AGONY →percy jackson

9. turns out - bianca is mad old

Zoë had ordered coffee, hot chocolate, and muffins; three bran, two raisin, and one blueberry. Daphne sipped her hot chocolate sparingly, wanting to retain some warmth for her hands.

 When the three rejoined the group, Bianca was shooting Percy offended looks, like he said something just awful. Daphne tried to shoot Percy an inquisitive look, but he was staring at the blueberry muffin in her hand. Reluctantly she gave it to him and took a raisin muffin.

"We should perform a tracking spell." Zoë suggested. "Grover, do you have any acorns left?"

"Ummm," He mumbled, chewing on a bran muffin, wrapper and all. "I think so. I just need to–" He froze. Percy mid-bite, went to go ask him what's wrong when a warm breeze brushed past. Like a gust of spring got lost in the middle of winter, the scent of wildflowers and sunshine, and a voice, quiet and hushed, a warning.

Zoë gasped. "Grover, thy cup!"

The satyr dropped his coffee cup, decorated with pictures of birds. All of a sudden, the birds peeled off the cup and flew away as a flock of doves. Percy's rubber rat squealed to life and leapt off the railing, scurrying off into the forest.

Grover promptly collapsed next to his spilled coffee, which steamed against the snow. They gathered around him and tried to shake him awake. He groaned, his eyes fluttering.

"Hey!" Thalia yelled, coming up the street. "I just... What's wrong with Grover?"

"I don't know." Percy replied. "He just collapsed."

"Uhhhh..." Grover groaned.

Thalia motioned to hurry up. "Well get him up!" She had her spear in hand and kept peering behind her like she was being followed. "We have to get out of here."

♪ ♪ ♪

They'd just made it to the edge of town when the first two skeleton warriors appeared. They stepped out from behind the trees and on either side of the road, and instead of dark camouflage, they were wearing navy police uniforms. Still, they possessed transparent grey skin and off putting yellow eyes.

They drew their handguns and pointed them at Percy. Their eyes were dead set on him and him alone. Thalia tapped her bracelet, and Aegis spiraled to life, but the warriors didn't flinch, glaring at Percy. Percy drew Riptide, the hunters drew their bows, and Daphne pulled her knife out, but was having trouble standing up as Grover kept leaning and swooning on her.

"Back up." Thalia instructed.

They had started to, but then heard rustling behind them. Three more popped out on the road. They were surrounded. One of the skeletons raised a phone to his ear and started "talking" into it. Except he wasn't talking, more like the bones knocking together. He was calling the rest of his brethren.

"It's neaar." Grover groaned.

"It's here." Percy corrected.

"No," He insisted. "The gift . The gift of the Wild." No one knew what on earth he was on about. He was in no shape to walk, run, much less fight.

"One on one. Six of them, six of us. Maybe they'll ignore Grover that way." Thalia said.

"Agreed." Zoë nodded.

Daphne grumbled, steadying herself and Grover. "Easy for you to say when he's not putting his entire weight on you."

"The Wild!" Grover moaned.