Child of the Moon

My Friends And I Get Wings

Rachel: This way!

Annabeth: Why should we follow you?  You led us straight into that death trap!

Rachel: It was the way we needed to go.  And so is this.  Come on!

Annabeth didn't look happy about it, but she ran along with the rest of us.  Rachel seemed to know exactly where she was going.  She whipped around corners and didn't even hesitate at crossroads.

Rachel: Duck!

We all crouched as a huge axe swung over our heads.  Then we kept going as if nothing had happened. I lost track of how many turns we made.  We didn't stop to rest until we came to a room the size of a gymnasium with old marble columns holding up the roof.  I stood at the doorway, listening for sounds of pursuit, but I heard nothing.  Apparently we'd lost Luke and his minions in the maze.  Then I realized something else.  Mrs. O'Leary was gone.  I didn't know when she'd disappeared.  I didn't know of she'd been overrun by monsters or caught in the cave in or what.  She'd saved our lives, and I hadn't even waited to make sure she was following us.  Ethan collapsed on the floor as I turned to the giant wolf.

YN: Are you... gonna stick around?

The wolf nuzzled my face.  I guess that's a yes.  The wolf suddenly started shrinking, and in a few seconds she was the size of a normal wolf, although she still had her shiny metallic fur

YN: Woah... cool.  I'm gonna call you Luna. 

She rubbed her head against my hand, like she liked the name.

Ethan: You people are crazy.

Ethan pulled off his helmet.  His face gleamed with sweat.  Annabeth gasped.

Annabeth: I remember you!  You were one of the undetermined kids in the Hermes cabin, years ago.

He glared at her.

Ethan: Yeah, and you're Annabeth.  I remember.

Annabeth: What... what happened to your eye?

Ethan looked away, and I got the feeling that was one subject he didn't like to discuss.

Percy: You must be the half-blood from my dream.  The one Luke's people cornered.

Annabeth: Never mind.  Why were you trying to join up with the wrong side?

Ethan sneered.

Ethan: There's no right side.  The gods never cared about us.  Why shouldn't I-

YN: Sign up with an army that makes you fight to the death for entertainment?  Man, I wonder.

Ethan struggled to his feet.

Ethan: I'm not going to argue with you.  Thanks for the help, but I'm out of here.

Percy: We're going after Daedalus.  Come with us.  Once we get through, you'd be welcome back at camp.

Ethan: You really are crazy if you think Daedalus will help you.

Annabeth: He has to.

YN: We'll make him listen if we have to.

Ethan snorted.

Ethan: Yeah, well.  Good luck with that.

Percy grabbed his arm.

Percy: You're just going to head off alone into the maze?  That's suicide.

Ethan looked at him with barely controlled anger.  His eye patch was frayed around the edges and the black cloth was faded, like he'd been wearing it a long, long time.