WINGED ₁

40

"WE WILL NEVER MAKE IT," ZOE SAID. "We are moving too slow. But we can't leave the Ophiotaurus."

The monster mooed. He swam next to them as they jogged along the waterfront. They had left the shopping center behind and were now heading toward the Golden Gate Bridge. Unfortunately, it was a lot farther than Madeleine had initially thought, and the sun was already dipping in the sky, kissing the shoreline with golden lips.

"I don't get it," Percy said. "Why do we have to get there at sunset?"

"The Hesperides are the nymphs of the sunset," Zoe said. "We can only enter their garden as day changes to night."

"What happens if we miss it?" Percy asked.

"Tomorrow is winter solstice. If we miss sunset tonight, we would have to wait until tomorrow evening. And by then, the Olympian Council will be over. We must free Lady Artemis tonight."

"Annabeth's deadline is the winter solstice, too," Madeleine said. "We can't miss it, or she dies."

That quieted Percy.

"We need a car," Thalia said.

"But what about Bessie?" Percy asked.

Grover stopped in his tracks. "I've got an idea! The Ophiotaurus can appear in different bodies of water, right?"

"Well, yeah," Percy said. "I mean, he was in Long Island Sound. Then he just popped into the water at Hoover Dam. And now he's here."

"So maybe we could coax him back to Long Island Sound," Grover said. "Then Chiron could help us get him to Olympus."

"But he was following me," Percy pointed out. "If I'm not there, would he know where he's going?"

The monster mooed forlornly.

"I... I can show him," Grover said. "I'll go with him."

Madeleine stared at Grover. The satyr was terrified of the water, especially after their near-death experience in the Sea of Monsters. Plus, he loved Annabeth as much as Madeleine, Percy, and Thalia did. And he loved Artemis. He would make that sacrifice?

Madeleine realized that in all of this, she had forgotten how brave Grover was. He may be emotional at times, but he was the strongest satyr she knew. He was one of her best friends, and she knew that he would do anything for them.

"I'm the only one that can talk to him," Grover said, in response to the looks on all of their faces. "It makes sense."

He bent down and said something in the Ophiotaurus's ear. The creature shivered, then made a contended, lowing sound.

"The blessing of the Wild," Grover said. "That should help with safe passage. Percy, pray to your dad, too. See if he will grant us safe passage through the seas."

Percy turned to the ocean and closed his eyes. "Dad," he said. "Help us. Get the Ophiotaurus and Grover safely to camp. Protect them at sea."

"A prayer like that needs a sacrifice," Thalia said. "Something big."

Percy considered this for a moment. Then he took off his coat.

"Percy," Grover said. "Are you sure? That lion skin... that's really helpful. Hercules used it!"

Zoe was watching Percy carefully, her lips pursed. Percy caught her gaze, then turned to Madeleine, a question in his eyes. She dipped her chin, a subtle nod.

"If I'm going to survive," Percy said, turning back to the sea, "it won't be because I've got a lion-skin cloak. I'm not Hercules."

He threw the coat into the bay. It turned back into a golden lion skin, flashing in the light. Then, as it began to sink beneath the waves, it seemed to dissolve into sunlight on the water. The sea breeze picked up, and Madeleine caught a flash of teeth, heard a warm laugh and golden curls.