Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"YOU'RE GONNA want to angle it like that," Chanthira explained, holding her hand over Anya's. She guided the other girl's fingers to the correct position on the arch of the bow. She made it her personal mission to teach Anya archery in the past week or so, and as excited as she is to watch Anya fail every single time she nocked an arrow, she wasn't getting any better. "Focus on the center most part of the target, and don't worry. You don't have much experience in archery, so it's natural to not have good aim. Don't expect to be awesome at it, like me." She chuckled. "That's what Yew told me when he taught me archery. Dunno how it motivates people but it worked for me—"
Anya squinted at the target, and nodded. "Thanks. Um, so I—"
"Just pull it back, but be careful to do it like I showed you, so the arrow doesn't fall off the string. Position it. Pull it back. Then release. You got this, Anya. You're gonna do awesome."
"It sounds so easy when you say it like that," she grumbled, but complied, following her directions and releasing the arrow once she thought it was in good range. It didn't even hit the board. It bounced weakly off the ground, falling next to a tree, which a wood nymph melted out of, just to give Anya a pointed look. Either she was pissed the arrow hit her tree, or she was getting secondhand embarrassment at how bad the demigod was at this. She sighed. "It's okay, Chanthira. Archery isn't for me."
"You can't expect to get it perfect," Chanthira told her. Easy for her to say.
Anya shrugged. "I guess so."
"Here, let me show you again." She grabbed her recurve bow and nocked an arrow, studying the target and then she fired it at the target. It wasn't perfect, but it reached the second circle, just around the center. "I'm still practicing," she explained sheepishly.
"Hey, you got it onto the target. Also, it was just a little off the mark," Anya told her. "One inch more and you would've hit it. That's pretty good."
Chanthira smiled. "Um, thanks."
She was about to suggest that maybe they should do sword fighting instead, since she was so hopeless at archery and clearly would never get better, but the horn blew, signaling a camp emergency.
They both exchanged a worried glance and Chanthira grabbed her bow, arranging it on her back and slinging her quiver over her shoulders before running towards the pavilion.
Anya trailed behind her, grip on her sword, ready to unsheathe it in case this was an attack, but when she didn't see any monsters upon stepping onto the pavilion— which had a pretty clear view of most of camp— she relaxed her hand.
"What's the emergency?" an Aphrodite camper wondered aloud.
"Is it Kronos?" another camper panicked.
"Are we safe?" someone shrieked.
"Chiron, why'd you sound the horn?" Anya asked as the centaur passed her. He didn't react to anyone's concerns but instead delegated them to a camper.
Annabeth Chase pushed through the demigods that filled up the pavilion. None of them were sitting down, so it was rather crowded. At the front, next to Chiron, Annabeth clapped her hands as to grab everyone's attention. "Everyone! This is very important!" She turned to Chiron, as if silently asking permission. He nodded. "We need to help Percy!" she shouted. "He sent me a message, and— it's about Kronos!"
"I figured," a camper said miserably.
"He didn't specify what the problem was, but all we know is that it's really bad, and we need a big group of demigods. As many as we can spare!" Annabeth continued, her grey eyes blazing with resolve.
"An army?" Travis Stoll piped up.
"Yes, an army," Annabeth looked Travis dead in the eye. "Chiron's already prepared us the transportation. It's waiting outside camp grounds. It will take us to Manhattan, where we'll meet Percy."
"What about the camp?" another camper yelled, which was a very valid question.
Annabeth took a deep breath. "Camp will be left virtually undefended, but we have no choice. We need most of our cavalry at Manhattan, and we can't afford to leave behind too many demigods. Cabins, line up. Counselors, pick one camper from each cabin to be left behind, and the rest of you are coming with me."
Everyone started talking at once, campers noisily moving around and the counselors were shouting at their cabins, trying to get heard, attempting to force people into lines. Others were already making the decision on which one of their campers would stay behind.
Katie Gardner, Anya's half sister, grabbed her arm.
"You're not leaving me behind, are you?" Anya asked tentatively, unsure whether she wanted to go or stay. She'd feel like she wasn't doing anything to help if she stayed behind, but if she left, she'd be fighting a war. I hate wars, she thought to herself bitterly.
"Hades no." Katie shook her head, grinning at her. "After the manticore, you've clearly proven yourself. And even before that, you were already an excellent fighter. We need you with us. Come on, get in line with the rest of the cabin."
Anya felt a tinge of warmth from her words. She nodded and got in line, watching as the cabins reorganized at an impressive rate, walking off the pavilion in single file.
"Grab your weapons!" Annabeth ordered. "And armory! Anything you can get! We're going to need everyone to play to their strengths!"
Anya followed her half siblings to their cabin, where she took out her armor. Once she was fully armed, she hastened outside, armor clinking as she moved. Everyone was regrouping, and the campers that were staying behind were in their own group. They looked pretty formidable, Anya had to admit. Almost forty demigods were marching towards the camp limits, all in battle armor and carrying weapons. Ready for war.
"Alright!" Annabeth yelled. "Let's go help Percy!"
