Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson, or any of the content within the books. They belong to Rick Riordan, a fantastic writer. The myths involved in this story are also not mine. They belong to whoever created them in ancient times. The only characters I own mentioned in this fic are Ashlynn and Astra Brooks. The rest belong to their respectful creators. I only take claim to the plot, where Kronos (who belongs to mythology, also not mine) and the other Titans (also not the owner of) are the rulers of the world. This work of fanfiction is purely for the enjoyment of the readers, and I do not make any profit from it.
The sun had risen three hours ago, lazily trailing across the sky. The few inhabitants of a very small camp, nestled into the wild countryside of Virginia. Large trees surrounded the camp, and a small clearing housed everything it needed. A small stream ran through the side, with bushes of wild plants around it. The only food available was what was harvested. Life wasn't easy for the campers. The world was in chaos, with the Titans lead. Kronos had won a battle long ago, against a son of Poseidon called Perseus Jackson. The Demigods who fought in the war were slaughtered, and the Gods subjected to the punishments their Titan ancestors once had to endure. With the Gods off Olympus, Kronos has made it his throne, mocking the Gods. Humans were made into slaves, pets to Kronos, and used as his entertainment.
Yes, the world was in ruin. All because one Demigod had failed to save Olympus. One!
The camp itself had small white tents made out of course white material, held up by sticks. Crossing the stream was a large roped off area, large white winged horses within the confined area. The tents were set off to the other side, their positioning made in a way that they would provide both protection from the weather, and a view of the surrounding terrain so they would be alerted to danger before it arrived. The center was a large clearing, where a few Demigods were now at, weapons drawn, practicing. Two girls stood in the center, and another sitting off to the side, watching.
A golden brown haired girl with caramel highlights had a dagger in her right hand, her feet spread wide, crouched slightly. Another girl, a taller one with really short brown hair held a short sword, dull green eyes trained on the younger teen in front of her. Her fingers tightning around the hilt of her sword, she took a step forward, her blade moving fluidly. It came down at the female, who pulled her dagger up just in time to thrust the attack to the front of her body.
"If you have the smaller weapon, step inside the attack." The girl who had spoken stood, her light bleach blonde hair hanging just off her shoulders. Gray and blue eyes glowing in slight agitation, she stood up, and walked over to the taller female. Reaching to her right hunting boot, she pulled out a dagger, and faced the taller girl. "Astra, watch." Once the tanned girl had moved, the girl with the dagger turned to face her opponent. "As I said, when you have the smaller blade, get inside their thrusts, and strike them. Ruth, attack me."
At Ashlynn's command, Ruth nodded, her blade slicing at Ashlynn. They both moved at a slower pace than they normally would, so Astra would be able to see their moves better. As the blade came down at Ashlynn's right side, the female sidestepped, her dagger pushing against the sword's blade, forcing the blade away from her body. Within a few steps, the female was pulling her dagger back away from the blade, and thrust it against the other female, allowing it to just nick the bronze plate the female wore, sliding harmously off it. When Ashlynn had showed her sister this move, she and Ruth ceased in their fight, and Ashlynn moved back to her original position, watching the two fight. Astra stood in front of Ruth, her dagger ready in her right hand. "Begin." At the command from the light haired female, both moved, Ruth in a fierce posture, Astra light on her feet.
As Ruth sliced at the younger teen, Astra ducked, the blade sliding within inches of her head. Reacting on instict, Astra pushed her dagger up, catching Ruth's sword in a return swing. The golden brown haired female stepped in Ruth's thrust, and pointed her dagger at Ruth's chest plate, not touching it with even the tip of her dagger.
At the sound of racing feet, all three females turned to look at the male running towards them, his light sky blue eyes flashing. "Ashlynn, we have trouble at our borders!"
"Monster, or Titan?"
"Monster. The one with the snake legs."
Ashlynn nodded. "Alright. Ruth and I will take care of it. Have everyone else start packing and load the items onto the Pegasi." As Will headed off, Ashlynn turned to Astra and Ruth. "Astra, help pack up. Ruth, let's go hunting." Astra headed off towards the Pegasi, helping with the others as they packed. Ashlynn and Ruth ran through the woods, dodging burnt logs that had fallen, dodging dead trees, and jumping over the small puddles made by the stream. Finally, they caught sight of a snake lady coming towards them. Without a word, weapons raised against it.
"Sssso, there are Demigodsssss alive. Kronossss will be pleasssed with thissss dissscovery." The three attacked at each other, swords clanging against one another, passing through air, though none had met a true mark. The monster sliced at Ashlynn, who parried an attack. As she did that, the monster screamed, and swatted a hand at Ruth, who had stabbed her in the back. But the hand slashed air, and the monster exploded into golden dust. "Nice attack, Ruth."
"I still wish I knew why they exploded into that golden dust. And how many are there?"
"No time to ponder that. Lets get back to camp and help with the packing."
Once again, the two were racing through the dead forest, and passed into the only part of it that was still alive. Having a Demigod who was able to control the growth of plants was a good thing. They didn't have to rely on just meat for their diets. Astra had a hard time surviving, considering she was a vegitarian. Ash had tried many times to trick her younger sister into eating meat, but that hadn't worked. She was able to sniff it out like a shark pinpointing the location of spilled blood, and its next meal. Once they got back, the two friends looked around, and took in the fact that the camp was already packed, and the campers were loading up on the Pegasi. Looking around, Ashlynn saw Rose coming towards her, and the female approached the female, long curly black hair pulled back in a ponytail. She had been training. "We're ready to move out, but the twins are missing."
Ashlynn nodded, and turned to Pegasus, who had walked over, gear strapped to his sides. "Rose, take Pheobe and check the creek. Once you find them, head north." Climbing onto the creature's back, she took up the golden reins the creature had, and turned back to the two females. "And Rose, you are to watch their backs. Keep them safe." As the female nodded once more, Ashlynn turned the large beast around, and rode towards the other campers waiting her command. "We ride swiftly. Stay on the ground, and stick together. If you need to branch off, then do it. Any monsters in tow, destroy. Do not stop, do not dismount, ride." Kicking the sides of Pegasus, the the leader of the small band of Demigods headed to the front of the group, and looked around at them. "Ride."
The sound of hooves thundering across the ground as the Pegasi came to life, white pelts shining in the light, their color making them easy to see. As the group left their clearing, it returned to its dead look, the power of agriculture moving away, causing it to fade back into dead and charred trees. Light bleach blonde hair streaming across her face, the female looked back, watching as the trees shriveled, and black returning to the forest. She looked past that, seeking out the form of four more white horses streaking across the land. The female didn't want to leave the four, but it was necessary. If any were to die, she would like to keep the casualties to a minimum, and the camp had been discovered. Sure her and Ruth had destroyed the creature, but one creature could have escaped, and told the Titans of the Demigod's whereabouts. They had already lost three Demigods. Two had died when seven monsters had attacked, buying the rest time to flee. The third had died while riding, struck dead by an arrow fired by one of the creatures with the snake feet.
She had told Rose the way she was heading, and when they had first arrived to their temporary home, they all sat together and discussed the way they were going to head next. It had been Josebelle who had pointed out the mountains barely seeable to the North. They would head there.
The only problem was, if that wasn't inhabitable, then they would be separated, and may not be able to remeet each other. The female hoped they would be able to make their home on the mountains, and if not, be able to stay somewhere close. If they weren't, then the four Demigods would be split up, and their chances of survival minimum. Sighing, the leader turned to face the front of Pegasus once more, and concentrated on the road ahead.
The group dodged burnt trees, and ran through the small stream that trickled through the dead forest. Water splayed everywhere, splashing up onto the legs of the campers. A discusted shriek was heard, and Ash shut her eyes, sighed loudly. She didn't need to look back to know it was Adriane. The girl had a large ego, and thought none were more important than her. Ash would've just left her somewhere and be done with it, but she didn't feel like pissing off any help from the Gods they could get. Besides, she was useful.
A roar reached her ears, and the female looked around, eyes squinting with the effort to see into the surrounding area, searching out the source of the sound. Then the sound rang through the surrounding area once more, this time to her right. Looking in that direction, she saw a large creature staring at her. The female pulled the golden reins the creature had come with to the left, and pulled back on them, stopping Pegasus. The rest of the group did as well, stopping around her. "Astra, take lead. Take them to safety. Ruth, William, keep an eye out for monsters. I'll meet up with you there. Go!" As the group headed off once more, Ashlynn ran her hand over the length of her right bracelet, and it became a long sword, its presence familiar in the female's grip. The lion charged, and Ash pulled the reins to the side, her pegasus moving quickly. Light fur bristling, the lion turned, another roar sounding through the forest. It charged once again, and Ash moved Pegasus, though it wasn't quick enough. The lion rammed Pegasus in the sides, and the large beast was pushed back, but somehow managed to keep its footing. Maybe it was because the large white horse was stronger than the others, but instead of falling, the large beast was just pushed a few feet to the side, dazed. Ash jumped from its back, and struck the lion in its back, her blade aimed for the muscle rippling underneath thick fur. Her blade struck, and just glanced off. It hadn't even made a dent.
Pausing in confusion was the worst mistake the female could have made, one she would regret. The lion pounced, and its claws raked through the side of her arm, causing her to drop her blade. Snarling, the female reached for her right boot, hand wrapping around the white hilt of her dagger, and stabbed she stabbed Windcharger once more into the creature who had her pinned down. It once again just glazed off.
Another roar emitted from the lion, and Ashlynn had an idea. She drove her dagger into its mouth, the blade sinking into the roof of its mouth. Pain lanced through her arm for the second time, and when she pulled it out, dagger still in hand, blood ran down the length of her arm, staining pale skin. Growling, she looked at the lion once more, but it had disappeared. Dropping her bloodstained dagger, the female fell to her knees, hand wrapping around the only thing that remained from the lion with the rock hard pelt; its hide.
It was strange, the pelt felt like that of a regular lion's, but she knew that this wasn't a regular lion, something was different about it. It had to have been a monster. She knew her mark had been true with Lightningstorm. She rarely missed, and she had been sure she hit it. But the blade had just bounced off. Here however, was its pelt, the same as any lion's, if only lighter. Sighing, she grabbed it, and stood, left hand holding the large gash on her right arm, the dead lion's pelt hanging limply in her right arm, blood trailing down the light brown fur, falling with small drops at the end of it.
Blue flecked eyes looked up, right hand, now soaked in blood, reached for the bracelet residing on her left hand, fingers grasping clumsily at it, twisting it. The bracelet then turned into a longsword, it automatically in her left hand. Her right hand dragged at her side, limply hanging there.
With a growl, Ashlynn gripped the pelt in a vice like grip, and after the saddle was dropped to the floor, and the blanket removed, the pelt was placed onto its back, black saddle placed onto the pale yellow fur, strapping it in place. She clutched her right arm, pain lancing through it quickly. "I hate lions."
Ideas are always welcome!