A/N: Apologies for the long delay! Work, school, and a bunch of stuff got in the way.
Without further ado, here's the final chapter!
Chapter 12: The Sea Serpent
The tentacle lashed out in the air, heading directly toward Heather.
"Incoming!" Thalia yelled.
Heather looked up, just in time to see the tentacle. She jumped out of the way, causing the tentacle to smash into the ground. It was as large as a good sized tree trunk. The big kind, like one of the California Redwoods.
Heather raised the hammer and brought it down on the tentacle, causing another thud. Out in the water, a giant serpentine head roared in pain. Now a dozen tentacles lashed out at shore all at once. (It was probably more; Heather could only count that many in an eyeblink). She barely had enough time to dodge them all.
One of the tentacles, an offshoot of a much larger one, only about the size of a tree branch, grabbed ahold of her leg. It felt cold and slimy, like jello made of meat fat. She was lifted into the air, screaming, and dropping her hammer.
More tentacles converged upon her, the one on her leg squeezing her tightly, like a boa constrictor, but not deathly. As the tentacles got nearer and the one tried to grab ahold of her other leg, Heather tried to calm herself.
She saw the shinging hammer on the shore-line, and thought of all those Thor movies she had seen. Thor could call Mjonir to himself, couldn't he? He could also use it to fly, if she remembered the movies right.
She was brought back to the fight by the tentacle inching itself up to her waist, tentatively trying to find the easy path to grab ahold of her. It brushed up against one of her breasts.
Heather's eyes widened. It did NOT just do what she thought it did.
As if sensing her thoughts the tentacle recoiled, as if burned by scalding water.
Heather was airborne. She caught a glance a glimmering light on the shore, and thought. "Here. Now"
It was as if time has slowed as Heather was falling toward the water. The hammer, resting were it lay. Around it Thalia and the Norse were slicing tentacles left and right that regrew like hydra's heads. Without warning, it shot out across the water and into Heather's palm. She turned toward the monster; she could see its glowing red eyes.
She smiled, and pointed the hammer toward its ugly face, and thought "Go." Soon she was flying through the air.
The eyes glowed instensely red, seeming to see directly into her mind.
She pulled the Hammer close to her, and she hovered in front of the monster's hideous face.
"I'm giving you a choice. Go, and never come back. Or... I kill you with my hammer." She pointed toward the Hammer with her free hand.
A rumble issued from the monster's throat and it opened it's mouth. It had rows and rows upon sharp half rotten teeth.
The monster spoke. Heather felt as if claws were being scratched on glass to some inhuman music. It sounded far off, as if it wasn't the monster speaking, but something far away. Each word just felt off-tune as if a second tone played underneath each word to provide the maximum dissonance. It was a lound voice, and Heather assumed (correctly) that even those on shore were able to hear it.
"Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl ilyaa."
The monster lunged at her, but Heather brought down her hammer between the monster's glowing red eyes. It sounded as if a train had crashed when the hammer connected.
"Wrong answer," she said, watching putrid green blood seep from the wound as the monster's eyes faded and its body fall back into the water.
Pointing the hammer toward shore, she was there within moments.
Without realizing, Heather's clothing had changed. She was wearing norse battle armor. It was surprisingly comfortable.
"Welcome Valkyrie." Odin said. "Welcome, my daughter. Tonight we will feast! Let us celebrate the uncoming battle!"
Heather smiled.
"Uncoming battle?" Thalia asked.
Heather nodded.
"Well alright then," Thalia said. She picked up a spear. "I'm ready when you are. Where are we headed?"
Heather shook her head, "You're going back to Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter. I have to lead the vanguard alone."
"But you're a Hunter!"
"Not anymore Thalia. I can't be anymore. I'm a Valkyrie. I can't also be a Hunter. Remember Rachel's prophecy?"
"A Hunter's place to lose or keep" I can't be both. And don't forget what the Norns told us; One to go, and One to Stay.
You have to go back to Manhattan and warn the other Gods. I'll stay here and lead the Norse side."
Thalia and Heather both had tears rolling down their cheeks as the two of them hugged, and then Thalia left, walking back towards the airport.
THE END