A/N: Hey guys sorry for holding out on you though it doesn't feel like it's been that long XD. Anyway here comes another double chapter update since these weren't as long as the others. Oh well XD. Also to Matt I think Thalia would squish a Percy dummy but not Percy himself since the greater portion of their relationship involve Thalia whacking Percy and a good humored tousle. Spearing Percy? It'd never happen. HIs dummy? Fair game =) Anyway enjoy the chapters and have fun! Don't forget to review!
Disclaimer: Is my name Rick Riordan? No? Kay I don't own PJO or HOO. I own OC's and plot. kay thank.
Chapter 8: Labyrinth Ahoy!
Noir was still grumbling about beefy kids interrupting his important speeches whilst dodging around and bouncing over the campers. They were clearly annoyed as they kept swinging but hitting nothing. Clarisse was being smart and sitting back looking for an opening that she simply wasn't getting. Those tails were unnervingly responsive and agile, not to look down on the wolf himself who was obviously toying with the siblings; clearing heads by centimeters and the odd time sending them crashing into each other. Were it not her siblings Clarisse would've been laughing her head off, but considering they were she was simply annoyed. She couldn't even blame them as the canine seemed to be reading their moves ahead of time using one tail to hang onto the small girl on his back who had their flag.
"Noir!" Thalia called across the clearing signaling that the Hunter's had started breaking through their defensive lines, which truthfully was no surprise. That apparently made the situation as the wolf used her siblings' heads as an impromptu springboards, landing them all in a heap as the bloody dog back flipped over them. He landed right at the edge of the river and with head held high, walked right across the surface and onto the other side. The horn blew signaling the victory of the Hunt.
The Hunters cheered and campers groaned. Chiron galloped up to the area where they all gathered looking quite annoyed. He eyed Noir, sighed, and then turned back to the assembled mix and mash of demi-gods and Huntresses.
"Well played and this marks the Hunter's 86th victory in a row. Though the next time I will be either restraining and/or banning any apparent super wolves either side decides to bring in." he said with a pointed look to a smug looking wolf who was actually being petted by both campers and Hunters alike. Even Percy seemed to have gotten over his previous ire and was complementing Lily and Noir's teamwork as one of the Apollo campers recounted their encounter. Speaking of teams and teammates, Percy seemed to be short one (Irrationally important) blonde. Maybe she was invisible but then again, despite Noir's gentle nature his combat prowess might be belied by it.
"Anyone seen Annabeth by the way?" he swore he heard Noir snort but when he looked over the wolf held a thoughtful expression and sniffed skyward. His expression turned to confused and then to grim. Suddenly he was holding the girl that was on his back princess style in his arms while she still held the flag. He looked down to see her blush lightly before scowling.
"Ummmm…Percy? Could you put me down please, I have a wolf to skin"
He chuckled and set her down. She quickly spun around looking for the wolf who they found standing at the edge of the forest. All humor the wolf typically displayed was gone, he stood their nose pointed towards Zeus's fist. He tossed a look over his shoulder and beckoned with his tails as he started trotting away. Lily didn't waste any time following the wolf while Percy hesitated for a second before trailing after them. As he got to the edge of the field a limber tail snagged him around the waist and brought him up to the wolf's back behind Lily. As soon as he was seated they took off at a ridiculous pace, and Percy realized why Annabeth had so much fun up there. The forest passed in a blur as they made their way to Zeus's Fist and only slowed when they arrived. Noir sniffed around to the backend of the hill where he stopped at a small crevice just wide enough to slip into if you didn't pay attention.
Percy immediately knew that's where Annabeth was, but before he could dismount the wolf there was a flash of black and suddenly they were somewhere dark and dank. Either direction they looked in was completely dark except for a single patch of light where Annabeth was sitting cradling her ankle.
"Percy! Don't go anywhere. We have to get out the way we came in otherwise there's no telling where we'll end up."
"But-"
"No buts! We have to go. Now. So get down from there and help me up."
Noir tossed his head back at Percy with a look that read 'demanding isn't she?' Percy chuckled dryly, "You have idea fluff monster, now let's get out of here before she REALLY gets demanding."
"Hey!"
She didn't get any further as Noir gently picked her up and set her in the safety of Percy's arms turning the both of them red. Percy swore the wolf looked smug before everything went black once again. They stood atop Zeus's Fist and slowly made their way back to the campers who met them half way. Annabeth tried to get over her embarrassment of being cuddled into Percy's muscular, she meant warm- erm comfortable- screw it. She sighed thankful that no one could read her mind, which was shot down the second she felt the rumble of the wolf beneath her that and a sound like a growling chuckle that said otherwise. She turned bright red at the look Noir shot her over his shoulder and stuck her tongue out at him. Percy cocked an eyebrow at her but she simply ignored and curled up further into Percy's chest to make herself smaller beneath the (jealous) gazes of the campers.
Chiron looked amused along with Thalia while she recounted being swatted by Noir and making her way back up Zeus's Fist to get a vantage point to see where the wolf had vanished to. Instead she slipped down into this random tunnel with no light save for the crevice she fell through that was getting dimmer in the late afternoon.
"Where exactly were you Annabeth? You either know or have some suspicion as to whet the tunnel connected to otherwise you would not be so grim."
She met Chiron's level gaze with a bit of anxiety, "If I'm right… it's the Labyrinth. If Luke (she choked a bit on his name) can manage to navigate through, they'll have a direct route straight past our defenses Chiron."
With a furrowed brow Chiron made an announcement he really wished he didn't have to. "We need a search party to explore the Labyrinth, we can't let this hole in our defenses stay. We may very well need a quest." With a pointed look at Percy he turned back towards the big house, "Campers return to your cabins, we must all get some rest before we begin this venture. I fear war is right around the corner."
On that joyful note he handed Annabeth a square of Ambrosia and galloped off to the Big House.
"Well…I guess I'm giving you two love birds a ride then." Lily commented absent mindedly sending the love birds in question spluttering and turning red in the face. With a cackle she urged Noir onwards a speed pinning them to one another as they held on for dear life as the wolf sped towards the cabins.