THE BATTLE OF THE LABYRINTH Percy Jackson ... - No one's invited.

Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
“They can fade,” Pan said, “when everything they stood for is gone.When they cease to have power,
and their sacred places disappear. The wild, my dear Grover, is so small now, so shattered, that no god
can save it. My realm is gone. That is why I need you to carry a message. You must go back to the
council. You must tell the satyrs, and the dryads, and the other spirits of nature, that the great god Panis
dead. Tell them of my passing.Because they must stop waiting for me to save them. I cannot. The only
salvation you must make yourself. Each of you must—”
He stopped and frowned at the dodo bird,who had started humming again.
“Dede, what are you doing?” Pan demanded. “Are you singingKumbaya again?”
Dedelooked up innocently and blinked her yellow eyes.
Pan sighed. “Everybody’s a cynic. But as I was saying, my dear Grover, each of you must take up my
calling.”
“But…no!”Grover whimpered.
“Be strong,” Pan said. “You have found me. And now you must release me. You must carry on my
spirit. It can no longer be carried by a god. It must be taken up by all of you.”
Pan looked straight at me with his clear blue eyes, and I realized he wasn’t just talking about satyrs. He
meant half-bloods, too, and humans.Everyone.
“Percy Jackson,” the god said. “I know what you have seen today. I know your doubts. But I give you
this news: when the time comes, you will not be ruled by fear.”
He turned to Annabeth. “Daughter of Athena, your time is coming. You will play a great role, though it
may not be the role you imagined.”
Then he looked at Tyson. “Master Cyclops, do not despair. Heroes rarely live up to our expectations.
But you, Tyson—your name shall live among the Cyclopes for generations. And Miss Rachel Dare…”
Rachel flinched when he said her name. She backed up like she was guilty of something, but Pan only
smiled. He raised his hand in a blessing.
“I know you believe you cannot make amends,” he said. “But you are just as important as your father.”
“I—” Rachel faltered. A tear traced her cheek.
“I know you don’t believe this now,” Pan said. “But look for opportunities. They will come.”
Finally he turned back toward Grover. “My dear satyr,” Pan said kindly, “will you carry my message?”
“I—I can’t.”
“You can,” Pan said. “You are the strongest and the bravest. Your heart is true. You have believed in
me more than anyone ever has, which is why you must bring the message, and why you must be the first
to release me.”