Before we start-I have no knowledge in sword fighting whatsoever, so action scenes may seem rudimentary. I apologize for that, and I hope you enjoy.

With that, I grasped Drew"s hand in mine and we began venturing towards San Francisco, towards a new life of ours.

—

Time skip: 1 day later

Persis POV

I sat beside the campfire, still suited in my silver armor. My helm was buckled to my waist as I wiped my sword on a piece of cloth.

Drew was soundly sleeping besides me in her sleeping bag, her backpack at an arm's reach. We had decided that there was no way we were setting up a tent when monsters were attacking left and right.

It definitely wasn't pleasant.

Just minutes after we'd left the wolf house, I'd already noticed something tailing us. We kept walking for a few minutes before a small band of werewolves decided to attack. They were swiftly dealt with-apparently my sword and my knife Ice could deal with them, being made of Olympian silver and Adamite, and Fire could also deal with them when I willed it to have a silver edge. So, I passed my silver sword 'Theristis (Reaper)' to Drew, while I wielded my trusty twin blades.

Later, the werewolves attacked again. Drew was scratched, but luckily scratches didn't cause people to become werewolves. Only bites did. I gave some nectar to Drew, and healed her cut before proceeding onwards. The Werewolf attacks lessened after that, but they kept detailing us and nipping at our heels, slowing us down during the journey.

Looking at the sleeping form of Drew, I was worried. She had suffered a minor wound, but werewolf scratches and wounds were harder to heal than normal wounds. Nectar and ambrosia worked slower than normal, and the wounds also sapped the strength from the person who was wounded by them. Now, Drew was sleeping, trying to recoup from the energy sapping wound. It would take a time, but hopefully by morning, we could set off once again.

A bush rustled nearby. Instantly, I was on guard, my twin blades gripped tightly in my hand as O spun to face the bush.

Another bush behind me rustled. And then another-and another-and another-and another…until I finally noticed a pair of blood-red eyes reflected by the moonlight.

Shit. I thought as I ran to Drew, shaking her. "Drew, wake up. Werewolves."

And then they attacked in force.

I jammed my helm onto my head as a werewolf launched itself towards me, claws outstretched. Behind me, I heard Drew slashing her sleeping bag open as she slung her backpack over her shoulder. "GO! WATCH MY BACK!" I yelled at Drew, tossing her Ice in it's shield form just in time for her to raise my (or, I suppose, hers for the time being) shield to block another slash.

"Drew, keep moving!" I yelled as I slashed forwards, causing a werewolf to disintegrate before stabbing another. We were making slow progress, and the werewolves seemed to be stronger than those we encountered during daytime. Oh wait. Werewolves and the moon…shit.

"Drew! Change of plans, you're going first! I'll hold them off!" I yelled, and I heard Drew shout her affirmation. Moving as one, we twirled around, switching positions, with Drew advancing and me acting as the rear guard. Behind me, I could hear Drew smashing her way through the woods and foliage, bashing aside werewolves like oversized rabid dogs. Which I suppose they were in a sense.

But as I glanced behind me, I noticed that only a few wolves were chasing after Drew. Most were focused on my gleaming silver armor-which was both a good thing and a bad thing. Good thing? Drew could escape. Bad thing? My chances of getting incapacitated grew higher with every wolf that joined in the 'beat up Persis FFA match'.

My tattoo, which I thought was only for decoration and identification purposes, began to heat up. Great, another source of pain, as if werewolf canines sinking into my flesh weren't good enough.

I kept hacking and slashing and jabbing, killing werewolves one after the other. However, my efforts were seemingly in vain-whenever one fell, another took its place. I only had one blade, which in hindsight was an unwise decision, but no matter. I had made my bed-now I had to lie in it by fighting my way out of this hellhole.

Rolling underneath a werewolf, I pulled at my silver boot-and surprisingly found that the throwing knife I strapped to the inner side of my normal boot was still in the same location. Pulling it out, I once again resumed my whirlwind of death and destruction-branches were cleanly amputated from their original stems, trees gained new scars in them, and werewolves died in droves as my twin blades slashed through them. (Apparently Adamite infused Olympian silver could kill werewolves too.)

But just as I began to make progress, I heard a feminine scream. "DREW!" I yelled out loud, and received another scream in response. My tattoo burned harshly, and as I sneaked a glance at the arm the tattoo was burned (rather, manifested) onto, I noticed a silver glow emitting from under my armor.

Fighting with renewed vigor, I began pushing forward. Drew was in trouble, and I could not let her suffer or get wounded…nor let her die. I slashed at another werewolf that tried to snap at my neck, before shoving aside two smaller ones that blocked my way.

My tattoo was now burning painfully, and the silver glow was growing more and more intense. Still, I ignored the burning pain, and focused on running towards Drew's direction. The werewolf pack was chasing after me as I sprinted towards where I last heard her scream.

Bursting into a small clearing near the path, I saw Drew fighting off against three massive werewolves, with bloody claw marks on her back. She wasn't wounded too badly, as the claw marks seemed to be shallow, but it didn't help ease my worries-nor did it help the burning sensation coming from my tattoo, and I felt like my shoulder was melting as I staggered over to Drew.

"Drew! Are you alright?" I yelled, staggering over to her side. My shoulder burned as I pulled out a square of ambrosia from my side pouch. "Cmon Drew, eat up. We gotta move." I said as a howl pierced the air.

Drew hurriedly ate the square as I glanced nervously behind us. The leaves and branches were shaking, and I knew that the werewolf pack was close. "Okay, let's go," I heard Drew announce as she nudged me.

"Can you run?" I asked Drew, and she nodded. "Then come on. We gotta go quick, if this camp Jupiter is anything like camp half-blood, there's gotta be something at the borders that stops these things. We gotta get to the borders, then you'll get some time to catch your breath."

And then of course a werewolf exploded out of the trees.

"GO!"

Drew took off down the path again, with me close behind as a werewolf nipped at my heels. Slashing behind me, the werewolf dissolved into a pool of shadow. We kept sprinting through the trees as the werewolves nipped at our heels.

My cape fluttered behind me as we dashed through the forest. Somehow, the cape had not yet been ripped to shreds, and I suspected it was enchanted in some way as it seemed to suffer no damage.

Our feet slapped against a worn track made out of mud as we ran. "What-the-hell?" Drew said between pants as she ran, pulling out her bracelet from her pocket.

"Drew! You're actually kidding me right? You took my shield because you forgot to pull out your damn bracelet?" I yelled at her as the foliage flew past us.

"No! But that shield is too big to run with it!" Drew retorted, as she strapped her bracelet on and tossed Ice back to me, before resuming our pace.

I grinned as I caught my silvery shield, which returned into it's knife form. "Now we can work with this!" I chuckled as we continued running down the path. Werewolves were still slowly gaining on us, but I was prepared. And then-

"Do you hear cars!" I yelled at Drew. "Yeah!" She responded a moment later, and I grinned. "If there's cars, we can lose them on the road or hitch a ride!" Drew grunted as she continued running towards the sounds of traffic.

And then, in between some trees, I saw some lights. Headlights.

"Drew! We made it! Just about further!" I yelled in joy, and Drew put on an extra burst of speed as she ran towards the edge of the road, trying to flag down any car that passed.

Well, that was until werewolves pounced on her.

"DREW!" I screamed as she yelled out in pain. She expanded her shield just in time to avoid further injuries, but she was already nicked in the shoulder by another werewolf.

"PERSI! GO!" She yelled, but I refused, slashing away at the werewolves that were pouncing on top of Drew. I screamed as a werewolf slammed into her rectangular scutum, shoving her to the ground, her head narrowly missing a speeding tyre. Behind us, werewolves emerged from the tree line.

"Holy shit! Werewolves!" I could hear someone yell. Looking across the highway, I saw two figures standing in front of a service tunnel entrance…dressed in Roman armor.

"PERSI! JUST GO!" Drew yelled, apparently seeing the two figures as well, but I refused to listen as I dragged her up by the collar. "I'M NOT GIVING YOU UP! I LOVE YOU AND I'M NOT LEAVING YOU!" I roared as I slashed at the oncoming werewolves, and slammed down my visor on my helm.

"We have to figure out how to cross the road!" Drew yelled. "Go across now! It's a highway, but there's less traffic! Go, I'll meet you on the other side!" I responded, and Drew quickly ran across the highway, towards the two Roman legionaries standing in front of a service entrance. I could see her arguing with them as she tried dragging them over, but I was too preoccupied to care about her conversation.

An arrow sailed past me with a silver tip, narrowly missing a werewolf. "Persi! Come over!" I heard Drew yell on the other side of the highway, "ALRIGHT! COMING!" I yelled back, before I slowly stepped onto the highway, twin blades still dancing in front of me as I slowly backpedaled towards the other side.

And just when I thought I was going to make it to the other side without trouble, trouble found me.

A blazing light suddenly shone onto me and a few werewolves I was fighting, and I turned just in time to see a speeding car bowling towards me. Immediately disengaging from the werewolves, I turned tail and ran-but of course, a werewolf leapt onto me just as the speeding car smashed into both of us.

"PERSI!" I heard Drew scream in fright as both of us rolled across the highway. I struggled to stand back up, and one of the romans ran forwards and helped me. "You okay?" A familiar female voice asked.

"Do I know you?" I muttered as she helped me to my feet. The other Roman kept firing silver arrows at the werewolves, keeping them at bay for the moment. "I dunno who you are, does Hazel Levesque ring a bell?"

I froze.

"…Haze?" I whispered, and she looked shocked. "How-how do you know that nickname? Only one person called me that before…" but before she could finish, a werewolf leapt towards us. "WATCH OUT!" I yelled and shoved Hazel back, before jabbing upwards with Ice. The werewolf dissipated into shadows as I staggered towards the tunnel entrance, guarding Hazel's rear. Having glanced at Hazel Levesque, I could see that she was the same demigoddess I'd rescued-and lost-on my trip to the west coast.

"Guys, go! I'm watching your backs, go alert people or something!" I yelled at the two romans, but Hazel shook her head. "You called me by a nickname only one person knew. I think I have an idea who you are, and I'm not leaving you this time. Frank, go. I got this."

The other Roman, a burly dude called Frank, nodded before hurriedly muttering "stay safe" and rushing down the tunnel. I forced Drew and Hazel back, before slashing and twirling in the tight space, dissipating as many werewolves as I could. The werewolf pack had started to thin out, and though it should have been a relief, my body was aching and I felt some sort of fluid in my throat, induced by that bloody car. I knew I couldn't hold out much longer as I felt my knees turn weak, and my movement was also more sluggish as I tried to keep the werewolves at bay.

Glancing back, I noticed that Hazel and Drew were at the tunnel exit. Smiling in relief, I turned tail and ran towards them, as a horn blew somewhere beyond the exit. I could hear someone shouting commands…in Latin as I sprinted towards the exit.

Of course, my body had to give out at that moment. As I took another step, my foot caught on nothing and caused me to stumble slightly, sending me careening into the tunnel wall. I quickly regained my balance, but it allowed the werewolves to gain on me-and it also caught the attention of Hazel and Drew. Coughing, I felt some sort of liquid come out of my mouth, and when I wiped my face with my hands, it came away rose golden.

Shit, I was coughing blood.

"PERSI!" Drew screamed, trying to run towards me, but Hazel held her back. "Drew! Get to safety! Hazel, don't let her go!" I yelled down the tunnel as I slashed at another werewolf. "Just Go!" I roared, but they didn't seem to get the memo as I half stumbled, half ran towards the exit.

Nearing the exit, I could see that a wall of Roman Legionaries locked the entrance to whatever lay beyond the tunnel. Archers and more Roman legionaries lined the walls next to the entrance, while someone dressed in a red cloak stood behind them, atop a horse.

"Dirigent Frontem!" The figure dressed in the red cloak yelled, and the line of legionaries straightened out. "HAZEL! DREW! GO!" I yelled, turning around to slash at a werewolf aiming for my neck. I was so close to the exit. Just a bit further…'

But just as I turned around and ran towards the exit, Drew's and Hazel's eyes widened, and Drew yelled out a warning, "PERSI! BEHIND YOU!"

Before I could turn, a werewolf had leapt past me and out of the exit, leaping towards Drew. Hazel Drew a silver dagger, but I knew she would be too late.

"DREW!" I howled as I watched the werewolf leapt towards Drew, unable to do anything other than run towards her. My heart wrenched in pain and tears formed in the corner of my eyes as I watched a horrified Drew get knocked down by the werewolf, it's muzzle open and ready to clamp down on Drew's neck.

I could not lose my love. Not again. My tattoo suddenly heated up again, searing my shoulder, and a faint silver glow encompassed my left arm.

And then everything exploded into a silvery haze.

I didn't know what happened. I could hear faint yelling and screaming, as well as sharp howls and pained cries, until a voice cut through the fog.

"…Persi? PERSI! CUT OUT OF IT!, IT'S DREW!"

Drew?

Suddenly, my vision returned, and I saw Drew some distance away from me, a terrified expression on her face. Many of the Roman legionaries also had scared expressions, and as I looked left and right, I realized I was near the tunnel entrance again.

I coughed, blood spilling past the corner of my mouth. I locked eyes with Drew, before my world turned sideways and blurry. Spots danced in my field of view and my vision distorted as I heard voices yelling, hollering and screaming.

It was like my ears were covered by earmuffs. Everything was muffled and unclear. My eyelids felt heavy, and as I coughed and shuddered again, I saw a face enter my field of view.

Drew.

And then my vision went black.

—

Drew POV

"PERSI! BEHIND YOU!" I yelled as Persi spun around and made a break for the entrance. She tried to turn, but it was too late. A werewolf leapt towards her, claws outstretched, features contorted into a snarl…

And flew past her. Straight at me.

Before I could ready my shield completely, it smashed into me, shoving me to the ground again. Gods, I needed to learn how to stop being pushed to the ground by my scutum.

But before I could stab the werewolf who seemed hell bent at ripping my neck out, an explosion of silver knocked the werewolf off me and conveniently into my sword…which soared towards the wolf.

A silvery glow encompassed the area, and I pushed myself up. The Roman lines were disoriented and slightly out of formation, and Hazel had been knocked over as well. But the thing that caught my attention wasn't the legionaries, not hazel. It was the figure standing near the exit of the tunnel, dressed in silver armor.

She radiated a silver aura, and her Valkyrie symbol on her chest plate glowed. The silvery-green Valkyrie sword she gave me was firmly held in her right hand, and a silver shield that looked like Ice's shield form was strapped to her left forearm. A pair of white wings also extended from her shoulder blades and out of her armor, which seemed to re-mould to fit the wings.

A small silver flash next to me alerted me to Artemis'-rather, Diana, appearing to watch the fighting. "Lady Diana, are you here to help…?" I asked, and she shook her head wistfully. "My champion invoked for the first time, and I'd like to see what the hell is going on. I can't fight her battles, she has to fight her own."

I sighed. "Well, in that case…" I looked at the figure radiating a harsh silver glow, "good luck Persi."

A trickle of blood trailed out of the corner of her mouth, but she didn't seem to notice. Slowly, she turned towards the werewolf pack, which faltered at the exit of the tunnel. Within the tunnel, a growl sounded, along with a gravelly human voice, "what's stopping you idiots? Go!"

And then, Persi attacked. With a massive burst of speed, she slammed into the werewolf pack, slashing and hacking. The werewolf's spring into battle, spilling out into the clearing, but only a few wolves leapt towards the reformed ranks. "Pilums!" The figure in the red cloak ordered, and a bristling wall of silver-tipped spikes poked through gaps between shields. The werewolves quickly lost interest in the legion and refocused on Persi.

Everyone including myself watched in awe as Persi slashed, hacked, blocked and stabbed, fighting just like a whirlwind as she decimated Werewolf after werewolf. Her aura only grew as she hacked and slashed at the werewolves, and the pack was soon culled down to a measly few.

And then, out of the service tunnel exit, a massive werewolf exited.

"Lycaon," Art-Diana hissed beside me. The wolf bared it's canines at the goddess, before transforming into a human form. The legionaries collectively gasped, and some took a shaky step back.

"YES! Legionaries, fear the great king of werewolves, Lycaon!" He grinned insanely, but before he could speak more words, a silver blur behind him stabbed her sword through his torso.

"What the fu-" he stared, before staring at his chest and dissolving into a slightly more menacing pool of shadow. Persi lowered her sword, before looking at all of us. I couldn't see her eyes form under her visor, but I saw her lips contort into a sneer before she took a step forwards.

"Uh oh…it happened." Diana said next to me, before she turned to look at me. "You gotta snap her out of it. She can't control this."

"Wh-okay, uh…Persi." I said, and her sneer lessened. Could she hear me? But before I could do anything else, her sneer returned in full force and she took another step.

"Persi. PERSI. PERSI! SNAP OUT OF IT!" I yelled, and I saw her lips frown, before parting slightly in shock. A stream of blood rolled down her chin, and I mentally screamed at the sight. Her eyes widened in recognition as her wings retracted and her silvery glow disappeared. And then, she toppled sideways, coughed up blood and went limp.

"PERSI!" I screamed and rushed towards her, followed shortly by Hazel-I think that's her name-and a few legionaries. "Persi, Persi, no…" I whimpered as I knelt beside her and culled her cheeks. "Persi, hang on, hang in there please."

Tears rolled down my cheeks at the prospect that I was going to lose Persi. Blood was freely flowing down her cheek and onto the ground, and as a legion medic pulled off her helm, I could see her eyes were shut. "No, no, no…" I cried as I clutched her hand.

"Drew, you have to let go. The medics will take care of her." Hazel said, laying a comfortable hand on my shoulder as she gently pulled me away from Persi's limp form. I was stunned and shocked-I had absolutely no idea what she did back there, but it better not cost her her life.

"Please come back," I muttered under my breath as I threw one last glance at the small crowd that was surrounding Persi, before I saw Diana stroll over to the crowd and parted them, disappearing in the small cluster of people.

I could only hope that Persi makes it back to me.

—

A/N: chapter 9 is now done :)

To anyone who is wondering why in hell there are so many werewolves- I simply sent the whole pack to hunt Persi (And Drew). Since Lycaon's pack normally has 50+ members, having that many chasing 2 demigoddesses seems logical (for Gaia at least), and with the doors of death open they can easily travel back from Tartarus (I'm not sure if they reform order what but they technically are still monsters).

Also, Diana might seem cold-hearted by not helping Persi, but I assure you there is a good reason. Check next chapter for more :p

Anyway, I'm done writing for now-chapter 10 should be worked on the next day or sometime later. Right now, I'm gonna go ahead and stop existing for a bit. Bye :)