The night dragged on with everyone asleep. The only thing moving was the automatons on night watch. But in the dark a shadow moved quickly and silently. The machines stayed at their posts but didn't notice anything but as the light of the sun started shining the shadow fled deeper into the camp unnoticed. At the break of day the campers rose for breakfast and chores. Enderdura yawned and stretched running her fingers in her messy black with bright green and purple streaked hair as she woke. Still in pjs she took the elevator to the main room and went out the door. But before she left for breakfast the smell of fire filled the air.
"That's weird. It doesn't smell like Nivis, dad, or the forge. What is it?"
Before she could analyze the smell further a head of black with silver tipped hair came into view along with a hug.
"Good morning."
It was Galica. Enderdura smiled and returned the hug. The girls seperated and started heading to breakfast with light conversation on the walk there. Breakfast had a mellow hum until Galica brought up a special type of training.
"Really?"
"Yeah. Chiron heads it. And it's super fun riding around inflicting damage on others."
Galica's eyes sparkled with a bit of blood lust. Enderdura just smiled.
"It does seem fun in the way you describe it."
"It is you'd love it. Almost everyone takes the class."
"Well when I fix myself an eye and get dressed why not take me to find a suitable partner."
The girls agreed to meet around noon after Enderdura made her prosthetic eye and got dressed.
Enderdura was rushing around with a basket then back to her cabin. When she came back out her basket was full of crystals, bronze metal, and glass. Running up the stairs to the forge and grabbed a small bowl of frost salts. Grabbing another small bowl she placed a crystal with a pinch of the frost salts and ground them together.
Taking a small bit of the lava from the forge and mixed it all together into a slight paste. She melted them mixture and glass and pulled a mold out of her basket. Once the liquid was in the mold she placed it into the water to let it cool. Grabbing a hammer the metal and tongs.
Heating the metal red hot and started shaping it into tiny gears once shaped she look the mold of the water and replaced it with the gears. The water steamed and hissed cooling and hardening the metal. Taking it out she set it on her work bench and pulled the mold apart.
Out came an eye sized glass sphere with a seem down the middle and a hole on one side. Taking the smallest rubber hammer she tapped the delicate object. It split along the seem and showed it was hollow. Using tweezers she picked up the gears and gently placed them into the sphere fitting perfectly when it will close.
Reaching into her basket she pulled out one of the two smallest black glowing crystals. Placing the crystal into the gears and pulled the two pieces together. Taking a pinch of the frost, void, and fire salts and mixed them with water and poured it into the sphere and along the seam sealing it.
Giving it a couple checks and going over her mental checklist she moved her bangs and stuck it into the eye socket. Grunting at the coolness and the pinching she blinked and felt fluid dripping down her cheek. Wiping the fluid Galica came up the stairs with a plate of food and juice. Once at Enderdura's side and placed everything down she looked up and started speaking.
"Hey. So you weren't at lunch so I brought . . . Oh my god why are you bleeding?!"
Looking at her fingers Enderdura touched the blood shaking her head she looked up and opened her right eye.
"Woah. Now that is freaky."
"What?"
"Look."
Enderdura went to the water and saw it. She had her eye back but it was completely white. But not blind white. The glowing black crystal made a black line around the outside of her iris. Quickly closing her lift eye she gasped.
"I-i-it works."
"What works?"
"My eye. I can see out of my right eye."
Enderdura was choking up. She thought her and Nivis would never be able to see out of the prosthetic. Galica came up behind her and hugged her. Both girls smiled and laughed. Quickly Enderdura went and got Nivis and told him about her eye. He smiled and went to make his own from her blueprints and directions.
With Enderdura now being able to see out of both eyes Galica took her to the stables. The stables were filled with so many different animals from horses, chimeras, and dragons. It was just a wide variety. They stopped at the stall of Galica's panther Piper. He was pitch black with electric blue spots. His claws were covered with metal caps that act as blades. Opening the stall the panther prowled out and started rubbing against Galica affectionately.
"Good boy. I missed you too."
The panther stopped rubbing when it noticed Enderdura and started growling. Enderdura back up slowly to appear less of a threat with her hand outstretched so the panther could smell. Piper kept growling till Galica intervened.
"It's okay boy she's my friend."
Piper's growl didn't stop but it did get quieter and started sniffing Enderdura's outstretched hand. Smelling his master's scent on her he calmed down. With his acceptance the panther purred. In the background clapping could be heard. Both girls and panther turned to the clapping to see their established group of friends. Alex, Annabeth, Grover, and Percy. Both girls became embarrassed but Galica showed it more prominently than Enderdura by covering her face. Enderdura just started playing with her fingers.
"Please stop. You guys know this is embarrassing!"
Galica continued to flush pink and the humorous air was dampened when Alex spoke.
"So what are you guys doing here on a free day of all things?"
"Looking for a mount for Enderdura."
Galica stated forgetting her embarrassment, and Enderdura nodded in comfirmation. The group clapped and exclaimed in excitement. The reason was because of the mounted combat training. Percy stepped forward to stand by a jet black Pegasus.
"This is Blackjack. My mount."
Annabeth stood by a sterling silver dappled horse.
"This is Willow."
Alex just held out shis arm and a tiny chimera landed. Then with a snap of his fingers it jumped to the ground and grew to the size of a horse.
"This is Acnologia."
They all stood by their mounts with pride and anyone could see the bond they all shared with the other. Enderdura smiled lightly. As they all stepped outside where all the creatures the campers rode. It was a field of all the creatures one could think of were there.
It was all peaceful till something shattered it literally. After the crash a gold roaring bull came into view. It roared and started charging through the space. All the campers scattered running to get weapons. Percy pulled out his pen but the charging bull was just on top of him till he was tackled to the dirt.
With the breathe knocked out of his lungs making his vision blur. The only thing that could be made out was a mass of black, bright green, and purple. Everything sounded like it was underwater. When his breathe was back and his world cleared he was Enderdura staring in the direction of the bull.
Her face showed disbelief and shock. Her lavender colored lips formed words but all sound was drowned out. All Percy saw was her but one word from her mouth brought all the sound back.
"Impossible."
With that word she scrambled up from straddling Percy and helped him up. Once he was on his feet Enderdura started running after the bull. The bull started running towards her. As it closed in Enderdura side stepped and tried grabbing it but once her hands touched it she reeled back like she had been burned and was holding her head.
When she touched it all she could hear was screaming. It still echoed in her brain and deafened the world around her. Tears blurred her vision from the pain and blood dripped out of her nose. Darting her eyes all around a black horse was heading her way.
Taking a chance she jumped onto its back. the horse reared up making Enderdura hold onto its mane and squeeze her legs around it for dear life. She spoke to the horse in an ergent and tear filled voice on the verge of sobbing.
"Listen I know you don't know me. But I have to stop its misery. The screaming and pain it's going through . . . I have to give it peace."
The black horse seemed to understand and started to calm down. Enderdura just looked at the mechanical bull with fire in her eyes and determination in her voice.
"I'm not asking much. Just get me close."
The horse obeyed and raced after the bull raging around the grounds. Enderdura quickly touched her bracelets, boots and belt to cover all the skin she would be using. Once the horse was close enough she jumped onto the bull. Even with her armor on she could still hear its screams of pain.
She held on and closed her eyes trying to push through the pain the bull was feeling. Cracking open one eye and putting her right hand into a death grip to stay on. She lifted her left and started pulling at the panel on its back. The panel didn't budge even when she dug her clawed gauntlest into the tiny space under it.
Running out of strength in her arm she grabbed her dagger and dug it into the creavice. With the leaverage the panel started coming open. Once the panel swung open the screams exploded in her brain and ears making her let go of the bull. Letting go allowed the bull to buck her off and start running again.
Enderdura was curled up on the ground holding her ears. The force of the screams made her blackout for a second. But once she was back the world was a huge blur. The only thing she recognized was the gold and the shaking earth. She quickly rolled out of the way of the gold hooves beating against the ground where she was.
The bull ran right past her and was making a wide turn to come back around. Just as it neared the black horse reappeared and pulled her out of the way. Not in immedeant danger Enderdura got to her shaky feet and looked at the horse. It just snorted and pointed its snout at the bull coming around again.
Getting the idea Enderdura hopped onto the horse and started racing to it. Taking out her dagger she spun it around making it a spear. As both neared the other the only sound was shouting and screaming. After they passed nothing. The ground didn't shake, no rustling leaves, no snapping twigs, no water lapping at the shore, and not even the wind howled. It was like the whole world was holding its breath for the next scene to follow where one would fall.
After what seemed like an eternity the bull puffed steam and broke into seperate pieces clattering on the ground. Enderdura's spear went back to being a dagger and she got off the horse. Shen she released her armor she turned to the campers surrounding her and grinned as everyone sheered. But the cheering stopped abruptly as blood started to slowly drip out of her ears, eyes, nose, and mouth.
Not knowing what made everyone stop Enderdura touched her face and pulled her hand back seeing the sticky red fluid leaving her body. Realizing why everyone stopped the blood leaving her body caught up to her brain making her faint. All the campers rushed to her side to try and pick her up byt Chiron's voice filled the air. The campers scattered and let him through so he could take Enderdura to the infirmary.
The sun filled the infirmary shining across Enderdura's eyes making her scrunch up her face. Not being able to stand the light she slowly opened her eyes. Her vision was blurred and the light annoying her so she started blinking to clearly examine her surroundings.
It was the infirmary based on the glass window cabinets filled with medicine and supplies along with the slight sterile smell. The smell was giving her a headache at the nape of her neck making her groan which hurt her throat. As she silently moaned in pain the door opened making it squeak and the sound to maker her ears ring.
'What happened? Why am I in here? And why is everything making my head feel like it's going to implode?'
Enderdura's thought ran through her head making her brain have sharps stabs of pain go through it. Once the person who came in sat down Enderdura saw it was Percy. He looked tired and around his eyes it was turning gray due to dark circles. Enderdura's voice cracked as she spoke.
"You look like hell while I feel like I faced a train head on without a helmet."
Percy's head shoot up so fast Enderdura thought he was going to her whiplash. When he saw her purple and white eyes open and staring at him he shoot up and hugged her. Enderdura groaned at the force of the hug and meekly wrapped her arms around him. Then she spoke again.
"You know you'll give me more bruises from the force of this hug. And I'll being here longer. And if I'm in here longer I won't be able to test some armor designs that involve water with you."
Percy let her go at that. With no more pressure on her battered body she let out a moan of relief. The sound made Percy blush. This woman was something else she took no shame in the sounds she produced. She was a strong woman to take on that bull alone. He wondered why.
"Hey why'd you take that bull on alone?"
Enderdura sighed and rubbed her temples just the thought of all the screams still rung on in her head. Making her wince in pain. She turned to Percy and spoke.
"It was screaming. It was in pain. I had to make it stop, give it peace."
With that out the sound of the screams gone a sudden wave of drowsiness washed over her mind. She turned back to Percy and spoke again.
"Hey I need to sleep. I'm wiped. Come back when I don't feel like a hibernating aninmal."
Before Percy could talk to her more she was on her side facing away and her breathing slowed down. She was down for the count for now. It was a few weeks before Enderdura was out of the infirmary. But she was happy even though people pointed out her bruises. She later said that they took forever on her to leave so then no one questioned it.
She was working on an aquatic feature of her armor when Percy came up the stairs. He waited for her to set everything down to tap her on the shoulder. Getting the tip she turned and hugged him giving him a little nomming on his shoulder as they hugged.
The nomming was weird at first but she said she only did that to people she trusted. So he accepted it. To be honest he had a crush on her. What wasn't to like? But he digressed. He needed to take her to see someone.
"Hey before we test your armor I want to take you to the stable."
"Why?"
"Someone there wants to see you."
Enderdura agreed and went with him turning her armor back into its hidden form of accessories. They walked to the stable with idle talk and conversation. Once on the field with all the mounts a familiar black horse and Pegasus came towards the two. The black horse snorted at Enderdura who reached to pet the horse.
"I remember you. You helped me with the bull. Well it's nice to finally thank you for helping me."
The horse neighed in agreement to her statement. That's when Percy cut in.
"This is Shadowmere. She's never let anyone on her well till you. In fact she wouldn't mind letting you ride her some more."
Enderdura's mouth gaped at the mention of riding Shadowmere again. She turned to Percy and hugged him. When she let go she bounced around and then hugged Shadowmere. She turned to Percy with a sly smirk on her face.
"You better not be falling for me Percy Jackson or you might find yourself a one way ticket to the center of the earth. And I don't mean the one from the movie I mean the literally molten core."
Looking down a small crack in the ground was opening and bits of steam were rising out of it. Hephaestus was not happy at the close proximity of a male near his daughter. With Percy distracted she got on Shadowmere and started racing around the field. When the crack vanished Percy saw Enderdura riding the black horse around with a wide smile on her face.
She was radiant and glowed like lava in a volcano. And she was just as warm and deadly as lava. He wondered if any other girl could match her. In beauty, strength, and courage. The group went to Enderdura and Nivis' cabin it being the largest. They were all having fun in the game room when a muffled sound came form the stone wall.
"Where is that coming from? Is that the pipes?"
"No. That sounds like humming."
"How do you know?"
"Work with my family and you need to have good hearing with how loud it is."
The sound of metal on rock broke the conversation and then the wall fell in. A dwarf walked out of the hole he made singing a song when he looked up and saw all the teens in the room he looked around then spoke.
"Am I interrupting something?"
No one spoke.
"I'll come back later."
With that he was nothing but a dust cloud running back into the hole he made. The room was silent again before Enderdura broke it by yelling.
"Get him!"
And they all raced down the hole.