Legends of Olympus (On Hold)

First Strike

Vance's POV

I shifted my body closer to Don and leaned forward to signal him to run faster in the middle of the river.

My head turned towards the huntsman who was flying as fast as an eagle, chasing us. At first I had doubts of leaving Amber behind the river shore, but I'm glad I did now.

Binalik ko ang aking tingin sa harapan.

I don't know how many seconds it will take for the enemy to catch up on us. But I am a hundred percent sure he will.

"Faster, boy," mahina kong tugon, at muling napalingon sa huntsman na naglaho na sa aking paningin.

Shit.

I pulled the reins hard to the side. Don came to a sudden stop, whining aggresively. He lifted his front legs before slowly turning around.

My fingers tightened around the reign while looking around.

Wala akong naramdamang ibang presensya, dahilan na mapatango-tango ako. Naintindihan ko kasi kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng pagkawala ng huntsman: pagod na itong maghabol.

At kapag hindi ako hihinto, babalik siya sa facility, malapit sa kung saan ko iniwan si Amber.

Ilang segundo akong napatitig sa putikang tubig sa paanan ni Don, bago napagdesisyunang bumaba na.

Tinapik ko ang likod ni Don at sinenyasan itong umalis na.

Hindi nito agad sinunod ang utos ko kaya natawa ako nang mahina. "Go," sambit ko. "I'll be fine."

His brown eyes looked at me for a while, before he turned around to show me his other side where a silver sword hung inside a leather sheath.

"No," I insisted. "I don't need it."

He didn't move an inch so I just sighed and unsheathed the sword.

"There." I showed him the sword in my hand. "Happy?"

Have you ever heard a horse of Poseidon neigh? Because the moment Don did so to express his satisfaction, the water below us rippled and his voice echoed, towards the flow of the river.

Sinundan ko ng tingin ang itim na kabayo na tumakbo sa ibabaw ng tubig. Nag-iwan ito ng maliliit na alon sa tubig, hanggang sa tuluyan na nga itong maglaho sa kadiliman, pagkatapos lumiko para sundin ang landas ng ilog.

Tinignan ko ang espada sa kamay ko.

My mom gave me this sword. She already knows I rarely use weapons because I have my ability, but she still gave it to me anyway and suggested that I let Don keep it just in case of emergency.

Napakibit ako ng balikat at dinama-dama ang bigat ng sandata sa kamay ko nang masanay ulit ako sa pagdala nito.

Mother knows best, they say. So how much more a mother who is also a daughter of Athena?

Mom knows the best of the best. And I have to admit that she's never wrong. 

Ilang beses ko na rin kasing nagamit ang espada na 'to.

Hinawakan ko ang puluhan ng espada gamit ang dalawang kamay ko. Hinigpitan ko ang pagkakapulupot ng aking mga daliri dito.

It was Dad who taught me how to use my powers...

Mabilis kong pinihit ang aking paa at sinangga ang espada ng huntsman na biglang nagparamdam sa aking likod.

But it was Mom who held my little hand when I carried a weapon for the first time.