A/N: As usual, I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians in any way, shape, or form.

     "No, no, no. Not again!" Grover said, really freaking out now. "I can't lose another, I can't fail again!"

     Another? Had something like this happened before. Well, it didn't matter right now. We had bigger things to worry about, like finding Percy.

     "Grover, calm down. We can find him, but chill out." I reassured him. "We need a plan. You said one time that Satyrs can smell half-bloods, can you smell Percy?"

     Grover seemed to calm down a little bit as this. "I - I can try," he stammered. "It might be difficult with all the mortals around, though."

     I watched for a minute or two as Grover tried to pick up any trace of Percy. Eventually, he seemed to have something.

     "I think he went this way," Grover said.

     "Then lead the way!" I said.

     We made our way out of the bus station and down the curb a little ways before Grover stopped.

     "It's faded too much," he said. "There's too many mortals around, and I think he got in a cab somewhere around here."

     "What in Hades were you thinking Percy!" I frustratingly exclaimed. "We have to find him before it's too late, we have to tell his mom what's going on!" I said while turning towards Grover.

     I sunk down to the curb and sat down. I put my head in my hands, I didn't know what to do.

     "Hey," Grover said, sitting down next to me. "We'll find him." He put his hand on my shoulder, "He probably went home to his mom, so if we find her we find him."

     "Ya, ya! Let's go!" I said while standing up. "Wait, do you know where they live?"

     "Um, maybe? I can't really remember, I'm mostly just guessing." Grover sheepishly replied.

     "Well, that's better than nothing. Lead the way!"

     We just kinda wandered down the street in the direction the cab would have been going in. After a few blocks Grover started looking around nervously.

     "Is something wrong?" I asked.

     "It think . . . I think I smell monsters," he replied nervously.

     Not a second later a pair of weird snake ladies with a bottom half that looked like two tails geared up in full greek battle armor with spears slithered out from an alleyway in front of us. My hand flew to my ring in preparation to twist, but they didn't seem to notice us. The snake ladies made a beeline down the street and to the crosswalk.

     "Dracanae," Grover whimpered. "This can't be good!"

     "We should follow them!" I over my shoulder as I took off after them.

     "You want to what!" Grover exclaimed as he reluctantly ran after me.

     "Follow them," I repeated. "They didn't even notice us, which means they are either really blind or they have a specific target in mind."

     Grover's face paled as he breathed, "Percy."

     "Exactly, and if that's where they are going than we can follow to Percy."

     "But, what if they aren't after Percy?"

     "That's just a risk we have to take. Besides, they are obviously headed somewhere. I don't want to know what will happen once they get there."

     Grover and I followed them for a few blocks until we reached an apartment building. The dracanae made their way over to the side of the building by the fire escape.

     "This is it, he has to be here!" I said while activating my spear and shield. "I'm going in."

     I ran over to the fire escape, they were already on the first landing somehow. I needed to act fast.

     "You know, those are only supposed to be used in emergencies!" I called up to them.

     "A demigod," the one closest to me hissed. "We weren't after you, but I sssupossse that we could make an exception."

      "Oh ya? Then come and get me!" I taunted as I raised my shield.

     "You are a brave one," It sneered while coming back down to ground level. "But do you have the ssskill to back it?"

     I took a stab at her as she neared the bottom, but she easily blocked it with her shield. Taking a quick glance up I noticed that the other one was still heading up the fire escape.

     "Why don't we find out." I said as I crouched a bit and narrowed my eyes.

      The dracaena took a stab at me with her spear which I was able to block. I don't think it was a serious attempt, I think she was probing my defenses. I didn't have the time for this. I had to wrap this up, and fast. I did the last thing she would expect from an opponent with a spear. I charged. As I ran forward the dracaena took a stab at me that I was able to deflect with my spear. I feinted at her with my own thrust, but at the last second changed my tactic and whacked her upside the head with the shaft of my spear. With the split second I had while she was dazed I flanked around to her spear arm and stabbed her through a gap in her armor. She dissolved into golden dust, leaving only a helmet behind. One down, one to go. I started sprinting up the fire escape as fast as I could. The other dracanae was already up to the seventh landing.

     "Hey, that armor makes you look fat!" I called, hoping that it might distract her.

     On the upside, my idea worked. On the downside, my idea worked.

     The dracaena turned and hissed, "You will sssuffer for your insssolence!"

     She turned, and started slithering back down the fire escape to meet me. I bounded up to meet her, taking the steps two at a time. Turns out, that was a bad idea. As I went to step onto the third floor landing, I tripped. Nearly stabbed myself in the eye too, guess that's why mom was always yelling at me for running with sharp objects. I slowly rose to my feet, being careful of my hands. Turns out, tripping on a metal surface full of holes is not good for the hands. I glanced up to see the dracaena just reaching the landing just above me. I frantically looked around the landing, looking for my spear. Risking a glance downwards I saw it, three floors down and laying in the alleyway. Great, just great. I raised my shield and dropped into a defensive stance, looks like I was going to have to improvise.

     As the dracaena reached my landing it chuckled. "Hasss the clumssy little Hero lossst hisss weapon? How Unfortunate."

     "Just trying to make it a fair fight!" I retorted.

     I circled to my right. I would rather have solid brick to my back than a set of stairs. Unfortunately, this exposed my flank to the dracaena, and I didn't have the time to switch my shield to my right arm. The dracaena took a stab at me, but luckily I was able to twist out of the way. Unluckily, I hit my elbow on the metal railing. Tears welled in my eyes as I bit back the pain.

     "Oh, little hero" the remaining dracaena hissed. "How doesss it feel to die for a thief?"

     "I don't know what you're talking about," I responded. "But I don't intend to die today."

      I rushed forward like a football player. Shoulder down, shield up. This was either going to go one of two way. Either I died, or I didn't. The dracaena seemed surprised as she took a stab at me. The thrust deflected off my shield, but unfortunately it deflected right into my thigh. I almost collapsed as the spear cut a gash in my leg, I had never felt this kind of pain before.

     I hit the dracaena like a battering ram, and we fell to the ground in a tangle of snake and limbs. Out of the corner of my eye I could see her spear, just out of reach of both of us. Disentangling myself as best I could I slammed my shield into the dracaena's face, and reached for the spear. The dracaena recovered quicker than I thought, and dove on top of me before I could grab the spear. I stretched, but my fingertips could only just brush the shaft. Suddenly, I felt something very hard slam into the back of my head. My head exploded in pain, and blackness encroached on the edges of my vision.

     "Jacob!" I heard Grover yell from what felt like a million miles away.

     Groaning, I kept stretching for the spear.

     "Oh, I don't think ssso little hero!" I heard the dracaena say as my head once again exploded in pain.

     Through the spots and blackness that was now my vision I saw a green, scaled arm reaching for the spear. I used the last weapon I had available to me. I bit it. By the way, dracaena tastes gross, 0/10 would not recommend.

     As the dracaena wailed I made one last dive for the spear. Once I had the spear in hand I rolled, and blindly thrusted upwards with it. The last thing I remember as darkness enveloped me was golden dust floating down onto me.

     "Wake up!" a voice distantly echoed. "Jacob, I swear to Pan, wake up!" it said again, clearer this time.

     I groaned and opened my eyes, Grover's worried face swimming into focus. Suddenly, it all come rushing back.I tried to sit up, but my head once again exploded in pain.

     "How long was I out?" I asked.

     "Over an hour" Grover said. "You really took a beating."

     "Percy!" I exclaimed.

     "Gone. I saw him and his mom drive away not long after you passed out."

     "We need to get him to camp, now. Can you track him?"

     "I think so," Grover replied. "That car reeked of his step-dad."

     "Then let's go!" I said, trying to sit up once more.

     "You're in no condition -" Grover started, but then his face lit up. "Wait, I think I have an emergency stash here somewhere!" Grover said as he dug through his backpack. "Aha, here it is!" he exclaimed while pulling out a baggy with some strange golden bars.

     I gave him a questioning look.

     "Ambrosia" Grover stated. "Just eat some, it will help you feel better."

     I took the piece that was offered to me and tentatively took a bite. It tasted like my mom's homemade cookies, so I devoured the rest of the bar. Like magic the pounding in my head faded to the background, and the gash on my leg didn't see as bad as it was before.

     "We need to get you back to Camp so you can fully recover, but this should do for now" Grover said, rising to his feet.

     I followed suit. We didn't have a moment to lose. I limped down the stairs and over to my spear with Grover's help.

     "Lead the way," I said as we stepped out onto the street. "We have a demigod to find." 

A/N: I hope you guys have enjoyed the story so far! Comments, Reviews, and Upvotes are highly encouraged!

As usual, have a nice day!