A Collection of Seemingly Unconnected Tales

I See Fire

20170607
3:30am
I See Fire~ Ed Sheeran

Percy crept up next to Annabeth. Team Alpha was at the base of the cliff on the east side of the hunters' camp. They were waiting for Bravo Team to get to their position on the west side of the camp. Before they had left, they all decided that the shifters wouldn't shift unless they had to. They were more vulnerable to silver and wolfsbane in their animal forms.

Percy was watching the hunters. Twenty hunters were on watch. Ten more were sitting around a fire, having an early morning drink or getting ready for the next watch. Fifteen others were getting dressed and armed, presumably to attack the compound.

Percy heard a strangled sound come from behind him. He turned around. Piper was holding Leo back from running towards the hunters camp. Percy gave them a look. Piper just nodded her head to the north side of the camp.

There were four steel cages. A plume of fire shot up from one of the steel cages. Percy then heard a sort of inhuman screech. Like an angry cat, but deeper and louder. Percy was surprised none of the hunters ran to the cage or looked even slightly alarmed. He realized why a few seconds later. Another plume of fire and roar came from the cage. And another after that. He could also just barely see the creature throw itself against the bars, trying to break them. This creature was very angry.

Percy looked back at Piper and Leo. Piper was still holding Leo, who had tears in his eyes. Nico was also helping to hold Leo back.

What is that? Percy mouthed to Piper.

Our brother. She replied

Percy nodded and turned back to the camp. He mind linked Frank and Luke. Perks of being in a pack, currently or formerly, pack is for life.

Get the prisoners out of the steel cages first if you can. Bring them to the healers. Percy said.

Aye aye, captain. Frank replied. Percy just felt a mental nod from Luke.

After another minute, lightning struck the ground right in the middle of the hunters' camp. The signal. Leo transformed into his Phoenix and made a beeline for the cages.

Percy ran towards the hunters at the campfire, with Annabeth right on his heels. The first hunter tried to punch him in the face. Percy ducked and drove his shoulder right into the mans gut. Another hunter drew a gun on Percy but Annabeth cut the mans arm off. He fell, screaming. The screams stopped when Percy cut his head off.

The two continued like this, fighting like a whirlwind through much of the hunters. But every time they cut one down, two more took their place.

*****

Reyna and Luke were experiencing the same problem. They near the center of the camp, near what they thought was the command center. They were surrounded by hunters.

Chris and Clarisse were over to Luke's left. He saw Clarisse fall. Chris protected her until Frank swooped down in his eagle form and carried her back to the cliff seconds later.

Chris then fought his way over to Luke and Reyna. They managed to clear the area around them and then moved on towards where Thalia and Beckendorf were fighting about thirty hunters. Thalia was hurling balls of lightning at two or three hunters at a time. This would kill the hunters instantly, but more took their place. Beckendorf was occupied by a small hydra that the hunters were using to protect themselves.

******

Over at the cages, Leo and Jason were working on clearing the area of hunters and getting the cages open. Problem was, the cages were padlocked. As if that wasn't enough, there was also a magic barrier around them.

Leo was trying to get his brothers cage open while Jason fended off the hunters. Will was trying to help from the inside of the cage, but he was tired from hours and hours of trying to break the cage. Leo managed to melt the padlock, but the magic barrier was still there.

"Will, hold on we'll get you out of there." Leo reassured him. Will smiled weakly, his fiery eyes flickering.

"I know. I trust you." Will looked behind him. "Just hurry please. Mellie's really sick." Behind Will was a blonde girl who looked no older than six. She was coughing and wrapped up in what looked like Will's jacket. Leo just nodded and tried again to melt the magic barrier. No luck.

Just as he was about to try again, Hazel dropped down next to him. She still had her spell-made wings on her back.

"Looked like you needed some help." Hazel smiled. Leo sighed in relief.

"Yeah, there's this force field thing around the cage. I can't cut it, melt it or break it." Leo said.

"Hmm.." Hazel examine the barrier. "I think I know the correct spell. Stand back please." Leo took a few steps back and Will held Mellie protectively.

"Haec claustra praevaricator!" Hazel chanted. Not only did the barrier around Will's cage break but all the barriers on the other cages shattered as well.

"Thank you, Hazel." Leo said before running and helping his brother out of the cage. Hazel followed.

"I'll take Mellie back to the cliff with me first and then I'll come back for you." Hazel said to Will. Will smiled and shook his head.

"Thanks, but I think I can manage to get us there." Hazel looked confused.

"How? It's a little dangerous to just run through-" Hazel cut herself off when a fire-made dragon replace Will. The dragon had wisps of fire coming off its back. Will-the-dragon then gently picked up a giggling Mellie who was saying something like 'Festus! Festus!' And flew off towards the cliff.

After getting over her shock, Hazel went to help Leo and Jason get the others out of the cages. There was a tree nymph and her tree in one cage. Her name was Juniper. They found a redhead vampire named Rachel in another cage. The last cage held nothing but scorch marks and blood. By the time Hazel got Juniper and Rachel back to the cliff, the fighting was over.

******

Percy dragged himself back up the cliff. Once at the top, he surveyed the rest of the group. Everyone was exhausted and covered in blood. Only a few had serious injuries. Jake had a stab wound on his thigh and Clarisse had a gash across her back. Connor had a broken arm and Travis had a few dislocated fingers. Gwen had had an arrow go through her bicep.

There were also five bodies. Castor had been staked through the heart. Silena was killed by a hydra and Beckendorf died trying to get her back to the cliff. The hunters had beheaded both Phoebe and Zoe.

Percy was devastated. He had lost three pack members and two friends. Everyone else felt the same. Pollux was sobbing over his twin brother. Artemis was sitting down next to Phoebe, Zoe and Beckendorf. She was crying silently. Annabeth had just grabbed Percy in a tight hug.

When they got back to the compound, they had a funeral pyre for each of the deceased. Afterwords, everyone went to bed weary and sorrowful.