Don't Fall (PJO FF)

20.) Chasing Chipmunks

C H A P T E R  T W E N T Y

NICO

He looked different than normal. Not physically but just the way he held himself. He seemed more...relaxed but still aware of everything around him. And his eyes were brighter. He also looked a bit happier. Like he finally let go of all the things that were weighing him down.

"Hey, guys." I turned to see Annabeth walking toward us. "Want some help?"

"Sure, why not. We don't need a crazy werewolf to go off and rip limbs off people," Leo said happily.

"He won't...actually rip their limbs off, right?"

The pack shared a look. "If we stop him quick enough," they all said in unison. I stared at them, a little creeped out. I looked at Will to see that he was the same way.

Leo grinned. "How about we follow the wolf, yeah?"

I turned around to see Percy walking toward the woods. We all run after him and he comes to a complete stop, smelling the air.

"This better not be a game of tag. He's too fast for his own good," complains Leo.

Percy turns around and steps toward Hazel. He nudged her hand with his nose. Hazel smiles and smooths down the fur on his head. "He wants to play."

"Play?"

"Yes!" Leo exclaims. He shifts into a wolf and runs to Percy.

"He's going to get himself killed." Calypso mumbles, putting a hand to her head. "Leo, remember. When fighting Percy, do not go towards Nico. You have a habit of getting pushed back to us."

Leo's ears twitched as he continued to walk to Percy. He started to walk around Percy, his multiple shades of brown fur fluffing up a little bit. Percy growled and his fur bristled. He stalked towards Leo until Leo jumped towards Percy. The darker wolf dodged out of the way and Leo quickly turned back around to face Percy.

They growled at each other for a few seconds before they lunged at each other, using teeth and claws to try to pin the other down on the grass.

"Twenty drachma Percy wins." Hazel smiles. The other pack members look at her.

"No one is going against you in that Haze," Frank says. They all look back to the fight, Percy bites into Leo's hind leg. Leo then twists out of Percy's grip with a growl.

"Just look at him. He used to practice fighting with his mom whenever he could between getting all scarred up. And Sally was a great fighter."

Will stared at Frank in disbelief. "Sally? She doesn't look like a fighter at all."

The pack nodded, eyes still on the fight in front of them. "She was sweet and nice and so caring. But she could also be mean and scary. She was one of the best. There were only a few others that could beat her, but even then they had a hard time doing so."

"No wonder he's so good."

Hazel smiles and then winced when Percy gets kicked in the stomach but gets right back up and charges again.

"Sally was teaching Percy ever since he was a cute little pup. There are pictures at his house you really need to see."

Pictures of a tiny wolf pup that is actually a werewolf? Sounds pretty great in my eyes.