The Search for a Friend - Prologue

Chapter 1

3 Days later…

~Third Person POV~

Camp was in upheaval yet again. The 2 most powerful campers, Percy Jackson and Desmond Blake had disappeared. Percy had disappeared after 3 months from the end of the Battle, while Desmond disappeared after. Desmond left behind a note saying he's gone looking for help for the war, while Chiron refuses to say whether there is a war coming or not. The Hunters were searching as well as the Campers, none more so than Annabeth. She loved Percy, and considered Desmond as a brother. The three had grown close and often spent time together. Then Percy and Desmond disappeared, and camp was in a panic again.

On Singapore Island

~Desmond POV~

I slashed the Wendigo away, and cleaved the Jötunn into half. Neither monster disintegrated, something I was used to. However, my friend Darryl was off to the side, bashing in any that dared to face him. Both of us were the most powerful in this city, and as a result the enemy decided to concentrate on us. Darryl was used to it, since he's lived here for 22 years since birth. He fought his first monster at 11, and as a result a large chunk of his school was coated in ice. That was the aftermath of a battle with a Jötunn, fighting it with a pipe wrench. He managed to kill it by ramming the wrench up its nose.

Now, he was a demon on the battlefield, taking out chunk after chunk of the monster army. The soldiers really weren't lying when they said he's the best close range fighter. And later on we'll have a welcoming spar. The two of us do it all the time, and it turned out to be a tradition for a close friend or someone related to the returning hero to spar with him or her. It's a bit weird, but I guess it's used to show how much you have improved since you left. All I can say for myself is that I fought an army of weakling monsters and a few Titans. Not much for a returning champion.

Right now, I continued crushing the monsters in front of me. I kept on the death face and a few monsters hesitated. I took the opportunity to slash off their heads. The monsters not turning to dust meant that there is a lot more resistance when it comes to slashing through a monster. A normal blow that slices through a giant only gives these Giants a small nick. A battering ram force is required to separate it from its head. The giant I was fighting sent me flying when it blocked my axe with its shield. It had swung the shield, sending me flying. I went crashing somewhere among the troops. All I felt was a sense of weightlessness, and then I plummeted towards the ground.

~Darryl POV~

I returned from taking down the Roc, and was just in time to see Desmond sent flying. He can take care of himself. I turned to the Giant he was fighting, and charged it. Spinning my Hammer, the static energy built up, until I released. The Hammer, crackling with electricity, bashed through the giant's chest, and knocked out the giant behind it. There was a howl, and Fenrir appeared. I grinned at the wolf, "Took you long enough."

He growled, and I caught my Hammer as it flew back to me. Grim smile set, I stalked towards Fenrir.

"Want a Hammer down your throat like what happened last time?"

There was a snarl, and he pounced. I anticipated it, the tensing of the back legs, the pull back of the lips as it prepared to bite, and the baring of the canines. It all pointed towards the leap he executed. I sent the Hammer up, and it snapped his jaw shut. He flew overhead, whirled around, and pounced again. I traded blows with him, he occasionally scoring huge gashes on my chest, arm, and thighs. I was rewarded with several bone crunching cracks every time my Hammer connected with a soft spot. Eventually, I managed to get a blow on his head, and he hit the ground dead. That's when I realized the monsters were retreating. My soldiers chased after them, before eventually returning to base.

I staggered back, pressing my healing orb to my chest, which had the worst. 2-3 inches deep, 4 long claw slashes on my chest. It was mostly central. I'm no doctor, so I have no idea if it is serious. My Apollo healing abilities were placed in my healing orb, so I could fully develop my other powers. Besides, this way I can heal many others without using my own strength. The healing power inside, however, is quite slow. It takes quite some time to heal a wound as serious as this. I had never let myself show my true emotions. Selene was the first who managed to break through the mask, followed by Desmond.

They were my closest friends, Selene and I, maybe more. However, we had gone camping outside the Demigod City's borders on one of our dates, which was when Fenrir decided to attack us. I could remember an ambush of several Wendigo and yee naaldlooshii, Shape-Shifters, also known as skin walkers. I fought them, but didn't notice Fenrir until I heard Selene scream. I bashed open the skull of the last Wendigo, before turning to find Fenrir tearing into Selene's body. I was shocked, hit by waves of anguish, and anger. I had never felt such anger before, and looking back on it, I scared myself. I had unlocked tremendous power with such anger, which I had used on Fenrir.

My Hammer caught fire, and I proceeded to beat the crap out of him. I ended the fight by smashing my Hammer down his throat, while it was on fire. I held it there, until he had fully died. After that, I had collapsed, the last thing I heard was Desmond's voice. He must have been keeping tabs on us. I thought. I was brought back to my senses by a soldier waving a hand in front of my face. "Earth to General… Come in General…"

I shook my head to clear my mind, before glaring at him. He shrunk back, and I started laughing at him. "Relax, Glenn. I already said I hate formalities."

He smiled, before helping me up, supporting me into the city. I moved the healing orb to my arm, with a particularly nasty slash from Fenrir's fang. The soldier noticed and gasped. "Sir, you should let the medics handle it. You're hurt badly."

I waved it off. "There are others worse off than me. I'll be fine."

He nodded, though I noticed he kept flicking his eyes at me every now and then. By the time we had entered the city, I was halfway back to normal. I swallowed another piece of ambrosia, before getting off the soldier and walking into the city.

~Desmond POV~

I woke up, and found myself in the infirmary. Several medical equipment and devices were attached to me, and as I sat up, a doctor entered. I recognized him and smiled. Sam, one of my friends here. He was a good friend of Darryl and me. He and Darryl go to the same school together, and he's the son of Asclepius. Darryl was a legacy of Apollo and Hephaestus, extremely powerful. He is also blessed by Thor, and wields a near-replica of Mjölnir. He is highly skilled with the Hammer, and is the only one who can stand toe-to-toe with me. Then there was Selene, who was Darryl's girlfriend. However, Selene was killed by Fenrir as I could not arrive in time. And ever since then Darryl has been out for Fenrir's blood. It was said that for many months, all wolves in a 100 mile radius stayed away from him.

I got up and Sam came over to check on my vitals. "Hey," I said, voice raspy.

"Hey to you too, are you feeling okay?"

"Like I was hit by a truck, and then run over by said truck."

Sam laughed, and I couldn't help but chuckle. We were good friends, and I knew that despite his actions, he was hiding something.

"Darryl's not back yet, is he?"

Sam nodded, "That is most disturbing, given that he always manages to return, no matter how bad the battle is."

I knew what was going on. Demigod City has been under siege for many years, monsters attack frequently. The City has state-of-the-art a-hundred-years-ahead defense system, but the monster attacks had increased to such a level that the defenses are hard pressed to keep up.

"I know, but don't worry. He always makes it back."

Speak of the Devil, Darryl chose this moment to walk in, "Of course I do. Who else would be there to fix you up after you decide to fight the nearest monster?"

I grinned as he pressed his healing orb to my chest. "So, when are we gonna spar?"

Sam rolled his eyes while Darryl smirked, "Right now, now up."

I groaned as I got out of the bed, and felt a sense of relief as the throbbing in the back of my head decreased in intensity.

Sam handed me a glass of water, which relieved me of the dryness of my throat. I pulled off the arm patch, and stood up.

"So, lead the way."