I'm so sorry!1 I completely lost track of time. I can't believe it's been over a MONTH since I updated! I've been super busy! I got my first job, and a new dog, and….well, also I was lazy. But really, I'v been a little disappointed with the lack of reviews, so consider the wait your unintentional punishment;)
Chapter 15:
Hellhound After Hellhound
Percy's POV
A line of hellhounds erupted from the cover of the forest, advancing shoulder-to-shoulder leisurely in perfect synchronization. It was incredibly terrible the way they loomed all around the boarder. A familiar-looking camper was standing too close to their line, and almost immediately, one of the hellhounds leaped and wrestled him fiercely to the ground, dragging him away. Only later did I realize that it had been the Ares kid from dinner the other night. Karma, baby.
The hellhounds were followed by an entire phalanx of dracaenae, shields locked together, with their spear points bristling over the top, looking like a solid wall of steel with porcupine hair. I averted my gaze, not wanting to see what kind of terrifying monster came next.
Campers began panicking, running back and forth, unsure of what to do. Annabeth and I locked eyes, and her expression mirrored what mine probably was; I could detect slight shock, slight fear. However, I also saw something else: A blazing determination.
"Campers, prepare for battle!" Chiron ordered, sounding shocked yet calm at the same time. Like he had done this a thousand times. Which, of course, he has.
The invasion was starting. The battle.
Suddenly, battle armor appeared all around our feet, as if we were about to suit up for Capture The Flag.
I had no need for it, seeing as I was invulnerable, but I wasn't sure if I wanted Kronos to know that, so I put on a helmet and a simple breast plate. I looked over at Annabeth to see that she had barely finished with her armor, too, and was now standing up and pulling out her knife.
"Been nice fighting with you, Percy," she said without meeting my eyes.
"Same here, Annabeth," I answered.
"Good luck, guys," Thalia shouted from across the flanks, in front of the rest of the hunters. Before either of us could answer her, Thalia ran forward and furiously threw herself into the enemy lines, accompanied by about ten other campers who also were wearing full battle armor.
Without another word, Annabeth and I followed.
The first monster I came across was a giant hellhound, about the size of either a large truck or a small tank. It swiped at me with huge paws, and I quickly ducked and rolled underneath its stomach. Once I was underneath, I stabbed upward and disintegrated the monster into dust.
I stood back up, subconsciously deciding that I would destroy the entire front line of hellhounds first before attacking any other monster. True, the other monsters had weapons, but right now the hellhounds were everyone's top priority. My mind went on autopilot, and I repeatedly saw hellhound after hellhound disappear under Riptide's arch. Finally, I came to the last one, and I slashed mercilessly. It yelped in surprise before exploding into dust and blending in with the remains of its comrades.
I turned to find that the battle was raging all around me. I could clearly see many of the campers as well as satyrs and Hunters, either fighting for their lives or helping to carry others away to the infirmary. It was madness; every where, yelling, crying, sweating, bleeding. Finally, I spotted who I was looking for: Annabeth, at the top of Half-Blood Hill. She was desperately trying to fight off two empousaiat once with her knife. Panic rushed over me as I saw her being forced to the ground and I heard a faint cry escape from her. I ran over to help her.
"Hey!" I yelled, coming up from behind one of the empousaiand stabbing it in the back before it had the chance to turn and attack me. It screamed and exploded.
"Thanks," Annabeth panted as she quickly stood up and stabbed and killed the other empousa.
"Anytime."
Her eyes suddenly widened. "Percy, look behind you."
I turned, nearly groaning at the sight. More and more monsters were still pouring into camp, but Kronos and his demigods weren't even within sight yet.
I looked back at Annabeth. "We'll do this together," I offered.
She nodded grimly.
Monsters swarmed around us, and almost as if we had rehearsed it, Annabeth and I went shoulder to shoulder, facing opposite directions. I fell into a sort of trance, and without being fully aware of what I was doing, I attacked any enemy in sight without hesitation. Slashing, hacking, dodging. It was just like instinct.
I'm wasn't sure how long Annabeth and I had been fighting- it could've been hours already- before I looked around and realized something: Out of the many hundreds that had been here when the battle began, only about three hundred monsters remained. However, we weren't doing very well: I could only spot about fifty of our allies still up and fighting, other than me and Annabeth.
Chapter 16:
Darn the Gods Darn Minotaur
Annabeth's POV
After about ten minutes of fighting side-by-side, Percy and I had become seperated again. I would just glance at him every once in a while to make sure he was holding up, making sure he was still unharmed.
"Percy!" I shouted fearfully as I noticed that the idiot had become distracted, watching the fights that our allies were going through. The Minotaur snuck up behind him, its double-bladed, omega-shaped ax held to the side, ready to swing. Sure, Percy bore the curse of Achilles, but what if the ax unintentionally hit his weak spot? "Hey! Behind you! Watch out!"
I would have run to help him if I could, but I was too far away; I'd never make it. This was Percy's fight.
I simply stared in horror and felt my blood run cold as Percy turned to see the Minotaur a second too late, and the monster swung its weapon, nailing Percy in his side and sending him into the air like a rag doll.
"No-" my scream choked off with a gurgle as a severe pain stabbed into my lower back. Hot blood began to trickle down my back.
I was such a hypocrite.
"Annabeth!" a familiar voice yelled as my vision went blurry. I heard the shrill scream of an empousa as it evaporated behind me, and I felt a pair of strong arms catch me from behind before my face hit the floor.
The last thing I remember was tasting blood.