After the End of the World: A Reyna Story

Chapter 6: We Actually Do Something

I drew my sword as I closer to the monster. All I'd have to do with both Hazel and Andy distracting it is kill it. One well-placed slash and all it would be is dust.

But the monster was lightning fast.

It must have sensed my presence because it whirled around and stared me straight in the face. It's black eyes were locked on mine. I looked down and saw it's hind legs crouched like it was about to pounce.

I fell to the ground not a moment too soon. I rolled as the monster leaped over me, barely scraping by.

"Get it!" One of the goddesses shrieked as the leucrocota made its way straight to the largest crowd of gods.

I huffed and stood.

"Come on. Attack plan Bonanza."

We all knew what that meant, even Andy. For a while, Frank had binge watched this series called "Bonanza" about some dad and his three sons living on a ranch out west during and after the American Civil War.

Hazel had endlessly laughed about this (though she never joked him in front of anyone but our friends), and soon enough an attack plan was made out of it. It was meant for three people to be like all three of those sons, and each do their own thing while working together for a common goal.

We all three charged at the leucrocota. Hazel used the Mist to cause the ground underneath the monster to fall. Dozens of gods fell with it, but they climbed out quickly, and Andy went around helping those who couldn't.

And me? Well, I was really dramatic, though I'm not sure if that's just what the situation called for, or if I was just trying to impress Adonis.

I ran to the pit and leaped into the air once I reached the edge. I landed on the leucrocota's bucking back and plunged my sword into the monster.

It disintegrated beneath me and I fell to the ground. The leftover dust clung to my sweaty skin and it made my dirty, yet still beautiful dress glitter even more.

Hazel manipulated the Mist so that I was back on level ground.

All of the gods were standing around Hazel, Andy, and me. The three of us moved so we all stood in a mini-triangle. We were back to back with our shoulders touching.

Suddenly, the crowds parted and Adonis walked through.

His blue eyes were stormy, almost a gray color.

"We need to talk."

A cold chill ran through my body. Something was happening. Something more than just this leucrocota. And Adonis knew about it.

Andy's eyes were wide with shock and fear of being caught.

"It's okay," I breathed to them. I walked forward to Adonis and let Hazel and Andy follow me.

They didn't leave my side.

"Go back to your party. I'll take care of this."

That's when I noticed the gentle hum of the gods talking to each other. They had been whispering and creating a noise as dangerous as electricity.

The gods all looked shaken up, but most of them started to shakily dance and eat again.

Except one. Of course.

She had red-blonde hair and hazel eyes. She was pretty, but not in an outstanding way. She ran up to Adonis and tapped on his arm.

"Adonis!" she had a very sing-song voice.

"Phoebe." he huffed. Adonis was quite annoyed. He'd obviously been bothered by her before.

"I think I can help with your little problem," she was a little awkward, which was odd for a goddess, because I thought gods would always choose to look not-awkward.

"Then come on, and don't say a word."

Adonis led Phoebe, Andy, Hazel, and me into the maze of the recently-destroyed hedges.

We were led far from the lights and music. As we walked farther and farther away from the gods, I realized how dark it was. The sun had totally set and the stars were glinting in the sky.

I noticed a bright constellation that seemed to shine more than the others. It was of a huntress- a girl with a bow in her hand ready to fire. It had appeared in the sky when I was fourteen, and I'd always loved it. The girl seemed so brave and powerful. She seemed to be watching me and protecting me.

I felt like she could help me through anything. Heartache, loss, fear- she had always been with me. She could have been my twin.

Although, I've always wondered her story. Who was she? How did she gain her place in the the sky amongst the stars?

"Reyna," Adonis had stopped. "If that's even your name."

His beautiful face was harsh.

"It is," I said, half proud, half meek.

"Then Reyna, you must know something. After Gaea's waking, great and terrible monsters have begun to stir. The gods ignore it, and demigods are unaware of it, but it is true. We must go to Olympus and tell the Council ourselves. And we must chase the most dangerous creature of them all before it reaches Olympus and destroys everything we hold dear."