The Unknown Guardian

| Chapter 5 || And Then There Were Twelve |

Chapter Five

And Then There were Twelve

*Third Person Point of View*

Everything was in chaos.

The Romans scurried back and forth, some trying to put out fires that had started all over the fields of Mars, while others were defending against the waves upon waves of monsters. The Greeks were there too, having received an urgent distress call from their brothers and sisters in arms. Luckily, they had arrived quickly, as Hermes himself provided transport. The rest of the gods fought alongside their children, facing the generals of the opposing army who couldn't be identified from the hill the hunters resided on.

"Oh no!" Jessica cried as she ran up the hill. She had woken up from her short nap to the sounds of battle, and was immediately on her feet, ready to investigate.

Her outcry alerted the other hunters, who wake as well from where they had all passed out. They sprinted up the hill to stand at their mistress' side, only for their eyes to fall upon the battle.

"We've got to help them!" Thalia shouted, causing all of her fellow hunters to nod in approval. Just because they didn't like the campers didn't mean that they would let them die.

Artemis seemed unsure. "Are you all well-rested?" she asked. "I know that I forced you all to rush here so quickly. I won't send you into battle only to have you killed."

Thalia smiled at her half-sister. "Don't worry. The adrenaline should keep us alive. Besides, we have a guardian to protect us now, so it shouldn't be a problem. Don't you remember how he took on that army last time?"

The hunters all turned to their guardian expectantly. He merely shook his head. "It doesn't work that way. I'm not exactly sure, but while I was training, the Great One told us that only when a guardian is summoned－or if his or her charge was in great danger－would the guardian be blessed with such untold speed and strength. Without that, I can only fight as an average warrior with my training. I humbly say that I can best thousands of monsters myself, but even I cannot be in all places as once."

The hunters looked away, disappointed. "Wait! I have an idea!" Jessica exclaimed, and the other girls present could practically see a light bulb floating above her head.

"What is it Jessica?" Artemis asked the daughter of Athena.

"What if the other gods summoned their guardians? They only do it in times of great need, right? This seems like one of those times," she said, pointing towards the battle down below.

"A brilliant idea Jessica! I will inform the others of this plan. Meanwhile, I wish for you to partake in the battle, but if you feel too tired to fight, I order you to stay here where it's safe." Artemis then disappeared, reappearing in the rabble below to aid the other Olympians.

The guardian turned to his charge's prized pupils. He wanted so badly to protect them all, but he had a terrible feeling that at least one of them would die in this battle. Though he saw that they had such determination in their eyes, he also saw exhaustion. They wouldn't be safe if they fought in such a condition. They wouldn't be safe anyway, but their chance of death nearly doubled if they chose to fight in their current states.

"I will protect you all the best I can. Please stay close if you wish to fight. Those of you who are too young or too tired, stay here. That is an order. I do not wish for you to die here today," he said, then turning as well and marching down the slope into the throng of monsters,

He approached them from behind, as their attention was mostly focused on invading the camp in front of them. Taking a deep breath, the guardian rushed forwards with his enhanced speed, and carved a wide line in the monsters, parting them like the Red Sea.