Nico walked back to us. "Good job, Percy. Judging from the trail of goat

pellets. I'd say you shook him up pretty well."

 

I was afraid I knew why Nico was here, but I tried for a smile. "Welcome back.

Did you come by just to see Juniper?"

 

He blushed. "Um, no. That was an accident. I kind of . . . dropped into the

middle of their conversation."

 

"He scared us to death!" Juniper said. "Right out of the shadows. But, Nico, you

are the son of Hades and all. Are you sure you haven't heard anything about

Grover?"

 

Nico shifted his weight. "Juniper, like I tried to tell you . . . even if Grover

died, he would reincarnate into something else in nature. I can't sense things

like that, only mortal souls."

 

"But if you do hear anything?" she pleaded, putting her hand on his arm.

"Anything at all?"

 

Nico's cheeks got even brighter red. "Uh, you bet. I'll keep my ears open."

 

"We'll find him, Juniper," I promised. "Grover's alive. I'm sure. There must be

a simple reason why he hasn't contacted us."