8 Rained In (2/2)

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He felt as if he was getting close to his destination, or at least within proximity. Chion had been running for what felt like ages, though that tended to happen when monsters were riding his coattails the entire way through.

A good indication that he was approaching his checkpoint was how frantic the monsters were behaving, moving all over the place, letting out snarls and frustrated growls. The rhino sized behemoths would also make various attempts to lash out, trying to blind side the youth without him taking any notice. It was very clear they weren't too fond of the idea surrounding the clothed Greek Fire arrows because the moment Chion so much as glimpsed their attempted approach, they would immediately take evasive action. One of them had even disappeared in its entirety, as if melding into the shadows themselves.

If Chion hadn't seen a man disappear in a literal puff of smoke yesterday and fought a sentient mechanical bull, he probably would have been quite amazed.

Now, it was just a nuisance. If the beasts could use that move to avoid being hit by an arrow, then he would be up a creek without a paddle.

Luckily, it was reasonable to assume such an outcome was unlikely. If they could meld into the shadows repeatedly without consequence as the beast had shown, then he wouldn't even be alive. They could just travel through whatever medium was needed and reappear behind the white-haired youth, take his life, and call it a day. The car sized canines were afraid of the arrows because they had no way to get past them without taking a massive hit, meaning the shadow travel gimmick must come at a cost. It also affirmed that these beasts COULD die and feel pain. Otherwise, why would they even fear the explosions.

With every move taken, every step towards his own desired safety, Chion took note of his findings. Every arrow shot. Every move made by the beasts. None of it was missed.

It was all analyzed and noted for future use.

He wasn't beating them today. Especially not in a three versus one scenario where the terrain and weather were actively working against him. But, if he escaped and ran into them again, he would need the information to employ proper countermeasures. Chion couldn't run the tests he wanted, such as skin density, available powers, and physical capabilities, but it wasn't like he was going to run up and ask them to cooperate.

Fwip! BOOM!

Leasing another bolt, the youth sent it spiraling into the exposed shoulder of one of the beasts, finally managing to hit one dead on after it wandered in too close. It howled in pain and tried to fight off the flames but eventually collapsed. It didn't get back up again, it's body covered in brilliant green tendrils.

(("That's five. One more left.")) Chion didn't let the death of one beast cloud his goal or his decision making. He kept it pushing. (("They don't know how much I have. But they'll be desperate to do something soon."))

Right on cue, moments after the death of their fellow canine, the other two rushed in simultaneously, starting a worst-case scenario. They came from opposite ends, snarls of rage erupting from their throats as they rapidly closed the distance.

(("Damn!!")) Chion reached into his hoodie pocket. (("I have no choice."))

Fwip! Fwip! Fwip!

Arrows, similar to the ones resting in Chions backpack, pierced through the stormy forest, sinking into the muddy ground by the beasts feet. More arrows soon followed the first wave, forcing the demonic hounds to halt their charge and quickly back up to avoid being struck down. They weren't too happy about it, biting the air towards Chion, but it appeared they weren't stupid, giving the youth a bit of distance as they looked towards where the projectiles had flown from.

Chion himself took that instance to start running.

"Cut them down!!"

That made the youth halt in his tracks as numerous individuals clad in varying amounts of leather armor charged from the rainy treeline, making themselves known. Wielding weapons such as swords, spears, javelins, and bows, these newcomers looked like real warriors, charging into the fray without a second thought. Chion wasn't sure where these strangers had come from, but he wasn't about to complain as he nocked his last remaining arrow. With the added addition of these weapon clad warriors, pushing back the canines was almost guaranteed.

However, the youth didn't get the chance to do much of anything as the moment the strangers entered the marshy battlefield, the two monsters glared at Chion and immediately fled the scene. They didn't bother to look back.

A cheer rang through the crowd as everyone raised their weapons towards the retreating behemoths, celebrating the victory of a battle they hadn't even truly fought.

Not that Chion cared. He was freed from his assailants and finally able to breathe.

Though wary of the sharp instruments in the hands of his new friends, he didn't believe they would attack him personally, or at least he hoped they wouldn't. He still had an arrow left and a trump card within his hoodie, and humans with swords were nowhere near as dangerous as the beasts had been.

Definitely the easier task between the two.

Kneeling to the ground, Chion began taking out the regular metal tipped arrows and returning them back into the quiver. With the now dangerous clothed arrowhead, he would have to find a place to safely detonate it so as to not get anyone caught in the crossfire. As for the rest of the green liquid he had kept in the jar as a get-out-of-jail free card, the one that was tucked into his hoodie, the youth merely placed it back into the backpack. There was no longer any real need for the explosive flames nor any need for the bow and arrows. As far as Chion was concerned, he had already reached his checkpoint, safety being assured the moment the strangers entered the picture.

"Hey. Are you okay?"

Chion looked up from his work, zipping his backpack and throwing it over his shoulder. Only to nearly fall back onto his knee.

It was the guy from his vision, the one who had talked to the blonde haired girl.

It was unmistakable. The scar starting from the eye, dragging all the way to the chin. The close cropped sandy blonde hair. The blue eyes. It was an exact one to one replica of the teenager he had seen on the pier. If Chion had been skeptical about where he was or if he was in the right place, all traces vanished the moment he realized whom he was talking to. It finally felt as if the young man was on the right track to figuring everything out and piecing together the various mysteries that were plaguing his life.

"I'll be fine." Chion answered the man's question, the Greek Fire arrow held close to his side. "I wasn't injured."

"That's good news. I was afraid we'd be too late." The older teen grinned, giving him a sort of mischievous look. "It's a good thing you held out as long as you did."

"It wasn't easy," Chion admitted. "I had to use up most of my options. I might have been in a tough spot if you hadn't shown up when you did."

"Well, you made yourself quite simple to find luckily. All we had to do was follow the loud explosions." The blonde stranger swiped a band of rainwater from his face and placed hand on his sword. "What were those noises anyways? Hellhounds don't have anything that's that loud."

(("Hellhounds? Those monsters I take it.")) Chion quickly took note. (("He also spoke of them as if there's a bit more than those three. A scary thought."))

In response to the teenagers' question, the white-haired individual held up his arrow, offering it over to the blonde warrior. The man took it carefully, not saying a word as he examined it, from the shaft to the cloth covered point where it was dripping with a mixture of rain water and green liquid. Emotionless, the blonde glanced towards the soaked Chion, blue meeting a brighter neon blue.

"You used Greek Fire," the man correctly concluded. "That's quite clever. Using it to launch explosive arrows is quite creative."

"I did what I had to," Chion responded. It felt useless to brag about it.

The man stared at the youth for a few more seconds before breaking out into a smile, tossing it far backwards. He held out his hand as the arrow exploded. Mud and water were sent in all directions, but the blonde didn't seem to really care, his eyes fixed onto the white-haired individual.

"Luke Castellan."

Tilting his head slightly, the amnesiac hesitated for a few seconds before eventually accepting the outstretched hand. "Chion Pagos."

"Welcome to Camp HalfBlood," Luke said, holding his arms out. "Safe haven for Demigods. You can tell us about your journey later. For now, let's get out of this rain. Do you have any fresh clothes in that bag?"

(("Demigods? Camp HalfBlood?")) More foreign terms that Chion would have to decipher as he went along. (("More crucial information I know nothing about."))

"I used up my last outfit to make the fire bombs," Chion replied. "I had more but....I had a situation."

"Monster attack?"

"Pretty much." Chion shrugged.

Luke nodded as if he expected as much. "If you know what size you are, I'll fetch you something you can wear. Do you know who your parents are?"

"I have parents?" Chion asked.

Luke laughed. "I ask myself the same question. But how about a demigod? Do you know what that is?"

"Based on the wording of it, I guess it's a half god?" Chion touched his chin as he properly thought about it. "You asked who my parents are as well. Are you trying to tell me that that's what I am? Half god?"

Luke looked a little surprised, but he nodded. "You're quick on the uptake. But yeah, you're a demigod. Though we just call them Half-Bloods."

(("Demigods. Also known as Half-Bloods, the same name as the camp we're at right now. A camp made specifically for Demigods?")) Chion watched as Luke motioned for the rest of the warriors to start heading back. (("It would definitely make sense, hence what Festus said."))

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"If you go straight from this spot, you'll find a large Pine tree about half a mile into the woods. Pass that, and you'll be safe."

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(("However, if that IS the case, then that would have to mean.....")) Chion let out a sigh. (("Welp, it's not the strangest thing I've learned in the past two days. Actually, it makes everything far more logical in a certain way."))

"So, gods are real then?" Chion questioned, already knowing the answer.

"Well, the Greek gods are?"

"What?"

"It's a lot to explain. We can talk about it later. We should get you to the infirmary to get you looked at."

"Hey, Jack Frost. Were you the one who killed that Hellhound?"

Chion turned his head, glancing towards the one who had shouted. He hadn't been expecting them to be addressing him, having no idea who Jack Frost was, so he was surprised when a girl slightly taller than him was up close and personal with him. He couldn't see much of her because of her leather armor and odd looking helmet, but she looked rather fierce, as if she would smack his head off if she could. Clutched in her right hand was a large canine tooth, about the size of Chions pinky finger. It was hard to mistake it for anything else but a tooth extracted from the Hellhound. Tilting his head, he tried to find the body they had pulled it from, but it was nowhere in sight.

It was definitely too heavy to move, so Chion was slightly confused.

"Yeah, that was me." Chion took a step away from the female warrior, regaining some personal space. "Why?"

"Here." Without another word on the subject, the girl shoved it into the youths hand and walked away.

And yet, it was still far from the weirdest interaction he had had all day.

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