RECLUSE - (n) a person who lives a solitary life and tends to avoid other people.
MAISIE ELLIOT WAS ANGRY.
Angry at the world.
Angry at the Gods.
Angry at the demigods who seemed to move on too fast.
And when forced onto a quest with three stranger...
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JASON CROUCHED BEHIND A WALL OF ROCK
Gesturing for them to do the same, the demigods followed his lead. Piper and Maisie had to pull the satyr down with them.
"I don't want to get my outfit dirty," he wined. Piper shushed him and he reluctantly knelt.
Just over the ridge they were hiding, in the shadow of the mountain's final crest, was a depression around the size of a football field. Thats where Enceladus had set up camp.
Trees had been cut to make a large purple bonfire in the center. The outer rim was filled with various pieces of construction equipment.
Enceladus was thirty feet tall. Maisie was unsure how the giant couldn't see them from behind the small wall, but didn't question it. He wore bronze armor decorated with flame designs and had a spear the size of a flagpole.
"Okay," Hedge whispered. "here's the plan—"
Leo elbowed him. "You're not charging him alone."
"Aw, c'mon!"
"Piper choked back a sob, "look."
On the other side of a campfire at a man tied to a pole. His head slumped like he was unconscious. He was hard to see from their spot, but Piper had no doubts.
"Dad," she weakly cried.
"Okay so there's five of us," Coach whispered urgently. "And only one of him."
"Did you miss the fact he's thirty feet tall?" Leo asked.
"And that he has a spear longer than a flagpole?" Maisie stated.
"Okay," Hedge continued. "So you two, me, and Jason distract him. Piper sneaks around and frees her dad."
They all looked to Jason.
"What?" He asked, "I'm not the leader."
"Yes you are." Piper insisted.
"Why not Maisie? She has the most experience." Jason said.
"Because I'm not a good leader," Maisie stated. "I would literally kill all of you for some chips and a nap right about now."
Coach narrowed his eyes at her suspiciously, fully believing her threat. He slowly raised his bat towards her but Leo slapped it down.
"Oh, uh, okay then." Jason said. "I hate to say it, but coach is right. A distraction is our best chance."
They looked towards the giant. All thinking about how low of a chance it was for them to all survive.
