Work Text:
Grover:
Grover treaded lightly through the covert of the rainforest. Something was off. Ever since he had found the pan flute there had been something at the back of his mind screaming at him to leave this place immediately.
The monster smell was a problem. The island reeked of it, while also radiating the most nature magic Grover had ever felt in his life. The chances of him dying here were way higher than the chances of him surviving. But that wasn’t unusual unfortunately.
The trees rustled. A small breeze hit Grover’s skin and an unexpected sent let his neck hair rise. He froze in his tracks. Something wasn’t right. This island was supposed to only be inhabited by monsters and the flora and fauna of a regular rainforest in this part of the ocean.
And yet… Grover sensed Demigods. His heart started racing. What ever they were doing here it wasn’t safe for them. He had to figure out where they were exactly and how to help them get off this island as fast as possible. Slowly he walked towards the direction that they must be in. He wanted to asses the situation first before bargaining in.
When Grover reached a thinning in the trees he heard voices. The demigods were sitting around an unlit fireplace. Grover hid right at the edge of the clearing just out of sight of the demigods. His instincts told him to stay hidden until it was clear that they wouldn’t be spooked by a satyr showing up. He tried to recognise any of them, but came up with nothing except for one. A young White woman, maybe 20, with red hair and a confident body language that let Grover know that she was the leader of the group. Alison, a friend of Luke that left camp two years ago to go to university. Grover couldn’t remember her godly parent. She was probably one of the unclaimed demigods in cabin 11.
He had always gotten along with Alison. She was a smart fighter and great with bow and arrow.
Leaves rustled and Grover felt his blood run cold. Someone had sneaked up behind him.
A demigod held a blade to his throat. Grover slowly turned his head. Broad shoulders and empty eyes let him shiver. He should have been more alert, while observing them. The demigod had some dead bird thrown over their shoulder. „Who are you?”, they growled.
He was about to answer when Alison interrupted them instead. “Calm down.” She was next to Grover and the other demigod in seconds. “I remember you from camp. You’re Grover, right? Luke’s protector.”
Luke’s mention let Grover’s throat swell up with a lump he could not swallow. “Y-yes.” He trembled.
“Great! See! This is Grover. He’s just satyr. No danger. No need to unpack all of this.” Alison made a vague gesture up and down the demigod and smiled apologetically to Grover. “He’s a bit overly careful when it comes to strangers. Don’t worry about it. Do you want to join us?” Alison put her hand on Grover’s back and started leading him towards the rest of the group.
“Sure. Why not.” Grover shrugged. He felt a bit out of place, but this had been his plan, hadn’t it? Talk to them and get them to safety. Though by the looks of it, they did not need the safety part of it.
The demigod, who had threatened Grover, gave Alison a look like she was inviting an enemy into their territory.
“Ignore him. He’s just grumpy sometimes.” Alison gave the demigod a pointed look. The look he gave Grover was still quite hostile, but Alison nudged Grovers side and smiled at him brightly.
“Come on, sit down.” Alison patted the dry wood next to where she just sat down.
“Okay, sure.” Grover carefully sat down. Still feeling uneasy.
Alison:
It wasn’t necessarily perfectly ideal that Grover showed up here. But it still felt like good luck. Who better to help find the fleece than a satyr? He must feel the power of the fleece. Now they only had to find a way to get him to help them without revealing what was going on. That would be the bigger problem.
Currently the best course of action would be to just pretend she knew nothing of what was going on with Luke. “So how are you doing Grover? What are you doing on an island in the pacific?” Alison smiled at him kindly. It wasn’t like she had anything against Grover. He had always been a sweet little brother figure to her, but he was on the side of the enemy. Grover looked at her strangely. “What do you mean, ‘island in the pacific’?”
“The island is in the pacific. Grover are you okay?” Alison made sure to put concern into her voice.
“No, it isn’t. But that’s not… let’s just move on to the next topic.” Grover looked confused and like he was getting closer to being distressed any minute, but Alison decided to not prob further. “Right, yes!”, Alison provided him an out, “I asked you, how you’re doing?”
“Right!” Grover looked more disoriented with every minute passing.
“What is going on Grover? Are you okay.” Alison was starting to worry a bit.
“I’m fine. I’m good. Seriously.”, the satyr said in an unconvincing tone.
His eyes were darting around the opening in record speed.
“Does anyone have any empty cans?” Alison looked around with a pleading look.
“I’m fine Alison!” Grover suddenly snapped. Harsher than she expected. The fact that he remembered her name surprised her.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to be harsh. I’m fine. Everything is fine.” Grover’s voice had a soothing tone to it now, that Alison suspected was covering up the stress.
“Okay, yeah. Sorry for pressuring you.” Alison mumbled.
Trying to find a way to ease the sudden tension in the group she gave them a wave to leave them alone for a moment. Most of them left. Just Alabaster and Lex stayed. Alison couldn’t tell if they were ignoring her or didn’t see the wave. She had done it in a way that Grover hopefully wouldn’t really catch.
“So Grover,” Alison started the conversation up again, “How is Luke? How is Annabeth?” She wanted to make sure Grover did not get suspicious, so pretending to have no idea about Luke having left camp to lead the Titan Army made sense. Alison watched Grover’s reaction closely. There was a barely noticeable embarrassed and worried look on his face. He avoided Alison’s eyes and bit into his cheek. “They are… they are doing well I think. I haven’t seen them in months”, a short uncertain chuckle, “But when I left camp they were doing fine.”
Alison knew that was a lie. Luke had talked to her, about missing his little quasi siblings. He had told her about the look on Annabeth’s face when she had found out about his plan. How badly it hurt that she looked at him, like he was the bad guy. Like he was dangerous. Luke was certain that Annabeth and Percy would tell Grover about it. And he’d told Alison how much that broke his heart. He wasn’t only doing this for just the demigods after all. He was also doing this for all the others. The satyrs, the nymphs, the nereids and everyone else who was wronged by the gods. Luke still had hope that his family and Percy would join him, but Alison knew better. She wouldn’t break Luke’s illusion though. That would have been cruel. He should figure that out by himself.
“That’s lovely to hear.”, Alison said with a soothing tone. Grover looked at her with a forced smile. She could see his tense facial muscles.
“So what are you doing out here?”, Grover asked. Alison should have expected the question. But she had forgotten to make up a lie. Improvising it was. “Oh I’m just here with a few demigods I met at uni and wanted to go on an adventure with.” Alison shrugged.
“Oh. Okay.” Grover’s voice was quieter than before.
Alison knew they desperately needed Grover to help them find the fleece and the best way to keep him around was to just ask him.
“Grover, would you want to join us? We could use a satyr in our little adventure group.”
“Oh that’s a nice offer.”, Grover was avoiding eye contact again and Alison could tell that he was about to decline the offer, “But I have my own ‘adventure’ that I’m on.” He made air quotes when he said adventure.
This was not exactly going like Alison planned.
“I understand. But maybe you could travel with us for a bit. We’re on the same island now. Surly it won’t be a problem to just stick together til we have to go different ways?” Alison tried to carefully prod Grover towards agreeing to working with them.
“Yes, you’re right.” Grover resigned.
Alison suppressed the urge to victoriously make a fist. She had done it. With a Satyr with them they would find the fleece. She was certain of it.
Suddenly something around Grover’s neck caught her eye.
“Wait is that a pan flute?”
“Yes. I found it.” Grover looked both proud and sad when he announced it. There was definitely a story to ask him about eventually Alison noted.
“Do you want to play something for us?”, she asked curiously.
“I mean… I could.” Grover bit on his lip.
“Yes! Please do!” Alison knew the satyr music did wonders for magical things. Maybe it would lead them the way. Or at least give them a hint, if Grover played.
“I can only play ‘So yesterday’ by Hilary Duff and Mozart’s Concerto No. 12 so far though. So you will have to make do with that.” Grover rubbed the back of his neck.
“Sounds great. Love both.” That was a lie. She didn’t know either piece. “Pick whatever you feel like.”
Grover:
“Could we maybe postpone the musical act til after we ate?”, barged the intimidating demigod into the conversation. His buzz cut and broad jaw let him look he escaped ‘Military Academy’, not a university. He let the bird fall off his shoulder with a small thud. Grover wondered if he had been standing in the same place for the whole time and just watched them. He couldn’t really remember.
“Is this what’s for dinner?” A curly haired teen, with light brown skin, grumbled from across the fireplace. Grover hadn’t really noticed them there either, since talking to Alison. This island was distracting him too much. They looked around Percy’s and Annabeth’s age. That tipped Grover off. He had forgotten to examine the people closely after hearing Alison say they were uni friends. Now that stopped making sense. That teen could not have been in uni yet. Grover was sure of it.
After a moment of contemplation he decided to not immediately confront Alison about it. Instead Grover finally looked at the bird properly. “Is that a freaking bush turkey?” What was a bush turkey doing on an island in the Atlantic Ocean? No wait, Grover had noticed the mixing of flora that didn’t belong in the same region geographically earlier. This must be another case of it. Not only the flora was all mixed up, but also the fauna. Grover was certain it hadn’t been like that till a few feet before he saw the demigods. It was likely related to the island. It had to be.
“What?” The strong still defensive looking guy looked at him with raised eyebrows.
“The bird! Is that a freaking bush turkey?” Grover repeated himself.
The guy looked at the bird.
“I guess so? I don’t know much about birds. Just that these give a relatively good amount of food to eat.” He titled his head and Grover rolled his eyes.
“Okay, never mind.” This wouldn’t get him anywhere Grover had concluded. So he focused on the teenager again.
“So,” Grover smiled, “who are you?” The green eyes pierced through Grover like he was a threat to evaluate.
“Alabaster.”, grumbled the teen continually fixated on Grover.
“Oh that’s a pretty name.” Grover started slightly nervously picking at his fingertips.
“Don’t mind his tone. He’s a bit tired. He was on look out last night.”, Alison chimed in.
“Yes, cause you slept through your part.”, snapped Alabaster.
“I told you, that you should have woken me up.” Alison countered.
“Well you weren’t waking up, when I tried. It almost seemed like you were dead, if you hadn’t breathed.”, Alabaster bit back.
“Well I would have wished you had tried harder, because I had a horrible freaking dream!” Alison had raised her voice and Grover noticed her hands trembling. He looked away, trying to not involve himself in the conversation anymore.
He noticed the muscular demigod had started to pluck the feathers of the bird. Grover quickly averted his eyes again. He didn’t like seeing dead animals being prepared to be eaten.
“Lex, I give you permission to hit me in the face next time I don’t wake up from a dream.” Alison said.
“Okay, whatever you want.” Lex, the demigod, who was plucking the feathers said with a disinterested tone.
“Alabaster how about you go get the rest of the group back. I’m probably going to be finished with the food soon.” Lex turned to Alabaster. The boy nodded and got up.
Grover watched as he left the clearing. He could feel Lex biting look and it made him shudder.
“Alison, not to question your judgment, but are you really sure this is a good idea?” The subtle head tilt towards him let Grover’s blood run cold.
“Then don’t question my judgement.”, Alison said coldly. “Ignore him. Lex is hard to win over as a friend.” She wrapped an arm around Grover’s shoulders. He leaned into the side hug. It felt the closest to having Luke back. Even just as an extension of Alison.
Alison:
When Alabaster arrived back with the rest of the team, Lex had finished roasting the bird and was still staring at her like he was about to take over command and leave Alison and Grover alone on the island.
She tried her best to ignore him. It was her turn to call the shots. This was her mission. Not his. Lex had his chance prove himself to Kronos. Now it was her turn. She had to get the fleece.
—
“Are mom and dad fighting?” Olek chimed in, in a joking tone, in the middle of eating. So far everyone had been quiet. Alison narrowed her eyes at him warningly.
“Yes!” Alabaster quipped back.
“We’re not.” Lex groaned. “And how many times, do I have to say, please stop with the mom and dad jokes.”
He looked so annoyed it almost made Alison smile. She didn’t particularly care for the jokes of them being the parents of the group but Lex absolutely hated them.
“Hey, does anyone have any empty cans, that they are whiling to give me?” Grover said. He had been quiet for a while now and Alison had almost forgotten he was sitting next to her.
“Sure!” To Alison’s surprise Lex was the one to say that. He took a few empty cans out of his rucksack and let them be passed to Grover, who happily started munching away on them.
After everyone had finished eating Alison started to unpack the extra sleeping bag she had packed in case hers got destroyed somehow and offered it to Grover. He happily took it and the team went on to start getting ready to sleep. Olek was on the first watch.
Grover:
Grover couldn’t sleep. Ever since he noticed how the flora and fauna of this island that started to mix with others it was stressing him out more with every minute he was on it. The sleeping bag also hadn’t been the best idea. He had hoped Alison’s smell would calm him and remind him of Luke, instead it made him miss Luke.
It reminded him of the fact that he lost one more of the first demigods he was there to protect. It made him think of the time they were on the run. And it felt like a cruel joke, that he got into all by himself.
The demigod that was on look out duty was eyeing him questioningly.
Grover stared back at them. They were White, had short brown hair, a slightly crooked jaw and a tooth gap between their front theeth.
“You know if you’re awake you can take over the watch.”, they said.
Grover got out of the sleeping bag.
“You know what? Sure.”
“Wait seriously?” The demigod’s eyes widened.
“Yes!” Grover walked over to them.
“No. I.. I can’t. I’m supposed be on look out, so I will be. We can talk though. You didn’t look thrilled to be alone with your thoughts.” They smiled at Grover timidly.
“I guess you’re right.” Grover shrugged and smiled back.
“I’m Olek by the way.” The demigod stretched out their hand.
“Grover,” Grover shook Olek’s hand, “it’s nice to meet you.”
“It’s nice to meet you too, Grover.”, Olek smiled.
“So… what’s on your mind?” Olek bumped their shoulder into his. Grover tried his best not to stumble. “Oh sorry”
“No worries. It’s just… I don’t know. It’s nothing really.” Grover stalled.
“You don’t have to talk about it.” Olek soothed. “Just thought you might want to.”
“Yes, I do. It’s just hard.” Grover looked to Olek. “I miss my friends. Finding Pan has always been my dream and life goal. And I’m getting closer to that. I can feel that. But I miss my friends and I miss my family.”
“That makes sense. I get it. I mean I think I do. I don’t have a family anymore. My mortal parent is dead. They were a demigod too. A monster killed them in front of me. They let themselves be killed, so I could escape.” Olek looked at him with a lopsided smile.
“Oh that is awful. I’m so sorry.” Grover was taken aback. That was a lot of personal information at once. Olek on the other hand was so casual about it that Grover wondered if it was the only way they dealt with it. Maybe changing the subject was a good call. Grover was about to say something, when Olek said: “It’s okay. It’s not your fault. You have nothing to apologise for Grover.”
“Yes, you’re right. It’s just. I’m sorry that, that’s what the fates picked out for you.” Grover titled his head to the right.
“The fates” Olek puffed. Grover waited for more, but the demigod had gotten quiet.
Topic change it was then. “I never saw you at Camp.”
“The summer camp for Demigods?” Olek asked.
“Yeah!” Grover nodded.
“I never went.”, Olek’s tone was nonchalant, “No satyr ever found me. So I never arrived there.”
“Oh… okay,” Grover paused, pretending to buy into Alison’s lie in case there was some truth to it, he continued, “I mean you managed to get to university alive. So that’s something right?”
Olek titled their head and raised their eyebrows. “University?”
“Yeah, university. Alison mentioned it”, Grover paused, “but with your reaction I think that might be a lie.”
“Yeah. It’s a lie. We’re just a bunch of demigods she found in the streets and bonded with.” Olek chuckled.
“That makes way more sense actually.” Grover laughed and shook his head.
“She dropped out of university pretty early, you know.” Olek conspiratorially leaned their head towards Grover.
“Oh okay.” Grover nodded.
There was a pause.
“You know, you seem alright. I’m glad Alison invited you to stay with us.” The demigod smiled at him.
“Thanks!” Grover smiled back.
The comfortable silence after let Grover think of something else than missing his friends. This was going to be a good part of his search for Pan. Maybe he could convince the demigods to stick with him for a bit more of the way than just their stay on this island. Yes, they had their own adventure. But it wasn’t really a mission. So maybe the group would agree. Maybe not Lex. But he could ask Alison and Olek. Maybe Alabaster as well. He hadn’t seem hostile towards him.
“I should wake up Alison for her shift.” Olek broke the silence.
“Yeah…” Grover agreed unenthusiastically, “you should wake up Alison.”
Olek did not wake up Alison. Instead the two just stood in a comfortable silence again.
Suddenly the monster smell that was broadly permeating this island anyway, got stronger. Something big was coming towards them. Possible multiple monsters. Or one huge one.
“Olek?” Grover looked around alerted. “Yeah?” The demigod questioned.
“We have to wake up the others! Right now! There is something coming. I can smell it. Something huge!” Grover was starting to panic.
Olek had started to wake up the others. Grumbling and complaining started.
“Hey! You have to hurry!” Grover shouted over the rustling of hurried packing. He started helping Alabaster with his sleeping bag. Having already given his back to Alison and collected his small amount of belongings. The pan flut weighed heavy on his chest. There was no time left. “We have to leave now!”, he ordered and to his surprise the demigods actually complied. They started running. Grover could hear the monster plowing through the forest. It was gaining ground on them. “Faster!” Alison shouted. Grover was at the forefront of the group. “Common! It’s getting closer!”, he shouted too. He let himself fall back and became the last of the group. If the monster was to arrive he could attempt to deter it. Suddenly Alison was beside him. “I’m not having it Grover. You go back to the front! Common!” She attempted to grab his arm, to drag him to the front herself, but Grover slipped away and didn’t protest. Just resigned and picked up speed to be at the head of the group again.
A satyr was faster in this terrain than a demigod. Alison was pretty close behind him though. Grover knew that it must have started to be painful for the demigods. They had been running for a good while now and having to dodge plants and be careful not to stumble was exhausting. But the monster was still there!
Grover noticed the forest thinning. They were approaching the shore. And suddenly Grover noticed the smell of another monster in front of them. He wanted to warn the others but it was too late. He ran past the last plants and into the sand. Stopping as soon as he could with the momentum he had from running. All he could see of the monster was a huge tentacle.