Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Chapter 12: We Get Advice From a Poodle
Written by Chris
Edited by Krystal

Percy, Grover and Annabeth find themselves camping in the woods that night, miserable after the Medusa event. Percy decides to take the first shift while Annabeth sleeps, but Grover stays up to talk about how sad he feels to see the earth polluted. If only he could get a searcher’s license so he can find the great god Pan, who disappeared 2000 years ago, and wake him from his slumber. Only the bravest among satyrs go in search, none have returned, but he still wants to go.

Percy wasn’t one to judge impossible situations though; after all he didn’t even know how they were going to get into the Underworld. Grover admits that back at Medusa’s Annabeth mentioned something seems off about the quest. The Furies seem to be looking for something, something that’s holding them back from destroying Percy on sight. Neither one can figure it out, but with only nine days left, this is no time to be wrong. Percy decides to admit that the only reason he accepted the quest was to save his mother, he could care less about the gods or his father. Grover admits he already knew and satyrs have the ability to read emotions and Percy wants to make his father proud, but he denies it. Grover ignores him and suggests Percy gets some sleep.

Another nightmare hit Percy that evening, in which he stood in a dark cavern before a gaping pit. The spirits of the dead swirled all around him as a voice spoke to him. The ancient voice lured him to the edge telling him that the gods have misled him and he can give Percy what he wants, his mother. The evil voice commands Percy to bring him the Master Bolt and help him rise against the gods, but the dead cry out for Percy to wake.

Read the rest of the summary HERE.

Memorable Quotes:

Percy: We were pretty miserable that night. (Page 188)

Grover: “No. This makes me sad.” He pointed at all the garbage on the ground. “And the sky. You can’t even see the stars. They’ve polluted the sky. This is a terrible time to be a satyr.” (Page 188-189)

Grover: “It’s my life’s dream,” he said. “My father was a searcher. And my Uncle Ferdinand…the statue you saw back there –” (Page 190)

Grover: “Don’t be so hard on her, Percy. She’s had a tough life, but she’s a good person. After all, she forgave me…” His voice faltered. (Page 191)

Grover: “Look, Percy, I’m not as smart as Annabeth. I’m not as brave as you. But I’m pretty good at reading emotions. You’re glad your dad is alive. You feel good that he’s claimed you, and part of you wants to make him proud. That’s why you mailed Medusa’s head to Olympus. You wanted him to notice what you’d done.”
Percy: “Yeah? Well maybe satyr emotions work differently than human emotions. Because you’re wrong. I don’t care what he thinks.” (Page 192)

Annabeth: “Percy,” Annabeth said. “I said hello to the poodle. You say hello to the poodle.”
Percy: The poodle growled.
I said hello to the poodle. (Page 195)

Questions for discussion:

What do you think about Grover’s dream of becoming a searcher? Do you think he has the ability to find Pan?

Do you think Grover is right about Percy’s affection for his father despite Percy’s denial?

What do you think of Percy’s new nightmare? Who do you think the voice can be and why does it need Percy’s help?

Read and discuss more HERE.