Reyna and Jason: The Praetor's of New Rome - Sacrifice

The War: Our Saving Grace

The plan went wrong as soon as I tried to take off. Gwen, using the wings given to her by Rachel, had to catch me out of the sky. She gently placed me on the ground, my breathing labored. Rachel rushed over towards our landing point, having watched us take off earlier.

Sam had already turned back towards Epimetheus. "Gwen! Join me when your done! We're going to help Percy and Scipio!"

Sam stared into my eyes while I clung to Gwen. "Its okay." Sam said, trying to put on a brave face. "You tried. But we can take it from here."

Sam and Blackjack took off to face Epimetheus, who had turned his attention to our army. Epimetheus needed only take a few steps to crush everyone I knew and loved.

Gwen rested me against a tree, shooing a spider that had tried to climb on my leg. "Stay here."

I swallowed, extending my right hand to grab my javelin, but Rachel pulled it away. She held the javelin tightly. "I'm sorry, Jason." She said.

"Don't.... Don't do this." I said, my hand closing into a fist. "I need to fight too."

Gwen brushed my hair. "Jason, listen to me. I'm only going to say this once."

She cupped my face, forcing me to look at her. Her light blue eyes tearing up. "I know you don't value your life the same way you do ours. But I NEED you to understand that you are just as valuable as anyone else. Live to fight another day and-"

"NO!" I shouted, swiping her hands away. "I.... Like Sam said. This is not your choice to make. I can do this. I HAVE to do this."

I tried standing up, but my body failed me. I plopped back down against the tree and growled like a wolf. I tried to push myself back up, but Gwen pushed me back down. "Enough! Please! Killing yourself won't achieve anything!"

"Yes!" I shouted back. "Yes it will! If it means I can save someone, it will matter! It will finally matter! Don't you understand!? I looked Medusa in the eyes and destroyed fate! My mom abandoned me! My father disowned me! This is all I've got. THIS IS ALL I'VE GOT!"

Gwen pulled back, watching me as I tried to get up, but failed over and over again. She stood up, her light blue brimming with tears. "I love you, Jason. Reyna loves you. Everyone at Camp Jupiter loves you.  Does that not mean anything to you?"

I ignored her, still trying to get back up. I reached out towards Rachel to get my javelin back. "Give it to me." I groaned.

Rachel held the javelin close. "Listen to her, Jason. We are  trying to help you."

Gwen turned her back to me. "Percy told me what happened on Calypso's island. What happened between you and Jupiter. And what your doing to yourself now is no different then what Jupiter did to you."

"Shut up." I said, regret raging in my mind once those words left my mouth.

Gwen continued, looking at me with her back still turned. "Your just like your father. Too scared to believe. In us. And more importantly, in yourself."

She spread her wings and took off before I could get another word. All I could do is watch and cry my eyes out in shame.

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"HOLD YOUR GROUND!" I roared. "THE OTHERS WILL TAKE CARE OF THE TITAN. HOLD!"

The immense pressure the titan of afterthought gave off shook our forces to its very core.  In just a few moments, all the work done pushing Saturn's forces had been lost. Laistrygonian Giants crashed against our shield bearers, pushing them back. Stymphalian birds harassed our archers. Cyclops dismantled our traps, helping more of their forces approach and push us back.