Annabeth Chase and the Titan's Curse

Chapter 7 - The Hunters kick manticore butt

Percy made a strange oomph sound as I rugby-tackled him, sending him and the di Angelos sprawling into the snow. As I crashed on top of them, I felt the air ripple above my head as Dr Thorn's missiles zipped past harmlessly.

My cap fell off from the impact and the di Angelos screamed as they saw me suddenly appear above them, but we weren't out of danger yet. I disentangled myself from Percy and looked back to see Thalia charging Thorn, spear at the ready and Aegis bared. A shiver ran down my spine at seeing Medusa's face set into the shield's surface and even Dr Thorn, as strong as he was, shivered on seeing it.

"For Zeus!" Thalia screamed, lunging froward with her spear.

It was a perfect strike, but Thorn managed to swat it aside with his now orange paw before it could hit him in the head. His paw sprouted claws and he struck at Thalia, who took it on her shield, sending sparks flying. The force knocked her backward, but she executed a perfect roll and was back on her feet and charging back again in seconds.

I could hear the helicopter coming in behind us, but I didn't dare take my eyes off the battle. What was Thorn?

Beside me Percy was watching them just as intently, his face strained and his hand reaching for his pocket. The girl, Bianca, was trying to cover her brother's face, but he was peeking through her fingers to watch the fight with rapture.

Thorn whipped his tail so another volley of missiles were launched at Thalia, who managed to duck behind Aegis. The shield repelled the attack, but was knocked back, sending Thalia crashing to the ground.

Before Thorn could take advantage of her vulnerability, Grover put his reed pipes to his lips and began to play. It sounded like a pirate jig, something that made you want to dance. The grass seemed to think so for sprouts burst out of the snow and wrapped themselves around Thorn's legs, moving upwards.

Thorn roared in anger and began to change to his natural form. He grew larger, all his hands and feet morphed into paws and his body became that of a massive lion. Only his face remained unchanged, but hideous as he bellowed.

I recognized him now. And I wish I didn't.

"A manticore!" I said, still sitting beside Percy in the snow.

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

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

I didn't have a clue as to what he was taking about, nor did I have time to think about it. In his manticore form, Thorn was able to shred through Grover's plants easily, then turned to us and arched his tail.

"Get down!" I screamed, throwing myself back onto the di Angelos, knocking them back down into the snow. Even flat, I felt that we had no hope, but there was a few metal zings rather than the agony of being pierced.

I sat up cautiously to see Percy crouching before us, a big bronze shield held up. I recognized it as the shield Tyson, his Cyclops half-brother, had made for him. It doubled as a watch and it was engraved with scenes from our adventures in the Sea of Monsters, not that those were the happiest times we'd had.

The spikes had dented it badly, punching through occasionally and warping the metal. It didn't look too good and I hoped that Thorn wasn't going to shoot another volley any time soon. It didn't look like the shield could take it.

Grover yelped as he was thrown into the snow beside us, rubbing his horns sorrowfully. I peeked around Percy's shield to see Thorn glaring at us, tail raised expectantly.