Slavic Huter [OC PJO Crossover]

CHAPTER 1 - Quiet beginnings of bad things

13th December 2007,  44.355565 N, -68.183672 W

The snow slowly fell to the ground, piling up layer by layer, building deeper and deeper drifts. The only thing that protected me from the cold and wet at that moment was the thermos layer under the white camouflage. I looked away from the falling snow and looked at our target: a great black stone building full of turrets and embrasures. Like a castle or a palace, but the location didn't match: about 4 km south of Bor Harbor in Maine. The fact that the Westover Hall military school was located in the same building added to its charm. What can't the Yankees come up with?

- Echo 1, this is Foxtrot 2: a car drove up to the building; 3 people come out. – I heard in the handset; I pressed the button on the walkie-talkie
- Foxtrot, is this an exfiltration squad?
- Roger, Echo. They enter the building and the car drives away.
- Understood. Foxtrot, stay in position and watch the entrance; Gamma - rear exit eyes; Echo - we stay here and watch the gym. From then on, silence in the ether, unless there will be need; radio communication only within teams.

The only thing that answered me was the clicking sounds: everyone heard their orders and acknowledged their receipt. In the meantime, I made myself more comfortable on the shield, adjusted the bow hanging on my shoulder and slowly raising the binoculars to my eyes, I started looking through the windows, and there was what I expected - a crowd of giggling teenagers was walking around the room, talking, drinking something from a large pot standing on the table or  just helding up the walls. Just a typical high school dance. 5 minutes later, four people joined this colourful crowd: two girls (one blonde, the other black-haired), and two boys (one also black-haired, and the other with short curly hair and a rasta-style cap).

- Commander, this is Three: I have eye contact with the "exfils." Echo 3, beside me, reported in an accent so hard it could cut through boulders.
- Roger, Three. Anyone see the VIPs?
- This is Four: I see them. - Echo 4 reported to me. A few minutes passed when I heard his voice again.
 - Commander, I lost eye contact; they left the room with one adult.
- Roger, Four. Echoes - anyone see them?
- Negative, One.
- Can't see them Commander.

In that moment, the commander of the Gamma squad spoke in the receiver.
- Echo 1, this is Gamma 1, we have movement at the rear exit of the building: one adult and two kids.
- Gamma 1, are these two VIPs?
- Wait a minute, they're walking in the shadows.... I confirm: these are VIPs. They're heading southeast toward the cliffs.
I remembered the map of the school area I had studied before this mission - they were right between my unit and the Gamma branch.
- Understood. Gamma, follow them, we'll get them from the opposite side and pinch them. Foxtrot: cover the rear.
- Roger roger, Echo 1.
- Okay Echoes, regroup. We're going east, cut off the VIPs.

Without a word, the three companions followed suit and followed me towards the sea, as fast and stealthily as possible in the snowy forest. After about 10 minutes, we stood at the edge of the trees: in front of us was a clearing, surrounded on three sides by trees, and on the fourth side by a bay. We scattered along the tree line.
- Echo 1, this is Gamma 1. We're in position, note: one person from the exfiltration team has joined the VIPs, the adult is still with them, I identify adult as hostile.
- Gamma 1 repeat the last.
- I repeat: an adult is hostile. They'll be out in open in a moment.
- Copy that, Gamma 1 - I replied and swore softly: I was hoping for a quick action, without our participation, but it looked different. My thoughts were interrupted by a group of people entering the clearing: just as Gamma 1 had reported.
- Echo 1, I have an eye contact with the target. Permission to engage.
- Denied, Gamma 1. Hold on a moment longer and be ready.
- Echo 1, Operator. Watch out: an unidentified heli's approaching your position; no response to calls, no transponder signal or markings of belonging to any armed forces.
Helicopter? In the middle of nowhere? After all, we haven't called for support or transport yet...
- Damn it. Gamma, Echo, prepare to fend off a potential enemy helicopter; Foxtrot how far are you?
- About 5 minutes walk from your Echo 1 positions.
- Follow us, it might be hot.

As soon as I gave the order, I heard the sound of propellers approaching. I continued to observe the VIPs, taking the longbow off my shoulder and readying the arrow.... when suddenly an invisible force knocked down an adult, and two people ran out of the forest from the side of the school: a black-haired punk girl and a boy ... no - a satyr with a rastafarian hat, who joined the fight, as did the black-haired boy who had arrived with the group earlier. The enemy immediately began to change - his hands turned into large paws, and from behind he grew ... a tail with spikes, which he began to shoot at the newcomers. And the roar of the engine kept getting closer.
- Echo 4, Gamma 4 - prepare your grenade launchers and shoot down this bug, if you're sure it has hostile intentions; the rest of Echo and Gamma - start firing at the monster, but be careful: it's a manticore. Exfils and VIPs in the action area, so aim well.

I gave the order, then drew the bow and started shooting at the monster, after a second the rest of the team joined. The manticore roared angrily and responded by sending spikes in our direction as the helicopter strafed Gamma's position. In response, two missiles flew towards the vehicle; unfortunately the pilot knew how to use flares, and none hit.
- Shields! - I shouted, praying that everyone would be able to use them. Fortunately, none of the spikes hit anyone... which didn't stop the monster from laughing.
-Do you see now, how hopeless it is? Surrhenderh, little herhoes. And you morhtals: die! - and after the typical villain text, he used his tail again and the spikes rattled against our shields.

And then I heard a sound that I had heard many times in the past; a sound I haven't heard in over a decade; a sound so familiar I'd recognize it anywhere. The sound of a hunting horn. The manticore froze...then staggered from the impact of the silver arrow. Another group of people emerged from the forest: about a dozen girls, each with a bow in hand and an arrow on it. They were all aiming at the monster.
- Dirhect action! It is against the Ancient Laws! - he howled, to which a red-haired archer with gold-silver eyes replied.
- Not exactly: hunting all kinds of wild beasts is my business, and you are one of them. I grant permission to kill, Zoe. - I felt a slight shiver at the name.
The manticore tried to fight back, but the blonde, who appeared out of nowhere, lunged at the monster and stuck a dagger into its mane. The monster wanted to throw the teenager off, but under the influence of the arrows - thanks to the archers - it began to stagger towards the sea.

- This is not the end Huntrhess! You'll pay for this! - And with those words, he jumped off the cliff... Along with the blonde girl still holding the dagger stuck in his mane.
- ANNABETH! - shouted the black-haired boy, and rushed after them, and I with him, not wanting to let him fall down from several dozen meters. At the same time, the redhead said something (I didn't hear what) and waved her hand, and the helicopter turned into a flock of ravens.
I walked the boy over to his friends, then stood to the side while signalling the Echoes and Gammas to join me. Meanwhile, a girl named Zoe approached the teenagers and froze.

- You. - she said, scowling at the punk girl.
- Zoe Nightshade. Perfect timing as usual. - Her interlocutor replied with equal distaste.
Zoe didn't react, just scanned the rest of the group.
- Four heroes and satyr, my lady.- she reported, then focused her gaze on me ... and immediately joined her gaze with a bow ready to shoot. All except the redhead.
- Who is't art thee, m'rtal? - she asked belligerently, and her companions marked the importance of the question by also aiming their bows at me. I gestured for my squad to lower their weapons and smiled under the chimney that obscured half my face.
- It's good to see you again, Lady Artemis, Lieutenant... - I replied, then pulled down my hood and ski chimney. The redhead didn't show anything, but Zoe looked surprised.
- Sergeant Sparrowhawk reporting for duty.

END OF CHAPTER 1

A.N.

As you can see, this is how I start it, any questions, suggestions, comments - I will gladly listen. 

For those who wonder - Zoe speaks Shakespearean English.
See you in the next chapter.