Page 58 of The Wild Zone

The gods knew I didn’t have much to laugh about. I’d failed to find Grant. I was an embarrassment to my cabin and probably the laughingstock of the whole camp. I’d barely survived an encounter with a judgmental, chain-wielding apparition. On top of all that, I still had KP duty to look forward to.

Nevertheless, the ambrosia square seemed to make me feel better on the inside as well as the outside.

I recalled something the hooded man had said: None of this is random, girl. You were chosen to be here.

Maybe it wasn’t random that I’d met Benny and Harper and Zuri either. Maybe we were chosen to be together. In which case, Benny had a point. I needed to let them help me.

“You’re right!” I hammered a fist against my leg.

Benny frowned. “About the cafecito aftertaste?”

“No, we’re demigods!” I said. “It’s time I start acting like one. You guys are my team.” I drummed my fingers on my knee. “Now we just need a good team name.”

Benny regarded me with the spoon hanging out of his mouth. “Uh-oh.”

“That’s right,” I said, getting to my feet as inspiration seized me. “The Wild Omada is on the case!”

13

When You Get Bad News, Make a Bad Plan

I entered the kitchen with determined demigod swagger.

“Harpsichord! Zuzu!” I pointed to each of them. They glanced over with confused expressions and then resumed unloading the dirty dish cart.

I blinked. “Wow, I didn’t think you’d actually let me get away with those nicknames.”

Harper batted his eyelashes. “Oh, no. If you call me that again, I’ll charmspeak you into crowing on the roof of the Big House every morning.”

Zuri chewed her lip thoughtfully. “You know…I don’t hate mine.”

“You all got off easy in the nickname department,” Benny said, walking in behind me. “I’m Benny-ficent. Sounds like an iron supplement for old people.”

I clucked my tongue. “No, you’re Bennificent. Like magnificent.”

Benny shifted his stance and smiled. “Oh. Well, that’s not so bad, then.”

I smiled too and pulled on my hazmat suit.

“I’m glad you’re in a good mood,” Harper said. “And still alive.”

“Yeah,” Zuri agreed. “We weren’t sure what would happen after the Ares cabin came in dead last. I’m guessing it didn’t go well looking for Grant?”

Harper frowned at me. “You went without us? I thought—”

“I know, I know.” I held up my hands. “I was wrong not to wait for you. But from now on, I’ll do better. Because, believe it or not, I’m just now accepting the fact that despite being a demigod, I can’t do everything myself, and deep down I’m just a stubborn mortal kid who’s disappointed her mom a thousand times but still craves her love.”

Zuri blinked at me. “That’s a lot to unpack in one sentence.”

“You don’t know the half of it.” I tugged on my lava-proof gloves. “My point is—we’ll find Grant together. Um…assuming that offer is still on the table?”

The other three exchanged looks.

“We promised,” Zuri said, “if nobody found Grant by tonight, we’d help you look.”

“And we will,” Harper agreed.

“Bennificent!” said Benny.