The Gods Punishment

Chapter 3

As night fell Hound lit a fire and heated up some canned food and the group ate. "Okay..." Hound pulled her hood and scarf up. She picked Cece up, using some rope to keep Cece on her back. She picked up a flaming piece of firewood getting charcoal on her hands. "Three..." she started to count watching the dogs get ready and Ghost get ready. She left the rest of the fire blazing to distract the beast. "Two..." she looked to the beast, glaring at it under the light of the moon. "One!" She threw the piece of wood right past the beast and it looked to it. They started to run Ghost and Diana leading the charge. The beast screeched attacking the wood. Bashing it several times burning it's feet before reaching it's head in the sky and letting out a terrifying roar releasing a snowstorm. The thick snow was so hard to see in Hound lost Ghost and Diana. "Ghost!" She yelled out. She thought she heard Ghost in the distance but the highs winds made it difficult to hear where he was. Luna grabbed onto Hound's leg trying to keep close.

Hound reached into the side pocket of her bag trying to find something, using her new powers to find a way out of here. She thought for a while, hands shaking. Hound's heart raced, hands still covered in charcoal shaking. She stopped, trying to think, Luna stood by Hound trying to get her to move. But Hound was frozen in place trying to think, her hands shook. She heard the beast screech again, the beast thrashing, the snow getting more violent, Hound clenched her hands putting it to her ears, closing her eyes. "Stop!" She screamed shaking her head her voice sounded louder than usual, and in that moment, everything did stop. Hound opened her eyes, looking around, the snowstorm had stopped, the beast had stopped mid movement a yellow tinge on the beast. Hound looked to Ghost who was staring at her and Diana who ran to her licking her face.

"What... was that?" He asked helping Hound up.

Hound looked down at her hands, the charcoal and ash was glowing yellow. "I... don't know, come on we have to leave!"

"Not so fast," a voice behind them said. Standing there was a young man, he was beautiful and clad in nice golden clothing, he held a basket of food Diana and Luna started to growl at him standing in front of Hound and Ghost to protect them. "What are you kids trying to do?" He demanded.

"You're Apollo," Hound spoke softly, she recognised him, he was so much more beautiful in person.

He laughed. "Sure am kiddo," he said. "Now answer."

"We're looking for one of the lost artefacts, we heard it might be nearby..." Ghost explained afraid.

Apollo glared at them. But then he brightened up. "Well glad to see mortals are finally brave enough to try." He laughed. "Well good luck getting the other 5." Apollo handed Ghost the basket of food. Apollo then pet Cece's hair and looked to Hound. He lent down to look her in the eye. "That little trick of yours will save you a lot, but don't go using it so recklessly." He then tapped Hound's nose laughing. "Good luck, oh and kid..." he looked to Ghost. "Sorry for hitting you in the leg."

Apollo then disappeared. Leaving the three alone. "Other... 5?" Hound asked.

"That implies we have one already, and we haven't even retrieved Billowing Pass'." Ghost looked at the basket.

"He's..." Hound looked to Ghost. "Interesting."

The two looked at each other. "Let's just go."

Both Hound and Ghost got going, Ghost took Cece from Hound. And eventually they reached a shed covered in snow. Ghost opened the shed, revealing a group of snow bikes. Ghost threw Hound a key. "I thought we were going to rest?" Hound asked.

 "We can't rest, the beast is too close, let's get going!" Ghost told her, Hound rolled her eyes but got on a bike attaching a sidecar letting the dogs sit in. Ghost attached one to his letting Cece sit in.