Prophesied Powder, PJO

4.2

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Chapter 34
Annabeth and Percy
Go Missing

Volume 4: The Battle of
the Labyrinth

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Riding a pegasus with Pat was never fun. Riding a pegasus with a suitcase was worse. Pallas had to get to camp doing both, and he considered himself lucky to land safely.

Chiron was at the stables waiting for them when Pallas got Pat and his bag off of Peter the Pegasus. Pat slid off of the horse as soon as they touched ground, and when Pallas was done leading Peter into his stall, the others were already speaking.

Chiron seemed to be mid-sentence when Pallas listened in, "There was much excitement at breakfast this morning."

"An Aethiopian drakon was stalking the borders." Pallas cut in. He start loosening Peter's riding gear as he spoke.

"But the border—"

"The border kept it out," Pallas nodded, "But it did not leave. Lee and I were awake all night with Michael and Lia. It did not leave until a few dozen arrows," He tugged the saddle off and snapped, "Twenty arrows in its ass—"

Chiron hastily said, "Pallas."

"It is still out there," He finished. 

"You and your siblings did well, Pallas." Chiron tried to offer some misplaced sense of comfort. Easily, Pallas could shrug off the words.

"Not well enough," He hung the saddle up with a stern look frozen on his face. To change the topic, Pallas glanced back to Pat, "The monsters are getting frequent, Pat," He told him, "Luke's attack is coming soon. We only have eighty-seven campers."

When Pallas had arrived six years ago, they had over one hundred campers. The capacity was getting lower and lower with each summer.

"You think they're all joining Luke?" Pat asked.

"Some disappeared. Or died..." Pallas pursed his lips and paused for a moment, then he opened the stall door and joined the others away from Peter, "People stopped coming." He said.

"Pat," Chiron said genuinely, "I am sorry we interrupted your time with your family—"

"No, no," Pat shook his head and interrupted, "It's getting dangerous out there. I knew something was up—Pallas, I wish you'd called," He whined, but he did not complain further than that. Pat explained, "The monster attacks this semester...they dropped. More than they should have."

"Radio silence," Pallas summarized, "Regrouping."

"Well, if I stayed, the monsters might have gone near my family," Pat determined. He looked to Chiron and asked, "Now that I'm here, what can I do?"

"Right now, move in," Pallas answered for the centaur. He grabbed Pat's suitcase again, "Cabin 10 or the Big House?"

Pat thought for a moment, debating his answer. Eventually, he said, "Cabin. Chiron, I'll see you later, yeah?"

"Yes, I have lessons to teach either way," Chiron nodded, then smiled, "Welcome back." He galloped off with his quiver bouncing on his back. Pallas made sure both of his quivers were on his back; full, ready.