HBH IV: Forges Of Hellfire

XIX: The Last Stand Actually Came

⚠TW: Violent stuff⚠

"Yes, and one of them sacrificed her life for us." Tears streamed down my face. I desperately tried to cover it (I still ugly cry, your crying doesn't get prettier the older you get). Mark hugged me tightly. "I could've saved her, I could've saved them." I looked at Saoirse. "I'm so sorry, I couldn't save him. I couldn't-" Saoirse hugged me tightly. "It's okay, we'll have their burial here."

"Actually, I already blessed their trip to Tír Na Anam."

"Oh, then we can just wait."

"I did the same for the other dead soldiers and people." Mark turned around and looked at both of us. Arin piped up. "What other dead ones?"

"HE DID WHAT?!" Mark was shocked and Arin was horrified. Saoirse stared at us. "SO YOU JUST SAW LIKE A BUNCH OF DEAD BODIES?!" I nodded slowly. "It was traumatizing." Claudia pointed out. "Rowan said they were soldiers and generals who failed Gray. Talk about no witnesses." I said quietly. "He's a monster." For a second he glanced down at his arm. He'd lost his right one in a fight. "Yeah, we know." Claudia said angrily. Cara walked in with more chamomile tea. "If anyone needs some more, just call me." Mark leaned back in his chair. "So you found plans?" I nodded and pulled out the blueprints.

"These are huge!" Arin said, looking at the scales. He studied the numbers and the scale of the actual model. "There's no way it's armor for Balor. His death site is a graveyard now and even Fomorians aren't that stupid to mess around in a graveyard."

"Me and Claudia saw the eye, they were gonna kill me with it." I picked up a pencil and drew a wonky circle in the center of the model where there was a cavity. "That's where the eye goes."

"Okay, but I'm pretty sure the eye isn't a wonky circle."

"I'm not an artist."

"So, did he have any other ideas?"

"He didn't kill us because he said he would lose an important ally. Also I had a dream."

"What was it about?"

"A battle, Arin was killed and Mark walked away."

"Woah, back-up. I would never do that." Mark raised his hands in the air. "I DIED?!" Arin looked up from the blueprint and raced beside me. "Kendra, you wouldn't."

"It's just a dream."

"But your dreams are visions, not nonsense like Aspen's." He whined into my ear. Claudia snickered. "Oh stop whining." I picked up the blueprints. "I'll be in my cabin if anyone needs me." I walked away slowly. I saw Saoirse sitting by the cliffs. "Hey." She looked up at me and smiled. I sat beside her, still holding the blueprints. "About Rowan, I'm really-"

"It's okay Kendra, really."

"No, it's not." Sadie sat down beside Saoirse. "We prepared his room, his clothes and a celebration for him. Just to find out he's gone." Saoirse smacked Sadie's shoulder. "You're making Kendra feel guilty."

"I don't mind, I'm sorry about Rowan, again. I know I could've saved him. I should've stayed behind, maybe we wouldn't have lost so many people."

"See Sadie? Kendra is also suffering trauma-"

"Rowan is gone because of her." Sadie stood up angrily. "I don't care."

⚠TW: Violent stuff⚠

I sighed. "Good night." I stood up and walked to my cabin. I dressed up and changed before walking to the infirmary. Mark, Arin and Claudia were already there. Claudia was getting stitches and medicine. Aria, who was a daughter of Airmed, came to my aid. I was seated peacefully in the cot. "I'll be going now then." Claudia hopped off her bed and walked out of the infirmary. "Bye." Suddenly the sound of Carnyx rang through the camp. "An invasion?" Arin opened the tent flap. On every side wolves began to charge into camp. Aria dropped what she was doing and pushed me off the cot. "Medics, get ready. This is gonna be a bloodbath." I sat up and looked outside. Arin had run out and began to fight off the wolves. There were good fighters out there but weaker warriors were being dragged out like bloody ragdolls. I saw Claudia near the treeline caught in the fray. "Claudia." I raced out to help her but I was pulled back. I turned around and saw Mark holding my hand. "Let go."

"No, you're not going out there."

"Your sister needs saving. I have to help her."

"No, just stay."

"Stop it." He held me back with his prosthetic arm. "You know I can take off this arm right?" He grabbed me with his other hand. "I just got you back, I'm not gonna lose you again." I tugged harder. "YOUR SISTER IS DYING!" I turned back and saw Claudia on the ground. "Sweetness, stay here." I looked him in the eye. They were filled with tears begging me to stay. Behind them I could see a frightened soul, but he wasn't scared for Claudia. I stopped trying to fight his grip but he held on. "She was right."

"Right about what?"

"You don't love Claudia, you don't."

"I do, Kendra."

"No, you only see her as a replacement for Cynthia."

"Where'd you hear that?"

"I heard it from Claudia, but now I've seen it with my own eyes."

"I care about Claudia."

"Then why?"

"Then why what?"
"You'd be willing to let her die if it means I'm safe."

"Because I care."

"She's family. Family comes first."

"Trust me Kendra, just stay. I do love Claudia, not just because of Cynthia."

"No, she's nothing but a replacement. It's true. You don't love her. This proves it. She's never going to replace Cynthia. And I'm not losing someone else. If you loved Claudia, you'd let me go." He looked away sadly. He let go of my wrist. "You'd better come back, I'll never forgive myself if you get hurt." I summoned my sword. "When you get to Claudia, tell her I'm sorry. I'm sorry I couldn't love her more." I nodded and charged into the frenzy of wolves and ha;f-bloods. Arin had led younger campers into cabins for safety. I dodged and kicked and swung my way to Claudia. I found her. Her clothes ripped and she was nearly ripped to ribbons. "Claudia, can you hear me?" She opened her eyes and looked at me. She was pale and dying. "Kendra?"

"Shh, it's okay. I'm here." I wrapped myself around her. I closed my eyes and drowned out all the sounds. The sounds of the campers' cries were silenced by the howl of wolves. The sound of Mark begging me to come back. I shut them off, the only sound I needed to hear was Claudia breathing. I squeezed my eyes shut. "You're gonna be okay, no matter what." I could feel the wolves' claws drag against me. I felt my shirt getting soaked in blood. "Kendra."

⚠TW: Violent stuff⚠

"I'm not letting go." I looked around. I was surrounded by the still bodies of campers. I wanted to cry and scream but I needed to remain calm.