Will looked out at the water and sighed a little. “I’m going to need your help on this one, dad.” He sighed a little and watched as the waves rolled in a little bit closer. He knew that they would look to him for direction. He was older and his brother had been a leader. “Dad, I know your busy, but anything you can do will help.” Will thought a moment then grabbed his bag. He opened it and pulled out Kampe’s scimitars. “These are for you. Thank you, dad.” Will nodded before throwing the swords into the water and he watched as they were taken away in the current.
“Will, everyone is ready. You okay?” Will turned and saw Penny walking up behind him. Will nodded and walked over to her, wrapping his arms around her.
“I’m nervous, Penny.” Will said with a sigh. “I know the camp is looking to me, but I really don’t know what to do.” Will took a deep breath and pulled away a little.
“Will, I’ve got your back the whole time. So do Kyle and Marina and even though Hunter and Philippa left they have it too. Will, you’re going to do great.” Penny said, hugging him again and kissing his cheek. Will smiled a little and kissed her gently on the lips. He took her hand and together they started walking back to camp. Will adjusted his armor as he walked and drew his trident, the weapon humming in his hand. A crowd of campers was gathered in the middle of the camp surrounding the fire crackling brightly.
“Chiron, what’s the update?” Will asked quietly, looking at the campers as they shifted nervously among themselves, weapons and armor clinking together.
“Manhattan is prepared and scouts have said that the monsters have moved from the road. We’ve lost track of them, but they said that Echidna has led them into the woods.” Chiron’s eyes were calm, but there was a sense of worry in his expression.
“Fighting in the woods gives them the advantage. We can’t wait for them to come out. We’ll lose the camp.” Will sighed. “We’ll have to take the fight to them.” There was a series of loud thumps and Will looked over and saw one of the bronze bulls lumbering toward them. Will gripped his trident and was about to attack, but saw a familiar figure standing on top.
“No! Don’t attack!” Marina shouted, waving her arms. The bull stopped by the crowd and Marina slid off. “I’ve repaired it and reprogrammed it. This thing is going to even the odds a little, I think.”
“Will! Will!” Will turned quickly and saw Kyle pointing toward the woods. Above the trees a cloud of black poured out and started getting closer, the sound of horrible wings ringing through the camp.
“Camp Half-Blood!” Will raised his trident and drew his sword. “Charge!” Will shouted, running forward. They had to get into the trees. The Stymphalian birds would tear them apart in the open. They had to get into the woods and that’s exactly where the monsters were waiting. The bull with Marina on top charged forward and navigated through the camp before charging through into the woods, toppling trees and stomping monsters into dust. Will smiled a little and ran forward, looking over and seeing Penny on one side and Kyle on the other. As soon as they burst into the woods, the three of them separated and Will immediately stabbed into a hellhound, swinging his sword into a skeleton warrior walking up, knocking it to dust.
“Who was the 13th president of the United States?” Will stabbed through an attacking harpy and swung his trident, knocking a few Stymphalian birds into a tree when he saw who spoke. It looked like a woman, but had the body of a lion and when she spoke, sharp fangs showed.
“I’m sorry?” Will said, stopping for a moment in slight confusion. He gripped his sword, but took a cautious step closer.
“Who was the 13th president of the United States?” The beast repeated, a smile on her face. Will shrugged.
“I have no idea.” Will said with a shrug.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. That is incorrect.” The monster lunged forward and snapped it, claws slashing. Will dodged around her and swung at her with his sword.
“Wait a minute! You’re a sphinx!” Will said as he caught her snapping mouth on the handle of his trident, pushing her against a tree. It clawed at him and slashed him across his cheek causing him to stumble backward and trip over a tree root. The Sphinx pounced and Will raised his sword, slashing through it as it jumped, landing in a spray of dust. Will shook his head and stood. “Crazy…insane…Statue thing.” Will dusted himself off and ran toward the sounds of battle. Will slashed through a Laistrygonian giant when I giant club smashed into a tree next to him. Will looked and saw Kyle dodging around the large fists of the minotaur. “Kyle!”
“I’m good!” Kyle said as his scythe got knocked out of his hand and lodged itself into a tree behind him. The minotaur knocked Kyle to the side and then took off after Will. Will raised his sword, but the minotaur faceplanted into the ground and then had thick vines wrap around his neck, dragging him back. “I said I got it!” Kyle said, wiping the blood from his lip and slamming his scythe into the ground. The vines tightened and raised the minotaur up and pulling it apart until it exploded in a cloud of dust, two horns landing with a thud. Will laughed a little and patted him on the shoulder.
“Help!” Will turned and saw Marina fall off the back of the bull. She was shoved off by a giant man with a bear head and a thick coat of fur. It growled then hopped down where he was joined by a beast just like itself. They stood over her and snarled viciously down at her.
“Agrius! Oreius!” Will and Kyle ran toward the scene where a terrifying snake woman slithered by them. “You—“ A dark black harpy zoomed toward her and landed on her arm. Kyle and Will ran faster and faster. “—Send Chaz and the eagle.”
“But, mistress—“ The harpy hissed.
“I don’t care about the titan’s problems. He will accept what I can give him.” The snake woman hissed. “Tell them to bring me the head of that Hunter boy.”