Grover was having a snack in the living room. He was dressed for battle in an

armored shirt made from tree bark and twist ties, with his wooden cudgel and his

reed pipes hanging from his belt.

 

The Demeter cabin had whipped up a whole buffet in the hotel kitchens —

everything from pizza to pineapple ice cream. Unfortunately, Grover was eating

the furniture. He'd already chewed the stuffing off a fancy chair and was now

gnawing the armrest.

 

"Dude," 1 said, "we're only borrowing this place."

 

"Blah-ha-ha!" He had stuffing all over his face. "Sorry, Percy. It's just . . .

Louis the Sixteenth furniture. Delicious. Plus I always eat furniture when I get

— "

 

"When you get nervous," I said. "Yeah, I know. So what's up?"

 

He clopped on his hooves. "I heard about Annabeth. Is she . . .?"

 

"She's going to be fine. She's resting."

 

Grover took a deep breath. "That's good. I've mobilized most of the nature

spirits in the city — well, the ones that will listen to me, anyway." He rubbed

his forehead. "I had no idea acorns could hurt so much. Anyway, we're helping