Here goes the second chapter. There will be a focus on life inside Lupa's pack for the time being, not so much of demigods and Camp Jupiter, so just thought I would clarify a few things. I have read some stories in which Lupa is described as a maiden goddess, which is not true. She is actually a goddess of fertility, and will breed with regular wolves to sire children such as Knox. A few of the elite of Lupa's pack will be her offspring, generally more powerful than the rest. Also, the phobos aspect of percy's abilities will be introduced soon, but I wanted to wait a bit. Unrelated, would you guys want to see some Jason POV at the Wolf House or no? Enjoy!
August 1996
Percy raced through the forest, a black blur as he darted in between the trees at an incredible speed, blue eyes focused ahead. He felt his legs scream and his lungs burn, but he couldn't stop; not now that he was so close. He allowed himself a glance to the left, were a smaller brown wolf ran alongside him. He smiled to himself; he was a body length in the lead. His paws barely touched the forest floor as he ran, leaping from one place to the next with inhuman grace. Finally, he broke the line of the trees, ahead by a few moments of the smaller wolf. Promptly, they both collapsed on the spot.
'Ugh', said a gruff voice above them. 'Take a few moments to rest. Then get your little furry asses over to the circles'.
Percy wanted to protest, but he knew better than that. The chief training instructor, a tall, greyish wolf called Knox, was not someone to take lightly. He stood at a solid five feet tall, muscles rippling his large frame. A scar ran across his snout, up the left side of his face and ending at his ear. Many of the offspring of Lupa with regular wolves turned out to be large creatures, but Knox was especially so, a pair of intense yellow eyes adorning his scarred face.
Percy lay on the ground panting, as did the smaller wolf beside him. This one had a deep brown coat, with a white stripe on his forehead. Slowly, the pair made their way back on all fours, and heavily dragged themselves to the circles. This was the sector of the training area specifically designed for combat training, which consisted in seven circles marked out by stones. Six of them were already full.
'So nice of you to join us gentlemen! I presume, as rested as you must be by now, you will not mind a short sparring session?'
Both of the boys shook their heads, and Knox snorted at them.
'Terrible liars, the pair of you. Jax, take on Percy. Spar until I call you to stop, or one yields. If you do so before what I consider to be an acceptable time, or you collapse from exhaustion, you will fight Ace for a week. Go!'
—
Percy and Jax, the cub with the white stripe on his head, lay in their cots later that evening, both brutally exhausted from a long day of training. Percy had grown rapidly, and at five years of age, he stood about a metre tall on all fours, much bigger than any of his fellow cubs. Five years of training had built him into a tough, fast wolf, the best fighter of his age. Jax, on the other hand, was shorter and more lithe, built for speed and running. Percy was the only one to best him in the races, a fact that pissed him off greatly. They lay in one of the Wolf House's many rooms, looking up at the stars through the partially collapsed wall.
'I want to get out there', said Jax. 'Go beyond the stream and the House, investigate the forests all around. You could run around, hunt anything, and nobody could stop you'.
Percy snorted. 'As if you would ever run fast enough to catch anything'.
'You know I would. You have been getting lucky lately, but I'll destroy you on the next one.'
'Just like you destroyed me sparring today, right?'
Jax leapt up, a playful glint in his eyes, and launched himself at the dark wolf. They rolled around, growling and swiping at each other. Percy managed to pin Jax down, but he rolled and lunged at Percy' head. They continued like this for a few minutes, taunting each other, trying to get the upper hand.
'Boys!' Sheila, a regal brown she-wolf, who happened to be Jax's mom, stood at the door with an amused look on her face. 'There is a meeting at the Clearing', she said in a serious tone. 'Pick yourselves up'.
Percy and Jax followed through the collapsed wall, and started following the stream of wolves, heading for the Clearing. This was a big flat area in front of the House, used by Lupa as a meeting point, and by everyone else as a spot to lay and rest. The pack was gathered expectantly, intermittent howls tearing through the silence of the night. Percy perked up excitedly as his mother finally broke the tree line, followed by two young humans.
Demigods often came to stay with them before being sent off to camp, but never so young. Percy regarded the pair with interest. They must have been around 3, a boy and a girl. The girl had long chocolate hair and hazel eyes, which darted around in fear. Percy caught the whiff of wheat and corn, signalling a child of Ceres. The boy was shorter, with blonde hair and electric blue eyes. Even from a distance, the smell of ozone stung his nostrils. The had a very strong scent, which meant he would grow into a powerful half-blood. A child of Jupiter was in their midst.
'These two will be staying with us', Lupa began. 'They will begin their training, and I will decide if they are fit for duty or not'.
She nudged them along, and they nervously walked towards the house, looking for a place to settle in for the night, as they had no doubt been told to do by Lupa.
'Usual rules apply', warned Lupa. 'I catch anyone out of line and there will be sever consequences'.
She wasn't one for grand and extensive speeches, but with the few words that she said she commanded the respect of the pack entirely. They all knew the rules: only Lupa could speak to the demigods, and they were not permitted to seriously injure them. Extreme intimidation was, of course, encouraged.
After the pack started leaving, Percy ran to his mother, who was currently in conversation with his second-in-command, a brown wolf named Charlie. He leapt at her head, confident that she had gotten the better of her this time, but at the last moment she ducked, then caught him with a paw to the chest and pinned him down. Percy huffed angrily, but his mother just smiled down at him.
'That will be all, Charlie, you can leave. I need to have some words with Percy'.
Percy followed his mother into the forest, and once they were out of sight, she stood up, her fur disappearing, being replaced with silver robes. Percy did the same, although he didn't like his diminished senses he had as a human. Although still far superior to any human it was a far cry from what he could achieve in wolf form. However, as a human, he felt his savage and wild side lessen, and felt more rational and sensible, more able to carry a conversation. His mother gestured him to sit down with her, and he did, his black hair falling over his eyes
'Did you get a look at the demigods?'
'Yeah. Blondie was a son of Jupiter, and the girl was Ceres. They were easy'.
Lupa smiled at him proudly. Even as a youngling, his natural senses could rival even the best trackers in her pack.
'That wheat scent is not easy to catch, I'm impressed. The boy is very powerful indeed. He will grow to be an important person to the legion and to Rome. We will watch him carefully. You, I'm told, was able to beat Jax again today'.
Percy's face lit up. 'I did! It's funny, he actually thinks he'll outrun me someday'.
Lupa laughed, then looked at her son seriously. 'There is something I want to tell you'.
Percy perked up and waited.
'Your father is planning to visit soon. He wants to talk to you, and apparently will come bearing a gift. He has arranged for you to meet him here, away from the rest. Now, you may be excited, but you know how big of a risk this is, for him and for me. I don't want you telling anybody, and I expect you to put those skills for sneaking around to good use and ensure no one follows you. Understood?'
The boy nodded, almost jumping with excitement. It had been almost a year since he had last seen his father, and missed him. As they made their way back, Percy's head was bustling with questions. What would his father bring him? Had he been watching him the last year? He thought about the two demigods. They looked weak and frail to him, but just a look into the boy's eyes revealed the potential he had. He didn't think the girl would be soft either. He decided he would watch them closely.