Tether // percabeth

chapter thirteen: winter nights

 NICO'S POV:

  I jumped up, pulled my sword from its scabbard, and readied my stance for a fight. Next to me, I heard Will and Annabeth do the same. We made our way toward the front of the train, where the sounds were coming from. We got the second car when we finally saw what was causing such a ruckus. There, ripping a row of seats from the floor, was a giant Hellhound. For a moment I hoped it was Mrs. O'leary, but then it noticed our presence and growled, showing its sharp teeth that were about as big as my hands. I had hoped too soon.

  No one moved, and thankfully all of the mortals had run from the car. I positioned myself between Annabeth and the Hellhound, making it easier for us to protect her, and Will did the same. I got ready to charge when two Empusia came at us from behind the Hellhound. I tried to hold them back as Will shot arrows at the Hellhound, but then it leaped above both of our heads and landed right in front of Annabeth.

  "Annabeth!" I shouted her name, getting her out of her shock. She needed to run. There was no way she could fight that thing. 

  My attention was brought back to the Empusia I was fighting by a sharp pain in my arm from where one of them had bit into my skin. I smacked her in the head with the hilt of my sword, and her fangs detached from my arm. I continued to fight them and I heard Will join Annabeth in fighting the Hellhound, good. 

  I stabbed the first Empusia in the neck, and she disintegrated. Then I whirled, catching the second one that had been trying to sneak up on me, by surprise. She just barely dodged my sword in time, but she was still in a daze. I quickly brought my sword back in the opposite direction, this time slicing through her abdomen. I then moved my attention to the Hellhound.

  I ran my sword through the mutt's back calf, but it hardly seemed to notice. Its attention wouldn't waver from Annabeth, who was now on the ground. As it closed in on her, its maw opened wide to swallow her whole, the roof burst open as a shadow came straight at the Hellhound's head. Its beady eyes finally left Annabeth, landing fruitfully on the shadow of black that had finally slowed enough for me to recognize it. Blackjack. 

  Blackjack went back to strike the snout of the Hellhound, causing it to rear its head back, leaving its throat unguarded. I ran it through just as a volley of arrows erupted in the giant dog's neck, causing it to turn to dust. 

  Blackjack then trotted over to Annabeth who was still trying to get up off of the ground. He started nuzzling his head on her very small baby bump. She hesitantly ran her hand over his soft head.

  "Hey... but I didn't call you, what are you doing here?" Annabeth's voice was small and exacerbated. Blackjack only continued to rub her stomach affectionately. " The baby is fine Blackjack, but that tickles."

  She started to giggle and Blackjack whinnied in an odd response. I wished Percy were here so he would be able to translate why his horse had come here. Blackjack finally back up slightly, and he pranced in a circle indicating that he wanted us to get on his back. Annabeth got back to her feet and stroked his ink-colored mane.

  "But we won't all fit on your back." To this he nayed and after only a few seconds I could see two shapes form in the sky, They could be confused for birds, but as they got closer they became far too large to be birds. They were two other pegasi. Once they landed on the damaged metal of the train car, Will and I hopped onto their backs, and lastly, Annabeth got onto Blackjack's. We shot up into the sky, though Blackjack took slower to get airborne, I could see him gently trotting, unlike our which had taken off at full speed. Once we were in the air, Balckjack stayed closer to the ground, hooves just above the roofs of the building that were shining, blindingly in the setting sun. 

  About an hour after the sun went down we set down in some thick woods. The other two pegasi flew off to somewhere, but Blackjack just laid down and allowed Annabeth to lay against him for his warmth. Not after long, I was able to hear soft snores coming from her, and Blackjack closed his eyes and wrapped his neck around her, resting his head on her lap. Will and I worked on building a fire as they slept.

   Once it was finally licking at the wood enough that it didn't need constant babysitting, we sat down next to it. Will heaved a heavy sigh and plopped his head onto my shoulder. I could feel the blood rush into my face, and I was glad that the darkness hid my blush. Just then something cold landed on my nose. I crossed my eyes to look at what it was. A snowflake? Another one landed on my arm, and before I knew it was snowing hard. All I could see was white, and our fire had gone out. I turned and saw that Blackjack had covered Annabeth with his wing. I stood, waking Will, who looked around confused. 

  "We need to find somewhere else," I state. He only nodded and moved to wake Annabeth as well.

  soon we were making our way through woods in snow that made it hard to see ten feet in front of us. My feet were soaked and I could feel them start to freeze. We have to find somewhere out of the cold soon. after what felt like hours, though it was probably only a few minutes, Blackjack suddenly ran forward; and out of our view. Will and I ran to catch up and froze in shock. In front of us was a giant warehouse that looked like it hadn't had a living thing inside it for years. 

  Annabeth dropped to the ground from her spot on Blackjack's back, "The graffiti looks old, I think people forgot this place even exists."

  "Perfect then," Will exclaimed as he walked in through the giant doors. The rest of us were hesitant, and we just stood there until Will popped his head through the door. 

  "I did a sweep and no monsters, only mice and some monstrous-looking bugs." He shouted with a laugh.

  Annabeth took a deep breath and made her way to the building, Blackjack and I following close behind. I did my own sweep just to be sure, no monsters. I came back to the large room we had commandeered and found Blackjack and Annabeth already asleep in a corner.

  The blizzard ran strong for three more days, and at that point, we were very grateful that we had decided not to pack lightly. Thank the gods for Annabeth's siblings. Once we were sure the snow had stopped we decided to stay one more night and head back out first thing in the morning.

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                                                                                           A/N

(hey this took a while, sorry. I'm homeschooled and I started school earlier this year, so it will probably take me longer than usual to publish, But I'll try to get them out as soon as I can!!!!! here is chapter thirteen! I hope you enjoy it, and as always, have an amazing day!!)

                                                                                     -Livinginvibes

                                                                                 word count: 1271