously looking to Kid brother he says, "As soon as possible, right away if we can, the sooner you're back to yourselves the better, you are going to be traveling with your new Pack mate, Annabeth- he gestures to the blonde girl with stone eyes- and Bianca" he gestures to the one that looks like mate, his sister? I think. I nod and get everyone up, brother wobbles on his feet his wings flapping, still not used to his new center of balance. Mate and Kid brother steady him, he croons and slowly folds his wings back down. All standing we make our way outside, I still don't like the stone eyed girl and mate sibling coming too close, but if they help protect the others then I guess they can stay.

I paused as we got outside, where- where were we supposed to start? I relayed my question to Kid brother and he told me they figured that the line in the prophecy 'Go where withered soul meets gilded hero, Where once was still is' was probably about the underworld so that's where they were headed. Grimacing I agreed that sounded about right. I have awful luck, -run run run, why'd you trip?!- shaking away another memory I pressed my hand to my head, If i have to deal with these the entire trip, i'll never get there sane. Suddenly I was nearly bowled over, like being hit by a really soft truck I hit the ground. Before i could even begin to panic, memories flash through my skull like a rapid fire movie projector.

A tiny body curled in thin shaking fingers, the overwhelming need to -protect protect protect-, a tiny yawn and lick to my palm and all my fear melts away, and I swear I'll defend her with my life.

A teenage titan of a dog leaps over me flopping in the water the titanic wave washing over me, and I can't help but break into giggles jumping in after her we swim together and I relish in the way water makes me feel new, like the grime that coats my skin and insides is washed away, even if just for a little bit.

Practicing our shadow jumps were getting smoother and smoother, we could do three short jumps without stumbling! I grinned and stroked her massive head resting our foreheads together I breathe in her scent, like earth and brimstone. Like home.

I suck in a sharp breath a name coming to mind instantly, "Ms.O'Leary." I whisper and wrap my arms around her giant head. "Oh baby girl." A thought popped in my head "Hey girl, you think we could shadow travel to the underworld?" A woof I somehow knew was in the affirmative and I smiled a tiny twitch of lips, "thanks girl." After she let me up I turned to the others most of which were staring in shock.

"So I got our ride to the underworld solved." Kid brother with his jaw still hanging nods slowly, and relays the message to everyone else.

Within an hour we were ready to go, I had a saddle bag that had ambrosia, nectar, water, and food, a first aid kit a couple golden drachmas, and a pocket knife stashed inside, I was wearing a blue coat with silver and black trim that was apparently mine from before, with a bow slung over my shoulder, twin blades stored in my sleeves, a quiver of arrows strapped to my right side and a short black sword strapped to my left. I felt, powerful, confident almost. Something in me told me I knew how to use all those weapons, and well.

Brother had a belt with a hammer and all sorts of little mechanic pieces stashed inside with his own stash of essentials, he wore a orange camp shirt with holes sliced in the back for his wings and pants to help cover his legs, unfortunately no shoes would work with his bird feet.

Mate had a bomber jacket on over his orange camp shirt with a small pack of essentials, he was given a pair of fake feet like Kid brothers and a beanie to cover his horns just in case, he stuffed them into his pack. Kid brother was wearing his orange camp shirt with his Rasta cap, a pan flute strung around his neck on a leather cord and a small pack of essentials. The stone eyed blonde had a dagger and a pack she looked so hyped to be leaving she was visibly shaking in place, she reminded me of a caged animal pacing it's cage when it knows it's about to be set free. A sharp tug at my memory reminded me I knew what that that felt like.

Grumbling to myself I look at mates sister, she was wearing an olive beanie and a brown jacket over her camp shirt, hair tied back in a ponytail, she was given a dagger also but seemed lost on how to use it, I watch as she gingerly puts it in a sheath at her hip and then tries not to look at it. Once we were ready to go we went over how to say yes and no in each others languages so we all could at least understand the basics, we also taught each other shh, monster, danger, hide and run. Just to be safe.

We all gathered around Ms.O'Leary, I had Kid brother tell the other two to grab onto her tightly and to not let go until I said to. After that we glanced around one last time, taking in the strawberry fields big house and cabins. Taking a deep breath we disappear into the shadow of the big house.

...

...

...

We landed in a heap of tangled limbs.

Ms.O'Leary was exhausted, she collapsed instantly asleep drained from shadow traveling so many people at once. We all groaned and got to our feet looking around, there was not really a sky more like an infinite blackness above them but it was still bright enough to see somehow. A nearly black river stretched away in front of us where in the distance I could just make out a shore. Looking at each other we made sure everyone was accounted for, luckily no one got lost in the shadow realm.

A part of me even had me checking the girls over, making sure they were alright, flashes of girls in silver going through my mind and I felt myself move before I even realized I was. Circling each girl, they froze up like I was going to tear them apart if they moved. A tiny voice whispered -good, they should be scared- but I shook it away, I was the leader, Alpha, protector, and they were in my care until I brought them back to their leaders, and I would NOT fail in protecting someone I was in charge of. -A long tongue laving over a girls face, terror and disgust written all over her face- shaking my head again I focused on making sure they were ok. Satisfied they were ok I huffed and walked away from them, I could hear Kid brother talking to them in that strange language, the clacking and cut off sounds harsh on my frills.

A near silent cough caught my attention, a frill flicking in the direction, I turn to the girls, the blonde is talking to kid brother but sister is grimacing to herself, a hand on her chest, she rubs it subtly. -A pale face in the mirror, how quick?- I frown, what? -tiny hands pressed to ribs trying not to cough even as liquid fills my chest making it hard to breathe, DON'T cough , he'll hear you and FIND you, DON'T COUGH- my hands shake, and I stare down at them, they are much bigger now, but fear still clouds my mind, who?

"Brother?" I whip my head to brother his large orange eyes hold concern and he hesitates before reaching out towards me slowly, I flinch violently-pain pain pain pleASe-

"I-I'm ok. I'm fine." I stutter as I try to calm my breathing, I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fine. He comes closer and wraps his wings around us, like a shield from the others and it dampens their voices, I suddenly realize how loud they were now that it's quiet. I look at him and he smiles a tiny trembling lift of his lips,

"It's- It's ok not to be ok." he whispers. And suddenly I remember how we met.

Ms.O'Leary and I were on another practice jumping session, trying to increase the distance we traveled, we had already done one jump and were getting ready to do another when we heard it. The sound of branches snapping and a man yelling, then a younger voice cry out in pain, instantly fear floods my system, i'm about to tell Ms.O'Leary to jump when I realize, I'm the only one here. No one is going to rescue the other person like I was, they'll go back to whatever hell they were in and i'll have abandoned them to it.

Something twisted in my guts, I CAN'T, because if someone had stepped in sooner, HE could have been stopped sooner. I can be this persons Hero just like mom and my sisters. Mind made up I jumped on Ms.O'Leary and told her to go to the person who was in pain. Immediately she bounded through the woods, her growling relaxing my nerves, she'll protect me too. As they came into view it took all I had not to puke on sight, He looked SO mUCH like HIM. Then I noticed the small boy in his grip, scrawny chapped lips, eyes dazed in pain, shoulder too far from his body, and an unforgiving grip on his arm and my mind roared in fury, I knew that look, I see it on all the hunters faces and in the mirror everyday. I jump off Ms.O'Leary just as the mortal says

"What the hell-"

"Hound," I cut him off, "Hellhound actually, good guess, not many mortals get it." I state in a cold voice, trying to act like my mom and sisters for once, strong and not terrified. I whisper to Ms.O'Leary to end him, she growls and mauls the fat man dragging his screaming body into the woods. I look to the kid about to ask him if he's ok, his tattered clothes too big on his wiry frame shake and I realize too late that he can't even hear me but he stumbles and I react before I can think, catching his limp body before he can hit the ground as fear of being too late crashes through my skull.

I gasp as I come back to myself. Blinking my eyes rapidly I take in brothers worried gaze and realize he didn't have wings or bird feet in the memory. Is that what he really looks like? I wonder, but that fear is still bouncing around my ribs like a frightened bird, and I crush him to my chest, needing to make sure he's here, he's ok. He makes a startled squawk and then settles into my arms, carefully wrapping his around me, and something in me tells me that it's a move that's been practiced. I breathe in his campfire smell and relax my nerves, right we're on a quest. We can do this, if we survived that, we can survive anything.

AN:

What's this?! Another chapter? After only a MONTH?! wow inspiration hit me, jumped a road block only to hit another, cries.

Ahhhh, how I love to torture Percy... and Leo... and Nico... and very soon Bianca... Man I'm just a terrible person. But you guys love me right? RiGht?! PLs LOve Me! I'm trying *sobs*

ANyhooooo

I've got a partial outline for this story so hopefully that'll help me push through some of my blocks.

As always ideas are always welcome, about ninety percent of the ideas I've been sent I've put into this story soooooo.

Pls halp

Lol see you guys soon,

... hopefully...

Love Wolf