The sun sprung up in it's high place in the afternoon sky, sending a burning heat through the camp. The heavy armor didn't help, and we were all left to the mercy of the sun and the constant presence of exhaustion. Yet we fought on.
When the afternoon heat started to ebb away, it took my strength with it. I was so tired I could barely pull back the string of my bow. But, the rebels never quit, there actually seemed to be more of them as the day progressed. As I was laying pinned, a sword to my throat, I considered the possibility of letting the rebel end it. Was this life really worth it? I didn't have much more time to consider, for the rebel went flying off of me along with Alexis. She swung her celestial bronze sword like a madman and swiftly brought an end to the attacker. I got to my feet and thanked Alexis. She just nodded and sprinted off in another direction.
"Hey! A little help?" Mavis was locked in battle with two rebels, both most likely sons of Ares. I charged after the one whose back faced me and plunged my dagger into a chink in the attacker's armor, in the nape of his neck. Mavis knocked the other down, proceeding to char the rebel's flesh and set him ablaze in an inferno. I turned away, grimacing. "You okay?" I nodded, trying my best not to hurl at the thought of being burned alive.
"Just tired."
"Yeah...know the feeling."
"Yeah." I mumbled, starting to walk away.
"You sure you're alright? You seem-" Mavis was cut off when a sword sunk through her stomach. I barely had time to roll away from the oncoming rebel before he stabbed me also. I ended up behind him and I jabbed my dagger into his back, seeing as he was without armor. I turned back to Mavis before the rebel crumpled to the ground. The wound was pretty bad, it was a bloody mess that made me flinch at the sight of it. I crouched next to Mavis, who now lay on the dying grass.
"Oh my gods." I whispered, surveying the stab.
"Déjá vu." Mavis pulled a tight smile as I recalled a night at camp where she had been stabbed in a similar spot. We never discovered who had set that trap, but I now had reason to believe it had been a rebel.
"Mmhmm." I searched for any sort of healing tools, even running to the infirmary, but all of our supplies seemed to be gone. By now, the Sun had set and the fighting practically stopped. Healers that remained were patching up the wounded and dying, but some could not be saved. The other Elementals wandered by, laughing and elbowing each other until they saw Mavis's bad condition and the smiles were wiped off of their faces. "You guys stay here, I'll go get someone."
"You didn't think to do that earlier?" Max glared at me, clearly enraged, while Eric kneeled next to Mavis, grabbing her hand, his eyes full of tears. I jogged around the campsite, looking for anyone who could help. Finally, I spotted a child of Apollo looking for something to do, holding a medical kit.
"Hey!" I ran to the camper and informed him of the injury. He quickly set off to aid Mavis.
"Maybe if I was given supplies I could do something." I muttered, my annoyance rekindling.
"I know. I feel so useless." I jumped and looked around for the source of the voice. It was Annabeth, making her way over with Brittney.
"How's Percy?"
"Alive. Thank the gods. And thank you."
"Of course."
"Starr, did you get cut?" Brittney made a gesture to my forehead.
"What?" I reached up, touching the place where she pointed. I took my hand away to see it covered in blood. "Oh. It's probably nothing, don't worry about it. Is everyone else okay?" I was eager to change the subject.
