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Just after dawn, the quest group met at Zeus' Fist. Rory had packed her backpack the night before — thermos with nectar, baggie of ambrosia, bedroll, rope, clothes, flashlights, and lots of extra batteries. She was wearing her enchanted glasses since they had no idea what they would encounter, and like always, she had Spectre on her finger.
It was a clear morning. The fog had burned off and the sky was blue. Campers would be having their lessons today — flying pegasi and practicing archery and scaling the lava wall. Meanwhile, Rory and her friends would be heading underground.
Juniper and Grover stood apart from the group. Juniper had been crying again, but she was trying to keep it together for Grover's sake. She kept fussing with his clothes, straightening his rasta cap and brushing goat fur off his shirt. He was dressed as a human, with the cap to hide his horns, and jeans, fake feet, and sneakers to hide his goat legs.
Chiron, Quintus, and Mrs. O'Leary stood with the other campers who had come to wish them all well, but there was too much activity for it to feel like a happy send off. A couple of tents had been set up by the rocks for guard duty. Beckendorf and his siblings were working on a line of defensive spikes and trenches. Chiron had decided the Labyrinth exit needed to be guarded at all times, just in case.
Rory was standing with Annabeth, who was doing one last check of both of their supply packs. When Tyson and Percy came over, Rory frowned. "Perce, you look terrible."
"He killed the water fountain last night," Tyson confided.
"Huh?"
Before Percy could explain, Chiron trotted over. "Well, it appears you are ready!"
He tried to sound upbeat, but Rory could tell he was really anxious. Percy pulled him aside, to talk in private out of earshot.
Annabeth stood up from her squatted position, repeatedly brushing her hands on her pants. She was trying to appear casual, but Rory could see her taking deep breaths. Her eyes were darting around the forest.
Rory placed both of her hands on Annabeth's shoulders and shook her slightly. The blonde smiled softly, doing the same to Rory. The girls pressed their foreheads together, both of them giggling.
"Repeat after me!" Rory ordered, lowering her voice, almost as if imitating a football coach. "I am awesome!"
"I am awesome," Annabeth laughed.
"Take this seriously!" Rory told her, still in character. "Try again. I am awesome!"
Annabeth tried to clear her face of humor, mimicking Rory's voice. "I am awesome!"
