A Son From Lands Unknown (PJO x Male Reader)

Annabeth Takes a Tumble

Annabeth, Thalia, (Y/N), and Grover ran as fast as they could toward where they thought Percy had gone. Fortunately, it wasn't hard to reach him, as he and the di Angelo siblings were on the cliff overlooking the ocean. Dr. Thorn had revealed a part of his monstrous form, a tail peeking out from his back.

"So, have a plan?" (Y/N) whispered to Annabeth, who was no longer there. She had put her invisibility cap on and began walking towards Thorn, who all four of them were behind, hoping to get an ambush on him.

"Crap," he muttered. He didn't like having to think of the combat plan, as he hardly ever got into the thick of it if he could help it. It got him called a coward by a few of the Ares kids a couple of times, but they shut up after his methods saved them from a couple of monsters in the woods.

Whatever Annabeth's plan was, it was cut short, as Thorn began to whip his tail towards Percy and the di Angelos, forcing Annabeth to instead knock them out of the way of whatever it was he was shooting them with. The needles zipped harmlessly over their heads, allowing Thalia to get in close with her magic shield, Aegis.

"For Zeus!" she shouted, thrusting her spear at Thorn's head. He snarled and swatted the thing aside. His hand changed into an orange paw with enormous claws that sparked against the Aegis as he slashed. Without the shield, she would've been sliced into several ribbons. As it was, she managed to roll backward and land on her feet.

"C'mon, stand still you alley-cat lookin' bitch..." (Y/N) mumbled to himself, still kneeling behind the treeline. Due to how close they were to the military school still, he didn't want to take a shot unless he was absolutely certain it would kill the bad Doctor and let them escape. Due to how fast and erratically the Doctor was moving, however, he couldn't take such a shot with enough certainty for his liking.

It was then that everyone present heard the sound of a helicopter incoming, causing Dr. Thorn to grin. "Good! You shall meet your new family soon enough, half-bloods!"

He launched another volley of missiles at Thalia, allowing (Y/N) and Percy to get a good look at his tail. It was like that of a scorpion, one bristled with spikes at the tip. The missiles deflected off the Aegis, but the force of the impact was sufficient to knock Thalia to the ground.

Grover sprang forward. He put his reed pipes to his lips and began to play. It was a frantic jig that sounded like a party song from the golden age of piracy. Grass broke through the snow. Within seconds, rope-thick weeds were wrapping around Dr. Thorn's legs, entangling him. (Y/N) grinned, thinking this would finally be his chance to take a shot.

That hope was dashed as Dr. Thorn began to change into his true form. He grew larger until it was finally revealed. His face remained that of a human, but now with the body of a huge lion. His leathery tail whipped deadly thorns in all directions.

"Manticore!" Annabeth yelled, now visible. Her magic Yankees cap had come off when she'd tackled the di Angelos and Percy.

"Who are you people?" Bianca demanded. "And what is that?"

"A manticore?" Nico gasped. "He's got three thousand attack power and plus five to saving throws!"

(Y/N) heard none of this, still trying to line up the shot. Through his scope, he could see the Manticore smack Grover with its tail, causing the satyr to land in a heap next to Percy.

"Yield!" the Manticore roared.

"Never!" Thalia responded from across the field. She charged at the monster, and for a second, everyone present thought she would run it through. However, there was a thunderous noise and a blaze of light from the helicopter, which had finally arrived in engagement range. The searchlights on it blinded Thalia, causing her to miss. The manticore swatted it away with its tail. Aegis flew off into the snow, her spear flying in the opposite direction.