Shady

This is a collaboration between Lao123, MonkeySlippers, and Hangrace60.

Jenna Pov
Rumble, rumble. The bus rolls on. And I am about to die. Of boredom. I glance at Alyssa. Her iPod is glued to her ear, and She is sleeping. I am not gonna steal her iPod again, because last time I tried, she nearly killed me with a bunch of her skeleton warriors. (Alyssa is the daughter of Hades.) We were sent here to this deathplace to search for Percy. Rachel had a good hunch about this place... the Petrified Forest. Sounds like a playground Alyssa would play in.

I glanced at the seat next to me. Nicole Bloor was sitting there, reading a book intently. Gods, I was bored. I reached into my backpack and pulled out the iPhone I stole from my mom. This was for dire occasions, and this was a dire occasion, I was bored. I put the headphones in my ears and started listening to I Love Rock 'n Roll, by Joan Jett.

"And now kids, we are 1 hour away from the Petrified Forest! I am passing out booklets for you children to fill." Mrs.Anderson said.

Oh gee.

Nicole stopped reading her book, and Alyssa woke up, I groaned. Another hour in this hot,stuffy bus was going to make me more irritable than a cat who is hungry.

When I saw the booklets, I groaned even more.

"I really don't think Ms. Anderson is human." Nicole joked.

"She might not be."Alyssa answered.

Nicole stopped grinning. We all know it might be true. Ms. Anderson might not be human...

But we shouldn't even think about it. It's too dangerous. Ms.Anderson is smiling sweetly at us.

"Jenna,Nicole, Alyssa, do we have a problem?"

"No, Ms.Anderson." We chorused.

"Good."

"Ugh, guys, I am hating Rachel now for putting us here." I say.

Nicole nods.

"I'd rather be at camp." Nicole whispered.

"I'd rather eat pomegranates from Persephone's garden." Commented Alyssa.

We all look at her.

"What? The Underworld is cooler than up here..... but my cabin at camp is pretty cool also. There's this thing-"

Alyssa covered her mouth.

"All right, children! Just 15 minutes until we reach the Petrified Forest! I will pass out pens for everyone."

15 minutes later, we hop out of the bus. I have an instinct to run straight to the water ( 1.250 miles away) but I hold back. Rachel wouldn't send us here unless it was important. Alyssa stretched out her arms and took deep breaths,as if she were never going to breathe again. She stuffed her iPod back into her pocket. My mom's iPhone was safely in my backpack. Everything was in there. Food,water, nectar,ambrosia, drachma, mortal money,extra clothes, blankets, pillows,coats- everything.

Nicole stuffed her book into her bag. Now that we have gotten enough air, we have come to see the real Petrified Forest. It is different shades of green, dull,bright, and trunks so hard the bark is beginning to peel off.

Ms.Anderson looks pleased, as if this forest makes her so happy.

"Okay, I think now would be good, though."

It took Alyssa about about 5 seconds to realize what was going on, and her sword suddenly appeared in her hand. I followed her movements just in time, because just then,the woods exploded.