ᴾʰᵒᵇᵒᵖʰᵒᵇⁱᵃ [ᴶᵃˢᵒⁿ ᴳʳᵃᶜᵉ]

αη

αη. rupophobia - fear of dirt

Aza brandished her sword, Mind-Cleaver, as the four waltzed straight into the clearing, leaving Piper to sneak around the ridge. Aza's knees trembled slightly from the adrenaline coursing through her veins. The pit of her stomach was in turmoil - gods, she was so anxious. She pushed it back in her mind, back to the pits of her mind. She had to focus; Aza forced herself to keep her back straight, her chin high, and her jaw strong.

Just in front of Aza, Jason flipped his golden coin and summoned his golden spear. He brandished it over his head and yelled, "Giant!" Enceladus stopped chanting at the flames. He straightened, and slowly turn towards them with a wide grin, revealing saber-toothed tiger's fangs as long as Aza's arm.

"Well," Enceladus' voice was deep, and sounded like a rumble, almost as if the earth was speaking through him. "What a nice surprise."

Aza lifted her chin in defiance and quirked a brow - could he even see her face, from that far up? Gods he towered above them. "Let the movie star go," Gleeson shouted. "You big ugly cupcake. Or I'm gonna plant my hoof right up your-"

"Gleeson," Aza warned. "Quiet."

Enceladus roared with laughter, and he gave another toothy grin. "I've forgotten how funny satyrs are. When we rule the world, I think I'll keep your kind around. You can entertain me while I eat all the other mortals."

"Is that a compliment?" Gleeson asked Aza. "I don't think that was a compliment."

Enceladus opened his mouth wide, and for a minute Aza thought he was about to belch. But then his teeth began to glow, and Leo yelled, "Scatter!"

Aza dove to the left, throwing herself on the ground, curling up as best she could to protect her head, just in case. She scrambled to her feet, grabbing her sword from where it had fallen and rushing towards the giant. Out of the corner of her eyes, Aza saw Jason do the same, and somewhere behind them, Gleeson yelled, "I liked that outfit!"

Aza had only made it fifteen feet when Enceladus slammed his spear against the ground. The mountain shook, and the shockwave knocked Aza to the ground. Her head slammed against the earth, and as Aza looked around the world from her spot on the ground, she wondered when it had gotten so blurry.

She had to get up - Aza groaned and forced herself to her knees, grasping at her sword and staggering to her feet. She was about to advance, or at least walk the best she could with the world spinning around her, but Enceladus bellowed, "I see you, Piper McLean."

Piper! Enceladus spewed fire to a line of bushes across the clearing. Aza worried for a moment that Piper was hurt, but the girl ran into the clearing like a flushed bird, the underbrush burning behind her. 

"I'm happy you've arrived," Enceladus laughed. "And you brought me my prizes!"

Aza's gut twisted, but she forced herself to shake off her nerves. She edged closer to the giant, keeping a close eye on Piper - or, well, one of the two Piper's she saw. She hoped she guessed right. The giant laughed again. "That's right, son of Hephaestus. I didn't expect you all to live this long, but it doesn't matter. By bringing you here, Piper McLean has sealed the deal. If she betrays you, I'm as good as my word. She can take her father and go. What do I care about a movie star?"

"Dad!" Piper yelled, and Aza turned to see Tristan McLean was conscious, trying to take in his surroundings. "Pipes? Where..."

Piper whirled on the giant, drawing her dagger. "Let him go!"