Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians or the Heroes of Olympus Series.

Story: Perseus and the Monster Force

AN: The monster was the Jersey Devil, I know some commented that the Jersey Devil was supposed to have a horse-like head, but I wanted it to have a little more human/bat-like feel to it, so I reimagined it, but since there haven't been any real photos of the creature, it could have a human-like head. A big shout out to Bigrig56 for guessing the identity of the monster first. Congratulations to everyone else who guessed the monster as well. Now on to the next chapter.

Chapter 14: More to Come

Amtrak Train – heading west

Thalia and Annabeth lay sleeping in their beds when they were awakened by noises from on top of the train car.

"What in Hades is going on up there?" Annabeth asked as she sat up in her bed.

Thalia rubbed her eyes as she felt the train shake like it hit a bump on the tracks. Thalia looked at the couch on the far side of the room, but Percy wasn't on it.

"Where's Percy?" Thalia asked. Annabeth looked around frantically. She jumped from her bed and walked into the bathroom that was attached to their cabin.

"He's not in there," She said as she stepped back into the main room.

"We should go look for him," Thalia said.

Something hit the outside of their door. It sounded like something or someone had fallen against the door. The two girls looked at each other before they pulled out their weapons. Thalia aimed her bow at the door as Annabeth stepped forward with her dagger in hand. She opened the door carefully before a body landed on the floor in front of her.

The two girls gasped at the sight of the unconscious boy. He was bleeding golden ichor from a long gash in his side.

"He's a god," Annabeth said.

Thalia rushed to Percy's side. "No he's not," she said before she pulled him into the room. She placed several towels on the couch before placing Percy on it. "Are you going to help me?"

Annabeth pulled out her first aid kit from her pack as well as ambrosia and nectar. Thalia pulled off the boy's shirt. Both girls turned red at the sight of the boy's well developed abs. Thalia cleared her throat as she bandaged the gash. She touched his bruised ribs and felt a cracked one. She had learned much from her time with hunters; she bandaged his bruised ribs and added some magical ointment that the hunters used to speed up the healing process for his broken rib. They finished their work on the son of Daedalus an hour later. Percy slept soundly on the couch as the two girls sat on the bench across from him.

"What do you think happened to him?" Annabeth asked.

"Based on those sounds we heard, I'd say he fought some type of monster on the roof of the train," Thalia said.

Annabeth looked at Percy like he was crazy. "That's crazy; he could have been killed," Annabeth replied.

Thalia frowned at the thought. "We'll just have to yell at him when he wakes up," Thalia said.

Annabeth smiled, but she frowned as she remembered her fight with Thalia. "Can we talk?" Annabeth asked. Percy's words repeating over in her head.

Thalia was a little shocked. She knew that Annabeth was stubborn, so she never expected this. "I guess."

Annabeth turned to look at the older girl that she always considered like a big sister. "I don't know what happened between you and Luke, but I don't want to fight with you anymore."

Thalia sighed. "I'm sorry that I got so mad at you. When Luke and I fought, and then you and I fought over that I just couldn't handle being at camp anymore. The prophecy loomed over my head and I guess, the pressure got to me. I needed a way out and when Artemis offered, I accepted."

Annabeth listened; she felt bad for hurting her friend, but she also felt that Thalia had abandoned her when she joined the hunt. "I was mad at first with what you said about Luke, but I know he's changed, I just didn't want to admit it. I would have come around, but then you joined the hunt. I felt that you abandoned me; that you broke your promise that we'd always be a family." Annabeth's grey eyes darkened as she spoke.

Thalia frowned. Annabeth's words struck home. She hadn't thought about her friend's feelings. "I guess I never thought about how you'd feel. I was mad at Luke, and then at you for supporting him. I joined the hunt to escape; I never thought about how you felt. I'm sorry I was so selfish."

Annabeth looked up into the blue eyes of her friend. "I'm sorry I got so mad and pushed you away," she said. "I miss you."

Thalia pulled her friend into a hug as both girls tried not to cry.

"Don't hold back your feelings. There's nothing wrong with crying. It shows that you feel and let's out the pain and guilt," Percy said from across the room.

The two girls broke apart to look at the son of Daedalus. "You little eavesdropper, how long have you been awake?" Thalia said angrily, but Percy could hear the relief in her voice.

Percy tried to laugh, but he winced in pain. "Not too long, but you both talk so loud, it's hard not hear everything," he said sarcastically.

Thalia and Annabeth stood up and loomed over the boy. Percy never flinched. "How dare you almost get yourself killed," Thalia yelled.

Annabeth smiled at Thalia's reaction. "What were you thinking Seaweed Brain?" Annabeth asked.

Percy looked at her with an amused smirk before he began to laugh loudly. He grimaced and stopped laughing as his lungs began to burn. He began to cough violently. A searing pain shot through his ribs as he curled up in a ball on the couch. The two girls were at his side in an instant. "Damn that hurts," he gasped. His breathing was rushed and all the color drained out of his face.

"You've got to stay calm," Thalia warned.

Percy choked for a second before he finally caught his breath. "That's not very easy when I'm getting yelled at by two pissed off demigods," Percy replied sarcastically.

Annabeth and Thalia both smirked at him. "Well, next time don't get yourself beat up," Annabeth said incredulously.

"Well, next time I'll let the giant bat creature derail the train and kill all of us," Percy said annoyed.

Annabeth and Thalia both stared at him with surprised looks on their faces. "What kind of monster was it?" Thalia asked.

Percy frowned as he remembered the encounter. "I don't know; it wasn't a Greek monster," he replied.

"What do you mean?" Annabeth asked.

"Like I said, it was unlike any creature I've heard about," Percy began. His eyes lit up in realization. "I take that back." He looked out the window; the sun was just starting to come up over the horizon. "Where are we?"

Thalia looked at Annabeth expectantly. "By my calculations, we just left New Jersey," Annabeth informed.

Percy smiled. "It wasn't a Greek monster, but it was similar to a local legend. I think it was the Jersey Devil," he explained.

Annabeth bit her bottom lip as she thought that over. "Could monsters like that exist?" she asked.

Thalia nodded. "The hunters fought Sasquatch or Big Foot in the west, so I guess it's possible," Thalia said.

Annabeth and Percy both looked at her strangely. "You fought Big Foot?" Annabeth asked.

Thalia laughed. "Gods no, Zoe told me about a fight the hunters had with a group of Big Foot about a hundred years ago," she explained.

Percy knew there were other monsters besides those from Greek mythology. The Wendigo and now the Jersey Devil proved that.

Annabeth frowned. "I don't get it," she said.

"Get what?" Percy asked.

"Why would the Jersey Devil attack a train?" Annabeth asked.

"Who knows, maybe the train spooked him and it investigated and Percy was stupid enough to go on the roof and get attacked," Thalia said with a smirk on her face.

Percy's face reddened. "Hey, I'm right here you know," he said.

Thalia laughed before Annabeth joined her.

Percy watched them curiously. "You two seem to be getting along," he observed.

The two girls stopped laughing. "We decided to forgive and move on," Annabeth said before Thalia smiled at her.

Percy sighed. "Good, because I was tired of the cold stares that you gave each other," Percy said. The two girls looked at him with narrowed eyes and stern expressions on their faces. "Yep, those are the ones."

"Shut-up Kelp Head," Thalia said.

Percy smirked. "Better than Seaweed Brain," he grumbled as he closed his eyes.

Thalia and Annabeth smiled before they left their cabin to go to the food car. "I guess we'll bring him something back," Annabeth said. The two girls looked back at the son of Daedalus; the boy was curled up in a ball like a dog.

"Have a good rest Dog Boy," Thalia said before she closed the cabin door.

A few minutes later…

Percy opened his eyes. He saw sunlight peeking through a dense forest of evergreen trees. The ground around him was moist, but he was completely dry. A little perk of being a son of Poseidon.

Percy sat up slowly, but his ribs and chest didn't hurt anymore. He could breathe normally. "Where am I?" he asked out loud.

"You're on the train, but your mind is in Alaska, the Tongass forest to be exact," a familiar voice said.

Percy turned around and there was Raven leaning against a large tree trunk. A mischievous grin spread across his face, but Percy could tell that something bothered him.

"What's going on Raven?" Percy asked.

Raven's grin disappeared. "It appears the coming war is worse than I thought," he informed.

"How so?" Percy asked.

"The Titan Kronos is preparing to rise. He has many allies and it appears that my brother, Coyote has joined him," Raven said. His frown deepened as he spoke his brother's name.

Percy coughed. "Why would he join the Titan?" Percy asked in shock.

"I'm not completely sure, but the last two monster attacks were not of Greek origin. You know the Wendigo is of Native American origin," Raven said.

"That bat creature on the train; I've never heard of any creature like that," Percy admitted.

Raven's dark eyes looked dull. "That was the Jersey Devil as you already guessed; it is an ancient curse that a native shaman placed on a man and his family. The story goes that the creature was born to the man's wife. It attacked the woman and her mid-wife when she gave birth. The creature escaped into the Pinelands of New Jersey. That was over two hundred and fifty years ago," Raven explained.

Percy's brow furrowed in confusion. "I thought the creature had a horse head or something," he said.

Raven laughed. "No my boy, that is what the mortals want you to think. The creature was a human child transformed into that hideous creature. Usually, the monster attacks individuals in the wilderness, but I suspect that my brother somehow influenced the creature to attack you. I'm sorry I couldn't help," Raven replied.

"These creatures are immune to celestial bronze and imperial gold," Percy said.

Raven smiled. "Yes, but I have something that they are not immune to," Raven explained as he pulled out a large native tomahawk; the blade shined in the light. "This tomahawk's blade is made of a mix of silver and mortal steel. This weapon can hurt these creatures. In your hands it will allow you to hold your own against them. However, they have an advantage over other monsters; they aren't of your realms. They can match or exceed your power. Use this weapon, but above all use the cunning and the problem solving skills your father instilled within you."

Percy nodded. "I won't let you down," Percy promised.

Raven's grin grew. "You are my champion. You are the hope to end this coming war and to help restore balance to the wild lands. That is all I can hope for," Raven said before he began to glow. He turned into the large black bird that was named after him and flew up through trees into the sky above.

Percy watched him fly away before he looked down at the weapon he had received. "I won't let you down," he repeated.

AN: A short chapter. A little filler, but it helps Percy understand what is coming and the reason these new creatures are attacking him. Raven gave him the tomahawk, but will it be enough in Percy's fight against the Native American monsters? What is Kronos up to? Who are his allies? Stay tuned these and more questions will be answered in the next chapters. ALERT: I'm looking for another Native American creature for Percy to fight in the next chapter. The train will travel through Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana next, so any ideas on a creature for our heroes to face? Give me your ideas and I will pick the best one to include in the next chapter, thanks for reading. Also, don't forget my other story; No Stopping Fate: Reading Divided Soul. I've been updating it daily and those who like that story please take a look. I have made some small changes and I will include a few more chapters at the end as well as an added bonus. Thanks to all my readers.