Perseus the Hunter

Chapter 11

The three immortals appeared in a flurry of flames at the edge of Camp Half Blood only to be met with a horrific sight. Screams of terror ripped through the air, half of the camp was on fire, the campers were running away from camp and into the woods. It seemed that the barrier had fallen, monsters overwhelmed the camp, roaring with victory and tearing the campers to shreds. There were gorgons, Drakons there was even a gryphon and several cyclopses. Empusai were wielding daggers and hobbling after the campers, weighed down by their metal legs. The senior campers were trying their hardest to defend the younger ones, but they weren't doing very well. Bodies littered the ground turning the soil red.

The three of them leapt into action. Aphrodite and Hestia were unable to do a lot, having to abide by the gods' rules, but they could kill a few monsters and carry the wounded to the safety of the temporary medic tent that the Apollo kids had set up in the woods.

Kynigòs grabbed his cylinder turning it into a three-foot double-edged sword which he wielded with expert precision. He made his way through the blood-soaked campgrounds, slicing every monster he met into dust. Through the cloud of dust, he could see the hunters gathered in a circle fighting off the monsters as best they could. He reached into his cloak and brought out several throwing knives which he launched in their direction. Each knife found its target, killing their surrounding monsters so they could get their wounded to safety. The trained campers were holding their own but Kynigòs was better trained and managed to down them quicker, allowing them to aid others.

Kynigòs heard a scream of pain and his head whipped towards the sound as he beheaded a Drakon. He flame-travelled behind the gorgon and slid his blade through its chest, turning it to dust. Once it had settled, he helped the camper to his feet. It was a young boy, no older than eight who held on tightly to a small bronze dagger with white knuckles. He wore an oversized leather breastplate that was tied on wrong. His once blonde hair was stained red from the blood that ran down his face. He blinked the blood from his eyes and looked at his saviour, instantly recognising him as the man that brought him to camp a year ago.

Kynigòs threw the boy onto his back where he clung on for dear life. Burying his face into the man's cloak and closing his eyes. Kynigòs started fighting the monsters once more, tearing through them in record time. Hearing another yelp he headed toward the sound. This time it was a cyclops. He had his club raised above him mid-swing but never got the chance to bring it down as he suddenly turned to dust. The club clattered to the floor next to it's once victim. A small girl in a silver parka that was ripped to shreds and covered in red and gold. Kynigòs instantly recognised it as the girl he brought to camp not a month prior, Lily. She gripped a broken silver arrow in her hands as protection and weakly looked up.

"Kynigòs" she managed to mumble before she blacked out. He placed his cylinder at his waist and picked Lily up, flashing himself and the two young half-bloods to the med tent. He lay her on a cot before letting the boy off of his back. There was blood pouring out of her stomach onto the floor. He grabbed some bandages and pressed them firmly to the wounds. The boy took over from him using his good hand to apply pressure.

"I won't leave her" he managed to get out, his voice weak and croaky, tears streaming down his bloodstained cheeks. Kynigòs placed a hand on his shoulder before handing him a piece of ambrosia for himself.

Kynigòs turned and left in flames, back to the camp. He stood on the hill looking out at the massacre. The sight angered him, he felt his powers rise to the surface, begging to be used. He pulled the elements to him, fire, earth, air and water, creating a small storm which encircled him. The elements clashed and sparked, it was a storm of pure power and energy. He drew his cylinder and created two identical daggers before allowing the power to seep outwards a little more. The storm got faster and faster as it encircled him, building as his emotions grew. He felt himself become one with it, becoming the elements, becoming a monster of his own creation.

He sped through the battlefield feeling lighter than air, slicing into the remaining monsters like a hot knife through butter. The storm tore them to shreds before his daggers even dared to make contact. If they were wearing armour, it didn't seem to affect the daggers, as they sliced straight through.

It was merely seconds before the storm dissipated around him and he beheaded the last Empousai. He let the dust settle around him before he slowly breathed out and placed his cylinder back at his waist. The whole camp floor was now covered in a layer of gold that glittered in the sun. It shone so bright he wished he had sunglasses on.

He turned and made his way to the medical tent, healing campers as he went. He stopped for each one, healing stab wounds and gashes, even small scratches. He felt a pang in his chest when he passed a camper that he was unable to save.

He finally ended up where he laid Lily on the cot. The boy had sat down beside her holding her hand. The bleeding from her stomach had seemed to have stopped and there was some colour returning to her face. He moved the rags away from his stomach, not caring about the hunters that had gathered around her. He placed his hand just above her and let his hand glow to heal her wound. It took a few seconds, but the wound closed up. He used the bandages to wipe away some of the leftover blood to check that it had properly healed.

He heard a few mumbled 'thank you's' from the surrounding hunters as he moved toward the young boy. His hand was holding onto Lily's, but his body was slumped against the cot and his head lolled on his chest.

Kynigòs dreaded the worst as he placed a hand against the boy's skin. Pain filled his heart as it was cold to the touch. He gently removed his hand from Lily's and lay him on the ground. His eyes were closed, and he looked like he was sleeping. The ground underneath him was running red but Kynigòs had assumed that was from Lily's previous wound, not noticing that the boy had a sufficient gash in his side.

He could see in his hand a few crumbs of the ambrosia square, but none near his mouth. He looked up to Lily's and saw a golden crumb balancing on her lip.

The boy hadn't eaten the ambrosia, he had crushed it up in his hand and fed it to Lily. That was why Lily's bleeding had stopped. He saved her life, knowing that he was going to bleed out. A tear ran down Kynigòs' face under the hood as he said a small prayer in his mind for the boy to find Elysium and be at peace.

The Hunters had noticed Kynigòs kneeling on the floor and managed to figure out what the boy had done. They looked over them in shock before they each bowed their heads in respect and thanks. He hadn't broken his promise, he had stayed with her to the end.