Chapter 13, Amanda's POV, Running

I once read in a book that life threatening events change you in ways you never expect. That was so true. Right now, for instance, I was running. You might not think that's a big deal, but I don't run. I didn't run away from home, I walked. I never run. I don't do sports because it involves running, but now I was running like I was a track and field gold medalist.

I don't know how long had been running, except for the fact that I hadn't stopped since the hotel. I had slipped away for convenience issues once; you know, use the bathroom, get something to eat, rest, move my kitchen knives to my belt, the usual stuff.

So, as I said, I was running, I didn't know what time or day it was, or how long I was running, but I had to keep running or I was dead. I knew something was following me. I didn't know what, but it growled really loudly, and whenever I turned my head for a second to check, I saw its legs and fire. That was it, and I wasn't going to stop to figure out more.

It was official to say, being a demigod sucked. I was running for my life without a break who knows where. I had stopped checking as I ran from to place, for a few reasons. One reason being that I didn't have time to stop and read the signs, the other reason being that I couldn't read the signs anymore. At first I thought it was blurry because I was running fast, but I realized it was blurry either way, like as if someone took the word and pushed on both ends of it making it scrunch up and the letters over lap. Suddenly, what was Moose Jaw, became Vmue tev. Then the letters started moving around, so Vmue Tev became Awne len. Then the letters started rearranging themselves, so Awne len became nlAn ewe. Needless to say I stopped trying. Sure I could still read it if it was big enough, and if I stared at it long enough, otherwise no.

I wished that I had the Percy Jackson books as a reference. It was kind of ironic, considering I couldn't read them now. It was almost spooky, since I didn't remember anything like this happening in the series. Usually, it was either you had it or you didn't, not you didn't then you did. This sucked, since I was a total bookworm.

I was running low on kitchen knives. It's kind of like a video game, where you have a certain amount of lives. This time, I was running out of knives, not lives, until it was game over for me. I started by throwing the little steak knives at them, but after the pain subsided they just pulled the knives out, threw them away, and kept on chasing me. I was only left with my big knives, which made me wonder why I didn't get rid of them first.

My logic then, was that I was going to see if the little ones did anything before I wasted my big ones. Then why didn't I just use my big ones to take them out in the first place? That was a good question, but I couldn't argue with my logic now. Unless I got a better weapon, this was all I had. I couldn't just ditch them.

It was cold up north, even though I was breaking up a sweat. I certainly didn't dress appropriately for the weather. Yes, technically I'm from Canada, but doesn't snow twenty four seven where I'm from. Canada experiences all four seasons, my favourite was always spring because winter was leaving us. Spring was a time for rebirth, and growth, and new beginnings, and hope; kind of ironic now, considering my situation.

I wish I knew which god I could pray to for protection. My parent would've been nice, but right now I prayed to Hermes, god of travel so I could have safe travel. That kind of ruled him out as my parent, since I was still being chased. Although, I hadn't been harmed yet, so maybe his magic was in work.

The monsters were pretty mad that they had missed me for fifteen years, when usually thirteen was their limit. If I was them I wouldn't be too mad, considering they just missed out for two years so I was probably more mature meat that wasn't any more of a threat than thirteen year old. Plus, I probably didn't taste too good anyway since I had no idea who my parent was; I was pretty sure the demigod of dung would taste pretty close to awful.

Subconsciously, while I ran for my life, I ran through my list of possible parents to keep me occupied from freaking out. Not a Poseidon child since I wasn't blasted out of the sky for coming here. No one loves me, so not Eros. Not interested in death, kind of fear it, so not Thanatos. Eirene, I like peace better than war, but I've never done much about it, so no. I don't like causing trouble, so not Eris. Eunomia, maybe, I liked orderly conduct, well I used to, so no. Maybe Soteria, I hadn't had any harm come to me my entire life and harm still hadn't come to me...then again I was being chased by mosters so, probably not. I don't like storms, so not Aegaeon, or any sea gods for that matter. The winds seemed to like me, so maybe Aeolus. Then again I didn't like violent winds. Not a fan of winter, so not Boreas. I wasn't beautiful, so not a child of a beauty deity. I did get sick, even if not for very long, so not a child of a health deity. I was so clueless.

I looked at my belt for another knife to throw at my pursuers. Sadly, I only had three left; a vegetable knife, a clever, and a knife sharpener. It was ironic since I didn't have many knives to sharpen. I couldn't use these, I was running out fast. I quickly turned my head to see my pursuers, they were laistrygoniens, of course. They're the main problem around here. Not the only problem, but the main problem. I just needed to find another problem, then my problem would be solved.

While running I spotted a Gryphon nest. "Hey!" I shouted, "Down here!" they looked down from their nests, like they thought they heard something, spotted me and swooped down. They'd be here in seconds, but still felt uncomfortable standing still. The laistrygoniens were right behind me, and about to clobber me, when I ducked and a Gryphon flew straight into them knocking them back and killing the first one with a swipe of its talons. That took care of one, but now I had three laistrygoniens and a gryphon to worry about. I threw my clever at the Gryphon's side, hoping to hit somewhere it couldn't reach. Unfortunately, there was probably only one spot of the Gryphon like that. I aimed at the stomach, surprisingly, it hit it. The Gryphon then forgot me and flew around in circles trying to remove my clever.

Then I was running again, this time from three laistrygoniens. I ran towards a forest similar from the son of Neptune. Just my luck, there was a Hyperborean present. It was surprising, since if it was the titan war then Hyperboreans wouldn't be around much. I guess there was still a few left, but I wasn't about to debate that.

I ran underneath it like Percy, Frank, and Hazel did. I had to run around to avoid being stepped on, the laistrygoniens had followed me over and when they had almost reached me, I took my knife sharpener and jabbed the giant in the leg, before taking cover. It didn't pierce the giant, I wouldn't be that cruel to a monster that wasn't bothering me; but, it did get confused enough to lose its balance and fall on top of the giants and their flaming cannonballs that soon were ice coated.

The giant got back up again and I hid behind a tree. Looking to where the giant had sat, there was a pile of dust and the cannonballs for trophies. I didn't bother with them though; the giant looked around for me, only finding the cannonballs. He picked them up, scratching his head in confusion, before exhaling deeply, frost coating the top of the trees, shrugging his shoulders, and walking away.

I was safe, for now. I could take a break, for a little bit. The Percy Jackson books had saved me even though they weren't here. They were so helpful, who knew? They saved life this once, but how many lives did I have left? How much longer would I last on my own?

A/N: Ooh, interesting question. What's going to happen next? Anyways, I'm still waiting for votes on their parentage. In other news, did anybody hear about the new Heroes of Olympus cover being announced on the 31st, which also happens to be my birthday? Don't forget to leave your comments in the review. Stay tuned to find out what happens next!