As soon as I stepped into the vortex, all I could hear was wind, my eyes couldn't stay open as they dried immediately. Unable to hear or see, I felt my body being whipped around, unsure of which way was up. It was impossible for me to tell how much time had passed in the vortex, but I did know if it had lasted even a minute longer, I would have thrown up.
When the spinning stopped, I was launched out of the vortex and soared through the air. I opened my eyes, but my vision was still blurry from the dryness. All I saw was a blur of green before I felt myself crash onto the ground. I laid still on what I could tell was grass and waited for my head to stop spinning. I did mental inventory of my limbs and then my armour - I was completely intact. I slowly stood up, trying to make sure the contents of my stomach stayed down.
Then more Demigods came flying out of the vortex, each soaring through the air before crash landing on the grass.
When the last Demigod was flung from the vortex, the wind dispersed with only the dizzy group of us left as evidence to what had happened.
Horace, Scarlet, Piper and I regrouped together and the other Demigods formed their own tight huddle.
"Is everyone okay?" Piper asked our group.
"Yeah just a little shaken up," Scarlet answered with a hand on her stomach. Horace and I nodded in agreement.
"Good, we can deal with a bit of nausea - nothing compared to last night. Now, let's talk strategy. From what I can see, the woods look quite dense behind us, whereas in front of us seems to be a clearing spanning all the way to that mountain over there." Piper pointed past the other Demigods and to a large mountain. When I saw the other Demigods, Gaia's advice echoed in my head.
"Piper, we should be developing a strategy with everyone else."
My friends all stared blankly at my suggestion.
"Sorry, did you hit your head coming out of that vortex? Do you not remember what happened last night?"
"Of course I do," I felt my face heat up. "I just-"
"Great, because there is no way I am teaming up with those psychos." Piper crossed her arms sternly.
"We have to." My confidence clearly surprised Piper and she dropped her arms looking ready to listen. "I know last night was fucked up, but how are the 4 of us supposed to complete a trial made for 16 people?"
I paused to let it sink in - I could see Piper try to come up with a rebuttal, but instead, she sighed loudly looking defeated.
"Gaia said it herself, while helping me with my armour, we have to do this together - all of us."
"You're right." Agreed Horace with a solemn nod. Knowing that Horace had more of a right to refuse working with Zach, the girls agreed with his decision.
"Right then, let's go," Piper took the lead walking over to the other Demigods.
Before we made it all the way to their circle, it was clear they were already in a heated debate about what to do next.
"You're being unreasonable!" Peyton shouted at Zach and Alistair.
"We already told you, if you don't like it, then leave." Alistair retorted with a smug grin.
Peyton looked shocked, clearly looking for Zach to step in.
"Whatever, let's just go." Dakotah said, pulling Peyton away - 3 other Demigods followed them as they headed into the woods.
After glaring down the other Demigods leaving, Alistair turned and saw us approaching.
"No, no, no, no, no," Alistair laughed. "You're kidding me right?"
YOU ARE READING
The New Demigods
FantasíaGemini wakes up on Mount Olympus, with no memory of his previous life - the Greek gods claim he, alongside 15 other demigods, are the Gods' last hope for survival. On top of grappling with his lost sense of self, he's thrown into what he had thought...
