Bronze Gold Shadow (Percy Jackson/Teen Wolf Crossover)

The Troglodytes' New Home

The response to Nico's call was immediate. There was the small sound of amphibic feet far off in the distance then they were everywhere around us. 

The trogs were small, humanoid creatures with recessed noses, buldging eyes and paper-thin lips. Each one was different. Whether it was their costumes or their skin colour. Some had blue or green or brown, even stark white skin. They all wore different clothing. Double breasted coats, overalls, leg warmers, t-shirts, jeans, shorts, running shoes, work boots, camouflage pants. No trog was alike. 

I kind of liked that. 

Plus, there were the hats. A trog's belief was that no civilised person should be without a hat. They wore cowboy hats, baseball caps, tricorns, bowler hats, Santa hats, Stentons, newsboy caps and crowns, beekeeper hats. If you could put it on a head, the trogs would wear it. 

One trog stepped forward, one I recognised. Screech-Bling, the troglodyte, CEO was dressed in a George Washington costume, complete with a white wig under a leather tricorn hat. "We see you, Nico di Angelo, Snake-Killer and Will Solace." 

In between those words were growls, cries and clicks of his native language. 

"Thank you-grrr- O great Screech-Bling, CEO of the troglodytes," Nico said. "I-" 

Everyone was a little shocked when Will stepped forward. "We come bearing-click-gifts. O great-scree-troglodytes." 

I felt my jaw drop. I didn't know what Will said to the trogs, but based off their reaction and Nico's pale face it wasn't good. 

Will knelt down and pulled two hoodies out of his bag. "Do these gifts-grrr-you?" he asked. 

"Will, what are you doing?" Nico whispered. 

"I thought I'd at least try," Will defended. 

"You just asked if your hoodies devour them," Nico informed. 

"No, that's not what I said!" Will denied. 

Nico nodded. "It totally is." 

I groaned and put my head in my hands. "I apologise for my companion," I told the trogs. "He is new to the language and it takes some time for us humans to understand new forms of communication." 

Two trogs came forward and took the hoodies from Will. They slipped them over their bodies. They dragged on the stone floor due to the trogs' short stature.

"No apology is-click-needed, Snake-Killer," Screech-Bling said. "They do devour us. Come, Snake-Killer, Nico and Will-scree-join us in our new home." 

"Guess I did okay," Will said. 

Nico chuckled. "I think so. Thank you for trying." 

We followed the trogs further into the cave to a tunnel. A faint glow up ahead revealed bioluminescent mushrooms growing on the stone walls. It was bright enough that Terrorem's glow was almost drowned out in the mushroom light. A trog in one of Will's hoodies came dancing by, clicking and screeching before he ran off. 

"I think that one is particularly pleased with you," Nico pointed out. 

"They've really improved their clothing options since we last saw them," Will observed. 

"That was part of the appeal of this place," Nico said. "They're right by the River Styx." 

Will's head cocked a little in confusion. "I don't get it." 

"I saw a lot of stuff in that water when you were passed out," I said. "Random things that didn't make much sense to me." 

"The Styx carries the remains of broken dreams," Nico began.