Hey guys! Another chapter, its one of my longest yet. Tell me whether you like longer or not so long chapter more. Thanks to Caladus for your reviews they are always quite helpful. However, i am feeling a bit disappointed about reviews. I have got over 1400 views, but I usually only get 1-2 reviews a chapter, since I started asking for reviews. so lets aim for a bit more reviews next time, eh? Then I will post. Read, Enjoy and REVIEW! :)
Leo
Leo walked into the park, a group of demigods behind him. His clothes were ripped and covered in monster dust, his face dirty. But despite all that, he was feeling pretty proud. He had managed to lead the Hephaestus cabin, plus some Roman demigods, children of Vulcan, into battle, and beaten off the monster army. Well most of it. The rest of it just retreated at the sound of a horn. Leo wasn't too surprised; Annabeth had told them this was a warning attack. He knew it was going to get a lot worse, but right now, he felt good about himself.
As he walked into the big green park, on which demigods were scattered, he saw injured people were being treated to in a nearby shade under a cluster of tress. Piper saw him approaching and ran up to him. Then a really weird thing happened. It was like time slowed down around him, everyone becoming still, their expressions frozen onto their face. He briefly wondered if this was some monster trick when there was a bright flash.
Before Leo was a grimy man in blue, workingman's overalls. His hands were covered with grease, and his hair was uncared for. "Hey dad." Said Leo simply.
Hephaestus smiled proudly at his son. "Leo m'boy!" He boomed. "I am here to uh-" He fiddled with his overall. "To tell you I'm proud of you."
Leo stared at him. "You bothered to come here, slow down time, and talk to another living organism just to say you're proud of me?" Leo was glad his dad was proud, but this seemed a bit too good to be true. Gods don't just go to all that effort to waste time on stuff like family relations.
Hephaestus looked down at the floor, and coughed. "Uhm, and, to tell you- well, that I will be there to help you when you face a giant."
Leo blinked.
"So yes, that's it. I guess I'll be going now. Oh and… when the girl, Annabeth, needs help… just tell her of the Kobaloi." And then Hephaestus disappeared before Leo could ask what the immortal horse was he talking about.
Suddenly there was a snap, and everyone started moving again, Piper still running towards him.
"Leo!" She cried happily, leading him to the shade where he could make out the figure of Jason. "Are you alright?"
Leo nodded. They reached Jason, who grinned at Leo was about to speak, when Percy and Annabeth jogged up to them, Frank soon after. Percy's leg was bleeding, but otherwise he seemed fine.
Annabeth's eyes scanned over them, checking they were all alright, before speaking. "Did the monsters retreat for you guys as well?" Everyone nodded.
"At the sound of the horn. And there was no sign of the giants." Jason pointed out. Annabeth didn't look surprised. Then Frank frowned.
"Where's Hazel?"
Percy looked around the park. "She must still be in the city. Do you think she's still fighting, or did something happen to her?"
Before anyone could respond, a demigod in a battered helmet ran up to them, gasping, blood on his arm. "Hazel's group- eastern Athens- giant!" He spluttered out, breathless, before collapsing on the floor. Piper rushed over to him, and fed him a square of ambrosia. Everyone waited impatiently as he gulped it down, before continuing. "It was a trap. There's a silver and gold giant. We need help."
Frank immediately leapt forward. 'I'm going to help her."
Annabeth nodded in agreement. "Frank, Jason take a big group of uninjured people and go help." She hesitated. "That should be enough- I don't want to put all our army in one place. If you need backup, iris-message me."
Frank nodded, before scrambling off, Jason behind him.
Leo frowned. "What do we do?"
Percy and Annabeth exchanged looks. Percy cleared his throat. "Annabeth and I, well, we have an idea, something that could help us. It has to be just us two though." He ignored Leo and Piper's querying looks.
Annabeth added, "We also need to know where the enemy camp is. It would help, if we needed to go onto the offensive or-" She broke off, biting her lip. "But we don't know where it is…"
Then Leo gasped. "Oh! You need help!"
Percy stared at him. "Leo what on earth are you talking about?"
Leo quickly explained about seeing his dad (to his friends' surprised faces), and about how his father had told him to tell Annabeth of the 'Kobaloi'. Annabeth smacked her forehead when she heard that part.
"Of course! Leo, your dads a genius! There are these stories, of these little pixie creatures, called the Kobaloi, and they're meant to live in the hidden shrines of park Dasos. They're meant to have knowledge of everyone's enemies. In the ancient times they were often approached before going to battle so commanders could learn more about them. However, it's difficult to convince them to help you. And they haven't been seen or heard of in centuries…"
"I'll go. See what I can do. It's worth a shot." Leo volunteered.
Piper spoke up. "I would come, but," She gestured to all the wounded, "I need to stay here and help look after them. Plus, we need someone to defend this place just in case."
Annabeth tucked a loose strand of hair behind her hair. "Uhm, yeah and Percy and I- well we have that thing we told you about."
Percy and Annabeth ignored Leo and Piper's quizzical looks for the second time. But Leo trusted Percy and Annabeth. If they had something important to do, it was probably worth doing. "But then who will come with me?" Leo asked. He didn't really fancy a solo mission.
Piper's eyes sparkled. She fixated on a point behind Leo. He turned and saw Reyna scanning the distance for any monsters. She seemed to be one of the people in command, which of course she was, since she was praetor. Connor was next to her. Surprisingly, in Percy and Annabeth's absence, Travis and Connor (who Leo knew quite well know- oh the fun pranking the Aphrodite cabin) had taken up lead of Camp Half-Blood along with Clarisse.
"Take them." Piper suggested. Leo snorted in surprise, unsure about the idea of going on a quest with someone who wasn't part of the seven.
However Percy nodded. "It's a good idea. Take them."
Leo half sighed, before walking over to them. "Hey guys. Listen, I need your help."
….
The Argo II set down on the velvety grass. The park stretched on for miles, as far as the eye could see. Dense wood was clumped in the centre. Connor whistled. "Wow. How are we going to find the kobaloi in that? We might as well go home now!"
Reyna scowled and glared at Connor. Connor just grinned at her and pushed her playfully. Okay, thought Leo. He guessed they had spent a lot of time together. And he was getting the vibe Connor liked Reyna. Not good. That could only mean pain. She was roman praetor, serious and hardened, and he was Connor, one of the prankster brothers.
Leo decided not to comment, and walked off the trireme. The wood was pretty big, but Annabeth had told them how to find them. All you needed was a son of Hermes. Apparently the Kobaloi used to be servants of Hermes, and while they were now free, a descendant of Hermes would always be able to find them.
Soon they were following Connor, who seemed to be following some sort of trail that only he could see. The wood was green, light streaming through, but Reyna seemed wary, keeping one hand on her sword. There was an awkward silence hanging on the air. Luckily, they were soon brought to a halt.
Connor raised his hand, standing statue still. Almost immediately, there was a giggling sound, like a classroom of young pupils had started laughing. Then they appeared. They were small, about as tall as Leo's leg. They had inky, light blue, translucent skin, stretched tight and shiny. Their eyes were pitch black, sparkling with humour.
"Demigods!" A voice said. No one's mouth opened, but it sounded like more than one Kobaloi spoke. The voice was playful, yet at the same time it was like they were scared, but acting playfully because they didn't know what else to do.
"Hello! I am Leo Valdez, son of Hephaestus, this is Reyna, daughter of Bellona, and he," Leo called, "is Connor Stoll, son of Hermes. We need your help. Please, can you tell us where the giants camp is?"
At the word giants the Kobaloi scattered, murmuring, "No! No! Not the giants! He harms, he bad!"
"He?" Reyna asked curiously. "You've met one?"
The Kobalos didn't answer, but instead looked at each other helplessly. Connor stepped forward.
"I am a son of Hermes. Tell us where the camp is. If there is any giant or creature in this woods that you are scared of…"
"We'll defeat them for you." Leo interrupted, followed by a sigh from Connor.
The Kobaloi looked at them curiously, before quietly talking to each other in a strange language. Finally, one tall Kobalos stepped forward.
"Help us. Defeat the wood stalker, and we will tell you. He come soon. Help us, and we help you." And with that the Kobalos scattered.
….
They waited there anxiously, Leo and Connor telling jokes to keep the mood light, though Reyna didn't seem in the mood to laugh. Leo's stomach growled; it was long past lunch and he hadn't had anything to eat since breakfast. He started pacing around.
Reyna looked at him. "It will be here soon, whatever the monster is. The kobaloi said."
That didn't make him feel any better. It had already been ages (ok, twenty minutes, but to ADHD Leo that was ages), and there was no sign. Suddenly he heard a low growl. Reyna shot up, pulling out her sword, Connor doing likewise. Leo plunged his hand into his tool belt and drew out his hammer. They formed a circle, each of them facing outwards. Then Leo saw it out of the corner of his eye, stalking towards them, as a black as a panther. It leapt forward, claws extended. Then Leo saw it clearly.
It was a hellhound on steroids. Its red eyes glowed with fury, its legs lean and muscular, with three long, wiry tails.
Leo cursed and ducked, while Reyna and Connor swirled round. Reyna swung her sword, pushing the hound off its course. Leo blasted it with fire, though it had no effect on the beast. Of course, remembered Leo, hellhounds were immune to fire. He jumped forward, and smashed its head with his hammer. While the hound was dazed momentarily, Connor rolled under the hound, stabbing it in its weaker underside. The hound yelped, before scratching Connor, who screamed in pain.
Reyna gasped and ran forward, waving her sword, drawing it away from Connor. The hound snarled, and followed. Leo realised he needed to use Reyna's distraction. Just one more hit in its vulnerable area… He stealthily, ran forward, and jumped on the hellhounds back. It roared, writhing. Quickly, Leo stretched his arm, and whacked his hammer right on the underside of his skull. The hellhound collapsed, disintegrating.
Reyna ran to Connor. "Connor!" She said desperately. She poured some nectar on his wound, and skin stretched over the opening. Connor's eyes fluttered open, as Reyna smiled. Maybe she did like Connor back.
Suddenly the Kobaloi appeared, grinning mischievously at them, dancing around. "Thank you. We are free to roam these woods once more. For that, we will tell you where the giants camp is." Leo listened carefully. So the giants were hiding northwards from Athens. Leo grinned. They could use that information.
…
Leo got off the ship once again, Reyna and Connor behind him, walking in the park where the demigod base was. The short ride back from park Dasos had been uneventful. He wondered if anyone else was back yet. He walked around a big tree, and spotted the shade where people were getting healed. Just as he opened his mouth to call out, he stopped. He looked at the shade and then he realised what he was seeing.
And his heart dropped.
Cliffhanger again! Please type a comment in the box below, I will post next chapter after a few reviews, lets aim for more than usual please, and then I will post. So before leaving, REVIEW, if you want the next chapter. So if you want to read what happens next, please review. Before going. Review now! :)