If anyone had asked me to describe today in three words, I would've said "good, crazy, exhilarating." I was sitting in the back seat of the car with Livvy, with Percy and Sally in the front, 'cause apparently there were some things that Percy need to take care of at the summer camp that they had been talking about yesterday, and for some reason I needed to go too. Either that or they didn't want to leave me alone in the apartment and needed someone to play with Liv; I chose the latter option. All was well and good, until I saw a familiar shape trot across the road. Literally. Sally slammed on the brakes, jolting all three of us forward a bit. Then I recognised the baseball cap and scrawny frame.
"Aspen?" I questioned to myself. I unbuckled my seatbelt, and leaned into the front. "I'll be right back." I said to Sally and Percy before jumping out of the car. Aspen was averting his gaze, trying to fix his cap.
"Aspen what the HECK are you doing in the middle of the road?!" I shouted, stomping towards him. Then I stopped, and that's because I was in shock. Aspen wasn't wearing any pants. I would've looked away, but I was too surprised with what I saw; from the waist down Aspen was covered in fur, complete with fluffy tail and hooves for feet.
"I was on my way to—to the bus stop. I needed to find you." Aspen replied ominously, adding to my confusion. I narrowed my eyes.
"Why?" But before I received a reply, trees to my left shook. Birds flew into the sky as a guttural roar thundered into the air.
"We have to get you to the camp." Aspen exclaimed, taking me by the hand. He took off to the other side of the road, and into the forest. Behind me I heard Percy cry out in surprise, but Aspen didn't stop. He bounded through the shrubbery with ease, whereas I didn't have such luck. I guess it came with being half whatever he was (maybe it was donkey or goat. The hair was too coarse looking to be a horse). We stopped at a clearing, finally giving me time to get a bearing of my surroundings. The clearing itself was roughly ten metres in diameter, but about another thirty or so metres in front of that was a huge bronze coloured gate. The sign on the gate may have been at least forty metres away, but I could see that there were Ancient Greek symbols on it, which were rearranging themselves, spelling out three words.
"Camp Half-Blood?" I muttered to myself, briefly forgetting where I was. I jumped slightly when Aspen started pushing me towards the bronze gate.
"You have to get to the camp! It's the only way you'll be safe!" Aspen exclaimed through what I assumed was gritted teeth. I fidgeted and squirmed, trying to break out of his grip.
"Safe from WHAT?" I asked frustratedly. The ground shook again, this time more violently.
"That would be me." A male voice said smoothly behind us. Aspen and I spun around, and although I had no freaking clue who this guy was, Aspen seemed to know him; he was shaking in his hooves.
"Well well well. Isn't this just magnificent?" The man said, rolling the J sound, leading me to guessing that he was French. His pinched, almost hawkish face leered at us, his mismatched eyes staring at us hungrily. Aspen put his arm in front of me in protection, but I could tell he was scared; he was still shaking.
"When I tell you to, run through the gate. Dr Thorn can't get to you there." Aspen whispered lowly. I nodded, and turned my attention back to the man, whom I assumed was Dr Thorn.
"I'm afraid you two won't live that long." Dr Thorn said, his voice too joyful for his words. A sharp black projectile flew threw the air, narrowly missing me and Aspen. I should have been afraid. Heck I should've been terrified out of my wits. But I wasn't, I wasn't scared—at least not on the surface. The sharp object had embedded itself in the tree behind us, so in a mad adrenaline rush, I hastily pulled the spiky thing out of the tree trunk.
"Go to the gate. I'll take care of this guy." I said to Aspen, trying to sound brave. He shook his head, and pulled out... reed pipes? I appreciated the courage he showed by refusing to let me be on my own, but this was no time nor place for music. I brandished the black object like a weapon, only to draw a laugh from Dr Thorn. I threw the object as hard as I could at Dr Thorn. He laughed again, and swatted it away harmlessly. His hand had turned into a huge, golden-ish paw, complete with sharp claws to boot.
"Now, demigod, prepare to die at the hands of Dr Thorn!" Dr Thorn exclaimed arrogantly. His body grew, his suit breaking away; his skin sprouting to golden fur. His hawkish face remained the same, but a huge, leathery, scorpion tail had sprung from behind his enormous, lion-like body.
"I don't think so Thorn!" A male voice yelled from behind Dr Thorn. Behind him, Percy had shrugged off his swim team jumper and scarf (which were thrown carelessly by his right foot), pen-sword in hand. He was donned in an orange t-shirt with the words "Camp Half-Blood" on the front and slightly ripped sweatpants. Percy slowly circled around past Dr Thorn, soon joining Aspen and myself.
"Aspen. Take Maddy into the camp and don't look back." Percy hissed quietly. How did he know Aspen's name? Oh well, that was the least of my worries. Aspen had taken my hand again, and was trying to pull me up the hill while I dug my heels in the light snow and dirt, watching Percy slash at Dr Thorn. I looked back at Aspen, who was still trying to get me to the gate.
"Forgive me Aspen." I said before kicking him in his goat-shin. Aspen let go of my hand in surprise and started rubbing his leg, allowing me to run back to Percy. But I wasn't stupid; I hid behind a tree, and watched as Dr Thorn launched another spine at Percy, which just grazed his shoulder.
"Gods... Not again." Percy exclaimed in pain, clutching his sword arm with his free hand. Dr Thorn smiled maliciously, and knocked Percy's sword out of his hand with his huge lion's paw. I watched the bronze sword, surprised when it shimmered and disappeared. Turning my attention back to Percy and Dr Thorn, I almost cried out when I saw that Dr Thorn had pinned Percy against a tree trunk with his long scorpion tail. Suddenly, sunlight burst into the clearing, due to the wintery clouds above finally disbanding. That's when something shiny caught my eye. It was coming from Percy's jumper. I made a quick dash for it, trying extremely hard not to give away my presence. Lying on top of the blue-grey hoodie was a pen, and if I were any other person I would've been disappointed. But I knew that that was Percy's pen. So after picking up the pen, I hesitantly uncapped it, revealing the three-foot long shining sword. The sword felt strange in my left hand (since I'm left handed), but at the same time, it felt familiar. I quickly put the cap on the tip of the sword in the way Percy had at the beach, and slowly moved towards Dr Thorn.
"... I have waited a long time for this, Percy Jackson. It's been five years since I've seen you." He said smoothly, his accent muddling Percy's last name. Dr Thorn's scorpion tail was pressed up against Percy's throat, so Percy could only scowl at Dr Thorn, his cheeks turning an ugly shade of purple from lack of oxygen. I was just behind Dr Thorn, when I uncapped Percy's pen. The sword gleamed in the faint December sunlight as I jumped onto Dr Thorn. Dr Thorn jumped in surprise, but it was too late. I swung the sword low, cutting his head off in a clean swoop. The head rolled a bit, and then dissolved along with the rest of his lifeless body. Percy and I dropped to the ground with a thud, him rubbing his neck.
"Not long enough." He muttered. Percy looked at me—his sword still in my hand—with a look of anger, but at the same time, I could tell he was impressed. Unfortunately I didn't get to gloat; when I tried to stand up my knees felt really weak—especially my right one, that one killed—and they buckled underneath me. He calmly took the sword from my hand and capped it and, while holding it, put my arm around his shoulder, and his under mine. We walked like this to Aspen, who was limping towards us. Percy gave me to Aspen, which I didn't complain about; my vision was red and blurry, and I was having trouble keeping awake.
"Take her to the infirmary. I need to get my jumper." Percy said, gaining a silent nod from Aspen. That's when I finally blacked out.