Almighty (Daughter of Olympus III) - [Leo Valdez xF!Oc]

Yes Boy, Give Us Nothing!

Ara stands next to Apollo and Meg, looking down at camp with a loving expression, she loves this view... if only she could keep it safe and sound forever.

"How come I've never heard about this place?" Meg says in awe. "Do you need tickets?"

"It's harder for satyrs to find you if you live in the streets, so... if your godly parent isn't looking for you..." Ara doesn't want to discourage Meg, the fates will take care of that later. "Don't worry, being yourself is enough to get a spot here."

Peaches bites off a patch of grass and spits it out growling. "He doesn't like the taste of this place," Meg informs the other two.

"It's alright, I'm giving you a free pass as long as you promise not to kill any nature spirits or demigods living inside, Peaches," Ara raises a brow questioningly.

"Something doesn't feel right," Meg comments anxiously. "Those woods... your brother said they were wild and enchanted."

"That isn't bad. I've spent a lot of time in the forest and I'm okay! Besides, Pollo will keep the dangerous stuff away."

"Who?"

"My lion," Ara steps into the forest.

"You have a lion?" Meg forgets her worry and follows her in, Peaches moves forward reluctantly and Apollo hurries to catch up.

"Yeah, you'll love him—but tell Peaches to keep calm, Pollo is my baby and I won't hesitate to kill if he tries to hurt him."

"Noted," Meg pats Peaches's head as they keep moving.

Ara whistles, the sound echoing through the trees. She waits five, ten, twenty seconds. "Hmm," she frowns. "That's weird, usually he shows up right away. Maybe he's napping. Don't worry, he'll hear me coming and show up soon. Let's go, the sun is close to setting."

***

The forest is keeping them away from camp. Ara pauses and scowls at the trees, she's certain they're moving. "Something's up."

Meg sits down with weariness. "I told you..."

"Yeah, but this isn't..." Ara looks around, feeling watched. "Don't freak out."

Apollo huffs. "That is a terrible thing to say."

Ara scowls. "I'm talking to Meg, you shut up. "

"Yes, not freaking out," Meg gestures at her to continue.

"We've had some issues lately," Ara looks around trying to find the right path. "Campers have been going missing... And I think the forest is the reason behind it, but no nymph can shift the forest's paths like this... something else is going on."

"Maybe Peaches can help," Meg turns to her pet. "Hey, can you find us a way out of the woods?" Peaches poofs out of sight and the girl jumps to her feet. "Where'd he go?"

"Perhaps he went scouting," Apollo suggests nervously. "Perhaps we should—" The boy bends over gasping, he lifts his hands and covers his ears.

"What's wrong?" Meg looms over him with concern.

"We can't stay here," Apollo's face pales. "Attend me, mortals!"

"Excuse me?" Meg scowls.

"Uh, I mean come on!"

Ara turns Almighty into a crossbow. "Stay close to me."

***

Apollo drops to his knees without warning. "Hey! Get up!" Meg stumbles beside him.