The Monster Hunt (Patreon)

Annabeth’s soft laughter drifted through the air like ripples on the lake’s surface. Doves fluttered over the water, naiads flitting within, weaving a huge basket under the lake. 

Percy and Annabeth sat upon the pier, watching them work, their pants pulled up to their thighs while their feet skimmed the water’s surface. Annabeth’s head rested upon his shoulder, her blonde hair cascading down Percy's chest.

A shadow fell upon them, and Chiron’s face shone on the water’s surface.

“Percy, Annabeth.” Both of them sprang apart and twisted around to face the centaur who smiled at them. “Come with me. I have a small task for you.”

“Chiron, please tell me you don’t have another quest for me,” Percy and Annabeth trudged after him to the Big House. “I just got through the biggest quest of my life and I do not need another so soon.”

Annabeth elbowed him in the ribs, her gray eyes glaring at him.

“Nothing so dramatic.” Chiron trotted up the porch, sitting in his wheelchair, his legs folding into it. “You know that the monsters of the Titan army fled after the battle of Manhattan moments after Kronos fell, don’t you?”

“Thalia told me that the hunt was going to go after them as soon as her huntresses recovered.” Annabeth bit her lip. “They left with Lady Artemis over a week ago.”

“And they’ve done so quite admirably,” Chiron leaned back in his chair. “Over the past week, hordes of monsters have perished to their arrows. But unfortunately, they didn’t get them all. They would have, but they had to deviate to follow the trail of a powerful monster that Lady Artemis detected.”

“So the hunt is already gone?” Percy frowned.

“They are in Ohio right now. And Lady Artemis believes that it would be too late to turn back.” Chiron steepled his fingers. “She said that they might lose both their trail and the monster group if they turn around.”

“So they are continuing after the monster Lady Artemis sensed,” Annabeth deduced. “And we need to go and get the monster group.”

“Fortunately, we already know where they are,” Chiron snapped his fingers and mist gathered in front of him, a faint rainbow shimmering in it. “Iris, show me Grover Underwood please.”

The mist swirled and the view changed to show a satyr crouched behind a foliage of bushes, his horns peeking through his brown hair. In front of him, a crumbling old building rose, hidden between trunks of trees.

“GRO—” Annabeth lunged, clamping Percy’s mouth shut.

In the image, Grover spun around, swinging a thick branch, and the image distorted. 

“Shh. There might be monsters,” Annabeth hissed as the image cleared up again to reveal Grover’s startled face. “Hey, Grover. It’s us.”

“You guys scared the Hades out of me!” Grover took a deep breath, letting the branch drop. “It is good to see you guys.”

Percy let out a muffled sound behind Annabeth’s hand before licking it. 

“Eww,” Annabeth pulled her hand away, wiping it on Percy’s t-shirt. “Gross.”

Grover snickered and Percy gave him a broad grin. 

“Anyhow,” Annabeth scowled at the two of them. “Where are you, Grover?”

“Aunty Em's Garden Gnome Emporium,” Grover moved to give them a clearer view of the building. “Do you remember what happened the last time we were here?”

“How could we forget?” Percy nudged Annabeth with his shoulder. “We’ll be right there.”

“Yeah, hurry up. I think the monsters might move soon.” Grover’s expression grew worried. “If they move to the city, they might find some half-blood to eat.”

“We’ll leave within five minutes,” Annabeth bobbed her head. “Chiron, can we take the car?”

“You want to weave through Manhattan’s traffic right now?” Percy turned to her. “Because it will be evening by the time we reach there.”

“Percy’s right,” Chiron stroked his chin. “Take the Pegasi. They can get you past the Lincoln Tunnel within no time. Grover can meet you there and lead you to the monsters.”

“I’ll get my shield. Percy, you get the Pegasi.” Annabeth ran out of the big house toward her cabin.

“See you in a few, G-man. Stay safe.” Percy waved a hand through the mist which dissolved. “Chiron.”

“Go. May the gods be with you,” Chiron said. “Blackjack and Porkpie are in the stables.”

“Cool.” Percy gave him a two-fingered salute and strode toward the stables.

The pegasi neighed, greeting him as soon as he walked in, his gaze sweeping past the lot toward Blackjack’s stall. 

‘You are back boss!’ Blackjack neighed. ‘Did you bring me sugar cubes?’

“Not right now, Blackjack. I will get you the cubes later.” Percy petted his mane. “Right now, we need to get somewhere.”

‘I will hold you to your promise, boss,’ Blackjack stretched his wings and pawed at the hay at his feet. ‘Here they only give me grass to eat. A growing pegasus needs his sugar.’

“I am pretty sure sugar isn’t all that good for you,” Percy led him outside, whistling to Porkpie to come along. “You are taking Annabeth, Porkpie. We need to get to the Lincoln Tunnel. Can you take us there?”

‘Not that far.’ Porkpie strutted ahead. ‘At least it isn’t Kansas.’

‘Here comes your girl, boss,’ Blackjack bumped his shoulder with his wing. ‘You going to have little blonde-haired green-eyed babies soon?’

Percy felt heat rush to his ears. “No, Blackjack.”

“Let’s get going, Seaweed Brain,” Annabeth hefted a saddle onto Porkpie’s back. “You have everything you need?”

Percy patted his pocket. “I always have everything I need, Wise Girl.”

“Great. Grover’s waiting for us," Annabeth coaxed her pegasi forward, a mischievous smile curving on her lips. “Catch me if you can.”

In a gust of wind, Annabeth flew away on Porkpie, leaving Percy and Blackjack standing there.

“Come on Blackjack,” Percy leaped onto his back, his legs tight around Blackjack’s sides as he grabbed a fistful of his mane. “I cannot lose to Annabeth in a pegasi race. Go!”

‘And I can’t lose to Porkpie,’ Blackjack sprang, galloping across the field and powering aloft with a flap of his dark wings.

The wind whistled in Percy’s ears as the camp became a speck in the distance, the sea glittering to his left in the afternoon sun. Up ahead, Porkpie flew across the sky, Annabeth’s golden hair fluttering behind her like a halo.

Below them, cars crawled over the street and Blackjack flapped his wings, rising higher, away from the eyes of prying mortals.

“Come on Blackjack,” Percy muttered. “Faster.”

“If you want me to go faster, it will be twice the sugar cubes, boss.”

“Done.”

Blackjack arched his wings, gliding through the wind. Percy threw himself flat against his neck as they sped up, flying past Annabeth.

“Alright, we are close,” Percy squinted below. “Let’s descend.”

They streaked over the tunnel, gliding lower toward the street. In the distance, a figure waved at them and Percy smiled. Blackjack’s hooves clomped against the street and he galloped toward Grover, who grinned at them.

“Where’s Annabeth?” He asked as Percy pulled Blackjack to a stop next to him.

“Behind me,” Percy twisted to look at the sky, pointing toward them. “She wanted to race me. I won.”

‘We won.’ Blackjack neighed.

“Yes, we won.” Percy slapped the pegasus’ back as he leaped off him. “We have work to do here, Blackjack. I will give you the sugar cubes when I return to the camp.”

‘As long as you remember them, boss.’ With a flap of his wings, Blackjack flew away, just as Porkpie landed and Annabeth got off.

“I won.” Percy gave her a smug smile. 

“Hey Grover,” Annabeth ignored him, hugging Grover. “How’ve you been?”

“Not bad,” Grover shrugged. “Lots of half-bloods have been popping up all over the country since the past week. Percy’s request has borne fruit but it has led to us satyrs working overtime.”

“That’s good, right? Fewer half-bloods will die or fall to an enemy’s thrall like Luke did.” A grimace flashed across Annabeth’s face, sadness sinking in her eyes.

“Let’s get to these monsters before they get to one of the demigods.” Percy cleared his throat. “It is no wonder they are using it as a lair. Even Kronos did.”

“Follow me, I marked the path.” Grover strode forward, into the trees along the side of the road, Percy and Annabeth following him. “This is just like old times, huh? We are like the three musketeers.”

“The powerpuff girls.” Annabeth laughed.

“Shrek, Fiona, and Donkey.” Percy grinned and Grover bleated in indignation. Annabeth’s laughter echoed through the trees as they continued to trudge through the undergrowth.

Brambles twisted and snapped as Percy trampled through them, Grover weaving ahead, unbothered by the foliage.

“Slow down, Grover. Nature isn’t as friendly to all of us.” Annabeth pulled twigs out of her hair, tossing them away. “Also, Aunty Em’s is a long way.”

“It isn’t.” Grover ducked under a branch, hopping onto a worn path that traveled up a slight slope. “Last time, we were wandering through rain and storm, with no idea where to go. Also, it was dark. The place is just over there.”

“What about the monsters?” Percy asked.

“Cyclops, Telkhines, and Dracena with a couple of hellhounds and a Hyperborean. I think I saw harpies too.” Grover said. “All in all, there is a score of monsters. No more than two.”

Percy and Annabeth shared a look. 

“Workable,” Annabeth said. “Together we can just go straight out and kill the monsters without much of a hassle.”

“You can stay behind me.” Percy nodded. “They cannot hurt me due to the curse of Achilles anyway.”

“And I can watch your back while Grover makes sure none escape.” Annabeth beamed. “Grover?”

“Fine by me. I don’t think the two of us are even needed.” Grover said. “But then again, Percy would’ve probably already gotten lost or offended someone by this point if you weren’t here.”

“Hey!”

“It’s true.” Annabeth nudged Percy’s shoulder. “We should probably attack from the trees though so they don’t see us coming.”

“What difference does it make?” Percy frowned. “They would’ve smelt me.”

A screech drew their attention as a harpy flew out of a nearby tree, toward the monster camp.

“And there it goes down the drain for sure.”

“Let’s attack!” Annabeth said.

Together, they charged, running down the gentle slope toward the gate of Aunty Em’s Garden Gnome Emporium. A cyclops roared and Percy drew his pen, flicking off its cap. Bronze shimmered into his palm and the weight of Riptide settled in his hand, slicing through the cyclops’ chest.

Annabeth lunged, stabbing a harpy that flew at them while Percy thrust his sword through another cyclops.

“Archers!” 

Annabeth raised her shield and Percy stepped in front of her as bronze arrows soared toward them, tearing holes through Percy's t-shirt as they crumbled against his skin. Percy yelled, striding forward as more arrows bounced off him, slashing his sword through the dracaena nearest to him.

The others tried to flee but Percy sprang, rolling between them, his sword slicing through their abdomens. Annabeth drove her knife through the neck of the fourth and the dracaena burst into golden dust, raining upon the ground

A roar drew their attention as a giant lumbered forward, followed by a dozen cyclopes who charged toward them. From the side, a handful of harpies flew toward them, their wings flapping as they leaped over rocks.

“Go, Percy,” Annabeth said. “I’ll handle the harpies.”

Percy dashed forward, the sounds in his surroundings fading as his eyes scanned his clearing. Riptide tore through the first cyclops, beheading the second before parrying a bronze club and slicing through the neck of the third cyclops. 

Percy rolled under a club, skewering two cyclops in a single stab before diving out of the way as the giant swung a tree trunk at him. Percy ran forward, leaping high and driving his sword through the giant’s heart.

Ice spread beneath Riptide as the giant froze, its body crumbling into icicles. A cyclops swung a fist at him, but Percy slipped past his guard, killing him.

An arrow bounced against his foot, tearing through his sneaker.

“Those were a birthday gift!” Percy stabbed the Cyclops through his eye. “You all will die for my Nikes!”

In a bronze flash, two more cyclops burst into golden dust as Percy continued forward, tearing through enemies left right, and center.

A hellhound leaped from a statue’s shadow and Percy slipped under it, avoiding the beast. With a snarl, he chopped through it, ducking under an arrow that flew at him.

The Dracena’s eyes widened and she dropped her bow.

“I was just doing this for—”

Percy’s blade slashed through her neck and she burst into golden dust. Turning around, Percy saw Annabeth standing over the last harpy before she stabbed it too.

“Any more monsters?” Percy spun Riptide, scanning the statues that seemed to stare at him. 

“No, I think our work here is done.” Grover trudged forward. “If there are any, they’d be hiding in the house though.”

“Well, all in a day’s work,” Percy sighed. “Let’s get this over with.”

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AND… DONE! Hope you all liked the chapter!

A huge thanks to Mughil for betaing this story.

Now, to the update schedule, I had initially decided to upload the GotSIS chapter 17 today, but I want more time to work on it as it is an important chapter and rather lovely one at that. Also, I am yet to complete it as per my plans. So, the fic will be updated on 27th of May tentatively. The update for LoSP will be after that, of course, putting us back on schedule.

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Stay Happy! Stay Safe! Keep Smiling! Keep Reading!

HPfanfictioner66