Chapter 8: Roman Initiation

[Percy's POV:]

A full month had passed since I started my lessons and one thing I had learnt was that Mother is terrifyingly brutal. We was only supposed to train for a week, but each time the week ended she would come up with one reason or another to keep me for another week. Whether it be for tort.. training my transformation further to mix my wolf and human features, excluding the tail and claws which stayed no matter what I tried. Over the past month I had learned a few things about myself: Firstly,  I could turn myself into a bronze wolf porcupine hybride with a tail sharl as a sword. Secondly I was very good at handling swords which went in hand with the first thing, not to mention I could actually summon one named riptide while in my human form.  Lastly I found that I oddly liked sleeping in tress as opposed to beds, a weird discovery, but a discovery nonetheless.

Today mother is finally letting me leave for camp Jupiter, a place for roman demigods like myself. While we originally planned to introduce me as Damian son of Neptune apparently similar to my first time there, we agreed I would go instead as Damian son of Lupa, in honour of the amazing relationship we founded as a family. Now being able to translate latin fluently, I realised my name meant "to tame" which was ironic since I am a wolf and my mother is basically taming me. I also planned to stay as a wolf for the most part of my time there, at least till I found someone I trust enough to reveal it to so honestly most of this training isn't even helpful for now.

At first I wondered how that would work out since I can't talk human as a wolf, but a weeks worth of training my voice box to work both ways sorted that problem out. I could speak the human language, coarse, but clear and in my human form I was able to speak the wolfs tounge. Understanding animals was easy, my brain was programmed to now. Even if my curse were to be removed entirely, the knowledge would remain.

"Damian, as much as I don't want to let you go, it is time for you us leave for camp Jupiter. I will escort you there personally so I can explain that I adopted you and not sired since I'm a maiden goddess. I will have you treated as a normal demigod, going through the same tests to determine your cohort... Don't worry my pup, it will be explained to you when you arrive." I nodded with a wolf grin excited to see the place I had trained so much for. Not to mention links to my old self.

I followed Lupa out almost immediately breaking into a full sprint towards camp Jupiter. Going faster than I thought possible even with four legs, even then I felt I could push faster if I really tried. About an hour after we left, we entered Caldcott tunnel. I couldn't help, but wonder what the mortals saw through the mist as we bounded past the speeding cars, a set of racers maybe? I was much bigger than any race car I could imagine. Stopping at the small doorway exit to camp Jupiter, I had to put my other training into practice. Shrinking. It was difficult and a little uncomfortable to hold, but I was able to change my size from my current oversized giant, to that of a small dog.

We walked through the maintaianace tunnel watching as it transformed from modern piping and electronics, to the stone confines of a cave.

"More than 5 years back, this tunnel was collapsed by you in a war for the safety of camp Jupiter, around 3 years ago, it was deemed necessary to reopen for the purpose of escorting demigods to and from camp jupiter without the use of the interconnecting camp portal" A few moments later we exited the cave to what I think was Berkeley hills and once again i was faced with the river that had supposedly claimed me before. Had I tried to cross to camp Jupiter before losing my memories? Did I plan to lose my memories? Or was I an idiot that just jumped straight in?.. sadly the second one felt like the right answer. That said the more important question was, would I lose them again by crossing it?

"Come Damian, over the bridge, it is safer than going through the river directly, I have already given you permission to cross it anyway." I nodded at her feeling relieved at the release in tension I didn't know I had built up. I followed her towards the stone arch bridge and made my ways across the little tiber. My tension slipped away further at the comfortable feeling it brought me. Mother took me into the barracks and asked some nearby demigods to call a meeting with the praetor named Reyna, a name I knew was familiar to me.

"Damian, I want you to know that as percy, you and Reyna have met before, more than a few times actually. She would have joined the hunt with Diana, had frank and hazel not refused to take her role. So do be careful she does not identify you." I nodded my head at her, but decided she would be my best bet to learn about my past. That said I wasn't going to reveal my human side that easy.

A few moments later a crowd had formed all bowing at my mother presence, a girl I assumed to be Reyna stepped forward to greet us.

"Hello Lady Lupa, to what do we owe this visit?" I instantly picked up the practically military atmosphere she held around her, and I couldn't help but respect it.

"I am here to drop of a demigod wolf, my adopted son Damian Lupus. May he be treated like any other camper or face me in the arena!" The legionnaires knew well not to challenge their protector and so put up no fight the newer camper however took no such warnings and began blaring their little mouths. I took this as a cue to speak up myself.

"As my mother said, I am Damian Lupus, son of Lupa herself. I will be in you care for the foreseeable future and hope to find a family in you all and just as a warning, I WILL defend my mothers honour" my threat was coupled by a menacing growl and The majority was taken back by the fact I could speak  and a few murmurs sounded off at my statement, but no direct complaints or comments were made.

"We shall honour your wish Lady Lupa, Damian while son of our esteemed guardian, you must still undergo the tests to determine which cohort you belong to. We do this as a means to find a second Praetor, something we have no had for over 5 years since percy Jackson resigned" i used to be a praetor?!? Why did I leave? This information got me excited, I was eager to test myself again someone other than my mother, and the aura that she gave off told me all I needed to know. She was going to be my final and strongest opponent one I strive to reach. I nodded at my mother telling her I was ok from here on out, she couldn't resist giving me a lick on the face before turning toward home.

"Lead the way praetor" I gave a bow to her, something I had decided not to do to just anyone. She smirked at me before turning on the spot and walking away, signaling me and the other demigods to follow her. We arrived at an massive arena, one that I'm sure held many exciting battles. I decided to show off a little by returning to my original height and turning my fur into its celestial bronze state. I knew that It was a greek metal but since I'm a wolf I thought it would be overlooked based on the sheer coolness of it.

"Impressive build Damian, but can you fight with it?" I knew what she meant, increasing my size did increase my strength, but it also decreased my agility as well as made me a bigger target. Still it would be somewhat embarrassing to shrink at this point so I stuck with it, planning to adjust my size as is necessary.

"We shall start with the fifth Cohort. Send up your representative! Aut vincere aut mori. Conquer or Die!" Without pause a female demigod kept from her seat and dashed at me with a confidence I could only admire. I dodged left shrinking to a much smaller size and stricking her imperial gold sword sticking my celestial bronze tail with sparks flying. I spun around whipping my deadly sword like tail at her control the speed and angle to throw her balance off. A satisfying clang and thud confirmed its success so I followed through, pushing her down with my paws and bearing my fangs at her throat awaiting her to yield.

"I yield, you fight well Wolf the fifth cohort shows their respect and will accept you should you choose us" while it seemed like a complete defeat, I could tell she was a strong fighter. I was just stronger.

"I shall save my choice until the end, I wish to fight the next cohorts representative!" I could see the sudden interest in Reyna's eyes, trying to figure me out. I wouldn't let her figure it out too soon, that'd be no fun.

"Very well, fourth Cohort, bring out you choice representative!Aut vincere aut mori. Conquer or Die!" A young man jumped down from his seat, sporting heavy armour and a spear, this fight was stacked against me who was a close to medium range combat fighter. He had the distance advantage, but if I could get close enough the advantage would become mine instead. We circled each other assessing the strength and weaknesses of each other and how to best exploit them, I used this as a chance to pounce, taking him by suprise with my speed. My plan was simple, run at him. Since my fur was basically made of celestial bronze, getting hit at certain angles was a safe risk. Judging by how he handles the spear I could tell he somewhat lacked in accuracy so altering its course wouldn't be too difficult. As I expected he went for a lunge, thrusting his spear in the direction of my head, I planted my right paw down for a split second to angle my body enough for it to scrape past me, pain registered by only the force of the hit nothing more. I continued my momentum slicing my tail across his now exposed abdominal armour, Barely piercing it. That battle was not over yet, his armour made sure of that much. Without hesitation, I kicked my rear legs out at him, claws out to maximize damage. This time no thud was heard, meaning he had managed to keep his balance, but unfortunately my attack was successful as shown by the amiund blood seeping out of the claw shaped holes I left. I was announced the winner of the battle and he was escorted to the medical tent. The audience was enjoying it thoroughly, calling and yelling in applause.

"You fight well Damian, I will give to you that, but your technique has been witnessed by all the same patterns will not work again, am I to assume to wish to continue?" Reyna asked secretly enjoying the display based on the pheromones coming off her.

"Yes, I wish to fight them all. Including yourself" it was a risky declaration. One that would shame me if I where to lose now. Good thing I didn't plan on losing. Not even to her, my mother reputation was at stake.

"Third Cohort. Send down your representative! Aut vincere aut mori. Conquer or Die!" That saying was getting old fast. Another women came down with a flowing grace. I could already tell this battle was going to be enjoyable. She wastes no time in sprinting towards me, her feet practically tapping the ground with each step. She was fast, luckily I was still faster, but not by much. I understood why she had attacked fast instead of circling me like my opponent before, she already had scoped me out before the battle. To do so again would only allow me time to do the same with no added benefit to herself. As soon as the gap was cleared, she unscathed a pair of daggers curved at the tips. She raised the head height probably aiming for a direct hit as to penetrate my bronze fur, a feat proven possible from the bruising of my last encounter. I crouched down low at the last moment circling around her to avoid the dangerous attack, keeping the flow of the high pace battle from stopping. I leaped at her, jaws open wide for a direct attack on her unguarded hip. She managed to block my teeth with her blades, but like the opponent before her, forgot I still had claws and a very sharp tail.

"I concede, you fight better than any I've faced, make my defeat one I will not face shame at" I merely nodded at her words, already planning to take this all the way to the top. Reyna made no other comment except calling down the next Cohort followed by he quickly tiring camp jupiter motto. The guy that dropped down was unimpressive to say the least, i had beaten him twice as fast as the last lot with less than half the effort. if this was representative of the 2nd Cohort. Then I knew not to join them regardless of my next battle.

"I do hope the first Cogort will do better in choosing their representative than the second. Send them in now" followed by "Aut vincere aut mori. Conquer or Die!" Yup  there it is, I am so gonna hate that fast. A young man stepped down in a basic camp jump t-shirt with a sword in hand, I felt the urge to change into my human form and test my sword against his own. We faced each other with a glare, he was unwavering even when faced with my wolf glare technique.

"You have done well to get this far, may the best demigod win.. and trust me when I say, I plan to" I already did not like this guy. He seemed to stuck up even in the way he looked at people. I wasted no more time and began running at him, planning a new means to attack as to prevent him predicting my moves. He swung his sword in a diagonal arc, trying to catch me in my own momentum. I spun my body positioning my tail to block, sparks flying at the strong blade contact. He lifted his sword slashed horizontally, I had no choice but to jump away from my current position. Dam, he isn't leaving many usable openings,  guess I'll have to make one.. haha dam that's somehow funny. I allowed myself to be pushed back like an animal faced with fire, watching his every step, slash and breath he made. What I found was a fatal mistake, a repearing pattern of attack, a series of movements that followed each breath before he took a step slashed down, up and right, left and then centre down again. What this meant was I could predict exactly where his sword would be, and use that opportunity to attack. I waited for the right moment, his horizontal slash, to reverse my direction and lung at him just as the blade passed. Caught surprised, he went down easy my fangs at his throat, front claws on his chest and my rear ones ready to castrate the male.. I sound oddly like a hunter.. 

"I YIELD, I YIELD DON'T HURT MY LITTLE JOHN!" now that. Was just pathetic, I mean little John? Seriously? I then smelt something nasty.. This guy actually pissed himself?!? If the praetor don't remove him from that Cohort.. then I worry about that Cohort in general.

Reyna announced me the obvious winner of the fight. While it had started well.. it quickly became the most pathetic display I had ever seen, which I guess isn't hard since I only have a month worth of memories.

"Can someone get that disgrace out of the arena? He is to be stripped of his place in the first cohort and tested again for which one he should join. It is clear to me that he and second Cohorts representative doesn't belong in their respective cohorts" dam she was harsh, a round of "I told you we shouldn't have let him that disgrace go" and worse was heard. I felt a little bad having probably ruined their reputation for life, it is up to them the reclaim their pride.

"You have bested all of my legions representatives. You are already a legionnaire and one of us. But will you fight me to hold the second seat of praetor? Answer me now and let no one judge your choices" ooh low blow, making it hard to reject without looking like I'm taking her pity. I was gonna accept anyway, might as well return her favour.

"Oh, fearful that I might best you in battle? Feel no two ways about rejecting my challenge, I'm sure no one will judge you" this was a dangerous statement, but dam I could not resist it. The sass had to be!

"You are cocky Damian, usually the first to fall. Your luck has got you this far, let me see your skill take you the rest of the way" and with that she jumped down with a landing worthy of drama queen.. whoever that was.