Swooping down from the shadows of the trees was a flying creature, it's hand stretched out, the claws on it gleaming in the winter sun in complete readiness to be soaked in blood.
But Annabeth was ready, she quickly sent two arrows flying into the air, the creature immediately banked left to avoid the object of it's death flying toward it.
Flipping itself in midair it expertly dodged the two arrows. The creature was like a large baby with wings, claws (four pointy ends on each hand and an ugly face.
It had a shrieking laughter and a smile that made ones skin crawl.
"This must be the third demon" Tony commented, stating the obvious.
"What is that" Levi stared inquiringly at Tony and Anna. They both stared blankly at each other.
"You don't know what it is?" Tony blurted "No, you"
"No"
Annabeth was almost dumbfounded, this was a guy that spent more than half his life with his head buried in a books.
Well, not like she expected him to know everything she shrugged.
They had turned around after their discussion to keep an eye on the flying creature, it had disappeared once again into the trees.
Kayla was just rounding up the cleaning of Percy's cut. Immediately she was done they stood up to face the direction they last saw the flying claws of death.
Anna and Tony had their arrows nocked and ready to fire, Percy also jumped up ready for action.
Their eyes were all focused on the space in between the almond trees which had moss growing on the intersection at the trunk and the branches.
The demon released it's shrieking laughter.
Anna could feel her skin crawl, it took more than determination to stop her from withdrawing her drawn arrow.
With another shrill like laughter, it flew out of the trees and headed straight at their tight circle with great speed.
Arrows immediately began flying. Anna was picking and releasing arrows faster than the eye could follow.
Percy formed a ball of for which he was about to throw into the air when a hand restrained him.
He looked up to see a deathly calm look on Levi's face "Not yet" he said.
The demon had methodically retreated when the intensity of the arrows became too much. It sat on the branch of a tree within view, sneering at the couple of humans below.
They had stopped firing as this creature seemed to have more brains than the Orsk.
"This is getting annoying" Percy muttered under his breath "We could just blast this thing off and we can be on our way"
"No we can't do that" Levi had studied the movements of this thing and realized it had the intelligence of at least a grown child.
It's movements were simple but calculated. "Tony shoot an arrow"
Tony nocked an arrow and shot, the creature dropped from the tree and banked left and flew a circle around them.
Seemingly in a teasing movement, continuously staring at them while baring it's fangs in a toothy grin.
Levi had seen all he needed to "Let's move on", surprised faces turned to stare at him while obviously keeping an eye on the flying creature.
They a turned and continued down the path in a single file, while stealing furtive glances at this winged demon trailing their movements by perching from tree to tree
They increased their pace with Levi in front and Jake bringing up the rear as Levi has noticed his inept ability to sense danger before it came too close.
They wove through the path and a cluster of trees, though longing to see the welcoming frame of the school gate which was still quite far away they were also wary of the creature that flew behind them like an unwanted pet.
Levi has not told them what his intended plan was but nonetheless they walked on, taking his discretion with a grain of salt.
They walked for about ten minutes, when the demon feeling slightly annoyed at being ignored swooped in again, claws raked out and aiming at whoever it thought was the mostu unsuspectingindividual, but they were all at alert.
Jake didn't have to call out a warning before they all went down immediately drawing their weapons.
The demon diving into this group of seven saw that they were at alert and intended to pull out from it's dive when Percy who was right in front of Jake bathed the air in a wall of red fiery flame.
The group had to turn their faces from the heat and sheer intensity of the fire. Jake could almost feel the animosity Percy harbored for the creature in the fire.
The demon tried to quickly alter it's course but it wasn't so lucky, the fire singed the edge of it's wing and part of it's legs, it howled in pain quickly dodging before the rest of the fire would gut it.
"Yeah, serves you right. That's payback for this" Percy shouted pointing at his neck "You see this" he shouted once more waggling his finger at the retreating demon.
The demon retreated to a nearby tree to lick it's wounds, it wasn't badly injured but the fire had dealt a great deal of pain. Levi wished Percy would have refrained a little from using his abilities but he couldn't say he was disappointed with the results.
Jake looked back at the demon, it was partially hidden behind a cluster of trees, it certainly had no plans of following them but he could clearly see it's eyes and he recognized the look in those green eyes perfectly, he had seen it before, he couldn't remember where or when he had seen it but he was quite sure he had seen it before.
It was a look of pain and vengeance.
"I don't think it will follow now" Levi stated
It's our mission to terminate that flying demon, but going back to chase after it might mean having to stay in this forest more than necessary with no supplies and nowhere to lay ones head. So we'll move on"
"I hope the headmaster doesn't mind" Lisa mumbled
"They certainly didn't send us out here to die of starvation and cold" Percy replied her
"Maybe starvation, but cold. Not you" Anna chipped
"Yeah right" Percy answered, smiling.