The Shadow Summoner | Book Three - PJO Universe

eight

RACHEL IS BACK! (WITH SOME NEWS)

Ariana was right.

Chiron was wrong.

Teams had gone missing, it had been hours since the race had started and they hadn't returned.

With flickering points of light resolved into torches, they had been searching for ages.

At last Apollo and Meg burst out of the woods, right into a crowd of campers and satyrs.

Chiron galloped over. "Thank the gods!"

"You're welcome," Apollo gasped, mostly out of habit, "Chiron ... we have to talk."

Ariana rushed over. "Are you both okay?"

In the firelight, the centaur's face seemed carved from shadow. "Yes, we do, my friend. But first, I fear one more team is still missing ... your children, Kayla and Austin."

Chiron forced them to take showers and change clothes. Otherwise they would have all plunged straight back into the woods.

By the time Apollo was done, Kayla and Austin still had not returned.

Chiron had sent search parties of dryads into the forest, on the assumption that they would be safe in their home territory, but he adamantly refused to let demigods join the hunt.

"We cannot risk anyone else." he said. "Kayla, Austin and - and the other missing ... They would not want that."

Five campers had now disappeared. Ariana harboured no illusions that Kayla and Austin would return on their own.

Ariana would have ignored Chirons warning and run into the forest except for Will's panicked shout.

"Apollo, I need you!"

At the far end of the field, he had set up an impromptu hospital where half a dozen campers lay injured on stretchers.

He was frantically tending to Paolo Montes while Nico held down the screaming patient.

Apollo and Ariana ran to Will's side and winced at what she saw. Paolo had managed to get one of his legs sawn off.

"I got it reattached." Will told them, his voice shaky with exhaustion. His scrubs were speckled with blood. "I need somebody to keep him stable."

Apollo pointed to the woods. "But -"

"I know!" Will snapped. "Don't you think I want to be out there searching, too? We're shorthanded for healers. There's some salve and nectar in that pack. Go."

"Y-yes." Apollo said. "Yes, of course!"

He grabbed the supply pack and took charge of Paolo, who had conveniently passed out from the pain.

Will changed his surgical gloves and glared at the woods. "We will find them. We have to."

Nico di Angelo gave him a flask. "Drink. Right now, this is where you need to be."

Ariana could tell the her brother was angry, too. Around his feet, the grass steamed and withered.

Will sighed. "You're right. But that doesn't make me feel better. I have to set Valentina's broken arm now. You want to assist?"

"Sounds gruesome." Nico said. "Let's go."

"Ariana?" Will asked.

Ariana perked up her head and hummed.

"Make sure he doesn't kill any campers."

Ariana agreed and when they went, she kept a close eye on the former god.