"I'll be back before school starts." Hadrian promises as he takes ahold of the amulet on his charm necklace from under his shirt and hesitantly says "Camp Half-Blood."
Hadrian looks around in worry finding himself wished away through the shadows without his direct control. He relaxes his shoulders and releases a breath of air when he lands. He looks around himself. He's no longer in the California Addams Mansion. Instead, he's on a dirt path surrounded by trees. Ahead of him are fields of strawberry plants. He was only half certain of the necklace's purpose as a portkey.
Hadrian jumps and spins around in alarm hearing a low growl behind him. He relaxes fractionally finding an injured Cerberus tending to her puppy. The poor thing is only an infant and the mother doesn't look like she's going to last much longer. Someone has severed her legs and wounded her sternum. She's barely hanging on as it is. Horrified and having made up his mind Hadrian strolls over to the wounded mother and pup with far more confidence than he feels.
"Hey there, are you okay?" Hadrian asks using his All-Speak and beast speaking abilities. "Well, you're obviously not okay." He corrects himself as both Cerberus's lookup in alarm, shock, and confusion. Hadrian takes this to mean they understand him well enough. "I can help if you let me. Do you need help?"
"You speak canine and smell safe, demigod. Very well, I will allow you to help. But know this, if you attack my pup I will eat you."
Hadrian smiles at the protective mother while still recognizing the threat. "Understandable." He responds moving to begin wandlessly healing the mother Cerberus.
"My pup. Heal my pup first. He will not make it in Hades, I will." The mother responds laying down in a puddle of her blood causing both him and the puppy to whimper at the realization that she's dying.
"Who attacked you?" Hadrian asks as he moves to heal the legs of the puppy. He hadn't realized the poor puppy was even bleeding!
"The other demigod puppies attacked us. I am surprised you have not. Who are your parents? Your blood smells of a young God yet you have the flesh of a demigod. It is very confusing." The mother Cerberus says as she lays her three heads down.
"I am a God reliving my demigod life. I hope to prevent the horrors of a future yet to pass." Hadrian admits seeing no reason to lie "I have already changed much. In my last life, I never met or heard from my mother or father. In this life, my parents sent me a present to help me in my quest and it took me here." He explains as he finishes healing the puppy.
"I see." The mother Cerberus says drawing a shaky breath. "You have a good soul for one destined for such a hard life. You will raise my pup for me." The mother says before taking her last breath and fading away.
Hadrian blinks confused looking to where the mother Cerberus just was then down to the whimpering and distressed puppy. 'Well, that just happened.' He thinks to himself slowly getting over his shock. 'I guess that's why muggle scientists have never found their bones. Apparently, they just vanish in a flash of light.' he thinks sardonically.
"Okay, it looks like I'm your Mom now. Or uh Dad." Hadrian says to the equally confused puppy.
"But are you not a puppy too?"
"Yes but I'm older… I think…"
"What about master?" The puppy suggests.
"Yeah, I guess master works." Hadrian agrees while trying to think of a suitable name for a Cerberus. At once he realizes he doesn't even know if the puppy already has a name. "What's your name?"
"I'm called Nero Maximus. Nero means strong and of good health. Maximus is my family name and it means the greatest and the largest. What is your name?" The puppy asks.
"I'm Hadrian Frey Peverell. Hadrian means a dark general from the dark Adriatic sea in my mother's native tongue. Frey means lord in my father's native tongue. Peverell is my family name, it means friend and companion of Death in my home county of Midgard's England."
"If you are from England, why are you here in New York? " Nero the Cerberus puppy asks tilting his three heads to the side confused, his six ears flopping with the action.
"I actually grew up here in America during this life," Hadrian says with a smile while he runs his right hand through his hair. "For why I'm here I was informed that my mother's Godly family trains in an area near here called Camp-Halfblood. My mother and father sent me a present last year designed to allow me instantaneous transport from my home to this camp."
"Then your family must be nearby waiting for you!" Nero excitedly says wagging his tail before his tail and his ears droop. "Perhaps that's why the other demigods attacked us. They were your family. Then again mother did attack them as well. But she was defending herself and me. King Hades told us to travel this way looking for someone, but I do not know who. My mother did."
"Which way did the demigods go after attacking you and your mother," Hadrian asks swallowing thickly. He's not very happy with the realization he's come to. Still, nothing is ever for certain. Hopefully, it's a case of mistaken identity and he won't be training to go about killing innocent creatures.
"Up the hill and to the left. Are we to follow their trail?" Nero asks standing up.
"Yes. I need to begin my demigod training. If you don't want to come with me you don't have to."
"No, I will follow. My mother trusted you with my care. We are now bonded now as master and familiar."
"I don't know that much about Cerberus's." Hadrian hesitantly admits "What do you eat?" Hadrian asks.
"We drink water and eat meat like all other canines. We provide safe passage to the underworld to our pack and masters and we are fiercely loyal to our pack. You are my pack and master now. My mother has given her blessing. Please do not let her down." Nero the Cerberus puppy says going from a fierce calm to scared again.
"Hey, I'm sorry if I scared you." Hadrian says kneeling and reaching out to let Nero sniff his hand before petting him, "This is all new to me. I will, I promise to be the best master I can okay?" Hadrian explains leading the way again. "Come on, let's keep going. You said they went just up this hill and to the left?" Hadrian asks beginning to walk up the hill with Nero following at his side once again.
"That is correct. After that their scent disappeared."
"There are likely wards protecting the area then," Hadrian says after some thought. He's read about such wards and he wouldn't be surprised to find more places like this one hidden around the world. After all, he's already learned about several hidden magic cities and schools around the world.
