The blazing storm

Chapter 21

9 months earlier

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"So..." Darcy looked at the map she held in her hands.  "Where are we?" She asked. 

James squinted through the blinding sun.  They were standing on a mountain overlooking the valley.  "Somewhere in Montana." He said, obviously distracted. 

Darcy sighed.  "And remind me," She folded the map and handed it to James.  "Remind me why we crossed the border in Alberta."

James glanced at her.  "If there were any monsters following our scent, it would be harder for them to follow us.  He moved toward Darcy and gathered her in his arms.  "Besides, consider this a romantic getaway."

Darcy giggled but stopped herself.  James grinned at her.  "Did you just giggle?" He asked, obviously teasing her.  He poked her in the ribs, causing her to giggle even more.  He gasped in delight.  "You did giggle!"

"James!" He pushed him away playfully.  "Stop!  We need to get going!"

James smiled and turned away. 

8 months earlier
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"Are we there yet?" Darcy moaned.  She was riered of being cooped up in various buses. 

James peered over at her.  "Unfortunately, not yet." The car sped up as James pressed the gas pedal. 

Darcy nudged his arm.  "Good thinking, hot wirering an old car. 

James smiled but glanced up at the open roof.  When thenhad found it, the roof was ripped open.  But hey, they had a convertible now. 

"There!" Darcy pointed out the windshield at a sign that read:  Entering New York State

She bounced up and down in her seat.  They were almost home!  James laughed. 

"Calm down," The car sped up.  "We aren't there yet."

Present day
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The memories stopped.  Chiron frowned.  "That's it?"

Darcy scratched her eyebrow uncomfortably.  "I guess..." She shrugged.  Chiron opened his mouth to say something but stopped when Leora peeked in.  She smiled sheepishly.  "Hey you guys..." She looked uncomfortable.  "Just wanted to let you know that some scouts have spotted three Cyclopses and a dozen or so leontes headed this way." 

Chiron stood up.  "How far off?"

Leora bit down on her lip so hard Darcy was afraud she would bite right through it.  "Oh you know," She shifted from foot to foot awkwardly.  "Three, four kilometers."

Everyone starred at her.  "What are kilometers?" Darcy asked after a long silence. 

"It's a measurement in the metric system." James answered.  "Canada and most of the normal countries use it." He said casually.

Darcy punched him in the arm.  She looked back at Leora.  "What is that in miles?"

"Well there are one point six kilometers in a mile so..." She did some quick mental calculations.  "Five to seven miles... approximately."

Leo blinked.  "When did you get good at math?" He asked. 

Leora stuck her tongue out at him.  Darcy sat up.  "Ok," She looked at Leora.  "The math lesson was great and all, but what's going to happen now?" She looked towards Chiron. 

He shrugged.  "The barrier should hold out but if it dosen't, we fight back."

James looked satisfied.  "Sounds easy enough." 

Everyone stood up and began to move towards the door. 

"I will warn the other campers." Chiron says.  "You lot get ready, just in case."

Darcy nods and begins to make her way back towards her cabin to get herself ready to fight.  She wondered why the memories had stopped when they weren't complete...