The Winters

Fall

Lauren's POV:

I could feel myself falling, the wind rushing through my hair and clothes, but it was still hard to think about it over the intense ache in my bones. It hurt more than anything I'd ever felt and I guess I deserved it. The ground was rushing up quickly beneath me and I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing myself. This was ridiculous, embarrassing— mortifying even.

With a less than satisfying crack, I crashed right into the center of the strawberry field.

The edges of my vision went black, everything went fuzzy, but I could still make out the crowd of faces staring down at me. I heard their whispers, saw the smoke rising from my arms, felt the blood running down my leg. I had just barely muttered, "stupid Olympians." Before the world went dark around me.

Scarlett's POV:

With my sister, everything was always dramatic. I had snuck over the border into Camp Half-Blood more than an hour before Ren made her appearance, shimmying up a tree and all but ruining my dress to observe the camp while I waited for her to arrive. It was all happy and calm, and it was nice to have a reprieve from our busy day-to-day lives.

Of course, my sister being my sister, she found a way to bring chaos into even the most peaceful of places. She fell from the sky.

I'd been scanning the bright blue expanse for Ren, guessing that her meeting with the gods wouldn't go well, because nothing we planned ever went well. So obviously, I was the first to see her. Smoke billowed around Lauren, and I absentmindedly wondered if she was on fire.

I waited for the demigods to notice her, to crowd under her and cushion her fall with their powers. To my horror, they continued to obliviously go about their duties as she came closer and closer to the ground.

Knowing full well Ren or the gods would have my hide if I helped her, I watched her flailing body fall until it landed in the strawberry fields with a sickening crunch. I allowed myself a moment to wince in sympathy before scurrying down the tree and sinking into the ground. One of the many perks that came with being a child of Pluto enabled me to travel through the earth. It was something I liked doing, and that had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that it usually scared the heck out of anyone standing near to where I surfaced.

I could sense blood seeping into the soil, and I popped up right next to Ren. Everyone jumped back, some of them gasped and a few let out yelps. I would have smiled at their reactions, but I was way too worried about the strange angle her leg bent and burnt skin to even think about it. I knelt down next to her.

"Hey sis, can you hear me?" I murmured before raising my voice and yelling angrily at the people around me. "What are you all just standing there for? Get her some bloody help!" Whether it was the murderous look on my face or the common sense in my words that stirred them into action, I'll never know. But immediately half-bloods started rushing around, yelling for Apollo's kids to come help.
Not even thirty seconds had passed before a group of blonde demigods had gathered around me, giving instructions to each other and bandaging up Ren. I knew enough to see that I would be more hindrance than help, so I backed away and watched as they loaded her limp body onto a stretcher and carried her away to a large farmhouse.

One kid stayed behind. He approached me, analyzing my choppy black hair, golden sheathed sword, and the classy dark outfit that contrasted sharply with my pale skin.

"Hi," He edged. "I'm Will Solace, Apollo's son."

I nodded to him. "Scarlett Winter."

He looked at me expectantly, waiting for more, so I continued.

"That girl is my sister, Lauren. May I see her?" Knowing full well that wasn't what he wanted to hear, I kept my eyes on him, gauging his reaction. Will hesitated a moment before nodding and smiling brightly. I ignored his happy features and kept my expression cold.

"Once Chiron checks you out, of course you can see your sister." His easy grin faded a bit before he continued. "I'm surprised he isn't out here. Chiron oversees everything at Camp, I would have thought a girl falling from the sky would catch his attention..." Will's eyes were drawn to the large home where they had taken Ren. I followed his gaze just in time to see a white centaur trot out onto the porch.