The Blazing Fate

Chapter Six

Astrid woke up and immediately went to the infirmary. She had missed that place more than camp, really. And she needed to stock up. There was no telling what monstrosity Leo was going to find as transportation, and Astrid was sure they'd need medical supplies.

She was clipping bandages and packing up a first aid kit when someone knocked on the office door. She looked up and a bright smile spread across her face.

'Connor!'

She jumped up and ran over to him. He picked her up and spun her around in a very tight hug. Connor Stoll was the first boy Astrid ever really liked. They were best friends. When he put her down, she couldn't help but feel better.

'How have you been?' she asked.

Connor smiled, his usual laid-back smile. 'I've been good. Keeping up the pranks while everyone freaks. We've missed you around here.'

'Yeah, well... you'll have to miss me a bit more,' Astrid sighed, going back to packing. 'I hate that I'm going to rescue Hera. She's made Annabeth's life miserable, and she took Percy, I'm sure of it. If she wiped his memory and he doesn't remember Annabeth... I think Annabeth would tear down Olympus.'

'You are going to lead those nobodies to greatness,' Connor said. 'This is your moment.'

'They're not nobodies,' Astrid said, looking at the older boy. 'They're my friends... well, they were. I don't know I haven't been able to speak to Leo about any of it.'

'Right, Leo,' Connor scoffed. 'So, he's the right distraction?'

Astrid froze. 'Connor—'

'No, it's okay,' he said. 'Sorry, I should let you get ready. I'll, uh, see you when you get back, yeah?'

Astrid goes to say something, but she has already broken the boy's heart once. So, instead she nodded and watched Connor walk away.

It was right after the final battle. Astrid had just watched the light leave Luke's eyes, saw him be human one last time before Hades took him. Rachel had just proven herself to be the new oracle. Apollo had just come to camp and told Astrid she was going to be important soon. More important than she was even in that war.

Astrid was sitting outside of her cabin, trying to forget all the memories, when Connor walked up to her. She knew what was coming, it had been long overdue, but she had changed. She loved Connor, maybe in the same way he loved her, but she couldn't. She didn't even feel like camp was home anymore without her brothers. Without Annabeth always being around.

Connor took the rejection well. He said he understood but it had never been the same. And then she left. Which apparently was the final nail in the coffin for Connor. She could never hate him or be mad at him. He should hate her or at least feel some sort of rejection. She just wished things were different.

And then there was Leo. Astrid fell for Leo the second she met him. Before she even knew he was one of her demigods. Leo was naturally funny, smart no matter how hard he tried to pretend he wasn't, and he was loyal. He found his friends and he stuck with them. Astrid knew he was a child of Hephaestus almost instantly. He was special. And not just because she likes him. There's something actually special about him.

Astrid knew her mind was all over the place. She zipped up her bag and let herself exist for a moment. She closes her eyes and tries to regulate her breathing. That's when Will came slamming into the infirmary office.

'The Dragon,' he gasped out. 'It's outside. It's back.'

----

Leo sitting atop a giant bronze death machine, grinning like an idiot, really made sense to Astrid. Even before he landed, the camp alarm went up. A conch horn blew. All the satyrs started screaming. Astrid readied her bow, just in case.