Warm air rushed around Percy as they descended. Xena determinedly lead the way. He had to admit, she was incredibly brave for a mortal. He couldn't remember of any stories of a mortal entering the underworld and returning alive. He hoped that she did. After about a half hour of traveling, they reached an area that leveled out. There was a rushing sound ahead. The air subtly changed from the warm to an unnaturally chilling cool. They soon came to an opening where they found themselves on the bank of a swift moving river as black is night.
"We're here." Percy looked at the river with some trepidation.
"This place doesn't feel right." Hercules looked around uncomfortable.
"Welcome to the underworld." Percy said grimly. "Let's get what we need and get out of here. Careful. One touch of the water, and your toast."
"What exactly does toast mean?" Xena asked with irritation in her voice.
"Dead." Percy clarified. He looked around and began heading upstream. As part of their plan, Thetis snuck away from their group downstream. "We'll head up this way for a little bit, away from the underworld."
Percy didn't travel too far. He didn't want to get too far away from Thetis. He pulled out an empty leather pouch, got on his knees, and carefully dipped it into the river without touching it. Percy wasn't talking any chances, Even if his own skin had been dipped in the Styx.
"What does the river Styx have to do with your skin, again?" Hercules questioned as he watched, Percy.
"It's complicated, and probably one of those things that you're not supposed to know." He pulled out the pouch and carefully stopped it, making sure that it couldn't spill. He looked at Hercules and was struck at how young he was. Was he really going to go on and accomplish all those quests and become the greatest hero of Olympus?
There was a loud wail of a baby as though it had just taken its first breath.
"Wait!" Xena looked around alarmed. "Where's Thetis?"
"Let's find her." Percy walked past them and made his way back to where they had come out of.
Thetis came running toward them with her baby swaddled in her arms. The baby was still screaming and her face was ashen white. "Monsters!" She yelled.
"You alerted them to our position! What were you doing?" Xena demanded.
"I tripped." She lied. Percy and her had decided earlier that they needed to keep the secret of the Styx as much as possible.
"Head up." Percy encouraged Thetis and her still crying baby through the tunnel opening. "Hercules and I will take the rear. Go!" Percy urged.
Xena followed Thetis, but she didn't look happy. Then again, she rarely looked happy.
"Go!" Percy motioned for Hercules to go next.
"You first." He pulled out his sword, which emitted a soft glow.
"We don't have time for this." Percy said exasperated.
"Then you had better move." He grinned at Percy.
Percy hesitated just enough to see what exactly was coming for them. "Okay!" He yelled and plunged into the tunnel.
Hercules followed close behind. You could hear the claws scraping against the entrance of the tunnel along with a shreek of frustration. It wasn't long before he caught up to the Thetis and Xena. Thankfully the baby had stopped crying.
"They're in the tunnel." Hercules informed them.
"We need to move faster. Mrs. Dodds is coming." Percy relayed to Xena.
"Who?" Xena question.
"Just hurry." Percy urged. It was his greatest fear that the Furies would catch them before they reached the surface. As they hurried, Heracles tripped and hit the side of the tunnel. Some rubble tumbled ontop of him.Percy could see The light from flames dancing on the walls down the tunnel. They were close.
"Are you alright?" Percy asked.
"I'm fine." Heracles stood up and shook it off the rubble.
Suddenly, Percy had an idea. "Hit the walls!". Percy slammed his shoulder into the side of the tunnel.
"What?" Hercules looked completely confused.
"If we cause a cave in, it will stop them, or at least slow them down." Percy explained as he threw himself into the wall again.
"Oh " Hercules then slashed at the roof of the tunnel. The lights were getting closer. The threw themselves at the walls again. They could hear the screeching of the Furies. Percy threw himself into the wall again as he saw them come around the corner with heir flaming whips in their claws. Hercules slashed at the ceiling one more time when it gave way, and began collapsing. Percy and Hercules clambered away from the cascading rocks as they heard another screech of frustration.
"It worked!" Hercules said with excitement.
"I wasn't sure it would. Let's go and hope that we are far away by the time they get through." Percy and Hercules continued down the tunnel trying to catch up to Xena Thetis. They saw the light at the end of the tunnel, when they heard the familiar screeching sound. They looked at each other and wasted no time in racing to the exit of the tunnel. Percy was vaguely aware of voices I've been to the tunnel, when he launched himself out, turned around, and helped Heracles out. It wasn't until Heracles was out that they both realized that they were surrounded by at least thirty men on horseback.