Wild ― Piper McLean

―iv. verona doesn't like metaphors

ANNABETH LED THEM TOWARD a newer wing of cabins in the southwest corner of the green. Some were fancy, with glowing walls or blazing torches, but Cabin Fifteen wasn't nearly as dramatic. It looked like an old-fashioned prairie house with mud walls and a rush roof. On the door hung a wreath of crimson flowers.

"You think this is one of our parents' cabin?" Jason asked.

"No," Annabeth said. "This is the cabin for Hypnos, the god of sleep."

Verona frowned. "Juno said she'd woken me up," she recalled.

Annabeth nodded. "I figure Hypnos is the best bet to understanding what she meant," she said. "Plus, if there's any god who can help us figure out memory loss, it's him."

Inside, three kids were fast asleep under piles of covers. A warm fire crackled in the hearth and above the mantel hung a tree branch, its twigs dripping white liquid into a collection of tin bowls. Soft violin music played in the background. The air smelled like fresh laundry. It was so cozy and peaceful that Verona had to stifle a yawn with her hand. She hadn't realized how exhausted she was, though it was understandable after the kind of day she'd had.

Verona blinked slowly, already considering a nap when Annabeth nudged her. "Snap out of it," she said. She jabbed Jason hard in the arm as well, making him startle out of his own little daze. "Cabin Fifteen does that to everyone. If you ask me, this place is even more dangerous than the Ares cabin. At least there you can learn where the land mines are."

"Land mines?" Jason questioned.

Annabeth walked up to the nearest sleeping kid, shaking his shoulder. "Clovis! Wake up!" It took a few moments for her to finally shake him awake. The boy mumbled a complaint at having been woken up, but he sat up anyway. He yawned, causing Verona, Jason, and Annabeth to yawn as well.

"Stop that!" Annabeth said. "We need your help."

"I was sleeping," Clovis complained.

"You're always sleeping," Annabeth said.

"Good night." Before he got the chance to pass out again, Annabeth yanked his pillow off the bed.

"That's not fair," Clovis mumbled. "Give it back."

"First help," Annabeth said. "Then sleep."

Clovis sighed. "Fine. What?"

Annabeth explained Jason and Verona's problem. She had to snap her fingers under his nose every so often to keep him awake, but by the time she was done, he actually stood and stretched, blinking at Verona. "Long slumber, huh?"

"According to the lady in the mist," Verona said.

Clovis studied her for a moment. "I don't feel anything."

Verona raised an eyebrow. "Are you supposed to?"

"I can usually sense if someone's had a deep sleep," he said, "if I try hard enough. But I'm not sensing anything."

Verona shook her head. "But that's impossible. The lady said she woke me up."

Clovis shrugged. "Maybe it was a metaphor?" he suggested.

Verona narrowed her eyes at him.

"Hey, don't shoot the messenger," he said. He looked from her to Jason. "So, neither of you remember anything?"

"Just impressions," Jason said. "Feelings, like..."

"Yes?" Clovis encouraged.

"Like I shouldn't be here. At this camp. I'm in danger."