Andy

I heard a growl behind me and stiffened. I turned and saw two green eyes glaring at me from the forest. Oh, gods, I thought, another monster. It growled again and I jumped to my feet. "Right now would be a good time for Katie to come back," I muttered. It advanced toward me at a crawl. I began to back up and I tripped over the side of the boat. Now, I was crab-walking, my eyes pinned on the thing at all times. It stepped into a patch of light and I saw what it really was.

A lion. A HUGE lion. As with the hellhounds,the name popped into my head. Nemean Lion. "But Hercules killed you!" I cried out in exsasperation. I got unsteadily to my feet and tried to do the sword thing again. Nothing happened. I groaned. I'm to young to die, I thought desperatly.

The lion quickened. I remembered my teacher telling me, Hercules defeated the Nemean Lion with strength. Don't have that. I need a sword, a small voice in the back of my mind said. I don't have a bloody sword! I thought angrily. Then I remembered that the sword had appeared in my hands after I had prayed to the gods. Zeus, Poseidon... Hades help me! I need that ruddy sword!

Nothing. My back hit a tree. I was trapped. Then, that tinny voice screamed, Hera, you bloody idiot, it's Hera! "Hera," I shouted, feeling foolish. "I need that sword! If you don't give it to me, I'll haunt you after I die!" I heard thunder rumble that sounded suspiciously like a chuckle, then finally, the blade appeared in my hands. I looked up to see the lion hurtling through the air towards me. I held up my sword. If I was going to uncerimoniously crushed by a giant lion, I was at least going to not let it kill anyone else. I shut my eyes tight.

Carter

When I heard my sister's voice I thought it was a dream. A very annoying one. But when my door was Hadi-ed apart I knew something bad was happening. I sat up, only to be knocked over by Khufu. I pushed him off of my chest. Sadie shook me all the way awake. "Carter, you bloody idiot brother of mine! Wake up!"

"Okay, okay," I mumbled. "I'm up." She threw a cotton t-shirt at me.

"Get dressed," she growled and stomped out of the room.

(Time lapse)

I sat down at the table. "How'd you get here so quick?"

"Goddess," Sadie mumbled through a mouthful of bacon.

The silverware dropped from my hands. "What? But Bast and... and Bes w-w-would be back..."

"Brother dear, that doesn't matter. We need to get to Long Island Sound."

So my reports of magic in that area were correct. Sadie continued," Two people are in trouble. I don't know what trouble, but it's dangerous. I'd never thought I'd say this but, we need to travel Freak X-press. Now."

I stood up. Walt walked out onto the terrace. "What was all that noise?"

Sadie's eyes sparkled for a moment. "Hi, Walt! We're going to Long Island Sound."

He checked his watch. "At 1:30?"

"Yep," Sadie said.

"Let's go then."

Sadie smiled. She's so obvious sometimes. We climbed to the roof. Felix was standing in front of Freak. He turned around and smiled. "I'm coming too."

"Um, Felix..." I began, but Sadie interrupted .

"Sure, Felix. "

I tied up the boat to Freak and we all climbed in. "Go, Freak, go!"

Freak leapt off the building and we soared upward. Sadie pointed the way. As we were soaring over a strawberry farm, Sadie screamed, "There!"

Freak swooped down towards a large pine tree. I saw something that looked like a lion advancing towards a person. Oh, Sons of Horus, I thought. A person. Freak was speeding towards the lion. "Hold on, everyone!" I yelled as we flew straight for the lion. I closed my eyes, waiting for impact. Bang! I was flying through the air and landed with a crunch in the topmost branches of the pine tree. I fell a few feet, leaving my stomach somewhere high above me. I groaned and tried to hoist my self upright. I looked around. The lion was nowhere to be seen. The person- who I guessed was a girl- was curled up in fetus position, with a wicked looking sword in her hands.

Sadie and the others were climbing out of the wreckage of the boat. Sadie called up to me,"You are going to pay for that!"

"Sorry!" I called back.

Andromeda

The Lion never came. Cautiously, I opened one eye, then the other. In front of me was a wreckage of a... boat? Three people climbed out of it. I stood up and stared. My neighbor, Sadie Kane, was one. A boy fell from the tree and groaned. I recognized him as her brother. "You guys are in on it to?" I shouted. They all stared at me.

"In on what?" asked a little boy.

"The demigod thing!" I yelled.

They all gave me wierd looks. I shrugged. "Nevermind."

"There's someone else," Sadie said.

"I heard a scream from the forest.." I said.

"Let's go then!" Her brother said and ran into the forest, pulling a strange sword from out of nowhere. Sadie and I ran after him, with the two other boys trailing behind.