Percy Jackson: Trials

2

I woke up in a cave that was lit by torches. A little cliche if you ask me. I was cold, my teeth chattering and my breath right in front of me. I guess if I die I'll be able to see my last breathe. Will I ever even get a break from these trials? I heard a low growl, it was close. I gulped and grabbed Riptide and uncapped it. I turned in circles until my eyes landed on a big gold lion. It's eyes were so dark it could make Hades jealous. It's lips were so pink that they would rival Aphrodite's lipstick. It's teeth stuck out, and if I was correct, there was blood dripping from them. I could smell the heavy scent of rotting corpses and my eyes scanned the room, finding blood all over. I gulped. The Nemean Lion.

It bared it's teeth and got into a lunging position. I'm a threat. I put Riptide away.

"Hey, hey. I'm not here to fight." I said, raising my hands. I approached it. Stupid tv shows, making me believe that this stuff actually works. I heard it give a questioning snort. "You're not as mean as they say, they call you a monster, so you act like one. You hurt all these innocents, trying to get them to notice you, but they only think your a monster." I said to it. It walked to me hesitantly.

"I'm getting treated the same way. My name is Perseus, disowned son of Poseidon, disowned son of Sally Jackson, ex hero of Olympus. I'm a shell of my former self. I know you. On my first quest, you ran, you were free, you want to be free again, don't you?" I asked, walking to it. I let my hand out, as if asking permission. It nodded its head and leaned its head against my hand. My eyes widened, but I pet the lion anyways. I smiled.

"We don't need to be treated like animals, we deserve to be treated with respect, I can promise you freedom, and respect, but you have to trust me." I said and it nodded. I was shocked. This creature is so intelligent. "You're pretty smart, you know? Are you a girl?" I asked and it growled in protest. "Boy?" I asked and it nodded.

"What do you want your name to be?" I asked. It walked away, and brought a recently killed boy. The lion was guilty and knew that he shouldn't have killed the boy. I nodded. I grabbed something from his pocket. Hercules. The boy shared the name with the spawn of Zeus. "Hercules?" I asked and it nodded. I moved it's head, as if it were telling me to come. I followed. We walked for a minute until we entered a secluded area of the cave. There was another Nemean Lion, but it was dying. There, on the wall, written in blood was, I want to die a noble death. They knew someone would come and give this dying Lion the last chance to fight. I nodded.

"You want to die a worriers death? I'll give it to you." I promised. It got up and the newly named Hercules backed away, where it wouldn't get into the fight. The new Lion was about a foot taller than the other one, which was 14 feet. This was a solid 15 foot tall Nemean Lion. I knew the skin was impenetrable. I thanked the fates that I watched the movie Hercules, not the cartoon but, well you get the idea. I had to snap it's jaw. It approached me, and I brought out Riptide, trying to fool it. I ran at it and hopped on its back and it tried to buck me off. It opened its jaw wide and I took that as my chance. I jumped off and grabbed the top with one hand and the bottom with the other hand. I felt immense pain in one hand, but I snapped it's jaw.

I looked at my one had, and it wasn't there. I grabbed my hand and it automatically put into a bag with ice, freezing the hand. My breath was shaking so badly. Hercules noticed and licked the stub of my hand, and it stopped the bleeding almost instantly. I gave Hercules the Lion a grateful smile. I looked at the blood that was on the wall, and it didn't say the same thing it did before. It now said, you killed me, now you may take my pelt. Sorry for your hand. I smiled. A blade sat on a shelf, and there sat a blade. I suddenly knew it was indestructible. I picked it up and skinned the Lion. I cleaned it with the pond of water that was in the room. The flesh and guts were off of my new Lion pelt. I put it on, and I felt powerful, even if I only have one hand. I hopped onto Hercules.

We ran and ran in the trees. Hopping over logs and bushes. I now understood why Hercules loved this, it was freedom. I never understood that word before, I thought freedom was not having to do as told, or not having anyone have to, but no. It's pure relaxation and not having to be limited. I felt the wind in my face as we ran at unimaginable speeds.

"Perseus!" I heard a yell. Hercules stopped and sniffed the air. I knew the voice. Artemis.

"Artemis, I figure your here to pick me up and have my trials continued I said.

"I was hunting this Nemean Lion for centuries, now I get to kill it." She said, drawing out her bow. I got off and stood in front of him.

"You are not killing my friend." I said, bringing out my new sword. "I did my trial of killing a Nemean Lion." I said, showing off the cloak I skinned myself.

"You are not its friend. It's an enemy to everyone." She growled at me. Hercules growled and was ready to lunge and her. I put my hand on its back, calming him down.

"You are the goddess of the hunt, correct? But also of the hills, a friend to animals and creatures. This Lion is misunderstood, and he wanted freedom and respect, not confinement and hatred. His name is Hercules, friend of Perseus Jackson." I said, I stabbed my old sword, Riptide into the ground.

"I, Perseus Jackson, return Riptide to its rightful owner, Zoë Nightshade." I said and it changed into a hair clip and shimmered away, undoubtedly going to the stars.

"Run." I told Hercules and he listened, but not before licking the stub of my hand again.

"I lost something, fighting the Lion. I lost my hand. And, if there is a chance to get it sewn back on, I will take that chance. Flash me to Olympus and get my hand back. I said, raising my left arm to show her. She nodded and I closed my eyes. A moment later I was back at Olympus and I really wished I ran away with my new friend.

"Well Percy-" Zeus started.

"Perseus. Perseus is my birth name and I shall wear it with pride, not shame." I said, raising my hand to stop him from talking. I saw people's eyes widened in shock. Not everyone knew my real name, but now they do. I'm no longer ashamed of my name, if Hercules could right his wrongs, I could wear my name proudly. Hercules regrets his killings, so I will no longer hide the only thing that makes me, me.

"Perseus, you did well, I guess. Tamed a Lion and killed one. Apollo, attach his hand back on if you can." If you can. The words replayed in my mind. What if Apollo can't? I shook my head. I gave Apollo my unattached hand that was frozen.

"Your brave, Perseus, wear you name like you wear your new skin." Apollo said after he fixed my hand.

"Two weeks, you have a two week break. Every two trials, you get a two week break. Be grateful traitor, don't waste this time, you never know which trial you will die on." Zeus said and I was flashed away. I knew what I was going to do