This is my first ever story and it takes place during M.o.A. Please read! I will be updating every Friday! I also do not own any of the PJO series nor the HOO series!

Carter's P.o.V.

Before I could start running, a pain seared through out my left calf. My thoughts were confirmed as I glanced down. Blood oozed out my calf where a deep gash had formed. "Congrats Carter. Looks like you'll have another scar for you to tell your grand-kids!" I muttered charging up the hill. Immediately I feel as though I could pass out. But I have to keep going. Why? Because the voice in my head told me so. For the last nine months I've been chased by all sorts of monsters while I hiked across America from New Jersey to California. I know from knowledge that now I was being chased by a Nemean Lion. It is easily as big as a pickup truck with gleaming silver claws and an indestructible coat.

Looking back, it probably would have been a good idea to see a therapist than to listen to my insane thoughts, but instead I took it as a sign. I've always been the odd one out and to be honest, I never have had a real friend. When I started hearing voices I thought ' No one is going to miss me, so why not try to see where this voice takes me.' Now, here I am scrambling up the side of a hill being chased by a mythical creƤture. Below me, dozens of bustling cars raced along the highway as if there wasn't a child being chased by a monster right next to them.

When I reached the top, I looked up and see two boys staring at me. Wait, what? They seemed about my age, sixteen years old. One had on a silver helmet that was shaped as an owl head along with a golden sword strapped around his waist. The other boy had a silver compound bow and a matching quiver full of arrows with a matching helmet. Both of them had on dark purple shirt beneath their armor. Behind them was a dark tunnel etched into the top of the hill. From the bottom of the mountain, I would've never seen the tunnel, but up close it seems as if a small house could fit through the entrance.

At first glance I probably looked ridiculous. My blonde hair was falling out of my pony-tail making me look like I was Medusa's daughter. My once brand new black skinny jeans had holes and rips from the hours and hours I spent in the woods. My cargo jacket had a missing sleeve, and I was missing a combat boot. They started to chuckle at my appearance. The boy to my left glanced behind me and started sobered up from his giggle fit.

" Caleb, l-look behind her," He said while shaking the boy's arm and pointing past my head. They both looked over by bruised shoulders and straighten up. The boy to my right, Caleb, grabbed my arm and started dragging me through the tunnel. We soon were in the dark tunnel with only the light of an occasional wall fire to show us our path.

"What about your friend?" I yelled over the noise behind us. I looked back and saw a dark shadow of the boy as he reached for another arrow. "We have to help him!"

"Travis? He's fine. He's a tough fighter." I was able to take in his appearance as he talked. He had dark, almost black hair that framed his face. His eyes looked like the ocean after a storm. He was bulky, like he trained for fighting all his life.

As we were running behind us we heard a strangled cry. I looked back to see the lion bounding toward us shortening the distance between us and him. "We have to hurry!" I screamed over the lion pounding on the cement around us. As we bolted out of the tunnel, I wish I had time to take in the scenery. I need to remember to take in this view some other time. I noted inside my head. The hill descended into a lush valley. Cutting through the valley was a rapid stream in which had a wooden bridge going across it. There. The voice echoed in my mind. As we made toward the bridge a crowd had formed on the other side.

BOOM! The Lion charged out of the tunnel and barreled towards us. In one quick movement I turned away from Caleb, took my dagger from my right combat boot, and for the lion. Come on. A little closer. Come on, I urged myself. As the lion opened its mouth to swallow me whole, I threw my dagger into it's throat. After all, if I learned anything from Greek Mythology, the only weak spot on the Nemean lion is in its mouth. The lion choked, as if it had a hairball. It soon started to crumble to a golden dust leaving only the smell of sulfur. Turning around, I noticed the crowd had become twice as large. Walking toward the bridge, I soon realized how exhausted I was. The pain of my calf was becoming unbearable with every step.

Almost. There. Was all I could think as I walked over the bridge. As soon as I crossed over, I tumbled to the ground seeping into unconsciousness. Before my vision went black a boy came to my side a picked me off the ground.