Apollo's Wolves

Chapter Eleven -- Amari

Did Delta really just save me? I think as I lay on the ground, panting heavily. Sweat and probably blood are rolling off of me as I just feel too tired to even move. She didn't just save me, did she?

"Amari! Oh, my gods, are you okay?" Percy exclaims frantically, running over and dropping to his knees in front of me.

"I'm just peachy!" I laugh and then groan. "Oh, man, I totally feel terrible."

"I'll get our packs with ambrosia and nectar, just give me a couple of minutes," Annabeth says, walking off somewhere.

"I'll bandage you up," Calypso says, also kneeling down next to me. "You have quite a few cuts."

I wave her off. "Don't worry about it; I'll just heal in a couple of seconds," I tell her.

"Uh, Amari ... you've been lying there for five minutes and you're still not healed up the whole way. We're gonna bandage you up." Leo hands Calypso a roll of gauze, a couple of ace bandages, and some rubbing alcohol. They bandage up some of my larger cuts while Percy is hovering over me like an over-protective mom.

"Amari, are you okay?" He asks me, brushing some dirt off my face.

I grin. "I'm fine," I answer. "In fact, I'm great!"

He looks at me skeptically. "Are you sure? You're acting too chipper when you're all banged up. What's going on?"

Leo and Calypso finish bandaging me up, so Percy helps me sit up. "There you go, Amari. You should be all bandaged up now," Calypso tells me, handing Leo the rest of the gauze and rubbing alcohol.

"Thanks, guys. And thanks for saving me. That means an awful lot. I thought I was never going to get out of there!" I exclaim.

"Why did he even take you?" Delta asks, looking at me.

I shrug and then wince when I realize that my shoulder is out of place. "He said something about how Dad stole one of his favorite chariots and wasn't going to give it back, so he took one of Dad's favorite kids and wasn't going to give me back until he got his chariot," I explain. "But it was really weird. I still don't understand why Dad would even take Ares's chariot."

Percy shakes his head. "Apollo takes things without thinking of the consequences," he responds. "Is your shoulder okay?"

"I think it's out of socket," I reply. "It must've popped out when I hit the ground."

"I'm going to put it back in. Try not to crush me," Percy says, putting his hands on my shoulder.

"I'll help," Jason says, kneeling in front of me and taking my hands. "Put them on my shoulders and squeeze if it hurts."

"You don't want me to do that or else we'll have to put your shoulder in a cast," I reply, balling my hands into fists. "But thanks anyways."

"Ready? 1 ... 2 ... 3!"

"Urgh!" I groan in pain as my shoulder pops back into place.

I can feel fingers massaging my shoulder. "Are you okay, Amari?" Jason asks in concern.

I open my eyes and look at him. "I'm okay now," I say as the pain subsides. A breeze brushes past us, causing me to sigh. "Oh, man, that feels really good!"

"Are you hot, Amari?" Leo asks.

I nod. "I am. It doesn't help that werewolves have a higher body temperature than normal humans, and that fight took a lot out of me. Plus, my body temperature rises when I'm hurt because my body is trying to heal me," I answer, rotating my shoulder. "Thanks for doing that, Percy and Jason."

"No problem, Amari. Once Annabeth gets back with the nectar and ambrosia, we'll head into the rocks a little bit to a cave we came across and make camp for the night," Jason decides.

"Here's the ambrosia!" Annabeth calls, jogging over. "Sorry it took me so long."

"It's fine," I answer, accepting a square of the food of the gods. "Honestly, I probably don't really need this. If Delta hadn't saved me, I probably would've needed this more."

"What?" Delta snaps at me.

I smile. "Thanks for saving me, Sis. It really meant a lot to me," I say.

Horror takes over her features. "Oh my gods, I can't believe that I saved you!" Her voice is full of venom. "I only did it because I want to be the one to kill you! I'm not going to let some petty god steal that from me!"

My smile fades. "O-oh." I fall quiet and just chew on my ambrosia square, looking down at my lap.

"That wasn't very nice, Delta. Here's your ambrosia," Annabeth says.

"I'm outta here!" Delta exclaims, running off.

"I'll go after her," Jake sighs. "Don't take what she says to heart, Amari. I think she really does care for you."

"Right,"I mumble, finishing my square of ambrosia. She sure has a funny way of showing her concern and care.

"I'll help you up, Amari. And then we can head to the cave and make camp," Jason says, standing up and brushing his knees off. He holds his hands out. "Here we go."

I take his hands and allow him to pull me up. "Thanks," I say quietly. Everyone gathers up their things before walking into the rocks. I have to get out of here. Delta doesn't want me around. I'm not going to cause her more grief by staying around. I manage to stay at the back of the group and quietly break away, walking in the opposite direction. If I follow my instincts, I should be able to reach Camp Jupiter in a few days. I go to transform into my wolf, but instead of finding myself on all fours covered in fur, I find myself doubled over in pain. "Crap!" I curse under my breath and stand up straight, wincing and taking in a shaky breath.

An arm snakes around my shoulder. "C'mon, Amari. You can't run away again," he whispers sadly.

I sniff as tears come to my eyes. "I don't get it; why does she hate me?"

He pulls me into a hug as tears start streaming down my face. "I don't know, Amari. And I'm really sorry that she's acting like that towards you, but I need you to put on a brave face and come back to camp with me."

I take another shaky deep breath and stop crying, wiping my tears away. "Okay."

We walk back the way I had come and soon come upon the others. They look at me sadly, but don't say anything. They quickly get to work building a fire and cooking some food that they had in their packs. After we eat, we make our beds. I choose a corner pretty far away from the others, not wanting to deal with people. Much to my dismay, Leo and Calypso make their beds pretty close to me.

In the morning, I'll definitely head to Camp Jupiter, whether or not the others come with me. I lie down and close my eyes, relaxing completely. The world fades away as sleep takes over, and I surrender peacefully, hoping that my dreams would be better than my reality.