In Between Two Worlds (HP/PJO Crossover)

Chapter 92: An Old Dead Friend Comes To Visit.

The next morning after breakfast, Perc and I told Grover about our dream. We 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. It was pretty funny.

When we told Grover our nightmare, he started twirling his finger in his shaggy leg fur.

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

"Yeah. What the heck does that mean?" I asked.

Grover shook his head. "I don't know. But after what Zoe dreamed-"

"Whoa. What do you mean? Zoe had a dream like that?" Perc said.

"I... I don't know, exactly. About three in the morning she came to the Big House and demanded to talk to Chiron. She looked really panicked."

"Wait, how do you know this?" I asked.

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

"Why?" We said.

"Just to be, you know, near them."

"You're a stalker with hooves." Perc said.

"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 Argus wouldn't let her in. It was kind of a dangerous scene."

I tried to imagine that. He rarely showed himself unless something serious was going on. I wouldn't want to place bets on a fight between him and Zoe Nightshade.

"What did she say?" I 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 Aunt Artemis be in trouble?" I said.

"I... well, finally Chiron came out in his pajamas and his horse tail in curlers and-"

"He wears curlers in his tail?" I laughed.

Grover covered his mouth.

"Sorry," I said. "Go on."

"Well, Zoe said she needed permission to leave camp immediately. Chiron refused. He reminded Zoe that the Hunters were supposed to stay here until they received orders from Artemis. And she said..." Grover gulped. "She said 'How are we to get orders from Artemis if Artemis is lost?'"

"What do you mean lost? Like she needs directions?" Perc said.

"No. I think she meant gone. Taken. Kidnapped."

"Kidnapped?" I tried to get my mind around that idea. "How would you kidnap an immortal goddess? Is that even possible?"

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

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

Grover looked offended. "Springtime."

"Whatever. Aunt Artemis is a lot more powerful than that. Who could kidnap her? And why?" I said.

Grover shook his head miserably. "I don't know. Kronos?"

"He can't be that powerful already. Can he?" Perc said.