Chapter 6: I Play Shot Put With a Manticore
The back-up sprang into action. Thalia and Grover snuck behind the monster, where Thalia wielded her incredibly terrifying shield, Aegis, a gift from Athena. The shield is modeled after Zeus' shield, with the emblem of the head of Medusa embedded into the celestial bronze. The face won't turn you into stone, but it will cause quite the panic, especially with monsters. Thalia charged in with her shield and her humongous collapsible spear, looking like a truly terrifying nightmare come to life.
Dr. Thorn flinched and snarled when he saw her.
Thalia advanced with her trusty shield. "For Zeus!"
If I didn't know any better, I would have told Thorn now is the best time to say what will be his last words for a long time. Unfortunately, I do know better. That spear and shield are about as effective as pipe cleaners. Thalia aimed for the head but to no avail. Dr. Thorn merely swatted the spear away like a minor nuisance. Then it began. The evil principal's hand morphed into a gigantic orange paw, like a tiger's. Claws erupted in razor-sharp talons, screeching against the bronze of the daughter of Zeus' shield as he slashed. Thalia managed to roll out of the way before she could be diced up like minced garlic.
The monster catapulted another volley of thorns at Thalia, exposing his leathery, razor-sharp tail. The thorns ricocheted off of Aegis, but the force of the blow knocked her off her feat.
Grover leaped into action. An upbeat melody played from his reed pipes as he blew, and grass burst through the snow. In a matter of seconds, the grass grew into rope-thick weeds that wrapped around Dr. Thorn's legs like a Christmas present, ensnaring him.
Dr. Thorn released a mighty roar as he began to change. He grew larger in size, morphing into his true form—a manticore. His face remained human, with his cold blue and brown eyes, but his body had completely changed into a huge lion. His leathery, scorpion tail shot spikes in every direction at break-neck speed.
"A manticore!" Annabeth exclaimed next to us, her New York Yankees cap laid on the fresh powdered snow.
"Who are you people? And what is that?" Bianca demanded, yanking me behind her.
"A manticore, one of the deadliest monsters in Greek mythology!" I exclaimed instinctively. "He's got three thousand attack power and plus five to saving throws!" Wait, what did I just say? Curse my stupid 10 year old brain.
The manticore pried free from the weeds, tearing the plants to shreds. He turned to us, growling dangerously.
"Get down!" Annabeth yelled as she shoved us flat into the winter snow. Percy hit his wrist watch. Slivers of metal jutted out and formed into an intricately made shield. Not a second later, another round of spikes impaled what could've been a pin cushion Percy. Thorn launched Grover into the air with his monstrous tail and the satyr landed right next to the dazed son of Poseidon.
"Yield!" the Manticore roared.
"Never!" Thalia screamed defiantly from the other side of the clearing. She rushed the monster, and I was sure she would impale him like an arrow to a target. Then I remembered—the helicopter. The helicopter emerged from the oblivion of mist, rumbling and thundering just above the cliff. The searched lights blinded me, and I could only make out the dark, sleek design of the helicopter. It had guns hanging off of the side, locked and loaded to fire on us. Who is driving it? I'm almost 100% sure that monsters can't man a vehicle, let alone a helicopter, so it would have to be rogue demigods that joined Kronos' army. The searchlights blazed in Thalia's eyes, rendering her blind and allowing Thorn to sweep her away like a dust bunny with his spiky tail. Her shield and spear flew in opposite directions.
"No!" Percy screamed in protest. He ran to help her, but I knew it wouldn't do any good. There's a ferocious monster trying to kill us and a loaded helicopter is about to fire on us. We're surrounded. Thalia and Grover are down, and Percy is leaning on his last leg. Where is Annabeth? And more importantly, where are the hunters?
Dr. Thorn laughed darkly in triumph. "Now do you see how hopeless it is? Yield little heroes."
No, we can't give up, not now.
A hunting horn rang through the clearing. There's still hope.
The manticore froze in fear. His eyes widened in terror. No one moved, no one made a sound. "No it cannot be—"
Thorn was cut off as a silver projectile shot past us. The arrow glinted in the moonlight, glowing a silver luminescence. The arrow found its way to the manticore's shoulder with no trouble at all. The hunters of Artemis have arrived.
The monster stumbled, wailing in despair. Honestly, I don't blame him. I would be the same way too if I were on the wrong side of the Moon Goddess.
"Curse you!" He cried to the seemingly empty edge of the clearing. Thorn realized a fresh volley of spikes in the Hunters' direction, to which they gladly responded with a horde of silver arrows coming his way. The arrows sliced through the spikes with deadly accuracy.
The manticore yanked the arrow out of his shoulder, howling in pain. Percy made an attempt to slice at the evil principal, but he dodged with ease and rammed his tail into Percy's shield, knocking him out of the fight.
The archers emerged from the forest, all with determination set in their eyes. They all wore matching silver parkas and jeans, advancing the manticore slowly but surely with their arrows notched.
"The Hunters!" Annabeth exclaimed.
"Oh wonderful," Thalia muttered next to me.
Zoe Nightshade stepped forward among the crowd of archers, her silver circlet around her head sparkled in the moonlight. She had coppery skin, a tall, graceful figure, and long dark hair weaved into a braid. "Permission to kill, my lady?"
The monster whined in defeat. "This is not fair! Direct interference! It is against the Ancient Law."
A girl about 13 years old stood tall in the parted crowd. She had auburn hair bunched up into a ponytail and sharp, silver-yellow eyes that shone brighter than the moon. She had a beautiful face, but I knew better than to compliment her. Especially with the dangerous glint that danced in her luminescent irises. "The hunting of all wild beasts is within my sphere. And you, foul creature, are a wild beast." Artemis glanced at her lieutenant. "Zoe, permission granted."
Dr. Thorn growled in protest. "If I cannot have these half bloods alive, I shall have them dead!"
He pounced for Thalia and Percy, both dazed from the battle. Not my cousins, jerk face!
"No!" Annabeth and I yelled at the same time. Without thinking, I snatched Percy's sword and hurtled it at the manticore's chest, while Annabeth hopped on his back in the most deadly piggyback ride there ever was, and drove her knife into the monster's mane. The manticore howled his last cry of agony as Anaklusmos and Annabeth's dagger found their target.
This time, there was no missing Annabeth, no hysterical Percy, no enraged Thalia, and no oblivious Nico. All that was left was a very shocked group of Hunters and demigods all watching in disbelief as Dr. Thorn disintegrated into golden dust.
I stood stock-still, panting due to the exertion my 10 year old body isn't used to yet. I can't believe I just did that. I can't believe one single action just erased a series of what could've been very unfortunate events. For a moment the whole clearing was silent, but everyone's attention snapped back to the fully-armed plane turning its guns in our direction. To be honest, I actually forgot about the helicopter for a second there.
The hunters all prepared to fire on the helicopter, but Artemis simply waved her hand and the vehicle dissipated into a flock of ravens, all of which flew into the void of night. "Mortals are not allowed to witness my hunt."
The hunters turned their attention to us as Annabeth weakly made her way to Percy. "Annabeth!" Percy, Thalia, and Grover exclaimed in relief.
"Nico! Are you alright? Don't scare me like that again!" Bianca smothered me in a bone-crushing hug.
The hunters made their way towards us and Zoe Nightshade stopped in her tracks when she saw Thalia. "You," she said as if the word tasted like poison on her tongue.
"Zoe Nightshade," Thalia's voice shook with anger. "Perfect timing, as usual."
Zoe's silver eyes regarded the rest of us. "Five half bloods and a satyr, my lady." I almost rolled my eyes at the comment. As if a goddess needed to be told what she could see right in front of her.
"Yes," Artemis answered, her voice as calm as a gentle breeze through the woods. "Some of Chiron's campers, I see."
"Who are you?" Percy asked. I almost smacked my hand to my forehead from how rude that question sounded. Annabeth nudged Percy and gave him a look that said: Did you seriously just ask that?
Zoe stepped forward, raising her hand to slap him. "No," Artemis ordered. "I sense no disrespect, Zoe. He is simply confused. He does not understand. I am Artemis," she introduced herself, her eyes gleamed brighter than a full moon.
"Goddess of the Hunt."
A/N
Thank you so much for the kind reviews guys! I really do appreciate it. This is my first time ever posting a fanfiction story I've written. I intend to finish this story, and I have a lot of great ideas that I'm still piecing together. Sorry about the grammar mistakes—grammar has never been my strong suit. Anyway, thanks again for reading. Please feel free to review!
-Echo
