UnTamed [Book 3]

It's Barking Mad Part II

Hey y’all!  All three trailers for UnKnown, UnStoppable, and UnTamed are posted on the tumblr blog. Message me if you would like the link :) Okay, unfortunately, you were three reviews short of getting that one-liner that’s going to happen in a far off chapter.  HOWEVER, the offer still stands.  Once a chapter gets ten reviews, I’ll post that one-liner.  Now, without further ado, here’s the next chapter :) 

Chapter Quote:

“If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and man.” 

~Mark Twain

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Chapter 8: It’s Barking Mad Part II

Luke 

When his dad had said the three demigods were going to think the ride was ‘barking mad,’ Luke thought it was just a saying.  He didn’t realize that his dad’s plan actually involved riding a hell hound.  At first, when Mr. Jackson showed up, he didn’t have anything with him.  But he ushered his kids and Derek into the Poseidon cabin and shut the door.

“Most kids won’t take kindly to this ride, at least not at first.  Ready?” Percy said, grinning.  He gave a loud, sharp, taxi whistle.  A few seconds later, a black, shaggy dog, the size of a tank flashed into view.  It bounded up to Percy and licked him incessantly on the face.

“That’s- that’s a-” Silena began.

“Hellhound,” Derek finished.

“Down girl, down!” Percy laughed, gently pushing the hellhound away.  He ordered her to sit; she listened, her tail thumping loudly on the wooden floor. “Kids, this is Mrs. O’Leary, my pet hellhound.”

“Your pet hellhound,” Luke repeated.

“Dad, didn’t you almost get killed by one when you were twelve?” Silena pointed out.

“Yeah, but that’s when I had a super evil titan trying to kill me.  Anyways, this is your ride.  She listens to whatever I say, and if I tell her to listen to you, she will.  What do you say?  You brave enough to ride a hellhound?”

“Hey there girl,” Derek greeted, holding out his hand hesitantly for her to smell.  Mrs. O’Leary gave one sniff before giving his hand a big slobbery kiss.  He laughed and started stroking her.  She threw herself on the ground, rolling onto her back so he could scratch her belly.

“As you can tell, she loves people as long as they’re not trying to kill her or me or anyone that is my family.” Luke started laughing as Mrs. O’Leary began licking his leg.  Both he and Silena knelt down and pet her. “She loves you three.”

“I think that’s because she’s getting pets,” Luke remarked. “Thanks for the ride dad.  I don’t have any qualms about this at all.”

“Qualms?” Silena mused.

“It means-”

“I know what it means, I just didn’t know you did.”

“Oh shut it.”

“Don’t kill each other you two.  Derek, I’m giving you that task while you’re away.  I have some business at the company to take care of so please don’t make me regret helping you in this.  By the way, I suggest not telling your mother.  I may not have told her you were going to London.”

“Uh, why?” Silena demanded.

“She has a lot of stuff going on between work and worrying about you guys and… well, it’s just been a lot.  If you need anything, let me know.  Give me a call, okay?  And a warning, travelling that far with three of you, it’s going to wear her out pretty badly.  You’ll need to give Mrs. O’Leary two or three days to recuperate, all right?  And when you need her, just give a good old taxi whistle.  Now, good luck and don’t get killed.” Percy hugged the kids bye and left the cabin.