I held Eugene close to me as we hopped out of the truck and started to hike up Half-Blood Hill. I got this uneasy feeling at the bottom of my gut, I had learned to trust those instincts.
Suddenly the ground shivered under my feet and I took a horrified glance over my shoulder.
At the base of the Hill was a massive dog, shrouded in black as if it were made of storm clouds, its red eyes were similar to the ones in my dream and it made me grit my teeth in anger.
"Hellhound!" Grover shouted which I found unnecessary.
Annabeth and Grover were ahead of Percy, Eugene and me, but they stopped to see if we needed help.
"Go on ahead! We'll be right behind you!" Percy said.
I got the feeling that was a lie. Grover nodded and hastily climbed up the hill, Annabeth stood frozen for another second but Percy nodded and reluctantly, she gave in.
Percy turned to me, horror in his eyes, "come on! Hurry! You'll be safe once we get to the boundary!" There was something in his tone that sounded as if he was trying to convince himself.
I nodded, and picked up Eugene, he was screaming so loudly it made my ears pop.
"Bad dog! Bad dog!" He shouted. His head was on my chest and for a second I felt as if I were holding a baby him again, but I was jolted back to life by the monster's mighty roar.
No dog sounded like that.
Percy uncapped Riptide as the hellhound got closer and closer. He tried to cut at the monster's leg but the thing jumped over him and cut our way off to the barrier.
Something snapped in my shoulder and I looked down, something was moving under my skin. I bit back a whimper as my ribs seemed to crack and reform themselves.
Again Percy tried to slash at the monster but again the thing jumped out of the way and our path to the Camp's boundary was open once more.
"Take him." I said suddenly, handing Eugene over to Percy.
He seemed confused but then something clicked behind his eyes and he nodded. Eugene's hands reached out to me but I managed to ignore him. If I looked at him now I would lose my resolve.
"We both know I won't make it through that barrier. Get him to safety, I don't care if it costs you your life, Jackson." I said, my voice cold even to myself.
"What are you going to do?" He asked.
"Buy you time. Go and don't fail me." Something shone bright red above my head, I looked up and saw a blood red full moon.
"Lycaon." We said together.
The first werewolf was my father. Now I knew for sure I wasn't making it through those borders.
I turned and the hellhound's red eyes were on me from ten yards away. It was looking at the now decapitating claim above my head with interest.
"AH!" I screamed and charged the beast. I jumped mid sprint and as I did I felt undeniable power ripple through me. When I landed on the hellhound's back I was a wolf.
I bit into the dog's shoulder and it yelped in pain and tried to buck me off but I held on tightly.
Finally it slammed itself into a nearby tree and I fell in a heap off its back. I growled and bared my teeth threateningly. The hellhound caught me around the midsection with its claws and I was thrown sideways.
I charged again and bit into its neck, clawing at its face. I managed to get it in the eyes and it whimpered. I snarled and let go, I saw the grass beneath me stain with blood and the hellhound yelped and ran off. Finding a place to lick its wounds no doubt.
I heard crying and I looked up and saw that Eugene and Percy were still standing at the top of the hill. They had watched the whole thing unfold.
I was hesitant to walk up to them, something told me to run while I still could but I steeled my nerves and limped up the hill.
"That hellhound got you pretty bad." Percy said.
Thanks, but I'm sure I could've figured that out on my own.
"Sissy!" Eugene cried and wrapped his arms around my neck, "I lost Mama I can't lose you too!"
You have to brother, I can't stay here.
I looked at Percy and nudged his limp hand.
"I'm fine." He said.
I licked Eugene across the face and my brother giggled but then I ran off and he started to cry again.
I didn't stop running until I reached a ledge off the coast of Long Island Sound and howled to the moon.
Now I understood what the call really meant:
Sorrow.
A: Getting into the real thick of it here! Anyway as always if you are enjoying this story please leave a review!
-Maddie
