misplaced || l. valdez

9 || it's nap time but mari is in agonizing pain

° ~ •. ♆ chapter nine ♆ .• ~ °
"it's nap time but mari is in agonizing pain"

Jason and Mari followed Annabeth to a newer wing of cabins the the southwest corner of the green. Some were fancy, with glowing walls or blazing torches, but Cabin Fifteen was not so dramatic. It looked like an old-fashioned prairie house with mud walls and a rush roof. On the door hung a wreath of crimson flowers.

"Uh— you think this is our parent's cabin?" Mari asked.

"Oh, god no." Annabeth said. "You two are— never mind. This is the cabin for Hypnos, the god of sleep."

"Then why—"

"You've forgotten everything," she explained. "If there's any god who can help us figure out memory loss, it's Hypnos."

Inside, even though it was almost dinnertime, three kids were sound asleep under piles of covers. A warm fire crackled in the hearth. Above the mantel hung a tree branch, each twig dropping clear liquid into a collection of tin bowls.

Soft violin music played from somewhere. The air smelled like fresh laundry. The cabin was so cozy and peaceful that Mari's eyelids started to feel heavy. A nap sounded like a great idea right about now, and she was pretty exhausted from today. There were empty beds, all with feather pillows and fresh sheets and fluffy quilts and— "Oh no, you don't."

Annabeth grabbed Mari's hand and pulled her back. "Cabin Fifteen does that to everyone. If you ask me, this place is even more dangerous than the Ares cabin. At least with Ares, you can learn where the land mines are."

"Landmines?"

Annabeth walked up to the nearest snoring kid and shook his shoulder. "Clovis! Wake up!"

The kid looked like a baby cow. He had a blond tuft of hair on a wedge-shaped head, with thick features and a thick neck. His body was stocky, but he had spindly little arms like he'd never lifted anything heavier than a pillow. The kid yawned hugely, and Annabeth, Jason, and Mari yawned too.

"Stop that!" Annabeth said. "We need your help."

"I was sleeping."

"You're always sleeping."

"Good night." Before he could pass out, Annabeth yanked his pillow off the bed.

"That's not fair," Clovis complained meekly. "Give it back."

"First, help." Annabeth said. "Then sleep."

Clovis sighed. His breath smelled like warm milk. "Fine. What?"

Annabeth explained Jason and Mari's problem. Every once in a while she'd snap her fingers under Clovis's nose to keep him awake. He must have been really excited, because when Annabeth was done, he didn't pass out. He actually stood and stretched, then blinked at Jason and Mari.

"So you don't remember anything, huh?"

Mari and Jason shrugged. "Just impressions." Jason said. "Feelings, like..."

"Like I shouldn't be here." Mari finished. "Like I'm in danger."

"Hmm. Close your eyes. Both of you."