Mythoverse: Sinners and Lightning

Chapter 1

It was later that night, several hours after Chiron had just left actually.

Leah, Katherine, and Azrael were currently outside in a forest clearing, waiting on the guide Chiron promised to have meet up with them.

Of course the wait was rather anticlimatic. Not even 5 minutes after the scheduled meet time, Chiron called back with an Iris Message almost immediately.

Azrael, Leah, and Kat all watched as a curtain of mist seemed to pop up in front of them.

Azrael: Yo. Your guide appears to be late.

Chiron: Well you see, things seem to have gone a bit....Ugly.

The man seemed to age visibly in the span of instant.

Chiron: I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you to get to camp yourself. As it stands, I'd send others but they'd arrive to late.

Azrael's face went from nonchalant to serious immediately.

Azrael: What happened.

Chiron: ...

Chiron seemed hesitant to answer, his gaze going to the girls standing behind Azrael, before he closed his eyes and sighed.

Chiron: It seems your charges are more wanted than we previously expected. Something is coming your way, something dangerous. Are you near any water?

A shake of the head made Chiron grimace.

Chiron: Then run. Run as fast as you can to get here. And may the gods bless your journey.

And the Iris Message cut off immediately.

Sighing Azrael turned towards Leah, who flinched at the intense stare.

Leah: What?! I swear I didn't do anything!

Azrael said nothing as they walked up to her and placed a hand on both Leah and Kat's shoulders.

Azrael: Considering how far we are from Long Island, our travel arrangements will have to be improvised a bit. I'll be borrowing your mana for a bit.

Both girls felt a draining sensation as well as a sense of loss.

Azrael was indifferent to their plight as they focused on finding a good location. Montauk was it? That's fairly close to Camp right? 

Azrael: Alright then Leah, shadow travel is your thing so I need you to focus on my instructions while I stabilize-

Their voice cut off immediately as they felt rather than saw something approaching. Toxic fumes began to crawl forward along the forest floor, as a dragging sensation resonated across the ground.

Kat: Should we go check it out?

A smack to her head from Leah was delivered almost immediately.

Kat: Ouch! Geez I was kidding, lighten up a bit Leah. 

Leah: ....

Kat: Leah? Leah! What's wrong?!

Leah: ...

Her eyes were narrowed , pupils narrowed into thin pinpricks as her body shook. With fear perhaps?

Leah: A Monster....

No as the creature approached, Leah's eyes were narrowed in barely controlled rage.

It's appearance was nothing short of horrific. The torso of a man merged to the middle of the back of a horse, where a rider would usually be sat. The "man" part had  an oversized head, while the "horse" part only had a single eye and fins on its legs. The entire creature lacked skin.