I felt a burst of heat swallow my hands. I looked down to find that the scroll was now ablaze, engulfed in black flames. I didn't even have to glance back up to know who had arrived.
"Max!" There Max stood, the Elementals at his side. He grinned apologetically.
"Might wanna take care of that." Max nodded toward the burning scroll. I dropped it quickly and examined my palms to make sure they weren't as damaged as the pile of dust that was once the parchment scroll. "We have arrived!" The Elementals and I cast Max sideways glances, all sharing the same thought. Mavis was the first to act, and stepped forward.
"Are we just going to stand here and let our friends die?" She didn't wait for an answer and charged off into battle.
"So noble." Max muttered as he and the rest of the Elementals took off after Mavis. I followed closely behind them, loading an arrow into my bow. After fighting off several rebels, we found ourselves in a circle in the center of the battlefield.
"Light this for me will you?" I handed my arrow to Max who stood on my right.
"With pleasure." When I got my arrow back, a flicker of black fire had it's own place on my arrow. I quickly loaded into my bow and fired it at the nearest rebel. This process continued until my quiver was empty. I cursed under my breath.
"I'll be right back! Be careful, you guys!" I dashed off for the weapons shed. When I retrieved two more quivers I was confronted by Brittney. She was out of breath and there were cuts and bruises all over her face. "You okay?"
"Starr, Percy's dying!"
"What?! What's wrong?"
"That's the problem. We have no clue." I took a moment to let this all sink in.
"Let's go." Brittney sprinted through the chaos and I was right behind her. I felt confident we were going to make it to Percy without conflict until I was pulled to the ground. Quinn lay on the ground, his hand on my ankle, eyes wild, and blood splattered across his face, hands, and chest. I quickly kicked him away and got up. Quinn smiled, as he did, blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. The sight was horrific.
"You...won't...win." He reached a crimson hand out, still smiling maniacally. "You...will..never...win." His breaths got shorter as I watched in trepidation. "You will watch your precious camp burn." I stepped back, struck with intense fear. I didn't dare watch this wicked person die, it would only scare me more. So, I turned and followed Brittney through the swarm of half-bloods.
When we finally reaching where Percy was lying it seemed like he was already gone. But, I wouldn't let him exit this world so easily. I knelt beside his body and felt his wrist for a pulse. It was almost like a whisper, but the pulse was there.
"He's alive." I sighed with relief and looked over at Annabeth and Emily. A flicker of hope lit like a match in Annabeth's eyes.
"What do we do?" I looked to Emily.
"Hey, don't look at me," she put her hands up defensively, "I have no idea about what's wrong with him."
"He looks pale." I racked my brain for any help the medical lessons had given me. "Poison?"
"That would make sense."
"Okay. Here, help me flip him over." Brittney helped me do so and when we did, I saw a small puncture wound in the center of Percy's back.
"A poison-tipped arrow, perhaps?"
"Most likely. Get me a clean washcloth or something, a bucket of warm water, some ambrosia, and a bandage of some sort." I got out my dagger and cut the fabric near the wound from Percy's shirt. Emily returned a few minutes later, the Elementals hurrying behind her. "What took you so long?" I demanded. "And where's my water?" Merisa took a knee beside me.
"Right here."
"Good idea, Emily." She grinned and handed me the cloth. "Okay, make sure the water is warm. Not too hot and not too cold." Merisa placed her hand inches from Percy's back and summoned water, rinsing out the wound. When she finished, I wiped the injury down with the cloth. Emily then handed me a roll of guaze. "Help me lift him." Max and Eric lifted Percy and I wrapped the gauze around his back and stomach. "Alright, set him down." I looked pointedly at Max, and said, "Gently, please." They did so and I thanked them and sent the Elementals back to the fight. "Ambrosia." Emily handed me a plastic bag filled with several ambrosia squares. "Thanks." I handed a square to Annabeth. "I would be more comfortable if you did it." So Annabeth forced Percy to eat the square and we waited anxiously. Soon enough, the color returned to Percy's face and he opened his eyes. Annabeth, tears of joy running down her face, hugged him. I smiled and stood, feeling a warm rush of relief.
"Am I dead?" Percy asked wearily. Annabeth laughed and shook her head.
"You're not done yet, Seaweed Brain."
"I'm not done until you're done, Wise Girl." I grinned and started to walk away. I may have saved one camper, but there was still hundreds more left.
