Ding dong! "Okay, I'm comin'!" snapped Raina, slamming down her spoon and marching to the front door.
"What on Earth-" she yelped. A boy was there. But he wasn't a boy. Er.. not a real boy. Ugh. Now I sound like Pinnochio! she thought. Anyway, the kid was half burro from the waist down.
"All right! All packed? Just kiddin'! I know this is kinda last-minute, but you won't regret coming with me! So I am Roland and I will be your guide today! Any questions? Okay. Okay? Okay!" The boy announced.
He was kinda cute... If you ignored his tail-end. Raina thought in her mind. "Umm... okay?" she said uncertainly. He trotted out, his shaggy hind-quarters bouncing. Okay, MAJOR-EW! Raina closed her eyes.
He pointed to two absolutely beautiful horses with wings. One was stormy gray flecked in black, and the other was snowy white, with a golden mane and tail. There was a golden heart on her face, just on top of her right eye.
"OkayI'llberidingNightshadeyou'llberidingHolidaDidyou-getthat,Raina?" Roland declared, without even pausing to take a breather.
Well, well. A Mexicana! A voice spoke in Raina's mind. She yelped. Oh, sorry. I can't help it! A Mexicana and a daughter of Lord Poseidon! Raina glanced around uneasily.
Up here, amiga. You know. The one waving her pretty lil' wing? Raina stifled a gasp as she saw Holiday waving her wing to get Raina's attention.
Umm... Hel-lo! Aqui! The pegasus pouted. Okay, okay! I see you! Raina snapped. Holiday reared, flapping her wings and flailing her hooves, which were also golden. "You know how to mount a pegasi, right?" Roland asked, eyeing Raina suspiciously as she clambered onto Holiday.
Relajate, Roll-Boy! I mean, relax! I've got her! Holiday whinnied, super-annoyed with Roland, who was obviously a satyr. Raina grinned as Holiday took off.
"Okay, Roland, explain yourself! I can talk to chicken horses, I can– Agh!" She broke off as Holiday twisted and flipped in midair.
Who are you calling a "chicken-horse", little missy? Holiday neighed, flashing her hooves dangerously. Ah, c'mon, Holiday. Quit messin' around. She made a mistake, is all. So back off, hermosilla. A new voice invaded Raina's mind. Raina shut her eyes, and thought to the massive, stormy gray stallion pegasus, I'm guessing you're Nightshade? The stormy stallion tossed his head regally.
Why, yes, I am Nightshade. How'd you guess? Raina shrugged. Lucky guess. "All right, we're.. here." Roland's voice trailed away as a tall hill crested with a majestic pine. "What are those?!" Raina yelped, pointing at a dozen or so hideous, shuffling figures at the foot of the pine.
"Cyclopes." Roland answered. "And those are hellhounds." he added, waving at a few nightmarish hound-like creatures leaping around the tree. "Chiron was right. You must be a powerful–"
"Hold it!" Raina shouted. "You expect me to follow you without a question, right?" Roland swung Nightshade around, a mystified expression on his face.
"Um.. Yeah?" he said uncertainly.
Nightshade whinnied with laughter. I like you! You've got spirit! Not everyone stands up to a satyr! Especially not to Roland! Raina shrugged, crossing her arms stubbornly.
"Well, news flash. I'm not goin' till I know where I'm going. So, spill." Roland huffed.
" 'reademigodbecauseeitheryourmotherorfatherwasaGreekgodorgoddess. Didja get that?" Roland snapped, glaring at her frustratedly.
"More or less." Raina said defiantly. "Okay, good. Now let's go!" he urged, kicking Nightshade to get him to move.
He handed Raina a bronze blade veiled in sea-blue shells and crisscrossed with sea serpent charms.
"I have a feeling you're good at this." Roland told her as they spurred the pegasi down, down, down towards the monster-infested ground.