We Both Walk Among the Dead: A Percy Jackson Fanfiction

here's the next part, comment if you like :)

            Everyone froze in battle position, as the lion shimmered in the light from the flashlight. My mind was whirling, trying to think of ways to rescue Carson and Candice before the lion decided to stop toying with us. It was obvious now that Al had been right; there had been something more to the defence than mere guards. It was a stupidly deceptive technique, making the trespassers think that they had conquered their mission, and slamming them with the biggest threat they had while the trespassers were worn and tired from their previous easy battles.

            I could still slightly smell the metallic scent of Al's dripping wound, and my eyesight was getting blurry from exhaustion. I hadn't done so much shadow traveling in ages, and it was taking its toll on me.

            I noticed Ree straining to keep her position as well. I felt instantly guilty for putting her and Al on the most stressful job, while the twins and I had gotten the easiest. My guilt dragged me down as I stared at the unconscious bodies of my friends until the menacing claws of the lion.

            No. This will not be another Finn, I told myself, but I knew in the back of my head I was terrified I was going to lose another friend, because of something I had put them through.

            I snapped back to reality abruptly as the lion suddenly lunged towards the twins. They yelped and took flight, attacking the lion from above with their matching knives. But the weapons did no good, only scattering down the lion's pelt with sparks raining after them. Ree attacked next, aiming for the soft underbelly of the beast with her electrified spear (modelled after her half-sister's Thalia). But the charge backfired, wrapping itself around the lion so we couldn't touch it with anything metal unless we wanted to be electrified.

            Electrified. I looked at Al, who nodded back at me. We both had the same idea, and put it to action.

            Al charged the lion, attacking its eyes, nose, and ears to keep its attention on him. As he did, he slowly backed down the hill taunting the lion until it would take another massive step after him. Ree glanced at me, and I whispered the plan to her. Her eyes lit up instantly, and she raced after Al to keep the lion busy.

            The twins descended from the air, and I relayed the plan to them as fast as I could, while keeping an eye on fight below us.

            "We'll take care of Carson and Candi," I let out the breath I had been unconsciously holding, and gave them both a grateful glance. It seemed like we were all remembering Finn's final stand three months ago.

            They flew off towards the tree, while I headed downhill. It was so dark now that I couldn't even see them, only the glow from the electrical charge on the lion, and the sparks as they tried to slash him in the areas that weren't covered with electricity.

            The overwhelming smell of baby's breath (that's a flower by the way) wafted on the breeze, and I stopped running for half a second. I knew that smell from somewhere, but I couldn't quite place it...

            "Cale!!! Now!!!" I heard Ree scream as they finally reached the fence. I forgot about the scent and raced towards them, hearing a shout of pain that froze my blood. I made out the lion's glowing body in front of me, and raced around his front to find Ree's arm in its mouth. The lion was growling, saliva dripping from its mouth and mixing with the blood on the ground. It twisted Ree's arm in its teeth, causing her to cry out in agonized pain again.