Annabeth Chase and the Battle of the Labyrinth

Chapter 30 - Percy questions my existence

Why did we have to follow the spider? Why couldn't he have given us anything else? Even a snake would have been better. 

It wasn't even that good a guide either. It didn't stop to wait for us so we had to keep chasing it or else it would leave us behind. Although that wouldn't have been a problem if the roots hadn't appeared. 

Grover slammed to a halt, his eyes widening and nostrils flaring. I turned to see him staring down a side corridor, a look of awe on his face. Craning my neck to see what he was looking at, all I could see was another dark corridor, although admittedly this was made of raw earth, had roots growing out of it and smelled like wet compost. 

"What is it?" Percy asked. 

Grover didn't say anything. His hair moved slightly in the breeze. I was too distracted by the spider getting away that I didn't even question why there was a breeze.

"Come on," I said, edging further down the corridor. "We have to keep moving."

"This is is the way," Grover breathed in amazement. "This is it." 

"What way?" Percy asked. "You mean . . . to Pan?"

Grover and Tyson made eye contact. "Don't you smell it?" the satyr asked. 

Tyson shifted uncomfortably. He still didn't like Grover that much, although he was getting more accustomed to him. "Earth," he said. "And plants." 

"Yes! This is the way! I'm sure of it!"

I glanced forward to see the spider nearly out of sight, its bronze body being swallowed up by the darkness. 

"We'll come back," I promised. "On our way back to Hephaestus."

"The tunnel will be gone by then," Grover said. "I have to follow it. A door like this won't stay open!"

"But we can't," I said, desperate to keep moving. "The forges!"

Grover turn sad eyes on me. "I have to, Annabeth. Don't you understand?"

I did, as much as I didn't want to. Pan was his quest, just as much as mine was to find Daedalus. And I could see that he wasn't going to budge, no matter how hard I pushed. But I knew that I needed him. I didn't break the rules and bring four on the quest just to let one go early. 

"We'll split up," Percy said. 

"No!" I yelled, horror coursing through me. "That's way too dangerous. How will we ever find each other again? And Grover can't go alone."

"I - I will go with him," Tyson said suddenly, placing a massive hand on Grover's shoulder. Grover shifted slightly, but I could see a sliver of relief go through him too. 

"Tyson, are you sure?" Percy asked, sounding as amazed as I felt. 

The Cyclops nodded. "Goat boy needs help. We will find the god person. I am not like Hephaestus. I trust friends." 

Grover took a deep breath. "Percy, we'll find each other again. We've still got the empathy link. I just . . . have to." 

Percy nodded. He didn't look enthusiastic about the plan, but he was a lot more willing for it than me. I still wanted to grab them and drag them after me, but I also understood that this was bigger than my quest. Grover's life could potentially depend on him finding Pan. 

"I hope you're right," Percy said. 

Grover smiled tightly. "I know I am." 

"Be careful," Percy said, fist-bumping Grover. Tyson grabbed him and gave him a massive hug that made Percy squeak like a chew toy. Then the two of them disappeared into the tunnel, leaving Percy and I alone.