The Silver Archer 2️⃣ (Percy Jackson)

05. Mrs. O'Leary

Adira

As we made our way through camp, I said hi to some of my friends. In the Big House's driveway, Connor and Travis Stoll from the Hermes cabin were hot-wiring the camp's SUV. Silena Beauregard, the head counselor for Aphrodite, waved at me from her Pegasus as she flew past.

Asher walked out of the stables, taking care of my pegasus. She waved, tightening the pegasus's saddle. She looked so grown up. She was now 19, but she looked like an actual adult.

"Freedom!" I said, running towards my pegasus.

He was a dark brown pegasus, with black spots every now and again. His hooves were black, with black fur traveling up his legs, turning into brown. He whinnied at me happily. We had found him about a few months ago, about a month after the Mount Tam incident. He was found in a disgusting pond down where I lived, and I immediately brought him to camp. It's what led to me staying at camp for a while.

Hey, Adira, he whinnied, brushing up against me. Do you have any sugarcubes?

"Nah," I answered. "But we can go for a walk if you want."

He whinnied in response. I waved towards my siblings, who were in deep conversation with my brother.

"You see, brother... I'm a graduated lawyer and teacher. I'm better than you!" he yelled in Noah's ear. I laughed as I walked away, getting onto Freedom's back, placing my feet in the stirrups.

🪨

Finally I wandered with my horse into the sword arena, where I usually go when I'm trying to think. Practicing riding always calms me down.

I walked into the amphitheater and my heart almost stopped. In the middle of the arena floor, with its back to me, was the biggest hellhound I'd ever seen. Mrs. O'Leary. She was huge. I mean, I've seen some pretty big hellhounds. One the size of a rhino tried to kill Percy when we were thirteen. But this hellhound was bigger than a tank.

She looked right at home, lying on her belly, growling contentedly as she chewed the head
off a combat dummy.

And in front of her, was my boyfriend with his sword.

"Yaaaaah!" he charged.

With my pegasus, we ran forward to stop him.

I counteracted his sword with my sword, jumping off with Freedom.

CLANG!

Mrs. O'Leary pricked up her ears. "WOOF!"

Percy jumped back and instinctively struck at me. I parried his attack with no problem.

"Adi?" he asked, squinting his eyes.

"Whoa there, you two!" Quintus shouted at us. "Take a truce!"

"WOOF!" The hellhound's bark shook the arena.

"Adira!" Percy asked. "That's a hellhound! Are you shittin' me!?" he shouted.

"She's harmless," I said. "That's Mrs. O'Leary."

Percy blinked. "Mrs. O'Leary?"

At the sound of her name, the hellhound barked again. She was excited. She nudged the soggy, badly chewed target dummy toward the swordsman.

"Good girl," Quintus said. With his free hand he grabbed the armored manikin by the neck and heaved it toward the bleachers. "Get the Greek! Get the Greek!"

Mrs. O'Leary bounded after her prey and pounced on the dummy, flattening its armor. She began chewing on its helmet.

The swordsman smiled dryly. He was in his fifties, with short gray hair and a clipped gray beard. He was in good shape for an older guy.