Lost

7

After being cared for by the Apollo cabin, I was finally starting to feel a little better. After lots of asking and annoyance, I finally convinced Will to lift his no visitors policy.

My first visitor was Grover, who came holding a bouquet of flowers.

"These are from Juniper, she sends you her best," Grover commented as he placed the flowers on my nightstand. "She would've come in, but Will said you can only have one visitor a day."

I couldn't help but laugh, which caused me to wince. "He's a tyrant, but he's a good doctor. My scratches are almost scars now. And my ankle is even healing."

Grover and I talked for a while about nature healing, which he seemed to think would've worked better, and the Council of Cloven Elders, which he was a leader of.

"Yeah, well, the Council has been very busy lately. Searching," he said with a shrug.

"Searching...?" I asked while frowning. "They still don't believe that you found Pan? Because I was there, I can testify if you'd like."

Then Grover's face turned a bright red. "Oh, no, never mind. I, uh, forgot...."

I frowned at him. "You forgot you found Pan? Wasn't that, like, your dream?"

Grover laughed nervously as he avoided my eye contact. "Oh, well, I guess. Just forgetful, you know me. Hey, how long are you staying?"

"Until Sunday. Who are you searching for?" I asked.

"No one, I, uh, already t-told you that, Percy. Are you s-sure you feel alright?" he asked. Then he stood up. "Maybe I should l-leave, Will would k-kill me if I got you stressed out..."

"I'm not stressed out," I admitted. "And I feel fine. Now tell me who you're looking for."

"We're not l-looking for anyone! I t-think I better get W-will in here to c-check on you...."

"Remember Mrs.Dodds?" I asked Grover. He swallowed nervously and nodded. "Remember when you awfully pretended you didn't know she existed? Well, I knew you were lying then and I know you're lying now."

He sighed as he sat back down. "Percy, you wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Try me," I replied. "What? Is Juniper missing? Is that why she couldn't visit?"

"No, no, Juniper's fine!" Grover assured me. "Will really is strict, you know that. Although he's softened up ever since he started dating Nico. Did you know that? I can't believe it, the two are like opposites—"

"Stop distracting me," I practically yelled. He sighed. "I know you're just trying to change the subject, and I did know that already. Now, who's missing? Is it Jason? Piper? I know Hazel and Frank are fine. I already know about Leo. Who is it then?"

Grover winced as my voice got more firm. "It's nothing, Percy, r-really, just some w-water n-nymph...."

"That's not true."

"It is!"

"It's not!"

Grover closed his eyes and shook his head. "Percy, this is for your own good. I don't want to worry you, and Chiron would be so angry—"

"Who is it?!" I demanded. "I have the right to know! I'm your friend, right? Or has that fact changed?"

"No, it hasn't—"

"Well, friends don't lie to each other!" I shouted. "If I knew something you didn't, I would tell you, Grover! I would—"

"It's Annabeth!"