Disclaimer: I do not own Hero: 108 or Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
Chapter 3:
Percy bit his lip as he watched Lin Chung look around. Even as a six-year-old, he radiated power. It made people hesitate before deciding to attack or even approach him. The young boy had arrived that afternoon and had kept to himself.
Nothing had changed a lot since Lin Chung had last came here. Without another word, the six-year-old set off for the forest, vanishing into the trees. Percy sighed. Might as well.
Dinner soon came. Lin Chung seated himself by the table where Chiron and Dionsyus sat, the latter looking slightly apprehensive, especially after Lin Chung's 'fit'. The young boy ignored the looks he was getting instead, eating quietly.
That was until Rick decided to try and provoke the young mortal. He stood up, marching confidently to the boy. The older ones looked slightly worried, especially since Annabeth had spread it around Camp. The younger ones were looking eager, as if itching to watch a fight.
Rick marched up to the boy, stopping right in front of him. The boy didn't even acknowledge the demigod son of Zeus. "Hey, boy, I'm talking to you."
"You're not a hunter of Artemis." The boy noted quietly.
Rick frowned, while the hunters growled. "What?"
"You're not a hunter of Artemis." He repeated. "Don't address me as 'boy'. I have a name." Lin Chung still hadn't looked up. Chiron was looking slightly worried.
"Rick, go back to your seat."
Rick ignored the old centaur as he challenged the young boy. "So, what is it like being alone? Being abandoned?"
Lin Chung stopped, looking up for the first time. "Excuse me?"
"Being alone? Being abandoned? Because you're evil? Because you're a terrible human being?" Lin Chung froze, but didn't say anything. "Your family must be ashamed of you! You're nothing but a useless piece of-" Lin Chung looked up, his gaze empty.
His hand moved at lightning speed, and before anyone could properly comprehend it, his hand was now clenched tightly around Rick's throat. Chiron stood up, but Lin Chung ignored him. "Say it again." He rasped.
Rick became more confident that he had hit a sore point despite the hand clamped around his throat. "Your family is nothing but a worthless pile of scum." He choked out. Some of the younger campers started cheering, including the hunters, who had also fallen under his spell. "Nothing!" Lin Chung's grip tightened, and Percy stood up.
Rick was flung into a table, which collapsed under his weight. Before any of the frozen campers could react, Lin Chung was there once more as he flung Rick into another table. The campers hastily backed away at his anger. Lin Chung then proceeded to clench his fist in midair. Purple magic shot out and around Rick's throat, slowly choking Rick to death.
Rick turned pale as he tried to gulp in air, only for the magic to cover his mouth and nose and leave his eyes wide, struggling against the tight grip of the magic. Lin Chung's fists clenched tighter, and the magic followed his movement. Percy's eyes widened, before he charged at Lin Chung.
He tackled the young boy, but the boy was quicker than he had anticipated. He was up on his feet and had slammed Percy into another table before the son of Poseidon could comprehend what was going on. Percy winced, trying to heal himself with the water dripping from the table, as he watched the young mortal suffer.
Nico's eyes widened as he also forced Lin Chung down; no small feat, even though Nico was clearly larger than Lin Chung. Lin Chung struggled under his grip, before slamming Nico into the Hades' cabin. Nico gasped in pain.
Hawk appeared, his eyes wide as he quickly restrained the boy, freeing Rick from his prison. The boy fell to his knees, breathing heavily. His eyes were wide with terror. Percy stood up, feeling his bones mend. While an uncomfortable feeling, it wasn't un unwelcome one. He turned to Hawk, who was comforting the young boy. His expression had changed drastically, from one of anger to one of fright.
Percy cringed. That was why they didn't want Lin Chung here. He looked around at the damage and winced. Ouch. They had to mend four broken tables and one huge dent in the Hades' cabin. He glanced back at the young boy, from whom the demigods were backing away nervously. Hawk ignored them, waiting until Lin Chung calmed to transport the two elsewhere.
Hawk returned and glanced at the tables and cabin out of narrowed eyes, eventually flicking his hand. The tables and cabin easily mended itself under the dull amber magic. Nico also stood up, having suddenly recovered surprisingly quickly. Hawk seemed to be trying to calm himself, before his head snapped to the now nervous son of Zeus, whose eyes were still wide from his traumatic experience.
"What did you think you were doing?!" Most of the demigods flinched at his tone, while Rick didn't answer, backing away still. Hawk approached him, expression thunderous. "You were one of the people who saw his fits! You know specifically that you were not allowed to provoke him!"
Rick backed away still, expression scared and nervous. Hawk seemed to calm himself down, before turning to the two frozen immortals. "Chiron, Lupa." They turned to him. "Come with me. We need to talk."
The two immortals looked at the young Chinese god carefully. His expression was weary and alert as he led them deeper into the forest, any nymphs appearing immediately being frozen. Lupa watched them with an almost fascinated expression, but turned back to Hawk as soon as he started to speak.
Hawk sounded like he was trying his best not to lose his temper once again. "You must stop people from trying to provoke him."
Chiron nodded, while Lupa growled. "I am sorry for that, Hawk. That arrogant son of Zeus needs to learn how to control his own ego."
Hawk sighed. "I know, but we are trying to encourage him to not be so easily angered. If he is constantly provoked, his fits will become more violent, and it will be easier to provoke him. We cannot risk that, especially so close to war time. He will be a danger not only to others, but to himself as well."
Chiron nodded solemnly. "I swear on the Styx that we will inform the campers not to provoke him. After what they had seen, I think they will think twice about angering him."
Lupa, too, nodded. "I swear so as well." Hawk's face softened.
"I know you two will, but some are willing to cause trouble for Lin Chung on purpose just because of his background."
Chiron frowned. "That is not right. If that is so, they shouldn't even trust me or the gods themselves! The gods are mostly children of the titans. I am a child of Kronos myself, am I not?"
Hawk smiled. "I know you would understand. That is why I am asking you to keep an eye on him. Of course, you won't be able to when he is in the forest, but should anyone else try to go inside, warn them, or get Lupa and her pack to help them. I'm not willing to risk another fit. The more times this happens, the more likely it is for the enemy to find out. The power that he currently holds and the lack of control…it will be enough to destroy Olympus and the whole enemy."