𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑔𝑛𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑒¹

𝑆𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑤 𝑀𝑖𝑛𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑢𝑟𝑠

‧̍̊˙· 𓆝.° ｡˚𓆛˚｡ °.𓆞 ·˙‧̍̊

PERCY IS PRETTY SLOW on the uptake. Ignoring the fact that he was being chased by a monster and wasn't "normal", he kept staring at Grover's legs in disbelief. As if it was the only thing that caught his urgency. It made Astoria, who sat on the left, regret having him sit in the middle. "So, you and my mom... know each other?"

The satyr's eyes flitted to the rearview mirror, watching for any signs of movement behind the car. "Not exactly," he said. "I mean, we've never really met in person. But she knew I was watching you."

"Watching me?"

"Keeping tabs on you. Making sure you were okay. But," he added hastily, "I wasn't faking being your friend. I am your friend."

Percy kept his eyes glued to Grover's feet. "Um... what are you, exactly?"

"That doesn't matter right now."

"It doesn't matter? From the waist down my best friend is a donkey-"

"Goat." Astoria said at the same time Grover let out a sharp, throaty "Blaa-ha-ha!"

"Percy," Astoria spoke with utmost caution. "Don't call satyrs donkeys. They'll beat you up for it."

"Satyrs?" he repeated. "Like... Mr. Brunner's myths? How do you know all this, Astoria?"

"Were those old ladies at the fruit stand a myth, Percy? Was Mrs. Dodds a myth?"

"So you admit there was a Mrs. Dodds!" Percy exclaimed, pointing a finger accusingly.

"Of course."

"Then why-"

"The less you knew, the fewer monsters you'd attract," Grover said as if it were perfectly obvious. Astoria nodded in agreement. "We put the Mist over the humans' eyes. We hoped you'd think the Kindly One was a hallucination. But it was no good. You started to realize who you were, and Astoria wasn't affected by the Mist at all. She confirmed your claims."

The mentioned girl smiled sheepishly. It was an empathetic mistake on her part. Well, it's not like he wouldn't have realized on his own, following the book's plot.

"Who I-wait a minute, what do you mean?"

The weird bellowing noise rose up again somewhere behind the four, closer than before. Astoria took a deep breath. It's almost time.

"Percy," Mrs. Jackson said, "there's too much to explain and not enough time. We have to get you to safety.

"Safety from what? Who's after me?"

"Oh, nobody much," Grover answered sarcastically, still miffed about the donkey comment. "Just the Lord of the Dead and a few of his bloodthirsty minions."

"Basically monsters and gods." Astoria summarized casually.

"Grover! Astoria!" Sally scolded the two.

"Sorry Mrs. Jackson. Could you drive faster, please?"

The mother made a hard left turn. The car swerved into a narrower road, racing past darkened farmhouses and wooded hills and PICK YOUR OWN STRAWBERRIES sign on white picket fences.

"Where are we going?" Percy asked finally.

"The summer camp I told you about." Sally's voice was constrained; she tried not to sound afraid. "The place your father wanted to send you."

"The place you didn't want me to go to."

"Please, dear," my mother begged. "This is hard enough. Try to understand. You're in danger."