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The first thing I notice about the stuff on dripping onto my body was dang, this stuff's sticky.
Not daring to look up, I carefully gaze the outline of the shadow enveloping mine, but the boulder warps it so much I can't make out anything but a blob. Slowly moving my hand off my lap, I reach directly next to me for my staff, hoping that my training will kick in, along with my ADHD. In one swift motion I slide down the boulder, landing with my feet and hands in ready position. Then I see it.

A ginormous, black, red-eyed Hellhound. With a low growl he tilts his head, looking at me. No, he's looking at what's in my hands. I quickly glance down to see what he's looking at, but it's only the staff.With my attention elsewhere, the beast launches off the stone, hurtling through the air like in an action movie. Stunned for a moment, I can't move. Move, move move! my brain yells. My eyes flicker back up for a split second as I tuck and roll away from it. "Help me! HELP! SOMEBODY!" I yell, hopefully loud enough over the now-ringing dinner bell. The Hellhound snarls and growls lowly, seeming like he doesn't want to be noticed my anyone except me. Then he starts circling.
With my back to yet another boulder, the beast in my way, I know that there's only one thing for me to do. Slowly, I breathe in, out. In, out. Silently focusing my energy on moving through the air, like I had done so many times previously. Visualizing the place I wanted to get to. I opened my eyes and *WHOOSH,* I'm halfway down the trail, running directly towards the bonfire.

Screaming like a maniac while hearing and feeling heavy, pounding footsteps, I felt just slightly crazy, you know? Busting through the last bits of undergrowth while yelling "HELLHOUND!" is also a good way to get people's attention. When I thought I was in deep into camp, I turned and faced the monster. Staying away from large shadows was a must, considering that they can shadow-travel. Heh, classes actually helped. At that moment, Mark Silverman ran past me as fast as a bullet, screaming the name of Ares. Then the rest attacked.
Seeing so many orange shirts against a deathly black beast was interesting, considering that I was among them. I hacked and sliced and dove away from it's teeth and paws, trying everything I could to hit it just right. After what seemed like an eternity (which was somewhere around 2 minutes) the creature had turned to dust. As soon as it started to dissipate, Apollo cabin healers came out with bows in hand and started passing out Ambrosia to the wounded. I had a few scratches, but nothing that needed a tending to.

Chiron had galloped out from the Big House in the middle of the fight, helping out wherever he could. But something was bugging my mind, and I had to ask him about it. "Ah, Haley. I've been needing to talk to you for awhile now." "Me too, but first I have a question." His face remained blank, which I guess meant go ahead. "Are there Hellhound assassins? Cause I think this one was meant for me." Chiron's face turned inquisitive, pondering my question carefully. "I suppose there could be, if raised correctly. But that would take years..." Then his face turned to one of anguish. He took me aside, behind the nearest cabin, Hecate. "Persephone is the one who sent this monster, I'm afraid. She's known of you for a long time, in which she's had the time to prepare for you." I thought for a moment, then continued to press him. "Then maybe... I take the Flower of Asphodel to her... but who plays the game? Who's the Ghost King?" His eyes flickered with gold from the distant firelight, and I knew he was holding something back. "Fine. Don't tell me." Turning, I storm into the mass of people.

Notes

Hey guys, unfortunately my story of Rachel will be postponed for awhile as I begin work on another fascinating story! (Can you guess the characters? They're all in/mentioned in the PJO/HoO books!) And don't worry, Rachel's adventures will continue sometime after Christmas. I really just want to focus on this story and it's overall plot-line.

If you have an idea or an inkling of what is/could happen to the daughter of Hera, message me!
(I love to see what you guys really think...)