Adopted Demigod

I was running. Well, running would be an understatement; I ran for dear life. I didn't even get a chance to look at whom or what was chasing me. I mean, there I was just minding my own business going through a forest to look for something that I knew I would need in the future but also knew that I would evidently forget, so I figured, Why not just get it now? Well, I guess there was my big mistake because all I needed was to hear that horrid hissing noise like dozens of fingernails scraping against a chalkboard, and I took off. Of course, it was still my fault for being off on my own in a barren forest even though I was warned multiple times to never underestimate any normal circumstance, but I still blame that blasted plant.


Chapter 1

The Start of Something Exciting

It all started when I as in the forest looking for that blasted herb to help make a healing serum that I was taught years ago to help heal wounds or to at least dull the pain. I didn't get any injuries, thankfully, but I still wanted it just in case. My mentors taught me well in makings things to help with your well-being, but the ingredients they used would always made you search for them even if you have to scour the globe for them. That was why I was in was in New York, practically stumbling my way through the bushes to find what I needed. My so-called calculating eyes roamed the current area I was in; a flat, small area with trees dotting the edges as if to tell whoever was sane enough to hike through here that I was in an area that was different, dangerous even. The grass was a little bit lighter than the dark, lush grass that I walked on before I came to this specific area, as if someone put some peroxide meant to keep bugs away was spilt here. Ignoring my conscience that I should just move to a different area, my feet moved to the edge of the mini field where, surprisingly, the herb was growing. It looked small and almost out of place compared to the tall trees soaring above it, but it looked plentiful enough for the right amount I needed.

I took out some miniature scissors and cut off a good amount I'd need for my serum. I stood up, smiled contently, and started to dust off my jeans that I knew had seen better days but still kept their dark color as if to say that they were still good. That's when everything went wrong.

I didn't even get a chance to think about leaving or to even try to look back at the monster that was a few yards behind me at the most. My instincts just told me one thing once I heard the horrible noise emanating from it: Run. And that's exactly what I did; I immediately dropped what was in my hands and ran straight into the forest as the horrid hissing coming from the monster continued to overpower my hearing, yet I still ran before something impaled a tree that was near me and started to make a sound like it was dissolving. Acid, I thought frantically. Noises of running behind me alerted me that my pursuer was gaining behind me as if I challenged it to a race of who can outrun the other. My surroundings blurred around me as I ran not even caring what direction I was going in. My lungs felt like they were on fire, and I had to stop before I felt like they were going to collapse. I ran behind the nearest tree and sank to the ground, clutching my throat and gasping for air. My memories screamed at me to close my mouth, so I wouldn't lose any air and try to breathe through my nose instead.

I knew the monster was gaining on me by the sound of its legs that were faster than I had suspected. I slowly stood up and glanced apprehensively to get a good look at the monster. The best word I could come up with to describe it: ugly. It looked like a mutated version of a scorpion but with giant fangs peeking out of its mouth with green acid oozing out, making the ground below it a shade even more lighter if that was possible with every drop. I turned my head away and thought of the best option on how to fight it or at least how to distract it, so I could gain a little bit more ground. Getting up close would be like a suicide mission, literally, because of how fast it's grotesque and big head can turn and shoot me with acid. Taunting it and then running a few yards ahead seemed like the best option 'till I could make a plan on how to either decapitate the head or chop off the sharp, wicked looking tail that could impale me within seconds. My conscience debated furiously on which option seemed the most sane; I sighed, contradicted myself for such an idiot for getting myself into this mess, ran ahead, putting myself in its line of vision, and turned around, yelling, " Yo, ugly!"

It focused its beady, black eyes on me and started to walk, or crawl, or whatever mutated scorpions do once they feel like they've cornered their prey. It reminded me like a panther in a jungle, eyeing its prey before lunging, making the kill. Come on, come on, I thought, just a few more steps. It got within 10 feet of me before I boldly said,

"Oh, give me a break! Now, of all times, you decide to slow down? What, that big head of yours finally getting to you?"

I was shocked for a split second on where this newfound courage came from before it roared at me, getting the idea that I just mocked it, with its mouth foaming for another acid-projecting missile, and it started to begin our "chase" again. I high-powered ahead of it and ran for dear life yet again, except this time I took out a few of my weapons. I would try to go behind a tree and shoot one of my arrows from my supply and then run in a different direction to try and confuse it. I kept that up for a while, but I know "Big and Ugly" over here was starting to get agitated. It hissed at me and shot another poison missile at me, landing just above my head. I rolled to the side into a crouched fighting style with my bow and arrow drawn and shot at it. The arrow impaled itself into the monster's side; the monster roared, but the head went over and took it out as if it was nothing.

"Can't you just die already?" I yelled at the monster while standing up.

It gave me loathing look and shot a quick shot of poison at me. I shrieked and dove to the side; I didn't even dare look back at it; I just ran, and by the sounds of its scaly, reptilian feet, it was gaining on me quickly. As I was running, I saw this square arch made out of tan stones with Greek symbols at the top just a few yards ahead of me, but I didn't even pay attention to what it said. I ran towards it but didn't go through it, and call me crazy, but I could've sworn that I heard a conch horn being blown. I turned around, ignoring the sounds coming from the other side of the arch, and faced the monster as it finally caught up with me. It roared the loudest it's ever roared since I encountered it, and I could tell it was angry at me. I smiled crazily, getting it right where I wanted it. I took out my double fighting swords and made no attempt to lunge at it, yet.

"Oh, come on," I drawled on, making it even angrier. "A little run through the forest too much for you to handle?" It hissed at me, the cold glare in its eyes growing colder by the minute with its feet clawing at the ground as if it was going to charge at me like an angry bull.

"Oh, is the big, bad monster scared? Finally going to give in, are we? Well, don't worry, big guy, this is going to be such an easy kill."

That did it. It roared in defiance at me, mouth foaming like a bubble-making machine gone haywire and shot a long stream of putrid acid at me, but I rolled to the side and continued running to it. I swiped it across the neck, getting dangerously close like what I had anticipated. It was about to bite me where were I was standing, but I did a backflip, landing gracefully as ever on my feet in a fighting stance. I probably looked like a crazed acrobat who had too much coffee this morning, with all the grinning and name-calling, but frankly I didn't care at the moment of how weird I looked; I was used to people looking at me weirdly as if there was glowing, neon sign above me advertising, "Freak show right here, folks!"

It reared its head back, probably collecting more acid to shoot, yet I needed to distract it, so I could try and decapitate the head. I did multiple cartwheels to the left- thankful that my swords were enchanted, so they could disappear and reappear when I wanted them to- ran then jumped on to its back, stabbed it, but I was thrown off guard when its tail finally woke up from its nap and almost stabbed me in the back before I could take out my sword. I got off the ground just in time before the tail made another lunge. I knew my sword could instantly come back to me if I called for it, yet my mind told me to stay focused. With only one sword now, I gave a battle cry and ran. I ended up having to stop and do a complete bridge with my back when an acid stream was flying directly above me, but that didn't stop from me.

Apparently, this monster thought that I had disappeared, so it was completely taken back when I made a defining swipe to one of its fangs. Thankfully, my sword didn't melt into a puddle of iron. Clearly, this monster was getting fed up with me because it moved its head to the opposite direction a little too fast and knocked my sword out of my hand, leaving me too paralyzed to summon anything else. As fast as lightning, its tail came up over my head and almost impaled me, but I cursed and did two backflips to get out of the way, landing in a cat-like crouch. Seriously, this thing is pissing me off!

"You want a fight, don't you? Well, I'll give you something to fight about," I said menacingly.

As much as I delayed myself from using my powers, this was a time I called on them to finish this guy off. I stood up slowly, clenching my fists till they were white, and that's when the ground started to respond to my will. The earth started to shake viciously, and I could hear the monster roaring in protest. It started to back away as I continued to stare it down, my eyes filled with pure hate, and I could tell my powers were making the monster look at me like a had actual fire in my eyes. I smirked and raised my hands slowly, my palms facing the monster. Fire burst from my hands making a wall of orange-red flames on the grass in front of me. The monster still wasn't going to give in, so it stood its ground, clearly not intimidated by my little "fire show." I lowered my hands and, while using a little help from the wind, did a front flip onto the monster's head, with my backside facing the arch and my wall of fire. It roared and bucked, finally realizing where I was, and tried to unsuccessfully shake me off.

What happened in the next moment went by all so fast; I summoned my swords and slashed at its tail, making it rise to give one more deadly strike directly targeted at me. I made my swords disappear, and I waited for the final blow. At the last minute, I jumped off, doing an aerial backflip, and looked right where I was standing just a few moments ago: right on top of the monster's head but this time with its own tail impaled directly at the top of its skull. It roared loudly in pain, getting a taste of its own medicine, just like I had planned. It started to disintegrate into yellow sand, and I used my earth powers to open the ground, making its remains go straight to where it needed to go. By now I had extinguished the fire by forming water through the moisture of the air and moved the dirt, so everything would look like there wasn't a battle that just happened here. I smiled contently from my victory, sheathed my swords, and dusted off my hands, and turned around, only to be greeted by the gazes of many people who looked about my age or older in battle armor, orange t-shirts with the logo "Camp Half-Blood" and a centaur under it, with all their weapons drawn yet lowered, and all of them had looks of astonishment on their faces.

Me, being the crazy person that I am, just had to say, "So, how's it going?"