The Festus Chronicles

Too Many Monsters

Clarisse POV

Now I don't often say this, but I think there's too many monsters.

Our group had spent the last half hour searching. We looked in every cave, round every hill and then found this.

A ginormous cavern to rival all others. I could just make out Rachel 's red hair inside. Surrounding it were more monsters then the battle of Manhatten or even when the Roman's
reinforcements turned on them. Every monster in the world must have been there.

I manged to shake myself out of my shock.
"Come on! Come back!" I hissed at my group. They got the message and moved behind the hill.

"Okay," Malcom breathed "We should contact the others."
"Agreed." Nyssa said.
"Who's got the coin?" Felix asked.
"I've got it," Jake mentioned "Who's got water?"
I pulled a canteen out my bag.
"So who's got a flashlight?"
"Me." Sadie said.
We all gathered around. I twisted the nozzle on the canteen so it made spray. They were designed so they could be used for this exact purpose. Sadie shone her flashlight on the mirror she also oh so handily had. A vague rainbow formed.

"Oh Iris, Goddess of the rainbow, accept our offering," Malcolm said as he threw the golden drachma into the mist " Show us Lacy and Mitchell." They were two of the people in the base group.

Their image formed in the rainbow.
"Did you find something?"Lacy asked.
"Yeah," Malcolm said "Something being a giant cavern completely surrounded by monsters."
"Well then, where are you, so we can contact the other groups?"
Malcolm gives her a bunch of coordinates. Would have been easier to give directions, but no.
"Okay, see you soon!" Mitchell says and swipes his hand through the message. The connection cuts out.

I turn off my canteen spray thing. Sadie puts her mirror and flashlight away.

"Okay, so now we wait I guess." Malcolm says and sits down. We all do the same, even though I'm itching to run out and dissolve some monsters to dust.

We wait for what must have been about ten minutes but felt like ten hours. At long last groups start arriving. Before long our little crater hidey hole is bursting to the brim. We do a headcount and note everyone is there.

Annabeth calls a mini meeting at the edge.
"Okay," she says "Plans."
"Right," I say looking around the group " Any ideas?" No one does.
"So maybe if we sent some of us out first, then send everyone else while the monsters are distracted?" I suggest.
"Could work. But I doubt we could distract every monster." Annabeth points out. I have to admit she has a point.
"I don't think the mist will be much use either," Lou Ellen says "We can't cover so many people from so many monsters and it's going to take everyone to get out once we're in."
Everyone was quiet for the count of ten.
"So we'll just have to run at them then," Will piped up "I know we are outnumbered but we've got to try."
"He's right," Nico said "We're not doing any good standing here and dismissing plans."
"Well then," Annabeth sighed "Let's go get everyone prepared."
Everyone went to their respective groups. Or in Nico's, Percy ' s and Jason 's case went to inform the hunters and amazons of the happenings.

Getting everyone rallied was tough, but I'd been doing it for years so the Ares cabin was the first to be ready. As usual. The Apollo cabin and the Hunters went to the top of the hill to get a good vantage point for their bows. The healers set up a temporary infirmary ready for emergencies. We would be needing it.

Percy had gone off to find Mrs O Leary. I helped the newer demigods with their armour. Then we waited for the signal for charge.

Naturally that's when all Hades broke lose.

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