So where are you guys from? Talia asked as we raced along. How'd you get tangled with the monopods?
"I thought they were called skaipods," I said.
Same thing. Their called by both names. Monopod is just an English translation of the Greek 'skaipod'.
"We're from…" I thought for a moment "We came from a camp in Long Island".
Camp Half-blood?
"You've heard of it?"
Everyone's heard of Camp Half-blood, Talia said, rolling her wee little eyes.
"We're on a quest," I explained. "To find Arima".
Talia's face, which was already naturally pale, turned ghost white. You can't be serious. That place is crazy.
Leo interrupted me. "What is she saying?"
"Oh," I said, "Right. Sorry. I keep forgetting you can't understand her. She's wondering about the quest".
"Oh. Well Talia, if you haven't noticed for yourself, the Luck in the world has been acting weird recently. And some of our campers have been having dreams of a quest in which Jo somehow is connected with".
And what does that have to do with Arima, Twinkle Toes?
"What'd she say?" Leo asked me.
"Recently I was involved in an attack," I said, ignoring Leo. "One of the monsters from Arima came to camp, because my presence brought it there. We figure whatever is messing with the Luck on earth has something to do with it".
But do you have any idea what lives there? Talia asked. You'd have to be nuts to go there!
"Well, besides," I said, "I've had warnings from my mother that I won't be accepted by her until I prove myself to her" I lowered my head "She's ashamed of me".
Talia's expression softened a little. I'm sure she's not ashamed of you. You're her only daughter. She probably doesn't want you to prove yourself to her. She wants you to prove yourself to you.
I was moved by Talia's little speech, even if it didn't really make any sense.
"We're here!" Grover shouted. I stopped running and looked ahead of us, then up. Above us was a trap door. It was six feet away, just out of reach for us.
"Well, now what do we do?" I asked, exasperated.
I can fly up, Talia said. Duh. She flew up and pulled on the handle. But the rusted iron was too heavy for the pixie to open. She pulled and pushed, muttering words that I was glad no one else could interpret.
Finally Leo said, "Talia. It's no use—"
Don't tell me what's no use, Magic Belt Boy, Talia said.
"What'd she say Jo?"
I chuckled and told him.
Leo looked offended. "Magic Belt Boy?"
"Guys. Focus," Grover said.
"Right. I've got a plan".
I took a step back. "I hate your plans Valdez".
"What? What's wrong with my plans?"
"Other than the fact that you don't think them through?"
"Ah, thinking's overrated," Leo said. "Trust me".
*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*
"Valdez, you are going to pay big time for this," I strained, trying to hold on.
"Just a few more inches…" Leo said, reaching up to the door handle with all his might. He sat on my shoulders, and I sat on Grover's. I strained and grunted, trying to hold Leo's weight while also stretching up as far as I could.
"Geez Leo," I said. "You need to lay off the junk food".
"And what's wrong with Little Debbies and Cheetos?"
"I don't see what you're complaining about," Grover grumbled. He staggered under the weight of two people. "I feel like Atlas".
"Gee, I feel great now," I mumbled.
You guys look ridiculous, Talia laughed. I haven't seen anything this funny since the time the Minitor got stuck in a prom dress.
"Talia," I gritted my teeth. "If you don't shut your jingle right now, I'll find a can of bug spray and a fly swatter when we get out of here".
Yikes! Talia flew away and hid behind a box.
"Jo," Leo said. "Stretch up just a few more inches". Leo's hand was only a centimeter away from the handle of the trap door.
"I can't. I'm stretched out like taffy as it is".
Leo groaned and said, "Then I'll have to stretch out". He moved his foot up and planted it on my head.
"Hey!" I protested.
"Just a few more seconds…" Leo was now standing on top of my head. I heard a creak! And Leo whooped as the trap door finally came open. Leo climbed up and out. After a few moment's pause, a rope came down, and Grover and I climbed out, followed by Talia, who zipped through the air, making joyous bell sounds of freedom.
I looked around and what I saw made me gasp. It was a complete parallel to the underground Animal Asylum. We were in the middle of a green field, the wind rippling the tall grass and colorful wild flowers. The sky was a brilliant blue, with hardly any clouds at all. Grover, Leo and I stood in absolute awe for a while, taking in the serene peace.
A voice that resonated through the earth broke the silence. "Hey! They've escaped!"
I looked in the direction the voice had come from. A Skaipod was hopping toward us, stirring his bretheren. They lay dozing in the grass, their huge foot high in the air, shielding the rest of their bodies from the sun. I gulped, grabbed the hands of Leo and Grover, and ran as fast as I could.
"Where are we?!" I yelled.
"I don't know," Leo yelled back.
"Talia! Do you know where we are?"
How should I know Dumbo? I was locked in that cage underground for five years.
"Woah. Really?"
"Guys," Grover said "Not really a time for conversation!"
We ran blindly through the bliss fields. Usually when people think of people running through fields, they think of them frolicking along, singing. But we looked more like reckless marathoners with zero experience running from some horrible monster. In between bursts of terrified screams, it crossed my mind that it might be weird that I was so scared of little one-legged people.
I dared a peak behind me. A dozen or so monopods (I had decided that that was easier to say) were chasing us, hefting wooden clubs and spears. They only had one foot, but there was nothing wrong with their speed. They were gaining fast, especially since my legs were starting to weaken.
"This way!" Grover yelled, veering left. I followed him, and Leo followed me.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"You'll see," he said, then almost to himself "Just a little farther…"
Leo and I exchanged glances.
"Grover!" I said after a while of running. "Where are we—AHH!" I screamed as I was suddenly whisked away, swallowed by the earth. I was sliding down some sort of cruel joke of an amusement park water slide—minus the water and add complete darkness. Then al of the sudden it was over and I was standing in a dark cavern of sorts. I couldn't see, and I jumped when I felt something on my face. I reached up and pulled it, and light filled the cavern somewhat. I looked up and saw a small lightbulb dangling from a cord.
I looked around and saw what looked like a small demigod hideout. There were sleeping bags, food, water, a battery-operated radio, and even some demigod pleasantries like weapons, nectar and ambrosia.
Suddenly Grover came sliding in through the entrance, followed by Leo and a laughing Talia.
"Jo, there you are," Leo said, rubbing his head.
"I told you not to worry," Grover said.
Talia let out another burst of musical guffaws. You should have seen Leo when you disappeared. He thought you died.
"What'd she say?" Leo asked.
I told him.
Leo crossed his arms. "No I didn't".
Yes you did, she chimed. You were hysterical. 'Oh no, my poor Jo! I'll never see her again!' It was pathetic.
I raised an eyebrow. "Leo, she says—"
"I really don't want to know," Leo said, shooting a look at Talia.
I rolled my eyes, then turned my attention to the cavern. "Grover, how did you find this place?"
Grover looked around, as if remembering good times. "When Annabeth was little, about seven years old, I was her protector, along with Thalia, a daughter of Zues, and Luke, a son of Hermes. We were on the run for a long time, and along the way we made several safe places like this one. At any rate, I know exactly where we are now".
"That's amazing," I said. "So where are we?"
"California".
"That's great! That means we're close to our destination".
"Yeah, but we need to make a stop".
"Where? Why?"
Grover bit his lip. "I had a dream recently. I have a feeling we're going to need a lot of help soon".
I furrowed my eyebrows. "What does that have to do with…"
"Wait," Leo said. "You don't mean…"
Grover nodded. "I do".
Leo's expression got really excited all of the sudden. "Well let's go then!" he headed back towards the entrance.
"Wait," Grover said. "Let's wait till morning. Just to make sure the skaipods are gone. And we need to stock up on supplies".
"Oh. Ok". Leo understood, but seemed a little disappointed.
As we grabbed the sleeping bags and settled in for the night, I happily fell into a deep, blissfully dreamless sleep, though I wondered where in the world we had to stop next.