Chapter 11, one week late. Sorry, guys! This is also going to be a little shorter than usual. Please don't hate me! We're on a short 3-day vacation that will end tomorrow; school will start again the tomorrow, April 7th, which is our birthday. Yeah, rotten luck, huh? Anyway, Amber and I celebrated it early the day before yesterday. It's a tradition that we go out to have fun for our birthday, just the two of us. It was so much fun! Anyway, can you guess out how old we are turning? :)

Enjoy the Chap!

Disclaimer: Landyn Green and the Loras twins and their families are ours. The amazing plots (Okay, they're not that amazing. Otherwise I'd have at least 100 reviews) are ours. The rest belongs to old Rick (Rick Riordan. Why am I typing this? You all know who I am talking about).

-Hazel-

Chapter 11 July

"Landyn!" I cried in horror as he fell to the floor with a dull thud. I started to run to him, but Polyphemus stepped in between us.

"You're next." The Cyclopes boomed. Although he was blind, I didn't think it made him less able to kill me. I gulped and backed up slowly.

Grover chose this moment to stir and wake.

"Ughhh, food." He moaned and his eyes opened a crack. However, when he saw Polyphemus, he squeaked and passed out again.

"Oh no, Grover! Wake up!" I groaned. I wanted to bend down and slap the useless satyr but my enemy was advancing. I cursed and dove behind another out of use truck just a second before Polyphemus swung his club at where my head was hard. I decided I really hated large things.

"Grover, wake up!" I screamed again, knowing that it would expose my location. But if the satyr continued to lie motionlessly on the ground like that, he was likely to get trampled into a goat-meat patty. The Cyclopes caught on my voice and turned to where I was hiding. He swatted the truck away as if it was a toy and lunged at me. I dropped to the ground and rolled between his legs, getting up behind him. He lost his balance and crashed to the ground.

He roared in irritation and bellowed: "Where are you, my appetizer? Come out and face me like a man!"

"Except I'm not a man!" I yelled as I shot an arrow at his bum, which made him howl and spin around looking angrier than ever. Then I shot a heavy-tipped arrow far to the other side of the parking lot, knocking down some large empty metal barrels. Just as I expected, Polyphemus ran to where the noise came from, his thundering steps making the floor shake slightly. Taking the chance I hurried to Landyn's limp form on the ground.

"You're gonna be okay." I muttered to the unconscious son of Aphrodite, more like assuring myself. To my relief, Landyn wasn't too badly hurt, aside from the huge nasty bump on his head where he caught the blow. It was turning purple and getting as big as an egg. It was a miracle there was no blood. I put my hand above the swell and whispered a healing spell. My eyes flickered towards where I had distracted Polyphemus to frequently. I had to be fast, I didn't know how long the trick could last.

"Where are you, demigod? Stop playing hide-and-seek!" Polyphemus cried. He was heading back this way, I observed. Though the bump on Landyn's head was almost all better, but he was still dead passed out. Cursing lightly, I stood up again and felt a second of dizziness. Healing with magic consumed a lot of energy. I suddenly recalled how drained Nico would get after calling upon dead armies. Shaking the distracting thought away I started to run away from Landyn and Grover.

"I'm not hiding! You're just too stupid to know where I am, mango-loving oaf!" I was sure the insults sounded stupid, but they ignited the monster anyway.

Polyphemus turned and charged in my direction. "I won't let you get away this time! Why even try? Just let me eat you; it's much easier."

"Not a chance!" I called loudly. And then, I did the trick again. I let loose a special arrow that could sprout long grappling hands and a few old shopping carts crashed into each other.

The Cyclopes must have a really low IQ, because he actually fell for it again. "There you are!" He yelled triumphantly and changed course once again. I raised my eyebrows and shook my head in disbelief. But I was not complaining; wasting no time, I ran back to the still out cold duo. This time, I knelt down beside the satyr. Since I couldn't shout, I grabbed his shoulders and shook him violently. His eyes fluttered but didn't open.

"Wake up, Grover!" I hissed, seriously considering slapping him. But that would make too big a sound. Pity. However, no matter how hard I shook him, Grover just refused to come around. Finally, I lost patience and jabbed him hard in the stomach. Good news: Grover's eyes flew open. Bad news: His mouth opened too, and let out a loud cry.

"What was that for?" He complained, and then asked in a scared tone, backing away from me. "Who are you?"

Before I could answer, Polyphemus came running at us again. "My goat is up? Is demigod there too?"

Grover immediately started to whimper, eyes wide open and filled with fear.

"No time to explain. Get up, Grover. Help me move Landyn and we have to find a better hiding place. Or we'll all be dead." I urged.

"But…but I'm tied up!" Grover protested.

"Idiot! I already cut your bonds!" I pointed exasperatedly.

"Oh." He actually looked a bit disappointed. "Why did you do that? Why do you know my name anyway?"

Is this coward the great Wild God Grover that Juniper liked? I thought to myself.

"To save you, of course. No time to explain." I said impatiently and pulled him up to his feet. To my relief, when I rushed to Landyn to drag him to a safer place, Grover followed suit. Together, we ran as fast as we could with Landyn between us.

"Faster!" I urged quietly. Polyphemus was gaining on us. The only things that were slowing him down were the cement pillars here and there. He crashed into them every few minutes, howling and cursing.

"Where do we go?" Grover asked in a hushed voice.

"I don't know. Far enough so he can't hear us…above?" I said.

"Ok, let's go above ground. At least it would be noisier." Grover agreed. So we started to drag Landyn towards the slope that led to the outside world.

We were half-way up the slope when suddenly, a familiar voice called out.

"Where are you? I've been looking for you for a long time!" It called, sounding worried.

Grover bleated and whispered loudly: "That's your voice!" It sounded the same, but I knew it wasn't my voice. It was June's.

Instantly, all I could think of was my twin. She got away from the Roman troop somehow and now she'd come to find me. I had to let her know where I was; I just had to see her.

"June!" I called, trying hard not to cry. "I'm here!"

"No!" Grover covered my mouth with his free hand. But it was too late. The great Cyclopes suddenly appeared behind us.

"So here you are." Polyphemus crooned in such a low voice that I felt a tremor.

"No! Where's June? Where is she?" I cried in horror. "What did you do to her?" I let go of Landyn and nearly fell to the ground myself.

"Oof!" Grover cried and he tried to support the still out cold Landyn on his own. "Girl, it was a trick." He said with difficulty. "That 'June', who sounds just like you to me, was never here."

"No…how can that be…" I murmured, eyes widening with dread. I had fallen for the trick that led to Landyn getting knocked out.

"Hahahaha! Foolish demigod!" Polyphemus roared with laughter. "You gave me quite a work-out! Now I am very, very hungry." The last sentence was said in a low rumble in the throat that sent chills down my spine. Then he reached out his massive meaty hands towards me.

"Run, I-don't-know-your-name!" Grover yelled as he dragged Landyn to one side. But I was paralyzed. In a blink, I found myself hanging upside down by my ankle. I screamed and pulled out my dagger, slashing in crazily at the Cyclopes arm.

"Ow, that hurts." Polyphemus said unhappily. But the attacks seemed harmless. With a swipe of his other hand, my dagger fell to the floor.

"Usually I like to cooked food, but my stomach has been empty for too long. It's just an appetizer anyway. I'll cook the satyr extra good to make up for it." Polyphemus said to himself and then addressed to me: "It all ends now."

I glanced at the light at the top of the slope I never got to reach and thought pathetically: I'm going to die. I realized that I had always relied on the help of my friends, June, Landyn or Nico. But there was no one here for me this time. I closed my eyes and tried not to think about the stench that was coming out from Polyphemus' enormous mouth.

"No!" Grover cried. My eyes flew open. There was someone. Apparently, Grover had set Landyn aside on the floor and come back for me. Though I had just met him and he didn't even know my name, he was willing to save me. I scolded myself for thinking of defeat so easily. I didn't know how he did it, since I was held nearly ten feet off the ground, but Grover jumped and clinged onto Polyphemus' arm. The extra weight almost caused the Cyclopes to drop me and I screamed.

"Get off, satyr! I'll eat you later!" The Cyclopes growled and shook his arm violently, swinging Grover and me around, which made me want to throw up. But my mind was clearer.

"Grover, can't you use your super Pan power? How does the Panic work?" I cried, trying to avoid biting my tongue.

Grover's struggling went slack, but he still hung onto Polyphemus' arm, weighing it down. "I…I can't. I don't know why, but I can't do it anymore." His voice quivered.

"What? That's nonsense!" I protested. It was our last hope and he dared say he couldn't do it? The satyr must be joking!

But Polyphemus said: "Yes, that's right. You can't use the power of Pan because you are worthless, weak and cowardly. That's why that son of the sea god and the daughter of the wisdom goddess never came to your rescue. They don't care about you. You are forgotten by your friends. Haven't I told you before? Haven't your friends told you?" He sneered. Grover lost his grip and fell sprawled on the ground. His shoulders slumped and his brown eyes diluted.

"Hahahaha!" Polyphemus roared. "That's right! Find your rightful place at my feet!"

"That's not true! Don't listen to him!" I shouted. As far as I was concerned, Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase weren't those kinds of people who would refuse to help their friend. At least that was what I assumed, from all the times I had heard about them. Polyphemus must have mimicked their voices to discourage Grover. And it worked, because the poor Satyr completely lost faith in himself. I could almost be sure that that was why he couldn't use his awesome power of the Wild God.

"Percy and Annabeth would never give up on you! That stupid mountain of flabby meat was tricking you, just as he tricked me and my friend! I don't think you're worthless or cowardly!" I said earnestly. Grover lifted his head and looked at me, the shadow of self-doubt still in his eyes.

"If it was not for you, I'd be dead by now, Landyn too. Get up, Grover, stand up to him! Polyphemus is just an overlarge heap of dumbness! You are so much more powerful!" I rattled on, desperately trying to boost the satyr's confidence.

"Enough talking!" Polyphemus bellowed. "A coward is a coward. Save your breath, demigod. You're going in my stomach anyway." As he said it, he raised me higher in the air, until my head was level to his mouth.

"No! Grover, help!" I cried, panic, not the Panic, erupted in my chest. "Juniper had been running around the world looking for you! Camp Half-blood needs you! Please, you can do it!" I was on the verge of tears, and being hung upside was not making talking easier. Grover stared at me with wide eyes. Polyphemus opened his enormous mouth. I closed my eyes.

"Stop."

My eyes flew open. And stupidly, Polyphemus stopped sending me towards his mouth. We both stared at Grover in wonder. Me, at least. But I was sure the Cyclopes would be staring to if he wasn't blind. Grover was standing, his face no longer showing fear, but determination, jaws set and eyes hard.

"Put the girl down." He demanded.

Polyphemus burst out laughing. "Or what? You can't do anything to stop me."

"Yes, I can. And I'm going to do it now." Grover said with a surprisingly steady voice. "Don't say I haven't warned you."

What happened next I couldn't understand even long after. I saw Grover open his mouth and let out the most horrible sound I've ever heard. There was no way to describe it. So that's what pure fear sounds like. I thought numbly. And suddenly, I found myself free-falling to the ground. Before my head could hit the floor and crack open, Grover caught me and put me safely on my feet. Polyphemus was wailing and running as fast as he could away from us.

I stumbled and the satyr steadied me. I couldn't help it; I gaped at him. Grover blushed under my stare.

"Holy Hades, Grover." I managed to say. "That was something." I punched him on the shoulder and he grinned sheepishly.

Just then, a groan came from a side. Landyn stirred and propped himself up on the elbow. "What…what happened?" He said groggily. I exchanged glances with Grover and we ran to Landyn together.

"Great time to wake up, Green." I smirked.

"You okay?" Grover asked kindly.

Landyn nodded uncertainly. "I think so…where's the Cyclopes?"

"Scared away." I informed.

"What?" Landyn blinked as if he heard wrong.

"Yup. Scared away by Grover and his horrible singing voice." I said solemnly as Grover pulled Landyn to his feet.

"Hey, that's not true!" Grover protested.

I grinned and corrected myself: "No. Grover used his awesome power inherited from Pan and scared away Polyphemus and saved us all."

"Thanks man." Landyn said, impressed and then added in regret, "Oh gods, I'm so embarrassed. I was so stupid! Who would get knocked out when their friends need them?"

I wasn't expecting it, but I felt a pang in my heart at the words. "Me." I muttered in a tiny voice, the relief and joy of surviving suddenly gone. It worked out this time, I mean, Landyn was knocked out but we defeated enemy in the end anyway. But last time, it was me who passed out, and the results weren't good. Unconsciously, my hand reached over my shoulder and touched the place where my scar was. Fortunately, Grover and Landyn were talking, so they didn't hear or see my expression. I shook my head and arranged my face back to a smiley face. Self-pitying and diffidence would not help me get anyway; I just saw the perfect example.

"Well, all of that is past. We probably should get going. Juniper is dying to have you back." I said brightly. Grover agreed but Landyn watched my face curiously. I turned away quickly. So the three of us started climbing up the slope to the outside world.

Finally. I thought. Wait for me, June. I'm going to find you right away.

Poor Grover. How did you think I captured him? Is it okay? I've always like the satyr. And I am quite disappointed that he did not appear much in the HoO series, especially the Mark of Athena. I mean, he is one of the important roles from the start. He's Percy's best friend! Anyway, R&R plz! I'll regard your reviews as a birthday present for us! Goodie bags for the lovely readers who review!

-Hazel-