𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩

Chapter ζ

Zeta - 6
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The Undead

  The next morning after breakfast, (y/n) and Cyrus told Grover and Percy about their dream. The four of them sat in the meadow watching the satyrs chase the wood nymphs through the snow. The nymphs had promised to kiss the satyrs if they got caught, but they hardly ever did. Usually the nymph would let the satyr get up a full head of steam, then she'd turn into a snow-covered tree and the poor satyr would slam into it headfirst and get a pile of snow dumped on him.

  When (y/n) told Grover the nightmare, he started twirling his finger in his shaggy leg fur.

  "A cave ceiling collapsed on her?" he asked.

  "Yeah. What the bloody hell does that mean?"

  Grover shook his head. "I don't know. But after what Zoë dreamed—"

  "Whoa. What do ye' mean? Zoë had a dream like that?" Cyrus asked.

  "I… I don't know, exactly."

  "She came into the big house at three in the morning, demanding I let her talk to Chiron," (y/n) hummed. "... How do you know about that?"

  Grover blushed. "I was sort of camped outside the Artemis cabin."

  "What for?"

  "Just to be, you know, near them."

  "You're a stalker with hooves, mate."

  "I am not! Anyway, I followed her to the Big House and hid in a bush and watched the whole thing. She got real upset when you and Argus wouldn't let her in. It was kind of a dangerous scene."

  "What did she say?" Percy asked.

  Grover grimaced. "Well, she starts talking really old-fashioned when she gets upset, so it was kind of hard to understand. But something about Artemis being in trouble and needing the Hunters. And then she called Argus a boil-brained lout… I think that's a bad thing. And then he called her—"

  "Whoa, wait. How could Artemis be in trouble?"

  "I… well, finally Chiron came out in his pajamas and his horse tail in curlers and—"

  "He wears curlers in his tail?"

  Grover covered his mouth.

  "Sorry," Percy said. "Go on."

  "Well, Zoë said she needed permission to leave camp immediately. Chiron refused. He reminded Zoë that the Hunters were supposed to stay here until they received orders from Artemis. And she said…" Grover gulped.

  (y/n) sighed. "She said “How are we to get orders from Artemis if Artemis is lost?”"

  "What do you mean lost? Like she needs directions?" Percy blinked.

  "No, mate. I think she meant gone. Taken. Kidnapped," (y/n) shrugged.

  "Kidnapped?" Percy frowned. "How would you kidnap an immortal goddess? Is that even possible?"

  "Well, yeah. I mean, it happened to Persephone," Grover nodded.

  "But she was like, the goddess of flowers."

  "Is that so?" (y/n) cocked an eyebrow, folding his arms.

  Percy cleared his throat. "I mean... Artemis is a lot more powerful than that, she's an Olympian. Who could kidnap her? And why?"