𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐔𝐌 • Heroes of Olympus

XIX

Jason

𝐉𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍 might or might not have seen an ostrich before. He didn't know. His memories were on vacation. But even with his amnesia, Jason was pretty sure he'd never seen an ostrich of the kind he was facing now.

Coach Hedge's trusty nose had brought the three questing demigods to an alley about two blocks away from the café. They didn't see a demigod there, but "trouble" stood right before them in the form of a red-eyed, steel-beaked, razor-winged ostrich with legs covered in barbed wire and an armored neck. Jason pulled Andy and Leo behind a dumpster.

"What even is that thing?" Leo muttered, clutching his hammer tightly.

"Shhh, you'll give us away," Jason whispered, leaning out to get a look at the thing.

The ostrich seemed to be guarding the fire escape opposite the dumpster. But as it picked and clawed at the metal stairs, Jason realized it was waiting for something.

"I've never heard of a monster like this before," Andy mumbled, her glossy red lips—courtesy of Apollo—pursed in thought.

"That's because it's not a monster," Coach Hedge replied. The satyr wasn't pleased with having to stay hidden, and he made it clear.

"What do you mean?" Andy asked.

"That's an actual ostrich," Coach Hedge said. "But it can be just as bad as any monster. That thing's made to be a killing machine."

"Then why isn't it killing us?" Leo stole a quick glance at the ostrich.

Hedge scoffed. "Obviously, it's after someone else. I could easily take it down right now."

"I'm with Hedge," Andy said.

Jason would've liked to believe the Coach, but the ostrich was fully armored. There was no visible chink in the armor. The only open spot was the head, and Jason doubted Hedge could reach there with his five-feet height.

"We need a plan first," he insisted.

"You guys go ahead and plan," Andy said. "I'll be right back."

Before Jason could protest, she stepped out, conjuring a knife made of light. Noticing the shiny new target, the ostrich turned. Jason didn't really see what happened. One moment, the ostrich was charging at Andy, screeching. The next moment, the light knife sprouted from its head. It let out a strangled noise, stumbled once, and fell onto the ground, blood leaking from its head.

"Gross," Leo said.

"I couldn't even whack it once," Hedge complained.

The sound of feet slapping on metal drew their attention to the fire escape stairs. A dark-haired boy ran down, looking utterly fazed.

"You- you killed it," he breathed out. His voice was husky, either from lack of use or the onset of puberty. "The knife was- it was glowing. Who are you?"

"We're most certainly related to one of your parents," Andy said.

The boy, who might've been about thirteen, gave Andy a weird look.

"You have a very—uh—bold fashion sense," he said.

Leo snorted. Andy gave the boy a tight smile.

"I'm Jason." Jason stepped forward. "This is Andy. This is Leo. And this is Coach Hedge. We're here to help you."

"Help?" The boy frowned. "I don't even know any of you."

"It doesn't matter kid," Coach Hedge said. "You'll know soon enough."

The boy's eyes narrowed. "Is this a kidnapping?"