Camp Half Blood: One "Salty" Adventure

Chapter Twenty-One

Myra's POV:

I didn't sleep at all last night. Not that I had expected to. The clock next to me read 5:30 A.M. It was still too early to leave the infirmary without getting mauled by harpies. Escaping wasn't worth the risk, I wouldn't be here much longer anyways. I pulled out my sword from its sheath and ran my fingers over the cold metal. I grabbed a fistful of my blanket and began polishing my sword with it.

I thought about my time here at Camp. Not all of it had been bad. I would miss Will, Nico, and Cole. I wasn't sure what to think of Cole, but he acted so open yesterday. I wanted to believe him, but it just wasn't safe for me to do so. Something along my journey here had made me even more cold and mistrustful than I had originally been seven months ago. If Cole was going to act like the sun than I was going to act like a comet. A blazing cluster of ice that only used his support to get myself back up to my feet and then get myself out of here. This thought hurt more than I wanted to admit, but I had to get used to it. I shook my head. Cole should not be what's occupying my thoughts right now.

My sword sparkled in the light of dawn that filtered in through the window. I placed it back in it's sheath and withdrew my map. I cringed at the two outlined paths. We had to take the faster one, but I desperately wanted to find another way. If we wanted to get to Khione's palace, we would have to cut across Lake Superior. Using my power that much was probably going to put me out of commission for a few days if it doesn't outright kill me. I'm not doing this for myself. I'm doing it for Cass and for Cole. Death was not an ending, it was merely an obstacle. I would never fulfill my promise to Cole, but he didn't make me swear on the Styx anyways. I wish he had.

"Myra, I know you like to sleep in, but you-" The curtains around my cot had opened to reveal Will. He looked disappointed, but not surprised to see me awake. "Did you at least get any sleep last night?" Will handed me a plain black backpack and gave me an accusing glare. I shrugged in response and quietly took the bag and unzipped it. Inside were packages of ambrosia and nectar plus a few changes of clothes, a sleeping bag, and a few other things. I folded the map and placed it inside. I wanted to leave so badly, but my heart seemed to ache more with every minute that passed by.

"Thanks, Will. I wish I could repay you for all the stuff you've done for me..." I stretched and Will shook his head and gave me a weak smile.

"Make it home alive first and then we'll talk about you repaying me, alright?" Home. Will had spoken the word freely, like it was something he said often. He seemed to notice he struck a nerve and gave me an encouraging pat on the back. "Nico and I will be waiting to say goodbye to you at the Camp border when you leave." He turned to leave and left me alone. I was getting really sick of being alone. I kept my mouth shut and got ready. All I had to pack was my sword which I strapped at my waist.

The morning air was hot and humid. I didn't like it at all. I strolled over to the dining pavilion and looked around. I saw Ben sitting alone and pushing around the food on his plate. I grabbed some food of my own, pancakes of course, and awkwardly sat down across from him. Ben didn't even bother to look up.

"Wow, I didn't realize you were capable of thinking." My snide remarked went unnoticed. All Ben did was look up from his plate and stare at me. I took my map out and set it down in between us. "We need to pick a route for the quest then." I started, deciding Ben wasn't going to be of much use in any other conversation.

"We have to wait for Rose." He said flatly and looked back down.

"We can start talking about it now. I understand you're all depressed about leaving today, but we've got to move on with our lives. Especially considering we might not have them for much longer." I started eating while Ben gave me an incredulous look. "There somethin' on my face?" I asked after an uncomfortable moment of silence.