Annabeth's POV
We walked over to the big house.
When we got there Chiron was waiting for us, "Do I even want to know," he asked Percy. "You told me to find a hobby," Percy said with a shrug.
Chiron just shook his head, "You know where to go."
We climbed up into the attic and walked over to old mummy.
I think she creeps Percy out. Not that she didn't creep everyone else out, but Percy especially seemed to be bothered by her. He just stood off to the side while I walked over to her.
Before I could say anything green mist filled the room.
"The sea and the wise travel together.
To save a friend they will face an unknown aggressor.
They will travel across a desert stream.
And face a night listening to each other scream.
They will find what they seek at the edge of a cliff.
By following the light of hieroglyphs.
One's last breath could save another.
But, beware for this trick has been played on the other."
She laid back down and didn't move.
Thinking about the prophecy we walked downstairs to tell Chiron.
On the way down we came to a silent agreement not to tell Chiron about 'One's last breath could save another.'
As we told him he stayed completely quiet. He sat there for a couple minutes before he said, "Hmm. It sounds like you need to go through the Yivi desert until you reach Grover."
I'd never heard of Yivi so I asked, "Where is Yivi and why haven't I ever read about it?"
Chiron looked at us sadly, "No one has ever survived through Yivi. They removed all books and even the mortal's myths no longer contain that desert."
Even more confused now I asked, "Why?"
"Well no one really knows but apparently the only thing that keeps people alive is a golden trail. Of course it's a desert so there is water and other hallucinations to distract you and get you off the trail. Plus my guess is sand covers it up."
Percy mumbled, "Fun," under his breath.
Chiron looked thoughtful again, "The part that confuses me is an unknown aggressor." I just shrugged not knowing either.
"I'm sure you guys will figure it out though. Why don't you go pack your stuff and you can get going. I am afraid we can't provide can't provide you with any means of transportation so you will have to take a cab to Arizona then find your way to Yivi. It should be around there somewhere."
Percy said, "Great," and took off to pack his stuff.
I nodded and left to do the same.
When I got to my cabin I thought about the prophecy. 'One's last breath could save another.'
Usually the prophecy isn't how it sounds, but the whole thing seems so….so obvious. Me and Percy go to save Grover and face a new monster. We travel through Yivi and pass a stream. That night something will attack. Probably something that makes a shrill sound. That would explain the scream part. If we get through that then we follow the hieroglyphs. Which if what Chiron says is true, than that is probably a golden trail leading to a cliff where we will find Grover. I hoped I was wrong, but somehow one of us is going to give up our life to save someone else.
'This trick has been played...' What does that mean? Then it came to me.
Thalia fighting on Half-Blood Hill.
Yeah she is fine now, but I doubt the gods are going to turn another person into a pine tree.
I swallowed hard and packed the rest of my clothes, my dagger, my hat, a hairbrush, some money Greek and regular, and food and water into a duffel bag. I put my phone into my back pocket and go to wait for Percy on Half-Blood Hill.
Percy's POV
I packed my stuff trying not to think about the prophecy.
I know Annabeth probably has the whole thing figured out, but I'm stuck on, 'One's last breath could save another. But beware this trick has been played on the other.'
There is so many instances where someone has died for someone else, but it seems too obvious.
Maybe I'm just hoping it's too obvious so I don't have to face the fact that I could lose Annabeth or Grover.
"Ugh!" I throw some clothes into my bag and put some drachmas and human money with it. I put some water, a bag of my mom's blue candy, and some other food into my backpack. I make sure Riptide is in my pocket and notice I still have that bottle of hair dye in my pocket.
Not wanting someone to find it and accidently melt their hair off I keep it there.
I jog up the hill to catch up to Annabeth and ask, "You ready?" She nods her head and replies, "As ever."
We step out of the camp and start walking to track down a cab that will take us all the way to Arizona.
I turn to look at Annabeth, "Why are we walking again."
"What," she asks obviously confused.
"I'm pretty sure I have about 80 horses for no reason. Why not ride them?"
She looked pretty mad that I didn't mention that before we already walked 3 miles and turned around back towards camp.
Once we get back to my stable we picked horses.
Annabeth pick a paint named Spirit, and I pick my favorite which is a plain black one with a little mark on his nose. The mark looked like a duck, so of course the horses name is Ducky.
We mount the horses and leave camp for a second time.
Annabeth still hasn't talked to me.