Weird relatives

Chapter 5: Newbies

When Danny woke up, he was sitting in a deck chair on a huge porch, gazing across a meadow at green hills in the distance. The breeze smelled like strawberries. There was a blanket over my legs, a pillow behind his neck. All that was great, but his mouth felt like a chicken did it's business inside of it. His tongue was dry and nasty and every one of his teeth hurt.

On the table next to him was a tall drink. It looked like iced apple juice, with a green straw and a paper parasol stuck through a maraschino cherry. What will you do, if you wake up in unknown place in the middle of nowhere with a full glass near you? You will drink it's contents.

Danny then got up. He was still wearing white and red T-shirt and jeans, Phantom noticed Grover leaning against the porch railing, looking like he hadn't slept in a week. Under one arm, he cradled a shoe box. He was wearing blue jeans, Converse hi-tops and a bright orange T-shirt that said CAMP HALF-BLOOD.

"Hey, Grover," Danny said. Grover was quiet for some time.

"I'm a failure. I'm...I'm the worst satyr in the world," he finally croaked.

They stared across the meadow. There were groves of trees, a winding stream, acres of strawberries spread out under the blue sky. The valley was surrounded by rolling hills, and the tallest one, directly in front of us, was the one with the huge pine tree on top. Even that looked beautiful in the sunlight.

"Grover, that's not your fault," Danny said, "We all are to blame here. Percy for ditching you on the bus stop, me for not killing that bastard sooner"

He hasn't responded. Instead they heard the sound of shaking glass. Turning around, Danny noticed Percy, who was holding glass with shaking hands.

"Careful," Danny warned.

"The Minotaur," was everything Percy said. He noticed Phantom's eyes...and understood that it wasn't a nightmare.

"Urn, Percy, it isn't a good idea..." Grover started.

"That's what they call him in the Greek myths, isn't it?" Percy demanded. "The Minotaur. Half man, half bull."

"How long we have been out?" Danny asked.

Grover shifted uncomfortably. "You've been out for two days. How much do you remember?"

"My mom. Is she really ..."

They looked down. Call Percy sad will be an underestimating of the century.

"I'm sorry," Grover sniffled.

He moaned, stomping his foot so hard it came off. Actually, the Converse hi-top came off. The inside was filled with Styrofoam, except for a hoof-shaped hole.

"Oh, Styx!" he mumbled.

Thunder rolled across the clear sky. Danny couldn't read thoughts, but he didn't need it to know what Percy was thinking about.

"Percy," Phantom said, calling his attention, "Just know that my doors are always opened for you"

"Thanks," he mumbled. Grover was still sniffing, "It wasn't your fault"

"Yes, it was. I was supposed to protect you."

"Did my mother ask you to protect me?". . .

"No. But that's my job. I'm a keeper. At least... I was."

"But why ..." Percy suddenly felt dizzy, his vision swimming.

"Don't strain yourself," Grover said. "Here." He helped him hold the glass and put the straw to his lips. Before Percy knew it, he'd drained the glass.