Ch 7
As I ran through the forest, keeping my eyes, nose, and ears alert for any sort of sound or disturbance, I thought back to the incident in the clearing. My memory was kind of foggy, foggy in a way I only faintly remembered.
I shook it off. As Ann- er, someone had once told me, sometimes it's better to move on. If your mind doesn't remember it, maybe it's for a reason.
With that thought in mind, I started thinking about how I felt now. I felt…lighter. Like a burden had been removed from my shoulders. The only thing I could bring myself to remember before Artemis gave me my mission was Zoe's smiling face, and what Luna had said.
I felt happy. Like I had let something go, let it free. It was a good feeling. I thought back to the girls in the clearing. I wasn't sure what had happened, only that they had been fighting. Fighting about me. Something about that made me mad. Beyond mad. But it also made me sad. So I chose to ignore it. My thoughts turned to my powers.
Thank Zeus he had remembered to include communication when he gave me my wish. Otherwise things could have gotten awkward. At first, the wolves had been suspicious, and Alpha had been defensive. Once I explained who I was and that I was Lady Artemis's guardian, they calmed down, and Alpha backed down and let me be the pack leader (while I was in wolf form, at least).
Communicating worked the same way as it did with Blackjack. We mainly spoke in each other's minds, as these wolves were Artemis's wolves, and so were above average intelligence. Barks and howls had multiple meanings, which you had to read into through body language. It was actually really cool how in-sync the pack was. It was as if we were one.
My thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a loud 'yelp' in my head. It was coming from my westward flank, so that meant it was part of Beta's group.
Beta. Report. What's going on over there? I asked mentally.
Our eastern flank was attacked. A group of monsters. Two snake-females, a she-demon, and a little, winged two-leg with a pointy nose. He replied, his metal voice panting along with his physical body. I felt rather then heard him barking orders to the other wolves in his group.
Thinking about his descriptions, I determined that we had two dracanae, an empousa, and…I wasn't sure what the last one was, but I knew it couldn't be something good.
Galaxy was injured, but not badly. We've separated, and I've sent Wilcox and Willow around the side, while Linea and I stay in sight of the monsters. Willow and Wilcox will surprise the monsters when we need them to. We won't last long though. How far are you?
Not far. We'll be there in ten minutes. Can you hold out until then?
Yes. Send Amity and Erudite to meet up with Willow and Wilcox. They are our fastest runners. If anyone can do it, they can.
Will do. We're on our way. I replied.
I sent messages to Amity and Erudite, and they broke off from our group and ran ahead. Altering our course so we would run into Beta's group, I prayed that we would get there in time. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if we lost a wolf to monsters I'd defeated multiple times.
Pumping my legs faster, I could feel my pack behind me. Breath in. Breath out. Breath in. Breath out. And with a final burst, we emerged from the underbrush and skidded right in front of Beta's group, missing them narrowly. Falling into stride quickly, we kept running.
The monsters? I panted.
Five minutes back. Lost them over a pile of rocks. Caused a rockslide. Will take them a few said shortly. We were all out of breath.
And the Hunters? I asked, my muscles screaming.
4 miles back, 3 miles west. They should be out of range. He replied.
Good. Now, Willow, drop back behind the monsters. Beta, take 3 wolves and stay on my right. Dauntless, you and another 3 on my left. The rest of you, run ahead. When you hear us stop, circle back and wait for my command. I'm going to morph back. Wait for my signal. On the count of three, everyone take your positions.
One…
I felt Willow's group following the monsters, ready for my command.
Two….
Beta and Dauntless's groups split, leaving the area behind me clear.
THREE!
Skidding to a halt, Beta and Dauntless's wolves swiveled around to face where we had come from, spreading out into two lines that extended behind me diagonally. I closed my eyes and concentrated, praying to every god on Olympus that this worked.
When I opened my eyes, I was human. And clothed, thank Poseidon. I quickly drew Riptide and took up a battle stance. It wasn't long before I heard the monsters coming, trampling the undergrowth as they came. As the first dracanae emerged, she halted abruptly, causing the monsters running behind her to crash into her and lose their balance. Taking advantage of their momentary confusion, I leaped forward.
NOW! I yelled both in my mind and out loud. Slashing at the first dracanae, my sword sliced just under her shield and through a chink in her armor, causing her to disintegrate. Beta's group charged the other dracanae, surrounding her and keeping her busy.
Dauntless's group surrounded the empousa, who bared her fangs at me.
"Perseus Jackson" she hissed, smiling at me. I felt my eyes melt into flames. Her eyes widened in shock, before her expression returned to normal.
"I prefer Percy," I informed her, before lunging.
She swiped at me with her claws but missed, as she was forced to jump back when Tunstall lept at her from the side. Aniki closed in on her left, while Beka and Rosto growled from behind her. Sabine guarded my back.
I swiped at the empousa with my sword, and she managed to dodge, clawing my shoulder and ripping through the sleeve of my shirt in the process. After exchanging a series of swipes, I finally dispatched her with a slash through the heart after Rosto bit her ankle, distracting her. Turning, I saw Beta, Kora, Linea, and Erksen had dealt with the other dracanae.
I looked around for the last monster, which was nowhere in sight. Looking around carefully, I motioned for the pack to stay quiet.
Beta, status report on the Hunters. I mentally requested, still looking around for the last monster.
Two miles back, one mile west. They're getting closer. He replied. I thought for a moment before replying.
Willow, Erksen, Linea, and Kora, head back to warn them of the monsters, and bring them to this clearing. Rosto, Beka, Tunstall, Aniki, Sabine, go with them. Protect them until they get here.
Amity, Erudite, Dauntless, stay hidden and attack if any more monsters show up. The rest of you, scatter and guard this clearing.
Galaxy, wait out in the open so the Hunters find you when they get here. The rest of you guard him…wait a second…where are Alpha and Gamma in all of this?
Alpha, report.
Silence.
Alpha?
Alpha?
Gamma?
Gamma, are you there?
Nothing.
I don't know what happened to them…but we better keep our guard up. We'll watch for them on the path ahead. No one leave your position. I'm going to-
I was interrupted by a shrill cackle behind me. Whipping around, I came face to face with a…fairy? No, not a fairy.
This creature was completely green. It was short and stumpy, with an upturned nose like an elf. It had a little hat thing, and was dressed in leaves. It had green wings that were beating as fast as a hummingbird. It didn't look very threatening, which probably meant it was the most deadly of the group.
I inched towards it, slowly raising my sword, as it appraised me. Right before I could swing my sword down and cleave the thing in two, it darted away. Cursing, I stumbled after it.
I chased the blasted thing for who knows how long, slicing and weaving, dodging and swatting at it when it flew near my head. Never once did it go on the offence. That is, until we reached the edge of the forest. Once I stumbled out of the tree line, I finally was able to focus on the thing again.
Then it started to morph. It got fatter, like it had swallowed a balloon that was blowing up with air from inside his stomach. His green skin began to grow boils, and when he smiled, fangs glinted in his mouth. Claws extended from his fingertips, and his eyes narrowed.
I'll admit, I freaked out a little bit. I lunged for the thing, slicing through its head and all the way through it's body, causing it to disintegrate into a little pile of dust. I didn't have long to revel in my victory, however, because my momentum sent me plunging down the hill.
I rolled head over heels, tumbling down, crashing through the underbrush. Branches whipped and stung my face, though I knew they left no visible mark. I somehow managed to keep from stabbing myself with Riptide as I careened down the hill. My descent was brought to an abrupt end as my head slammed full force into a rock.
My last thought was 'Artemis is going to kill me…' before my vision went black.
