Percy Jackson and the Incarnate- 1: The beginning

CHAPTER 10 POV: Percy Jackson

It had been three months in college. I was loving my time with Annabeth. Hari had been a constant support to me too. He helped with my homework. His Yoga and Meditation helped a lot. We have very rare nightmares about the place and when they came, they lasted a few minutes. I am forever grateful to him.

It was a week before Christmas. The Christmas mood was in the air. I didn't know that Hari could get Christmas fever, for he was a Hindu. But I learned that in India, all festivals of different religions were celebrated with equal gusto. He was now warming up to our lifestyle. He also learned to use the words dude and babe but we three agreed that it doesn't suit his way of talking and he refrained from using those words.

He also taught some words and phrases in different languages from Tamil to Hindi to even Sanskrit. He was good with a flute and I was mesmerized by the melody from the flute.

We had started our practices. He was okay with a sword. He was definitely better than me in archery and he was tactically sound too. But he always felt that his natural weapon is something else. He had an interest in spears and tridents. But still, he felt that his natural weapon is something else. But he could hold on his own with the other weapons.

He also was good in hand-to-hand combat. We were sparring endlessly. He said that he was revisiting his lessons in Kalarippayattu and also used a stick to defend himself. Tyson would love to know this style. He was rusty at first but got better. We still practiced only once a week, but we were confident enough to use it whenever the need arise.

Annabeth and I had decided to go to the Camp after meeting my parents. I invited Hari and he agreed. Yesterday, we visited Annabeth's parents. Her father was so happy to see us while her stepmother had a neutral expression, which was a big change. The twins were now better behaved but still, you can't be too careful.

It was Monday. I and Hari were packing our bags for the day when I heard the sound of the horn. My heart plummeted. It was not the horn for breakfast, but for a war. I looked at Hari with a grim expression and he seemed to understand. We took our bags and went out. Annabeth had her Drakon-bone sword in her hand. I uncapped Riptide. Hari took out his Imperial gold Bow and Arrow which could turn into a spear.

We went to the camp. They were forming lines and formations hastily. There were many demigods who never witnessed war. They were woefully inexperienced. I looked at Frank and Hazel who nodded. From the cave, a legionnaire came, injured all over. He told something to frank that shook him to the core. Pranjal and a few others took the legionnaire to the infirmary. Pranjal was going to have a long day.

After a minute or two, all of us were assembled in the fields of Mars. I, Annabeth, and Hari stood near the Little Tiber. The Cave blasted out and we were not expecting the sheer number of monsters in the enemy ranks. About ten thousand of them. We were particularly screwed.

The horn sounded and the battle began. Using the Tiber, I swept hundreds of monsters, turning them to dust. But, they were reforming very fast. It was as if the doors of the death were opened again. I looked at Annabeth who was thinking along the same lines. Hari was doing okay. He had a bruise on his arm but he managed to kill two hellhounds and a dracaena.

But the strength of the monsters was too much and we were weak from the fight against the triumvirate. The monsters overpowered us and spilled inside the camp and the city. It was carnage. We killed many monsters but they kept coming. The whole town was partially destroyed. The veterans joined us and we started to retaliate. I helped the cohort near the river with Annabeth and Hari.

After we defeated about a thousand monsters, a horn was heard on the other side. The monsters made a small circle and from the cave, four humanoids with very long ears and fur. If I was not hallucinating, I think they had eight fingers. They were carrying a palanquin that had a man inside. Annabeth muttered 'Pandai' in shock.