Legacy of Asgard

Anywhere But Here

Ch.29

Reyna looked at the son of Thor and a nervous chill pulsed through her body. Since she had known him, through their journey to Tartarus and back, Percy had hardly batted an eye at whatever danger was thrown at them. But right now, as he stood with the most powerful weapon in the world clutched tightly in his hand, he looked absolutely terrified. The fact he was terrified told her she should probably be feeling the same way.

"Percy, what is it?"

He didn't respond right away; instead he just stared across the bridge as if he were waiting for confirmation that his greatest fear was coming to pass.

"It... It's.... It's not possible. She couldn't. This can't be right." He muttered but it seemed he was talking to himself more than her or Zoë.

Zoë grabbed his arm which still shook slightly, "Perseus," she said in a firm and commanding tone. "What is it?"

He didn't have to answer as the shrieking of monsters drew Zoë's eyes across the bridge. Monsters screamed and tried to scramble away as a gigantic wolf, bigger than a dump truck; at least twenty feet in height and three times as long stalked its way through the monsters. It seemed to get annoyed with the monsters in its way and snatched a half-dozen of them in its jaws, turning them into dust with a quick crunch of its teeth.

Sleek black fur covered the beast's body as it towered over the other monsters. Even the biggest Cyclopes and giants in the Titan army cowered in fear of the beast. Its red eyes shined with intelligence as it moved its gaze down the bridge until it those glowing red eyes landed on Percy.

A look of recognition appeared on its face as the monster barred its massive teeth and glowered across the bridge at the son of Thor.

"Run," Percy whispered. Both girls looked at him confused as he finally snapped out of his daze. "RUN!" He yelled with such authority both females backed up a step. "Run and get as far away from this place as you can. That is your only hope, run!"

"What about you?" Reyna demanded noticing he was not making any move to retreat.

He shook his head, "I cannot flee. It is here for me. This is my destiny, I can't run away from this."

Both Zoë and Reyna looked at him with disbelief, "We're not going to leave you."

"You have to!" He growled. "If you don't, all those you brought to this battle will die as well. Lead them to safety or else they will all die."

"Percy," Reyna asked looking across the bridge fearfully, "what is that?"

His face was still pale but his arms no longer shook as the monster just stared across the bridge at him, waiting for him to answer the challenge.

"It is the bane of the All-Father, the monstrous spawn of Loki and one of the harbingers of the Ragnarök; the mighty wolf Fenrir." His voice sounded hollow but he swallowed the lump in his throat and stood taller, "Please, if either of you have ever trusted me, you must do as I ask. Get these people far away from here."

"But you'll die." Reyna choked a little on her words but managed to get them out.

"Perhaps," Percy agreed but voice was more confident than it had been, "but if I am worrying about those I care about, I will have no chance of defeating the beast. The only chance I have is doing this alone."

Zoë grabbed Reyna's arm and pulled her back. She tried to wrench her hand free but when she met Zoë's eyes, a silent understanding passed between the two. Reyna turned around and looked at her fearful troops, "Fall back! In the name of Jupiter, fall back now!"