The Child Of the Moon: The Sea of Monsters
Disclaimer: I do not own "Percy Jackson: The Sea of Monsters" all rights reserved to Rick Riordan and I don't own Pepsi or Mountain Dew and Keele and peele came up with the name Blaque. The only thing I own are oc's.
Alert: This story will have a ton of oc's and I myself will be in this suggestions will be appreciated in this story just leave a comment below and I will maybe put it in my story.
Please criticize it just don't completely bash it. Thank you and enjoy. Also remember to leave a comment about what you thought of the story.
Chapter 6: Demonic Pigeons attack
The Trident that had once hovered over Tyson's form finally disappeared, and Tyson gained a look of innocence and sadness, as if wondering where the shiny light had disappeared. Everyone was still laughing at the joke Tantalus had said earlier. I looked over to Percy who sat in shock and anger, at his table. I could tell he was angry at all the people who were laughing and wanted nothing more than to punch them in their throats. I stood from my table next to Ember, and walked to Tyson's lumbering form I grabbed a hold of his gigantic arm and led him to the Poseidon table, right next to Percy. As soon as I sat him next to Percy, he looked both excited and happy. I myself as soon as I seated the Cyclopes went back to my own table.
And conversations continued on throughout the mess hall. Probably talking about Tyson.
As soon as I sat at the silver table on the opposite side of Ember. A nymph walked up to me and handed me some food, and a goblet just like all the others had, her cheeks were a bright green as if she were blushing. She then walked away. I then scratched the back of my head wondering what that was about.
"Thank you!" I shouted to her, and as she walked away tripped over her feet in the shock of hearing me say thank you. She then got her bearings back and stood up and picked up her pace rushing out of the mess hall.
I shook my head slightly, and went back to eating my dinner. Once I was finished I went to the bronze brazier and tossed some of my food in, and mutter a thank you to my mother and then scrapped the rest in for my grandmother Athena.
As soon as everyone was finally finished with dinner, the Apollo cabin led everyone down to the amphitheatre. Percy and Tyson sat next to myself and Ember while all the other camp members sat on the opposite side of the amphitheatre. We then all sang along with the Apollo cabin as they led the sing along. After what seemed to be hours it was finally time to get to our cabins for some sleep.
Percy led Tyson to his cabin all the while Tyson was giggling every fifteen seconds mumbling "Percy is my brother."
And all I could do for Tyson was smile for the big guy, he now had some family and I was really happy for him.
I however led Ember to my cabin. As we walked in a comfortable silence the cabin finally came into view. The two wolf statues still in the front of the cabin, looking like they were howling at the moon. The cabin itself looking like it usually did the same log cabin with a glow of silver.
"Wow." muttered Ember in bewilderment. "It's beautiful."
"It is, isn't it?" I asked her. "The cabin is amazing it might look small from the outside, but when you get inside it actually is quite large." I told her.
"Hmm, I suppose." Ember said.
Finally we got to the front doors the carving of a moon on the door also seemed to shimmer under the moon rays. I opened the door with a creek, I went to turn on the lights, but remembered that I didn't need to as the roof of the cabin had stars and of course the moon embedded in the roof of the cabin. The sides of the cabin still had monster stuffed heads and animal skins. All thirty bunk beds were still there with the oak green sheets and silver pillows. A door on the far edge of room shimmered into existence, the door of course led to my personal room. What was puzzling was the fact that there was a sign on the door and a letter on one of the beds closest to my room.
Ember and I walked to my bed room door, and on the front read:
"BLAKE'S ROOM ONLY NO HALF-DRAGONS ALLOWED!"
'Oh great mom is going to be like that, yesh it's not like we are going to do anything.' I thought to myself blushing at the very thought of Ember and I doing THAT.
Ember had a huge blush sporting her face .
"Hehe," I said rubbing the back of my head. "Sorry Em, my mom can get a little…uh overprotective."
"It's fine Blake." Ember said.
Ember then walked over to the bed with a letter on it which happens to be the bed closest to my room. On the front of the letter it said EMBER. I walked up behind Ember and took a look from her shoulder to look at the card, but it was blank not a single word on it.
Ember's face however went from her normal olive completion to a pale one within a few minutes.
"Umm…Ember what is wrong, there isn't anything on the card." I told her.
"Y-yes there is. You can't see it?" She asked.
"Um no, I guess my mother doesn't want me to read it. Huh, what did it say?" I asked her.
"N-nothing don't worry about it." She told me.
"Well if you say so." I told her in a yawn. "Well I guess I'm going to hit the sack. I'm exhausted." I told her.
As I got to my door and was about to turn the knob, she shouted. "Wait."
"What?" I asked.
"We need to change your bandages remember?" Ember told me.
"Oh right." I said wincing in pain at the mention of my wound.
I then went back towards her and sat on one of the beds. And, as I took my shirt off thunder rumbled in the distance.
"Oi she is just helping with some ointment, chill mom!" I shouted to the rumbling.
The rumbling subsided only slightly and I heard Ember just give a small laugh. She unwrapped my bandages around my waist and took them off. I saw her face cringe at the sight. But she scooped some green salve on her fingers and plunged it into my open wound.
"Ow god dammit!" I shouted at the top of my lungs.
"I'm sorry, Blake. But it was your fault for fighting the bulls." Ember said hotly and pointedly.
I grumbled as she finally wrapped it up.
"Alright you are free to go, goodnight Blake have a goodnights sleep." Ember told me.
"Goodnight Ember, sweet dreams." I told her back.
I then went to my door and turned the knob. I then shut the door behind me. And as I shut my door the chest that lay beside my bed glowed silver and then subsided. The stars and moon on the roof of my ceiling were bright as ever. I went to the chest and opened it up.
Dear Blake,
As you asked I have provided some protection for that thing...Ember as you call her, however this does not mean that I approve of her in any shape or form. I will warn you now that if I suspect that she has a plan to hurt you in any way I will hunt her down to the ends of the planet. As she is a black dragon, I know her kind can be deceptive and cruel.
I also want you to know that while you are in the cabin, if I sense anything, I deem too…well inappropriate, let's just say that you will be in big, big trouble. And Ember will be hunted by me and my hunt personally. (After reading that I was sweating bullets, worried that my mom would be pissed.)
P.S.: pull a stunt like you did today with the bulls and you will be grounded to your cabin for a year, and yes I can do that.
Love,
Mom
After reading the whole thing I was really, really nervous. I mean I didn't have to worry about doing anything inappropriate as I know Ember and I wouldn't do such a thing anytime soon of course, but what I consider inappropriate my mother might think differently. And that is what worried me. That and the fact Ember and I can get into some really awkward positions.
After reading that letter I decided to look through my trunk luckily I had kept some of my clothes here, along with the fire arrows my mother had given to me as a gift last year, and as I continued to look throughout the trunk I noticed my dragon book underneath a t-shirt.
'But I thought I left this at Sally's.' I thought to myself in bewilderment.
I tossed the t-shirt that covered the book to the side of room, and then opened my book and on the front of my book there was a piece of paper that read:
From Grandma.
I smiled and thanked my grandmother. I grabbed the book and sat it down next to my bed on top of the rectangular trunk deciding that I would just read it tomorrow. And got under my silver bed sheets and as soon as my head hit my orange throw pillows I was out like a light.
The next few days, were actually really nice, well, sort of if you ask me anyway. If you ask Percy…well you might get a different response. Ember and I actually came up with a schedule for the bathroom in my cabin…since well, the first time I went to take a shower and I had no clue she was already in there and for some reason she decided to leave it unlocked and let's just say I passed out, by no means am I a perv, I respect women, but it seems my mother thinks otherwise as she was not happy by the incident. Now I would had thought that maybe my mother had not noticed, because no animal had come to rip off my face, until I heard thunder crash right next to the cabin leaving a huge burning crater in the ground, and I then knew that she had noticed, and was not at all happy with me.
Tyson was adjusting well even though he continued to say "Percy is my brother." every fifteen seconds like a school girl would which creeped me out.
However life outside of my friends with the other campers was shitty. Everyone didn't really like me anymore, they all feared me. Some even started to hate me because they started to view me as a monster. Most wouldn't outright say it, so instead they would just give me dirty looks, even though I helped save the camp twice now, they started to believe in what Tantalus had said about me being a monster. I would try to explain to them that I was the same guy from last year but they would just sneer at me and call me a liar. I guess changing into a giant wolf is ok but not a dragon. But I suppose some people are just idiots.
Ember would get pissed and want to kick their ass, but of course I would convince her otherwise. Telling her that it wouldn't be worth it. And I honestly have to say I wouldn't want anyone else for a roommate, because and don't tell her I told you but she is pretty amazing.
Percy on the other hand seemed to be disappointed that Tyson was his brother and new roommate which I honestly didn't get, Tyson may be young and not very intelligent (not to bash on him) but he was a good monster at heart and it just seems as if Percy doesn't understands that. All Percy really cares about is his status here at camp. Annabeth would try to talk to Percy to make him feel better. She even suggested to him that they team up for the chariot event, which I and Ember both signed up for we all decided to do the race until we could at least find a cure for Thalia's tree.
Luckily my mom was looking out for us still pissed, but looking out for us, for the chariot race. She had sent us two of her Cerynitian Hinds, she had told the stags to tell us that it would be alright for us to use them in the chariot races as she wouldn't need them for the next couple of days. However we were to make sure they didn't get too hurt in the chariot races.
Luckily I would be able to talk to the Hinds while we race so I would be able to direct them a lot easier.
So one day we decided to go to the forest and design our chariot so that no one would see our designs and other modifications. As we walked to the forest we passed some Ares kids and they asked if I would be sport in the forest for them to hunt. They have been aching to fight another monster since the bulls' arrival. Now usually I wasn't one to take an insult lying down, but today I just wasn't in the mood to fight two idiots with a brain the size of a peanut.
So Ember decided to scare them off by having black balls of fire appear in her hands. They then took off running screaming in fear.
"Ignore them Blake they are all douche bags. You are no monster you are just a demigod with awesome powers." Ember said trying to sooth my anger and despair, all the while putting out the fire in her hands. Her control over the black flames were actually getting better each day.
"I know, but the kids here are being jerks." I told her mournfully.
She nodded her head. "Well for now just ignore them, I'm sure we will have a lot more fun designing our chariot rather than worry about some idiots talking shit." Which I had to agree and we continued making our way to the forest. Once in the forest I set up a small round portable table in the forest by the creek.
"So what design do you want to do for the Chariot?" Ember asked as she took out her sketch book that she had got from the camp store.
"Hmm. What if we did half of the wolves and the other half a black dragon, and then a bronze metal frame on the chariot?" I told her.
Ember nodded her head in agreement drawing out her design on the sketch paper.
The golden horned stags were behind her grazing in the forest. We also decided that if the other competitors had spikes on their wheels that we would have shields on the wheels nothing heavy but a light material. We also decided that she would be driving while I shot the bow, I mean I am the best shot out of all camp not to say I am better than everyone else just that I'm a really good shot.
Once we were finally done with the design we left the woods and on my way to the cabin I saw Percy stalking back to his cabin angrily.
I ran over to Percy. "Hey Perce what's wrong?"
"Annabeth is being a jerk, she is treating Tyson like he is some sort of horrible thing….I mean he save my life for god's sake." Percy told me.
"I don't know man, maybe it's deeper than that, maybe she has a history with Cyclops's and doesn't really want to talk about it?"
"I don't know man. All I know is now I'm just going to be partners with Tyson on the chariots." Percy said. "I'll see you later Blake, I have to go see Tyson."
"Alright Percy see you." I told him.
The next couple of days Ember and I went to building our chariot. Which honestly was a lot more work than we thought. Fun, but a lot of work.
Even though we were working on the chariot it did not take time away from camp activities. Ember, Percy and I actually had our first ridding lesson given to us by Silena Beauregard a really nice girl from the Aphrodite cabin, she probably was one of the only campers that actually liked me. She explained to use that there was only one immortal horse named Pegasus, who was still wandering free somewhere in the skies, but over the eons he has sired lots of children, none as fast or heroic, but all named after the first and greatest of horses.
Luckily being the son of Artemis I can understand them and all other creatures. Plus I can change into any creature representing an animal so I knew how to fly so flying on a pegasus was a breeze. Ember was a little nervous, but as soon as she was in the air she didn't mind not one bit, she actually seemed excited.
Tyson of course wanted to ride the "chicken ponies," too, but the pegasi would get skittish when he was around. Even though Percy and I would tell them it was fine he wouldn't hurt them, but sadly they still wouldn't believe Percy and I. Which made Tyson cry.
The only person in this gods forsaken place who didn't mind Tyson was Beckendorf from the Hephaestus cabin. The blacksmith god who had always worked with Cyclopes in his forges, so Beckendorf took Tyson down to the armory to teach him metalworking. He said he'd have Tyson crafting magic items like a master in no time.
After lunch, Ember and I followed Percy down to the arena. Percy with a sword, is a dangerous combination. Percy literally took out all the Apollo kids. However when Percy and I spared it always ended up in a draw. I would use only my hidden blades while he used riptide. However I would always hold back when sparing with Percy because I really didn't want to hurt him, but I had a feeling that he was too. I promised that I would only use my bone sword on monsters and practicing on dummies never on my fellow campers, the sword was special to me, I had no clue as to why but it was. I would also spar with Ember teaching her how to wield a sword. Ember and I with the help of Beckendorf made her a sword, and I have to say…it turned out really badass, the sword itself was celestial bronze light and easy to maneuver, at the very end of the hilt was a chain the length of my forearm, the middle of the blade had metal that curved into the blade, the Blade itself was long with a slightly jagged edge. However with Beck's help he was able to enchant it to where the blade would grow alongside her and had the ability to change from an axe back to its original form of a blade.
It was quite magnificent, especially since the flames she engrossed it with not the so typical flame used to melt metal she actually used her black flame. So there were some mystical qualities she has not yet discovered about the blade. So as soon as we built the sword we tested it out, and she was a natural not as good as she was with her bow, but still pretty good. She actually named it "Wildflame."
And since Chiron was not currently here I would help teach the camper's how to use a bow. I adjust their aim and get them in the right position. And by no means was I an awesome teacher but I was glad to at least somewhat help the others who were having trouble with a bow. I tried to teach Percy, but it seems no one can get him to shoot better, it was like trying to teach a dog to speak English.
I couldn't however convince Ember to do the climbing wall with me, she told me "There is no way in the world you can get me to scale that death trap."
I tried to convince her that it was fine and the lava wouldn't hurt her, but she would never believe me. And when I went to get on it she tried to pull me off in worry of getting hurt. But I had gone to far up for her to catch me. And I had already set it to the hardest mode possible, which consisted of lava and earth-quakes going off every 10 seconds. Ember would cover her eyes while I climbed. She however lifted her hands when she heard me shout in glee when I reached the top.
And as soon as I got back to the ground she socked me in the arm saying, "Don't scare me like that, I thought you were going to die!"
I just rolled my eyes at her and told her she worried too much. After that she stalked back to our cabin in an upset mood.
I sighed in annoyance. And even though Tantalus told us not to worry. I would meet up with Percy and the two of us would do border patrol. Tantalus was probably the biggest dumbass in the world luckily other campers besides just Percy and I would do border patrol as well, they had actually made a schedule when people would be doing patrols and when they would it would switch to the next person.
Percy and I sat at the top of Half-Blood Hill in silence watching the dryads come and go, singing to the dying pine tree. Satyrs brought out their reed pipes and played nature magic songs, and it would for a few moments keep the pine tree a bit healthier. The flowers on the hill smelled a little healthier and sweeter and the grass looked greener. But as soon as the music stopped the tree would go back to being sick and unhealthy. It wasn't just the tree that was sick the whole hill seemed to be sick…dying from the poison that had infected the tree.
I knew Luke did this, and honestly I was a little surprised he would go this far, to harm the kids here at camp. 'How can he do this to people he once thought of as family, to his old home? I know he hates the gods, but why take it out on the campers?' These thoughts coursed through my mind in wonder.
I then looked at my finger in remembrance at what Luke had done to me last summer. 'That's right Luke didn't care how many casualties he made, he would get rid of any potential enemy. Even the one's he once thought of as family.' I then clutched my hand into a fist I will stop Luke even if it costs me my life.
That night I went back to my cabin. Ember was sitting on her bed looking like she was sorry for something.
"Hey uh…Blake, sorry for how I acted earlier, I-I just hate the thought of you getting hurt. It's like an urge in the back of my mind. I can't help but feel as if my dragon half that wants to make sure you don't get hurt. Not that I don't want you safe or anything, just oh I don't know." Ember rambled embarrassed.
I then grabbed Ember by the shoulders. "Ember, listen to me. I may be put in dangerous situations-"
Ember then interrupted me. "That's just it you get into dangerous situations all the time and I hate it, do you not believe that you can get hurt or…die."She said the last part in a whisper.
"Ember I know I can die but it's worth the risk as long as I can not only keep you safe but also others who can't defend themselves. I promise you Ember on the River of Styx no matter the situation I am in I promise to all ways come back to you." I said as Thuder rumbled in the distance.
"You promise?" Ember asked eyes full of worry and sadness.
"Of course. If I didn't who else would come and save yours and Percy's ass." I said with a light chuckle.
"You ass." Ember said smiling, lightly socking me in the arm, wiping a stray tear from her eye.
"You don't need to protect me from anything Ember. Do you want to know where I get my power from Ember?" I asked with a gentle smile rubbing the area she had just hit.
"Where?" Ember asked looking up at me her violet eyes brightening up under the starry roofing.
"Where do you think?" I asked with mirth. "I get it from you…and so many of my other friends. I get my strength from all of you guys. If it weren't for you guys I would have nothing worth fighting for. I gain my strength from you guys." I said with a smile.
"But what about the campers. The one's who treat you like crap. How can you say you will defend them and get strength from them when they treat you like garbage?!" Ember asked with anger.
"Because, they are ignorant. They are scared because they don't understand, and I forgive them each individual who hates me, and I hope to prove to them that I can be a good guy and that I will always be a comrade, I mean everyone here is family and they need to realize this just as I have come to understand it. So that is why I would defend them, because they are my family." I said with a big cheesy smile on my face.
I then looked at my watch and noticed it was 10:00 p.m. "Alright it's getting late; we better get some sleep, before the race. It's a good thing we finished today." I said and made my way back to my room. I then stepped through and into my room and as I was about to shut my door
Ember said walking up to me. "Wait, Blake."
I then stopped before I shut the door. "What?"
Ember blushed; her hands were behind her back. And then quick as lightning, she kissed my cheek, sending lightning coursing through me. "Goodnight." She said skipping back to her bed. All the while I just stood there letting go of the door closing as soon as I let go, and reached up to touch the place she had just kissed. 'Whoa.' I thought to myself.
'Did she just. Whoa.' I thought in shock.
I then went to my bed and slipped under the covers. The scene that just happened kept replaying in my head, Ember kissing me on the cheek.
In my dream I was watching Luke; he was kneeling next to some sort of Sarcophagus. The room seemed to darken and become colder just by its presents. The Sarcophagus itself was golden and seemed to carry a powerful presence.
It had taken everything I had not to attack Luke right then and there, but I knew if I did my presence would be shown.
"My lord we are on course. It seems the Satyr has gotten there first." Luke said to the Sarcophagus.
I couldn't hear what the thing was saying all I heard was a low hum from the box as it glowed a golden color.
All of a sudden some creatures came into the room.
"My lord we smell something, something odd." The creatures said looking in my direction.
'Oh shit.' I thought to myself.
Luke then stood. "So you like to snoop in places you don't belong eh…. Blake," Luke said turning to me with golden eyes his blade unsheathed making his way towards me, "well. Then die." and as he was about to cut me down. I closed my eyes waiting for it to happen. But it never came I opened up my eyes again and I was now in a different spot. I was now in some sort of castle.
I was looking up at a woman; I could feel myself in a blanket and in her arms.
"My lady, we will be escorting you and the young hatchling out of the castle at once. The humans will be coming soon, with your brother leading them." Said a rough voice from my right with loud marching noises coming from behind.
'Wait hold up did he just say hatchling...what?' I thought to myself mystified as to where the hell I was.
"Ugh, all because the gods decided to bless a human, our kind now has to suffer for it." The woman now looked down at me. Her face was beautiful; her eyes were a gorgeous emerald green, her ears were pointed, nose was pointed and her canines were sharpened more so than any humans. "Thankfully my child is safe."
My arms seemed to be in control of themselves as they flailed up at the woman.
The woman just smiled down at me. "Ahh, so young and innocent. For a young dragon you are quite the curious one." She cooed.
All of a sudden a large explosion rocked the room.
"Milady we must leave at once." The man said again.
She only looked up from me and nodded.
Holding me tight to her chest she and the only thing I could assume to be soldiers followed. I was shocked, 'why the hell am I here. The better question is where is here?' I thought to myself looking at my surroundings as I saw smoke from an open window there were houses burning, and dragons fighting.
"We are almost there milady almost to the teleporting pad." The voice announced again.
Then all of a sudden a large white dragon burst through the double doors rolling next to us.
"Arion!" The lady yelled as a black figure came out of the smoke.
"Ahh it seems the ever so wonderful Jewel also decides to join us." Said a voice in a slithery tone. My baby self turned his head to look in the direction of the voice and there stood a black dragon in all its glory.
"And it seems you have a hatchling with you as well. Maybe you won't fail this one like you did the last one eh?" He then turned his head to the teleportation pad. "Ahh, you weren't going to leave without saying goodbye, to your sweet older brother now were you?"
"Ginarth, you can go to Hades." The now known woman named Jewel said.
All of a sudden the fallen white dragon stood, he had a white horned crown that adorned his massive head in each horn held a jewel black, silver, gold, green, blue, ice blue, orange, red, yellow, even purple. The white dragon had to be a good foot taller than the black one.
"Love get out of here I will hold him off take care of Asura." Arion said, in a kind but demanding tone.
Jewel seemed to be in conflict with herself between wanting to stay and help her husband and get to safety. But that gave Ginarth enough time to strike. All of a sudden he leaped at Jewel, Arion went to intercept but he could only block one clawed hand as the other not aiming at her but the thing she carried…me.
My baby self was hollering and screaming, but as my vision began to fade, all I heard from both white dragons were "Noooooo!"
Then I awoke with in a sweat. I looked around and out my window I noticed it was daybreak. I was dripping in sweat at the dream. 'What on earth did it mean? What happened?' I thought to myself.
All of a sudden a knock on my door forced me out of my trance. "Hey Blake hurry up or we will be late for the chariot races.
"One second!" I shouted.
I then stood and started to get ready for the day.
The morning of the race was hot and humid. Fog lay low on the ground like sauna steam. Millions of birds were roosting in the trees-fat gray-and-white pigeons, except they didn't coo like regular pigeons. They made this annoying metallic screeching sound that reminded me of submarine radar. But I paid no mind as my mind was on other things.
The race track had been built in a grassy field between the archery range and the woods. Hephaestus's cabin had used the bronze bulls or at least what was left of them, which were completely tame since they'd had their heads smashed and blown to bits, to plow an oval track in a matter of minutes.
There were rows of stone steps for the spectators-Tantalus, the satyrs, a few dryads, and all of the campers who weren't participating. Mr. D didn't show. He never got up before ten o'clock.
"Right!" Tantalus announced as the teams began to assemble. A naiad had brought him a big platter of pastries, and as Tantalus spoke, his right hand chased a chocolate éclair across the judge's table. "You all know the rules. A quarter-mile track. Twice around to win. Two horses per chariot. Each team will consist of a driver and a fighter. Weapons are allowed. Dirty tricks are expected. But try not to kill anybody!" Tantalus smiled at us like we were all naughty children. "Any killing will result in harsh punishment. No s'mores at the campfire for a week! Now ready your chariots."
Beckendorf led the Hephaestus tem onto the track. They had a sweet ride made of bronze and iron-even the horses, which were magical automatons like the Colchis bulls. I had no doubt that their chariot had all kinds of traps and tricks.
The Ares chariot was blooded, and pulled by two grisly horse skeletons. Clarisse climbed aboard with a batch of javelins, spiked balls, caltrops and tons of other equipment, her partner was Ernesto.
Apollo's chariot was trim and graceful and completely gold, pulled by two beautiful palominos. Their fighter was armed with a bow, though he had promised just as I had to use rubber tipped.
Hermes's chariot was green and kind of old-looking, as if it hadn't been out of the garage in years. It didn't look like anything special, but it was manned by the Stoll brothers, and I shuddered to think what dirty tricks they had.
That left three Chariots: one driven by Annabeth, another driven by Percy, and the last one by Ember.
Before the race began I noticed Percy go to talk to Annabeth. I however went up to the two bucks pulling our Chariot. They both looked at me bowing their heads in respect and excitement. I smiled and gave both an apple. I looked over to Ember. Her hair was in a bun to keep from anyone pulling at her hair, she had leather armor on and a bow strapped to her back with a quiver with at least a dozen arrows. She also had her sword with her at her hip. She then looked in my direction with a smile. I just smiled back.
"Hey you ready?" She asked.
I nodded. "Yup, excited?"
"Hell yeah, especially since I know we are going to win." She told me with a smirk.
"True." I said giving a half-hearted smile.
"Hey what's wrong?" Ember asked getting off the chariot.
I then explained to her the dream I had last night. She was just as confused as I was on what it meant.
"Hey you know what we will just worry about that after the race. Huh?" Ember asked.
"Yeah you know what you are right we will worry about it after the race. We don't need that distracting us." I agreed with her.
We both then got into the chariot Ember would be driving while I would be the person who shot at the competitors. All of a sudden the conch horn sounded.
"Charioteers!" Tantalus called. "To your mark!"
"Here we go." Ember said as she ushered the stags to move.
As we moved I then noticed how many more pigeons we in the trees. I knew they were monsters, as I could sense it…now what type of monsters was another question as I had no clue. As long as they don't hurt anyone I was fine with it. Nobody seemed to be paying attention to them besides Percy. Their beaks glinted strangely. Their eyes seemed shinier than regular birds. I noticed Percy was having trouble with his horses as they complained about Tyson being a monster.
I however looked at the golden horned stags in front of us and patted them on the back.
I then whispered to them. "If we win this I promise to give you guys some some sugar covered acorns."
'Sugar!" They both said and started pounding at the dirt in excitement wanting to get the race going already.
"Um quick question, how fast are you guys? I mean I know you both pull mom's chariot, so how fast can you guys go?" I questioned a little scarred.
The two stags seemed to get a glint in their eyes.
"Um, Ember?" I said to her.
"Yeah, Blake?" Ember asked with a tilt of her head which gave her a cute look.
"Hold on tight. I have no clue how fast these guys can go." I told her with a blush.
Her eyes widened and held onto the reins of the chariot for dear life getting ready for the stags to take off.
The chariot wasn't made for safety or comfort so there was no guarantee that we wouldn't fly out of the damn thing. It's pretty much a wooden basket with an opened back end on an axle and two wheels. All the while the drivers would be standing the whole time. And if we turn so sharply we could wipe out because of how light the actual wood of the chariot is. I decided to not click on my watch just yet in case we go way to fast and didn't want to drop my bow.
All the chariots were now lined up; more of the birds were now in the trees. They were screeching loudly the campers in the stands were starting to take notice, glancing nervously at the trees, which shivered under the weight of the birds. Tantalus didn't look concerned, but he did have to speak up to be heard over the noise.
"Charioteers!" he shouted. "Attend your mark!"
He waved his hand and the starting signal dropped. The chariots roared to life. Hooves thundered against the dirt. The crowd cheered.
The stags in front had years of practice in chariots, after all they pulled my mother's for eons. So they knew not to go so fast around corners, but holy shit were they fast we easily past the competition. Moving well above what the normal speed would be for a normal stag. We literally left the competition in the dust. By time they were at the first turn we were already at the second turn. I looked behind us just to see the other competitors to see how they were faring.
I looked to see the Apollo Chariot in rubble cracked to pieces and upside-down. The Hermes chariot had rammed into it by mistake or not. The riders were thrown free, but their panicked horses dragged the golden chariot diagonally across the track. The Hermes team, Travis and Connor Stoll, were laughing at their good luck, but not for long. The Apollo horses crashed into theirs, and the Hermes chariot flipped too, leaving a pile of broken wood and four rearing horses in the dust. Two chariots down within the first few minutes. This game was awesome.
I noticed Percy was making good time pulling ahead of Ares, but Annabeth's chariot was way ahead of Percy now. She was now on the stretch towards the second turn, her javelin man grinned at Percy waving, shouting "See ya!"
"Blake!" Ember shouted. All of a sudden I noticed an arrow coming from the opposite side of the track. I clicked my ring and out popped my shield and sword. I used my shield to block the rubber arrows coming from the Ares chariot. I then pressed a button returning it to normal. Then clicked my watch, summoning my bow. I took aim and aimed for the wheels of the chariot. I shot, but as it hit spikes stuck out of the wheels and shredded my arrow to ribbons.
"Sorry Ember." I said to her as we finished our first lap.
"It's okay." She said looking at me and then went back to looking at the road. "Um Blake, we have a problem."
"What?" I asked as I stopped looking at the Ares chariot. And there in front of us were the rearing horses of the Hermes and Apollo cabin.
"Here let me see the reins." I said now taking the reins.
"You two fly right?" I asked the two stags.
The two stags understanding what I meant nodded, and sped up. The two then jumped with a mighty jump, the spectators were in awe at the sight, as our chariot flew over the four rearing horses and broken to pieces chariots.
"We did it!" shouted Ember as she hugged me tightly from the side.
All of a sudden the moment was short lived as the pigeons were now swarming-thousands of them dive-bombing the spectators in the stands, attacking the other chariots. Beckendorf was mobbed. His fighter tried to bat the birds away but he couldn't see anything. The chariot was about to veer off course and plow into the strawberry fields, but I gave my reins to Ember and notched my bow with five arrows and shot at the pigeons. This gave Beck enough space to see what was in front of him and get back on course.
"Thanks Blake!" Beckndorf shouted.
"No Prob!" I shouted back.
In the Ares Chariot, Clarisse barked an order to Ernesto, who quickly threw a screen of camouflage netting over their basket. The birds swarmed around it, pecking and clawing at the Ernesto's hands as he tried to hold up the net, but Clarisse gritted her teeth and kept driving. Her skeletal horses seemed immune to the distraction. The pigeons pecked uselessly at their empty eye sockets and flew through their rib cages, but the stallions kept right on running.
I continued to shoot the pigeons before they could even get to the golden horned stags that were currently leading mine and Ember's chariot.
The spectators weren't so lucky. The birds were slashing at any bit of exposed flesh, driving everyone into a panic. Now that the birds were closer, it was clear they weren't normal pigeons. Their eyes were beady and evil-looking. Their beaks were made of bronze, and judging from the yelps of the campers, they must've been razor sharp.
"Stymphalian birds!" Annabeth yelled. Just as, I was passing her and Percy, overlapping them. "They'll strip everyone to bones if we don't drive them away!"
"Tyson," Percy said, "we're turning around!"
"Going the wrong way?" Tyson asked. But just as he said this, the three of us crossed the finish line. Ember and I had won, but that wasn't important at the moment.
"Always," Percy grumbled, but he steered the chariot toward the stands.
I did the same telling Ember to hang on again as I made a sharp turn.
"Alright, you two," I said to the stags. "Go back to mom. I don't want her to be pissed at Ember and I if you guys get hurt."
'My lord. If anything Lady Artemis will punish us for not helping. We shall help in anyway we can." The two stags said moving faster towards the stands where the campers were being swarmed.
"You two I thank you for your loyalty." I announced.
Ember looked at me. "What did they say?"
"They said that they will help no matter what the situation is." I told her with a smirk.
"Sweet." Ember said pulling out her sword wildflame.
As we went into the swarm I put one hand on the reins and the other had the hidden blade unsheathed to fight the incoming birds. The stags would actually take a good thirty of them out at a time swinging their massive golden rack of horns at the flock of birds. But even as we fought millions were still left. They dove at my face pecking and scratching at me with all their might.
'Maybe I will just turn into a dragon.' I thought, but then I looked around at the already frightened campers. 'No I can't moral is already low if I do they might just actually attack me.'
I then gave the reins to Ember, who took a hold of it with her one free hand. I clicked on my ring releasing my sword and shield. I pulled my sword out of my shield and started hacking left and right at the screeching birds, but even I couldn't block everything. They hit me in small areas in my arms on my back even on my face if they got lucky.
I looked at the stags, and noticed they were hurting really bad. I grabbed the reins from Ember ignoring dropping my sword and shield and made them fly up and out of the storm of birds. I knew my sword and shield would return into my ring on my finger so I wasn't too worried. I had Ember hold tight to the chariot and clicked on my watch popping out my bow and started to shoot them from the sky while the stags, whom were low on energy flew in the sky. I noticed Percy and Annabeth made their way out of the hordes of birds and their way to the big house. 'They must be after the boom box Chiron had to ward off the birds. I remember Hercules used brass bells to scare them off.'
Down the track the chariots were in flames. Wounded campers ran in every direction, with birds shredding their clothes and pulling out their hair, while Tantalus chased breakfast pastries around the stands, every once in a while yelling, "Everything's under control! Not to worry!"
I just glared at him and continued to shoot the birds terrorizing campers and pulled out an arrow my mother made specifically for me. 'I wanted to wait to use these, but I guess I have to.' I thought to myself.
I then took aim at the gigantic swarm, I noticed no one at the center so I took aim and as soon as my arrow hit its mark it blew up at least a thousand birds. And as soon as it happened I regretted it. All of their attention was now on me. I noticed we also were losing altitude.
"Hey Ember you remember our conversation from last night of doing stupid things-" I said looking over the edge of the chariot.
"Blake Love, don't you even think about it!" Ember shouted.
I just smiled if it meant Ember wouldn't get hurt I didn't care. I then saluted her and jumped as soon as I jumped I rolled a bit and then was swarmed by the birds. I lay there being attacked by thousands of birds. I looked down at my hand my ring had returned. I pressed a button on my ring and my shield and sword popped out I stood to my feet swinging my sword at everything that came near. They attacked my arms and face. But once they hit my leg it got me down to one knee. But then my thoughts turned to Ember being attacked by these things and getting hurt.
It renewed my vigor and started to attack the birds again ignoring the pain coursing through my body. But as I was defending music seemed to enter my ears It was Chiron's favorite the ALL-TIME GREATEST HITS OF DEAN MARTIN. Suddenly the air was filled with violins and a bunch of guys moaning Italian.
The demon pigeons went nuts. They started flying in circles, running into each other like they wanted to bash their brains out. Then they abandoned my body that was right next to the track.
I then heard Annabeth shout "Now Archers fire!"
With clear targets, Apollo's archers had flawless aim. Most of them could knock five or six at once. Within minutes, the ground was littered with dead bronze-beaked pigeons, and the survivors were a distant trail of smoke on the horizon.
The camp was luckily saved, but the wreckage wasn't pretty. Most of the chariots had been completely destroyed. Almost everyone was wounded, bleeding from multiple bird pecks. The kids from Aphrodite's cabin were screaming because their hairdos had been ruined and their clothes pooped on.
The chariot Ember was in finally came to a stop and then turned facing me and charged to a stop next to me in seconds. Ember jumped off.
"You moron." She mumbled with tears down her face.
"But I'm your moron." I said leaning up to catch her lips in a kiss. It was full of passion and love.
I then pulled away and as I did campers looked our way cheering. And the Apollo campers made their way towards us and started to address my wounds as they were really sever.
Percy and Annabeth also made it towards us, Percy had a smirk on his lips and Annabeth looked both happy and disheartened at the same time.
"Bravo!" Tantalus said, but he wasn't looking at Percy, Annabeth or me. "We have a our first winner!" He walked to the finish line and awarded the golden laurels for the race to a stunned-looking Clarisse.
Then he turned and smiled at me. "And now to punish the troublemakers who disrupted this race."
And as soon as he finish. I turned to Ember. Her violet eyes, were glowing slited and a tail appeared from behind her in black scales and black wings appeared. Her ears were now pointed and teeth enlarged. And boy did she look pissed.
And that's a wrap phew. Sorry for the late update, but I was dealing with school work and personal issues but not to worry I'm still alive and kicking ass and taking names. So don't worry. This chapter so far is my longest one. So till next time my awesome readers.