Hello everyone! This is my first HOO fanfic so it'll have some mistakes in it. I hope you enjoy it! I'll be writing from Nico's point of view. I don't own the PJO or Hoo series.
Getting attacked by a hellhound was not Nico's favorite way to start a day. Well, it's not like he was attacked, more enthusiastically tackled. He walked into camp after a particularly long research trip when Mrs. O'Leary had leaped from the nearby shadows squishing Nico underneath her huge weight. Her tail waved wildly and she covered Nico's face with slobbery kisses.
"Mrs. O'Leary!" Nico snapped pushing her off of him a scowl played on his face. The large hellhound sat back on her haunches still panting, a dog-like smile across her muzzle. Nico sighed and scratched behind her ear, he couldn't stay mad at her for long. He smiled and continued walking along the trail that would get him back to camp, the large hound walking along beside him. Ever since the war with Gaea he had been living at camp in the Hades cabin and he still wasn't quite used to it.
The camp came into view as Nico quickened his pace. His stomach growled as the scent of food wafted from the dining pavilion. Before he ran over to get his meal he turned back to Mrs. O'Leary, ignoring the growling of his stomach "I'll come and play with you later." He promised scratching her ears again "Promise." She barked loudly and licked his face once again, turning and disappearing back into the forest. Sighing he rubbed the dog spit off his face and walked into the dining pavilion.
The pavilion was filled with demigods eating and chatting. Nico quietly snatched some food from the table, throwing some into the fire. He glanced around, panicked, he didn't want to be seen by-
"Nico!" a voice stopped him mid-step, he turned stiffly to see Will Solace making his way through the crowd to where Nico was trying to make his escape. Nico swore under his breath and scowled at the teen walking up to him "What do you want Solace?" he snapped irritably "I have work to do."
"Not until you eat." Will said, grabbing Nico by the arm "Doctors orders." He pulled Nico to the Hades table and shoved him onto the bench and sitting down across from him.
"I was going to eat in my cabin." Nico growled stabbing into the meat with his fork "And you're not even supposed to be sitting here."
Will rolled his eyes "Where have you been?" he asked, completely ignoring the looks they were getting.
"You should be glad Chiron isn't here." Nico continued, ignoring Wills question as he did Nico's.
The sat there for a minute, both glaring at each other neither willing to look away. Finally after another minute of silence Will wavered and looked away running his fingers through his golden hair and turning back to face the son of Hades "Answer my question, where have you been?"
Still scowling Nico stabbed another slice of meat "I've been doing research in a bunch of different places." He finally said, stuffing the meat into his mouth.
Will tilted his head curiously "What have you been researching?" his eyes hardened for a second "You haven't been shadow traveling have you?"
"No," Nico said sarcastically "Doctors orders." mimicking Wills voice, he turned back to face him"I actually haven't had to so you don't need to worry." Before Will could say anything else Nico stood and turned to walk out of the pavilion "If you'll excuse me I have to go and fulfill a promise."
Will jumped up and followed him "Wait, what have you been looking at?" he huffed when Nico ignored him "Nico!"
'Just ignore him and he'll go away.' Nico kept telling himself 'Just focus on finding Mrs. O'Leary' He didn't have to search far. As soon as he stepped into the forest a large black mastiff jumped out at him, and instead of getting flattened like earlier Nico side stepped just in time for Will to run to his side, and get flattened by the hellhound.
"Gods!" Will swore, struggling to move "Nico, help!"
Smirking Nico clapped his hands and Mrs. O'Leary walked up to him.
"You knew that was going to happen!" Will growled, aggravated "That's cold Di Angelo, you didn't even give me a warning!"
Nico gave him a look of false hurt "She must just dislike you." He stroked the hellhound fur, a smile flashing across his lips "I don't control what she does."
Will scowled at him and brushed off the dirt and fur covering his clothes "You made a promise with a dog?"
"Of course." Nico pulled out the metal shield from some bushes and threw it across the open area "She likes to play Frisbee." Will shook his head and watched Nico and Mrs. O'Leary play dropping the argument, he didn't want to argue with Nico with a little too friendly hellhound running around.
Just as their game of Frisbee was winding down the sound of hooves against the dirt caught Nico's attention, he turned and spotted Chiron. As it turned out turning away from the ecstatic hellhound was a bad idea. She bounded up to him and gave him a friendly nudge from behind with her powerful nose, sending him flying through the air "Oh my go-" his voice was cut off as he clashed with Will, both of them tumbling into the dirt.
Will stumbled as Nico rammed into him, both of them skidding a few feet across the forest ground. As the cloud of dust cleared around them they both sat up, banging heads. They both reeled back, swearing loudly.
Nico opened one eye, his hand massaging his bruised forehead. He looked at Will and laughed out loud. Will looked at him surprised, never once had he heard the son of Hades laugh. "You look like you fell through a pine tree." Nico said, pointing to Wills hair.
Will scowled and started taking out the pine needles in his hair, trying to cover the blush that was creeping along his face "At least I don't look like I fell off a Pegasus."
Nico looked down at himself and stopped laughing. His clothes where crumpled together and coated with dirt "Sh- Shut up Solace!"
After they had sorted themselves out Nico palmed his forehead, making the bruise spark with pain again "I forgot!" he sighed "I need to tell Chiron about the-" he stopped mid-sentence when Will looked over at him.
Will looked at him skeptically, waiting for him to continue.
Nico just shut his mouth and walked the way Chiron had gone, ignoring Will as he fell into step beside him.
When they had finally found Chiron Nico had explained what he had been researching.
"A small village has been attacked for the past several days, their livestock and children have gone missing, even some adults have been found dead." He placed his hand on his sword handle and continued "Normally I would just dismiss this as a wolf but there is something that worries me, as soon as I entered the village is could feel and immense underwordly power coming from the woods." he looked at Mrs. O'Leary "I think it's a hellhound."
Chiron nodded "I think you should check this out." He looked at Nico "Normally a hellhound wouldn't attack a mortal village, I want you to find out why."
Will, who had just been listening until know piped up "He can't go alone!" he looked back and forth between them "What if something happens."
Nico rolled his eyes "I'll be fine, I'm good with this kind of thing." He looked to Chiron, silently begging him to let him go alone.
"I think Will is right." Chiron started, much to Nico's dismay "You can go with Nico." He turned to Will "Your knowledge about medicine may come in handy.
And just like that, Nico had a new traveling companion.
How was it? I felt like Chiron was a bit out of characters but I couldn't fix it. Please comment! I'd like to know what you liked and disliked, or if you want me to continue this. Thanks for reading!