Hey!

I want to wish everyone here a super Happy New Year! Hope you all had an awesome weekend! I want to make a shout-out to Cheyanne, who has been a gracious reviewer! Love ya!

I've had some questions about when this fic takes place, so I'll clarify that for you right now. This fic takes place about a month after MAX and almost a year after TLO. So that would put it right around May, or at least that's what I would assume. So it's early summer.

Be prepared: This chapter involves action. Woohoo!

Disclaimer: I do not own Maximum Ride or Percy Jackson. They all belong to their respective authors. I don't even own the plot of the seven half-bloods. :( I do, however, own Gabby, Eric, Lucas, and the enemy in which they fight. Yay!

See you at the bottom!

Chapter 9: I Kill A Not-So Mythological Creature

FPOV

As I watched Max walk away with Ella, both laughing and joking around, I mentally wondered what I had done to deserve Max as my girlfriend, let alone my soulmate.

"Yo," Eric said from behind me. "Lover Boy, time for sword practice."

I muttered just enough that he could hear me, "The next person who calls me 'Lover Boy' is going to end up at the bottom of the lake tied to a rock."

Eric cackled and went to join my other half-siblings.

I sighed and followed.

"So what was up with Max and that kid last night? I totally thought she was going to die!" Gabby chatted, walking beside me. "And that would really suck, because then we'd have to wrap her in a shroud, and then burn her. That would really suck! Do you think that he—Mphhh!"

I shot Nico a grateful glance as he covered Gabby's mouth with his hand. Gods, she was like an emo version of Nudge.

Speaking of which.

I did a quick 360. I saw Nudge was heading to the stables with her cabin, Gazzy and Iggy were at the forges, most likely teaching a few of the Hermes kids how to make a real stink bomb. And Angel was at the lake, talking with Annabeth, who was teaching her the… history, I guess you could call it, of the gods and ancient Greek.

As we walked to the cabin so we could pick up our gear, I heard the scream.

"Dragon!" someone shouted. "Prepare for battle!"

I took off running.

The moment I reached the cabin, I snatched and unsheathed my sword and ran as fast as I could for the forest. In my peripheral vision, I saw Max sprinting into the tree line, Wind Ryder in her hand, poised for a fight.

When I got to the stream, I saw something that gave me pause, though I didn't even pause for a breath.

It was a twenty-foot, real-life dragon, like the kind you read about in fairy tales. This one had wicked-sharp teeth, talons half as long as my sword, and bronze-colored scales. And, get this, spewing from its mouth was fire.

Max was right by my side. "How the heck did this get into camp?" she asked, generally stunned.

"I don't know," I said.

She looked at me. "U and A. Swoop around and attack it from either side."

I nodded.

With an almighty, FWIP!, Max and I snapped out our wings and took to the air. A few campers who had just arrived on the scene stopped and stared as we flew thirty feet into the air, and swooped around the beast. We weaved and dodged to avoid the balls of flame that came at us.

I struck first, bringing my sword to a chink in its armor. The beast shrieked, sounding like fingernails on a chalkboard, spitting more flames.

"Blind it!" Percy shouted from the ground, striking its armor with Riptide.

Max raised Wind Ryder and struck it into the dragon's right eye. Another shriek. I saw her cry out and recoil for a moment.

I did the same to the left eye.

The dragon shrieked again and stumbled around blindly, thrashing its head from side to side. I heard someone yell in pain. I couldn't see who through, because I was desperately trying to avoid being hit by its massive head and the fire it was spitting left and right.

With one final strike, Clarisse struck the dragon right through the heart with her electric spear, which had been kindly dubbed by the campers, "Lamer," as this was, apparently, her second one.

The beast continued to shriek and throw flames as it fell.

But it was dead just as it hit the ground.

I swooped around in a big circle once before landing. Max did the same.

The campers were murmuring to one another, pointing at the dragon.

Just then, Chiron came galloping up. "Who let this in the border?" he demanded loudly. He looked around at the campers, as if he would find an answer there.

No one spoke. No one even dared to so much as whisper.

Annabeth looked around nervously. "No one gave it permission, Chiron," she said quietly.

Everyone began to murmur to each other, shooting glances at Max's and my wings, which were still out. I quickly folded them.

Chiron spoke quietly to Percy. Not even I could hear what they were saying.

Then, Chiron said, "Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gazzy, and Angel. I need to speak to you all. Also you, Dylan." He looked around at the campers. "Also, all cabin leaders meet at the Big House. The rest of you: back to your cabins."

Max was already at my side. She looked at me questioningly. I shrugged as if to say, "No clue." Her hand reached for mine. I squeezed her fingers gently, reassuring her.

Maybe we wouldn't last as long here as we first thought.

I know, I'm horrible with the cliffies, but that's just the way I write. I make you want to read more. *wiggles arms*

Review please! You know you want to press the little blue button. You know you want to. You're itching to try. You want to… You're falling into a very deep sleep. LOL! But seriously guys, review. Flames are welcome, but don't be a total a**hole. 0;)

Peace, Love, Happiness, and Maximum Ride.

-A$h