WINGED ₁

36

THE TRAIN STOPPED ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF A LITTLE SKI TOWN NESTLED IN THE MOUNTAINS. The sign said WELCOME TO CLOUDCROFT, NEW MEXICO. The air was cold and thin. The roofs of the cabins were heaped with snow, and dirty mounds of it were piled up on the sides of the streets. Tall pine trees loomed over the valley, casting pitch-black shadows, though the morning was sunny.

True to Madeleine's word, she kept the night with Zoe to herself. Even without her oath, she wasn't sure she would've shared what had happened with anyone. It felt too intimate, too personal, and Zoe was acting as cold as ever. It threw Madeleine for a loop, but she understood what self-preservation was. She saw it in the mirror every day.

As their group walked through the town, Percy told Madeleine and Grover about his own visit with Apollo last night. Madeleine didn't mention hers, and she knew that Percy could tell that something was up with her, but he didn't press her.

Grover looked uneasy when Percy mentioned seeking out Nereus in San Francisco. "That's good, I guess," the satyr said. "But we've got to get there first."

They stopped in the middle of town. Everything there was to see, you could see: a school, a bunch of tourist stores and cafes, some ski cabins, and a grocery store.

"Great," Thalia said, looking around. "No bus station. No taxis. No car rental. No way out."

"There's a coffee shop!" said Grover.

"Yes," Zoe said. "Coffee is good." It was the first time she had talked all morning, and Madeleine had to concentrate on keeping her eyes on the ground.

"And pastries," Grover said dreamily. "And wax paper."

Madeleine gave him a playful shove and looked at Thalia. "I could really use an espresso. I feel like I'm still half asleep."

Thalia sighed. "Fine. How about you three go get us some food. Percy, Bianca, and I will check in the grocery store. Maybe they can give us directions."

They agreed to meet back in front of the grocery store in fifteen minutes. Zoe led the way over to the cafe and ordered herself a coffee and a chocolate croissant, then got a hot chocolate and a glazed donut for Bianca. Grover got himself another coffee and a chocolate chip muffin, then ordered another hot chocolate and a blueberry muffin for Percy. Madeleine wasn't sure why she got the privilege of ordering for Thalia, because she hardly knew the girl at all, but she got two espressos, a cheese danish for Thalia, and another chocolate croissant for herself.

As they were walking back with their bags of pastries and drink carriers, Zoe gave Madeleine a side-eye. "Copying me?"

"I don't copy," Madeleine told her. "It looked good."

"I would've shared," Zoe shot back.

Madeleine didn't know much about flirting, but this felt a bit like flirting. She couldn't get the feel of Zoe's lips out of her head. Fortunately, though, Grover was preoccupied trotting along with his coffee and eating his muffin―wrapper and all.

"Stop distracting me," Madeleine murmured. They were almost in earshot of Percy and Bianca.

Zoe's lips twitched. "I think you're just letting yourself be distracted."

Madeleine didn't respond. Bianca was looking a little angry at Percy, and she wondered what that was about, but neither of them spoke, so she elected to pass out Percy's muffin, Bianca's donut, and their respective hot chocolates instead.

"Where's Thalia?" Madeleine asked.

"Looking for directions," Percy said, sipping his hot chocolate.