Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Grover POV

So the ride wasn't all that talkative. Actually it was dead scilent. You could tell Annabeth was having one of her moods, but who could blame her, she's going through a tough time. And Phoebe, well she's one of those hunters who really doesn't like boys soooooo... Yeah I don't want that beast awakened. Argus doesn't talk... At least I don't think he does. He probably has an eye on his tongue or something that embarrasses him.

It was when the van lurched to the side that I bleated so loudly you would have thought I was causing Panic. It really didn't help the quietness.

Argus grunted and gripped the wheel. Again the van lurched to the side.

From what I could see tusks were poking into the side of the vehicle and everyone was jumping away from the windows.

"Don't look!" Annabeth yelled over the screeching tires. I averted my eyes. If there's one thing I've learned it's to listen to Annabeth in dangerous situations.

"What is that thing?!" Phoebe called.

"Its the Catoblepas! Body of a buffalo and the head of a wild boar. Its stare could kill you!"

"Could kill you or will kill you?" I yelled.

"Grover, do you really want to test it?"

"Well then how are we supposed to kill it of you can't see it?" Phoebe asked.

"Just like we killed Medusa," I yelled at Phoebe, " by looking in the reflection of something!"

She glared at me for talking to her.

"Hang on!" I heard a gruff husky voice yell. Argus actually spoke.

I gripped the headrest of the seat in front of me.

The Catoblespas rammed into the side again and the van tumbled off the road.

We all screamed and cursed in ancient Greek. Someones elbow hit me in a not so nice place and I toppled onto somebody else. I groaned a little.

"Get off me, satyr." Phoebe's muffled voice said from under me.

"Sorry."

"Everyone okay?" Annabeth asked.

We looked around Argus was slumped against the window unconscious.

"We can help him once we kill this thing." Annabeth said.

The monster rammed into us again causing me to fall back onto Phoebe.

"You little-" Phoebe called me some names in Greek.

Annabeth began to crawl out of the broken window.

"Come on, goat boy." I heard Annabeth over the beasts grunting. I've always taken my nickname as a compliment rather than an insult. It's a warmer feeling.

I jumped out and saw the Catoblespas. Its boar head had razor sharp tusks and was twice the size of its body which was covered in scales. It's gaze began to rise up to look at me.

Out of nowhere I was tackled to the ground.

Phoebe glared at me, "Next time you dare to look I might not be there."

Crap I forgot. I scrambled to my hooves and watched from the corner of my eye.

"Does anyone have a freakin mirror?" Annabeth yelled.

"Yes Annabeth I keep a mirror in my pocket at all times. It is a must have essential." I said sarcastically.

The Catoblespas roared. "I will burn you up and eat you demigods and yummy goat tonight!"

We all hightailed out of the charging monsters way. Phoebe scrambled up a pine tree and the rest followed.

"Shoot it!" I told her. Her bow had already appeared and an arrow notched. Her string twanged as she released. I dared a quick look. The arrow bounced off scales covering the Catoblespas' neck and clattered to the ground.

"Um, guys, don't look now but that thing has armored scales." Of course everyone began to look when I said that. "Don't look!" I yelled and they turned away.

"Gods this is frustrating." Phoebe muttered as she tried shooting it three more times.

The tree shook as it angrily rammed into the tree. Branches started creaking. I could fix that. I felt in my pocket. They weren't there.

"Oh, Hades. My reed pipes are back in the van!"

"We don't need them!" Phoebe told me.

I glared at her and hoped her branch would break. Crack! Phoebe screamed as the limb she was standing on snapped off the tree. Did I do that?

She snagged on a branch near the bottom of the tree inches from the Catoblespas' reach.

Annabeth and I rush down to pull Phoebe up.

"And that's why reed pipes might be useful." Annabeth grumbled.

Phoebe looked at me, her eyes sparking with fury.

A plan suddenly appeared in my mind.

"We need to get my reed pipes." I explained what I would dhut really Annabeth gets most the credit.

Phoebe climbed to the end of a longer branch near the ground. She jumped off the end to catch the attention of the beast. When the thing finally stopped ramming it's head against the tree and turned towards Phoebe, Annabeth quietly snuck down the trunk leaving me alone in the tree. Annabeth then whistles with her fingers and the thing turned towards her. I waited until the beast was turned away from the direction of the van and then I jumped and sprinted to get my pipes. That's when I heard Phoebe scream in pain.

Forget the reed pipes I rushed towards Phoebe's voice. She was near by but I needed to help her right away.

She laid unconscious curled around herself; her body was shaking. But the Catoblespas was standing ten feet away starring her down. She had looked.

I was enraged. I had failed, again. If I hadn't left my stupid reed pipes in the van in the first place this wouldn't have happened. I wanted to strangle it. I wanted it dead before it could hurt anymore of my friends. Vines shot out of the ground. I wanted it dead. They curled around its neck. First Thalia. They tightened. Then Percy. More wrapped around its body. And Nico. The monsters legs gave out. Now Phoebe. The monster suddenly vanished into a cloud of golden dust except for an eye.

Exhaustion and nausea hit me like a wave. But I found the energy to run to Phoebe. I pushed her brown hair out of her face and felt for a pulse under her neck. It was beating faintly but it was still a beat.

Annabeth came running over. "How did you?"

I shook my head. I didn't know. I walked over to pick up my 'prize'. The eye was red and a small black pupil was in the middle. I bent to grab it.

"Grover, don't!"

But it was too late. I blacked out.

Normally I don't get many dreams; even fewer times is it actually important.

"Finally! You would think that a satyr would need to sleep some time."

I turned to the familiar voice.

"Percy!" I gave him a huge goat hug. He laughed a little but it was weak. I pulled away, "Oh gods, you're still sick."

"Yeah. It's like Hades." he grumbled.

"Perce, we're doing the best we can. I just wish-"

"I know. I know. You're on a quest to that healer god. But we don't have much time." he said groggily,

" I'm not strong enough to contact you long. I need to tell you that-" he started coughing. "Asclepius, he's- not-" Percy said between coughs. He started shaking a little.

I put his arm over my shoulder for support. Percy stopped coughing and sighed.

"It's okay man just relax." I said.

He took a deep breath, "Don't trust the n-" again a coughing fit overcame him. He spit out a clump of blood and shook his head. "I can't. He-" Percy coughed once, "won't let me tell you."

The room began to dimmer.

"We'll get you out of this, Percy. I swear on the styx."

Percy nodded slightly, his eyes closed and then he slumped onto me.

"I promise." I said again.

Sooooooooo sorry for the long wait. Sorry its hard to write when your pooped from Disney or the beach. I'll be back home and writing more frequently in about a little less than a week. Thanks for reviews and ideas are welcomed.

Fan question- who is your favorite new character in heros of olympus? Jason, Piper, Leo, Frank, or Hazel?

I like Leo he's fun to read about and I think he has a cool back story.