𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗨𝗦𝗘 ! ━ 𝙋. 𝙅𝘼𝘾𝙆𝙎𝙊𝙉

xi.

𖤓

On the Fourth of July, the whole Camp gathered at the beach for a fireworks display by Cabin Nine.

Being Hephaestus's kids, they weren't going to settle for a few lame red-white-and-blue explosions. They had anchored a barge offshore and loaded it with rockets the size of patriot missiles. Marcel had seen the show two times already, but each time was amazed. The blasts would be sequenced so tightly they'd look like frames of animation across the sky. The finale was supposed to be a couple of hundred-foot-tall spartan warriors who would crackle to life above the ocean, fight a battle, then explode into a million colors.

Marcel was spreading a picnic blanket with Annabeth and Percy when Grover showed up to tell them goodbye. After he succeded with the quest, he got permission to go look for the great god Pan, and now he was ready to leave. Grover was dressed in his usual jeans, T-shirt, and sneakers, but in the last few weeks, he'd started to look older, almost high-school age. His goatee had gotten thicker. He'd put on weight. His horns had grown at least an inch, so he now had to wear his rasta cap all the time to pass as human.

"I'm off," he said. "I just came to say... well, you know."

Marcel patted his arm and said good luck.

Annabeth gave him a hug. She told him to keep his fake feet on.

Percy asked him where he was going to search first.

"Kind of a secret," Grover answered, looking embarrassed. "I wish you could come with me, guys. But humans and Pan..."

Marcel pursed awkwardly his lips. He wasn't a part of their quest trio. It made him feel out of place, but he did everything to not show it. He hated bringing the mood down.

"We understand," Annabeth said. "You got enough tin cans for the trip?"

"Yeah."

"And you remembered your reed pipes?"

"Jeez, Annabeth," he grumbled. "You're like an old mama goat."

But he didn't actually sound annoyed.

Grover gripped his walking stick and slung a backpack over his shoulder. He looked like any hitchhiker seen on an American highway. To Marcel, the satyr was no longer that scaredy-cat who would get frightened by the smallest sound.

"Well," Grover said, "wish me luck."

He gave Annabeth another hug. He clapped Marcel and Percy on their shoulders, then headed back through the dunes.

Fireworks exploded to life overhead: Hercules killing the Nemean lion, Artemis chasing the boar, George Washington (who, by the way, was a son of Athena) crossing the delaware.

"Hey, Grover," Percy called out.

The goat boy turned at the edge of the woods.

"Wherever you're going- I hope they make good enchiladas."

Grover grinned, and then he was gone, the trees closing around him.

"We'll see him again," Annabeth said.

But all of them knew how dangerous it was to search for Pan. No searcher had ever come back in two millennia. They just had to have faith - Grover will be the first.

July passed.

Marcel spent most of his days learning new tricks with his spear and working out with Clarisse to get even stronger. Whenever Hermes cabin didn't form an alliance in Capture the Flag with Cabin Six, he was helping Ares kids with strategy. He often trained with Percy, too. Marcel had to admit - the boy was getting better and better with each day.