Melody POV
Oh no. He. Didn't. I was just relaxing on the beach, minding my own business reading my new book, when suddenly I was splashed with ice cold ocean water. Someone was going to pay. Looking over the top of my book I saw the culprit. Percy. That smug look would not last, not if I had anything to say about it, but I had to do this strategically. I closed my book and put it in the Ziplock bag I had brought it in. Stood up took a deep breath and walked away. Like a mature young lady who had self control and wouldn't let her siblings antagonize her.
As if.
The moment I got to the cabin I stole Esmond's portable water cannon, filled it up in the sink, and peeked out the window. They didn't suspect a thing and were happily playing in the surf. Perfect. I snuck out the back and jumped up to the roof. I stabilized the cannon on my shoulder and took aim. 3, 2, 1, FIRE! Or would it be WATER! in this case? Oh well, doesn't matter. I hit my mark. I managed to get off 3 more successful shots before they all caught on and came over with buckets to seek revenge. I dropped the cannon and took to the sky, laughing maniacally. It was a pretty good morning I'd say, until the storm clouds rolled in.
We spent the rest of the afternoon playing bored games inside. Dad owned everyone at Settlers of Catan, I destroyed at Monopoly, and Percy just scraped in a win at Uno. Our family is really competitive so mom made up the rule that winner cleans up (this was apparently made before any of us kids were born when mom literally flipped a table after dad beat her in Fill or Bust for the tenth time that night. Or was it Yahtzee?) I retired to my room while mom and dad made dinner to read my book when lightning flashed outside and illuminated a familiar figure. Grover? I lept out of my bed, sheathing my dragon features and ran into the kitchen.
"Mom! Dad! A mortal is heading towards the cabin, he's one of Percy and I's friends from school." Was the only warning I gave them before bursting out the front door into the rain. Despite being part water colony, I HATED getting wet outside the bathtub or swimming pool involuntarily and hesitated on the dry porch for a second before continuing out to meet him. Percy had apparently taken the back and beat me there, having no problems with getting wet. He was out of breath and shivering like mad. It was no wonder, he only in a T-shirt and jeans. We brought him inside and I ran to get a towel from the closet. I gratefully noticed the rest of the family had taken the warning and had hidden their draconic sides. When I came back Grover was seated at one of the chairs and mom was leaning down at his eye level.
"What brings you here? Did one of my children tell you we were coming? How did you get here? You know what, nevermind. Lets get you warmed up and dry before you say anyth-" Grover cut mom off.
"No time." Huff "He's coming, you need to leave. RIGHT NOW." He looked genuinely scared. In this family, we knew when someone was coming, you left. We got our stuff together, luckily we hadn't really unpacked, and got in the car. Thankfully our car seated eight so there was no problem with Grover getting in with us. I KNEW he was fishy. Or rather,
"You're a satyr." I told him. He looked shocked.
"How did you-"
"I payed attention in Latin and the car reeks of wet animal. We aren't new to the mythical side of the world and can see through the Mist. This isn't the first time we've encountered mythical creatures."
"Oh. So you're clear sighted mortals?"
"Yup, clear sighted." It wasn't lying. It wasn't. It was just letting him come to his own conclusions. Thats all. Dad spoke up,
"So who's this 'HE' you were talking about before. The one thats coming" Dad asked.
"Its the- LOOK OUT!" and Dad, who was driving, swerved right just before a cow (what?) hit the car. We swerved off the road into a ditch. The hairs on the back of my neck rose.
"Everyone out!" Not 3 seconds after we were all safety out of the car did a bolt of lightning strike it, reducing it to smoldering ashes. All our stuff was in there. Including our keys into the dragon city. I still had my compass and I know that Percy always kept his pocket knife in his back pocket.
"I- he's after Percy" Gover said, "I was sent to take you to a safe place for your kind."
"My kind?" Said Percy clearly confused. The rest of the family had picked themselves up and our parents were comforting Ralen and Esmond.
"You're a demigod, Percy. Half god and half mortal. I'm supposed to take you to a special camp to help you survive." I made two split second decisions. One, that Percy probably needed to go to this camp. It could help him come to terms with his other part. Two, I was going with him. A loud moo split the air and lightning flashed again, illuminating a massive figure in the distance. We didn't have much time. I ran over to mom and dad, pulling out my compass.
"Here," I said, "Take this. I'm going with Percy." Mom and Dad understood but mom said, "I'll escort you." Dad took my compass and grabbed the boys' hands. Mom and I approached Percy and Grover. "Lead the way." Mom told him. Grover looked shocked for a second before leading us back towards the road a bit and to the right. Dad the the boys went the opposite way. We continued running uninterrupted for a bit when a tree crashed into the forest to my left.
"He's catching up! Run faster!" I shouted, but it was too late. On instinct I dodged another tree and we burst into a clearing. Ahead was a pine tree at the crest of a hill.
"We just have to make it past that tree up there! Then we'll be safe!" Grover shouted. The beast chasing us had other plans. I saw Percy dodge just in time as a minotaur charged past. Thats what we had been running from, the Minotaur. While Percy had dodged, Grover was not so lucky. While he did dodge the massive man-bull he tripped over a dip in the hill and landed on a rocky bit. He didn't get up. Mom noticed and while the beast charged me again as I went to help she picked him and threw him across her shoulders fireman style. I dodged and we regrouped,
"Come on! Just a little farther!" I yelled as encouragement. I remembered that the Minotaur had absolute crap sight and hearing and would go by smell. I heard him coming up the slope again and we all dodged out of the way, but it had learned. It's hands shot out and caught mom, who had been slowed down by Grover's weight. She dropped him surprise and time seemed to slow down. Percy and I were frozen in place watching as the Minotaur picked her up. Surely mom could break free right? She was strong, she'd even beat dad sometimes when we wrestled. He picked her up, and with an angry roar crushed her in his hands, she turned into a golden, shimmering version of herself and in a flash was gone. no. No. NO, "NOOOOO! Mom!" The bull man ignored us and hunched over Grover.
Suddenly, my shock and grief was overpowered by anger and adrenaline. Even though Percy hadn't meant to project it snapped me out of my stupor. Percy was already in motion, bowling into the beast, knocking him away from Grover who was moaning softly in the grass. I was confident Percy could handle the Minotaur so I ran over to Grover and hoisted him over my shoulder. Holy crap! For such a skinny kid he sure weighed a ton. I readjusted my balance and weight and began dragging him up the hill. A ways into this a loud "SNAP!" resounded through the air and I dropped Grover and looked to Percy who had just been flung through the air. NO ONE but ME was allowed to through my siblings. I snapped out my wings and took to the skies, dive bombing the creature, completely blindsiding him. I was doing well distracting him when I tripped over Grover's prone form and he loomed over me. Sometime during this I had sheathed my wings again so thankfully I didn't crush Grover but I didn't think that would've mattered soon. The bull man reared up, about to finish me off when a small sharp object was thrust through it's throat and it disintegrated into golden dust, leaving Percy in it's wake.
The rain had stopped Percy collapsed next to me. I was shaking. I felt numb. I wanted to just sit there and cry but I was still sitting on Grover. Unfeelingly, I got up and helped Percy up well. Together we slowly managed to drag him and ourselves up the rest of the hill and stagger down into the valley. I was so tired I barely remembered making it to warm looking farmhouse. We collapsed onto the wooden porch and I knew no more.
AN: Hello! I'm alive and feel only mildly guilty and mostly stupid for taking an Honors English class freshman year. I've never written battle scenes before so I did my best. I hope after this long period my writing skills have improved but honestly I'm not so sure. Sorry for the wait! Have an awesome Thanksgiving (If you celebrate it) and I hope to see ya'll next week!