I don't know how I always end up in these situations. Me, Annabeth, Grover, and Tyson were all running from a couple of harpies, a fat old hellhound, some telekhines, and a Manticore which was something I haven't faced yet it, it has the head of a man, the body of a lion, and a tail that can shoot spikes. It was summer and now if we didn't find Laelap's offspring camp half-blood would be destroyed. Laelaps was a dog who always caught it's prey. It is rumored she had a puppy before she was turned into a constellation by Zeus, and that puppy caught almost all of it's prey.

So anyway we are running from these monsters, not a surprise really. The hellhound and Manticore were catching up fast. The harpies not too far behind and the telekhines were closer than I want any enemy monster to be. We rushed through the forest as fast as any bunch of teenagers could, but the Manticore was the first to catch up to us. I uncapped Riptide as we ran, and pointed it at the Manticore but it was out of my reach and I wasn't going to get off course trying to stab it.

The hellhound came up beside Tyson. His fat belly swinging back and forth as he jogged beside my half-brother. I turned back to the Manitcore. It was strange when the head looked at you, it was like it was human. But with four legs and claws that could maul you. Plus a tail with spikes that it can shoot which would also kill you if it hit you in your chest, neck, or head.

Then came the harpies. Pretty much a bird with a human's body. "Half-bloods! Yum!" The two cried in union. I shot a glance up and them and immediately regretted it. The Manticore took his chance and lunged at me. I just barely got out of the way by diving to the side behind my friends. I know it left me exposed but I didn't care. The Manticore gave me a look of hate and swerved beside me. It shot some spikes but I ducked and it hit a tree.

Soon the Telekhines were fifty feet from us. The hellhound slowed down and came up beside me. I had to do something because I was surrounded. I leaped to the side at the hellhound it managed to bite my arm with it's teeth but I stabbed it's side. It wailed and turned to dust. When it bit me it didn't go deep but the wound still throbbed. I saw the Manticore lunge at Annabeth. It scratched her upper arm. Though the wound wasn't severe. Annabeth grabbed her knife and swatted at the Manticore. It reluctantly swerved away from her.

Grover pressed closer to Tyson so I could catch up. I took the opening and ran beside them. I was panting hard and covered in sweat. Tyson swatted at a Telekhine who had caught up to him. He hit it hard and sent it flying back with his Cyclops's strength. Annabeth slashed another telekhine with her knife and it disintegrated. The Manticore pounded beside Annabeth, but was careful to stay away from her knife.

I glanced behind me the telekhines were catching up fast the harpies were right above us. One dived for me but I slashed at it with Riptide, it quickly pulled away before I hit it. "We can't... keep this up!" I panted. Everyone nodded in agreement. Tyson pointed to the side and motioned for us to follow him. He then vanished into the forest. Grover leaped after him. Me and Annabeth followed.

Tyson pushed away shrubs and branches. Unfortunately one branch rebounded and hit me and Grover in the face. I wiped the blood away, as Grover said something in Greek that I didn't catch. The monsters were still chasing us. Every step I took The Manticore and harpies were a foot closer. The Telekhines were slower but still covered good ground. Soon the Manticore was right behind us. My heart was beating so fast I thought it was going to explode. We only had a few steps left in us, so I whipped around and threw Riptide at a harpy.

Somehow even with my terrible aiming skills I managed to skin it's wing. It wailed with disbelief and it's wing began to disintegrate, without it, the monster tumbled through the air and into the trees. I didn't have my weapon any more I knew it would reappear in my pocket in a minute or two. But we were all exhausted, I realized how stupid I was for throwing my only weapon at a harpy. I had no time to wait for it to reappear.

We couldn't go any longer. My knees buckled along with everybody else's. Before I knew what was happening the Manticore was standing before us the harpy circling overhead looking angry that we killed it's friend. But monsters never die...we do.