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26: Tyson

Chiron said we needed to hurry, so he gave me and Percy a ride on his back. As we galloped past the cabins, I glanced at the dining hall-an open-air Greek pavilion on a hill overlooking the sea. It was the first time I'd seen the place since last winter, and it brought back bad memories. Most in the form of Nico DiAngelo.

Chiron plunged into the woods. Nymphs peeked out of the trees to watch us pass. Large shapes rustled in the shadows-monsters that were stocked in here as a challenge to the campers.

I thought I knew the forest pretty well after playing capture the flag here for seven years, but Chiron took me a way I didn't recognize, through a tunnel of old willow trees, past a little waterfall, and into a glade blanketed with wildflowers.

But then again, I've never been with the Council of Cloven Elders.

A bunch of satyrs were sitting in a circle in the grass. Grover stood in the middle, facing three really old, really fat satyrs who sat on topiary thrones shaped out of rose bushes. I'd never seen the three old satyrs before, but based on what Grover has told me they must be the Council of Cloven Elders.

Grover seemed to be telling them a story. He twisted the bottom of his T- shirt, shifting nervously on his goat hooves.

He hadn't really changed much since last winter because satyrs age half as fast as humans. His acne had flared up. His horns had gotten a little bigger so they just stuck out over his curly hair. I realized with a start that Percy and I were taller than he was now.

Standing off to one side of the circle were Annabeth, Juniper, and Clarisse. Chiron dropped us next to them.

Clarisse's stringy brown hair was tied back with a camouflage bandanna. If possible, she looked even buffer, like she'd been working out. She glared at Percy and me and muttered, "Punk and freak," which must've meant she was in a good mood. Usually she says hello by trying to kill Percy. She just ignores me.

Annabeth had her arm around the other girl, who looked like she'd been crying. She was small-petite, I guess you'd call it-with wispy hair the color of amber and a pretty, elfish face. She wore a green chiton and laced sandals, and she was dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief. "It's going terribly," she sniffled. Juniper! Oh, I haven't seen her in ages.

"No, no," Annabeth patted her shoulders. "He'll be fine, Juniper." Annabeth looked at Percy and mouthed the words Amanda will explain.

"Who's that?" Percy whispered.

"Grover's girlfriend. Trust me, it confused me too." When Annabeth told me that Grover had a girlfriend, it didn't make any sense. Grover with a girlfriend? Then I actually met Juniper, and I realized her ears were slightly pointed. And now her eyes, instead of being red from crying, were tinged green, the color of chlorophyll.

She was a tree nymph- a dryad.

"Master Underwood!" the council member on the right shouted, cutting off whatever Grover was trying to say. "Do you seriously expect us to believe this?"

"B-but Silenus," Grover stammered. "It's the truth!"

The Council guy, Silenus, turned to his colleagues and muttered something. Chiron cantered up to the front and stood next to them. I remembered he was an honorary member of the council, but I'd never thought about it much. The elders didn't look very impressive.

They always reminded me of the goats in a petting zoo: huge bellies, sleepy expressions, and glazed eyes that couldn't see past the next handful of goat chow. I wasn't sure why Grover seemed so nervous.