DownPour

Medal of Honour

Continuation of Puppy

Percy blinked awake, raising his head to look around. He yawned and stretched, displaying his sharp canines to any who dared to look. He shook like a wet dog, rising to his full height of around five feet tall. And then a black panther dropped to the ground in front of him.

Percy yelped, hopping back in surprise. There weren't any panthers in Louisiana, right? It took a moment for him to recognise the yellow-silver eyes watching him in amusement. "Artemis, what are you doing?"

"Scaring you. It has the perk of entertaining myself as well." The goddess bared her teeth in way of laughter and shifted back into her human form, prompting him to do the same.

"I'm guessing you have a reason for being here? You said yourself that it was too risky with your huntresses," Percy asked.

Artemis nodded. "I did, and it still is. I've been training you for two months and I think you're ready for your first . . . test, we'll call it."

Percy cocked his head. "I'm not following. Test?"

"There's a runaway demigoddess around fifteen miles west of here," Artemis said. "She's being chased by five to ten dracaena. I want you to kill the dracaena and deliver the girl to me."

Percy's eyes lit up. "You're serious?"

"Completely." Artemis smiled at him. "I've seen your improvement. You'll be able to handle a few dracaena with ease."

"Alright. When do I leave?"

"As soon as you're ready." Artemis shifted her weight from one foot onto both, preparing to return. "The hunters will be following you after. I'll contact you mentally when we're within a mile of you, and you'll leave the girl while we pick her up."

"I'll be seeing you soon, then," Percy remarked, smirking. "Have fun." With that, he shifted and raced off toward the west.

It took him maybe seven or eight minutes to run the fifteen miles going at a steady speed*, so he was there in no time at all. He figured the hunters would be at least a half hour behind him, less so when he started reversing, so he had time. His nose easily picked up the scent of dracaena, learnt from witnessing the huntresses kill many, and followed the smell out of the woods into some small countryside town. There was a convenience store, a restaurant, a gas station and a few other small shops but Percy paid no attention to those.

There was a young girl, maybe thirteen or fourteen, running along the side of the road. She was obviously exhausted, unable to run very fast and the dracaena were only a few metres behind her. Percy raced toward the monsters, leaping at the first one and tearing out its throat. The other dracaena, seven more of then, eyed him oddly. "Werewolf," one rasped. "Why do you attack? Help ussss kill thissss demigod sssscum." The girl had stopped, watching him with hopeful eyes.

"You know, I would," Percy drew out, "but what reason do I have to kill her?"

"Demigodssssss are our enemiessssss," the dracaena hissed. "Kill or be killed."

"Are you so sure?" Percy asked with mock suspicion. "I've been travelling with a goddess for the past two months and she's taught me more than Lycaon ever did. I trust her more than I trust you." In a second, the speaking dracaena was dead and Percy was lunging at another.

He easily dodged their hits. The dracaena didn't work well together and all wanted the glory of the kill so it wasn't hard to just rip out each individual throat. "Mercy! Pleassssse!"

"Like the mercy you would've given the girl?" Percy snarled. "I don't think so." Then she was only a sprinkle of dust on the pavement.

Percy turned towards the girl, who was shaking in her shoes. She had long white hair and icy blue eyes that were wide in fear. "What - what are you?" She stuttered. "Are you a monster too?"

"I am," Percy said, "But don't worry, I'm here to help you."

"You're a giant wolf," she said. "How can you talk?"

"I'm not just a super-wolf," Percy smirked. His body began to curl in on itself, rearranging bones and adjusting his build. Then he stood as a human in front of the girl. She gasped, stumbling back. "Don't be afraid," Percy soothed, raising his hands up. "I'm not going to hurt you."

"You're - you're a werewolf," she gaped. Percy nodded. "Aren't werewolves bad?"

"Most, yes," Percy answered. "I'm probably the only werewolf you'll meet that won't want to kill you, so don't trust any other werewolf. Can I ask your name?"

"I'm Krystal," she muttered.

"Krystal," Percy repeated. "Pleasure to meet you. My name's Percy. I'm here to take you to someone who can help you."

"Who?" Krystal asked quietly.

"First, you know about the Greek gods, right?" Percy asked. She nodded. "They're real. All of them. So are, as you've noticed, the monsters. You're a demigod."

Krystal was silent for a while, her jaw dropped open in astonishment. She regathered herself after a minute. "You're serious? Who's my parent?"

"Well, which parent were you missing?" Percy asked.

Krystal soured immediately. "I lived with my dad."

"Then your mom's a goddess," Percy replied. "Which one, we'll have to wait and see. Now come. I'll take you to safety."

"Who are you taking me to?" Krystal asked again.

"The goddess Artemis," the werewolf answered, leading her back into the woods. "She keeps a group of girls called her hunters with her. They swear off love and are her hunting companions. In return, she grants then partial immortality and protection from men seeking to harm them."

"So I'll get to stay with them?" Krystal questioned.

"Artemis will ask for you to join her hunt," Percy responded. "It's your choice whether you accept or not."

"If it's only girls, then why are you doing this?"

"I have my reasons," Percy told her. He recognised Artemis mentally signalling him to leave the area. "Now, don't mention me to any of the hunters. If you must, ask Artemis in private. Now stay here. The hunters will find you."

"Wait," Krystal called, but Percy had already been replaced by a wolf bounding into the brush. Then she was alone in the woods, no sound but her own breathing. Until a group of girls in all silver suddenly dropped from the trees around her.

"Welcome," said a young girl, stepping forward. Her hair was auburn and her eyes shone silver like the moon. "I am Artemis, goddess of the hunt. Who may you be?"

Percy watched the exchange from a distance. He remembered that firm, professional tone, the way she stood up tall and stiff. She used to be like that around him until he managed to prove to her that he truly was on her side. Since then, she'd warmed up to him much faster than she was before. She always held that tough mask up to others, and he noticed she kept it up even with her hunters. It made him wonder what made her so comfortable around him.

A silver glow appeared around Krystal and the hunters whisked her away back towards their camp. Artemis stayed though, looking over towards him. A smile appeared on her face and she nodded to him. Percy smiled back and returned the gesture. Artemis turned to follow her hunters while Percy threw back his head and howled up to the gods.

Artemis heard his howl and her smile returned, soft and hesitant. Something about him was just so odd but she loved him for it.

He really was different.

* - The average wolf can run at about 25 mph casual pace. Percy is larger and more powerful, so his casual pace would most likely be much faster. I booted it up to 40 mph.

Any ideas for the prompt Epilepsy? What about Manatee Appreciation? I'd love to hear your ideas, no matter what they are! Perhaps I'll use one!