Child of the Moon

Hazel's Horse Goes Straight To... Ludicrous Speed!

After Annabeth and Hazel got us out, the first part of the escape was easy.  We retrieved our things with no problem, then started climbing down the ladder.  Every time Amazons swarmed beneath us, demanding our surrender, Hazel made a crate of jewelry explode, burying them in a Niagara Falls of gold and silver.  When we got to the bottom of the ladder, we found a scene that looked like Mardi Gras Armageddon.  Amazons were trapped up to their necks in bead necklaces, several more upside down in a mountain of amethyst earrings, and a battle forklift buried in silver charm bracelets.

Frank: You, Hazel Levesque, are entirely freaking incredible.

She grinned at him.

YN: Not the time, you two!

Their faces turned red as we stumbled across another Amazon.  As soon as she saw us, she turned away like we were invisible.

Percy: What the-

Hazel: Some of them want us to escape.  I'll explain later.

The next two Amazons we met weren't so friendly.  They were dressed in full armor, blocking the next entrance.  One spun her spear with lightning speed, but my right eye flashed.  She stumbled as Zoe ran forward, kicking her in the head and knocking her out cold.  Percy ran for the other one, drawing Riptide.  As the Amazon jabbed at him, he sidestepped, cut her spear shaft in half, and slammed the hilt of his sword against her helmet.  The guard crumpled.

Frank: Mars Almighty.  How did you... that wasn't any Roman technique!

Percy and I grinned.

YN: The Graeci have some moves, my friend.  After you.

Frank: Wait... you're Greek as well?

YN: Yep, Annabeth and I.  I thought you'd figured that out by now.

We ran into the throne room, where Hylla and her guards had cleared out.  Hazel dashed over to Arion's cage and swiped an Amazon card across the lock.  Instantly, the stallion burst forth, rearing in triumph.  Percy and Frank stumbled backward.

Frank: Um... is that thing tame?

The horse whinnied angrily.

Percy: I don't think so.  He just said "I will trample you to death, silly Chinese Canadian baby man".

YN: Pfft...

Annabeth elbowed me before I could start laughing.

Hazel: You speak horse?

Frank: Baby man?

Percy: Speaking to horses is a Poseidon thing.

Hazel: Then you and Arion should get along fine.  He's a son of Neptune too.

Percy turned pale.

Percy: Excuse me?

Zoe snorted.  If they hadn't been in such a bad situation, Percy's expression might have made me laugh.

Hazel: The point is, he's fast.  He can get us out of here.

Frank did not look thrilled.

Frank: Five of us can't fit on one horse, can we?  We'll fall off, or slow him down, or-

Arion whinnied again.

Percy: Ouch.  Frank, the horse says you're a... you know, actually, I'm not going to translate that.  Anyway, he says there's a chariot in the warehouse, and he's willing to pull it.

Amazon: There!

A dozen Amazons charged in, followed by males in orange jumpsuits.  When they saw Arion, they backed up quickly and headed for the battle forklifts.  Hazel vaulted onto Arion's back.  She grinned down at her friends.

Hazel: I remember seeing that chariot.  Follow me, guys!

She galloped into the larger cavern and scattered a crowd of males.  Percy knocked out an Amazon.  I ran forward, kicking some others away.  Frank swept two more off their feet with his spear.  Hazel bowled into a patrol of Amazons, who scattered in terror at the sight of the horse.  Hazel swung her sword at everyone who came within reach.  Annabeth, Percy, Frank, and I ran after her.  Finally we reached the chariot.  Arion stopped by the yoke, and Percy set to work with the reins and harness.

Frank: You've done this before?

Percy didn't need to answer.  His hands flew.  In no time the chariot was ready.  He jumped aboard.

Percy: Guys, come on!  Hazel, go!

A battle cry went up behind us.  A full army of Amazons stormed into the warehouse.  Otrera herself stood astride a battle forklift, her silver hair flowing as she swung her mounted crossbow toward the chariot.  I whistled as loud as I could, praying that she'd be able to hear me and reach us down here.

Otrera: Stop the-

She was cut off as a massive silver wolf appeared in a silver blur.  Luna slammed her body into the forklift, tipping it over.  I whistled again and Luna bounded over, jumping into the air.  She began to become smaller in midair, her body shrinking into a pup, and landed in my arms.

YN: Good girl!

Annabeth scratched Luna's ears as we raced across the cavern, weaving around pallets and forklifts.  An arrow whizzed past Hazel's head.  Something exploded behind us, but we didn't look back.  We all know cool guys don't look at explosions.

Frank: The stairs!  No way this horse can pull a chariot up that many flights of- OH MY GODS!

Thankfully the stairs were wide enough for the chariot, because Arion didn't even slow down.  He shot up the steps with the chariot rattling and groaning.  Hazel glanced back a few times to make sure we hadn't fallen off.  Our knuckles were white on the sides of the chariot.  Finally we reached the lobby.  Arrion crashed through the main doors into the plaza and scattered a bunch of guys in business suits.

YN: Ella!  We have to leave!

For a horrible second, I was afraid the harpy might be too far away to hear.  She might be lost, or captured by the Amazons.  Behind us a battle forklift clattered up the stairs and roared through the lobby, a mob of Amazons behind it.  The forklift raised its razor sharp prongs.

YN: ELLA!

In a flash of red feathers, Ella landed in the chariot.

Ella: Ella is here.  Amazons are pointy.  Go now.

Hazel: Hold on!  Arion, run!

The world seemed to elongate.  Sunlight bent around us.  Arion shot away from the Amazons and sped through downtown Seattle.  I glanced back and saw a line of smoking pavement where Arion's hooves had touched the ground.  He thundered toward the docks, leaping over cars, barreling through intersections.  Hazel screamed at the top of her lungs, but it was a scream of delight.  Arion reached the water and leaped straight off the docks.  My ears popped.  I heard a roar that I later realized was a sonic boom, and Arion tore over Puget Sound, seawater turning to steam in his wake as the skyline of Seattle receded behind us.