You know how, when a pebble drops into a puddle, it creates ripples in the water that spread out from the center and soften at the edges? Whenever it used to rain by the cabin, dad and I would collect as many pebbles as we could and try to out beat each other's waves. Whoever made the most before the stones ran out got to choose what pizza to order in. Most of the time, dad let me win.

I wasn't playing for pizza on that hill. The grass rippled under my feet again and again. I saw Harley drag Mattie's body over to Peleus, who drew them on its body as the tree heaved up and down with every wave. The weapons and injured laying around bumped along with each ripple. The hill was a puddle, and I had become the pebble.

"Sharrock," I called out, "who leads you?"

He mumbled something but stepped forward, the other giants muttering to one another. "We were once led by our great brethren, the ones born to specifically take down the gods. Now, however, we have but one true leader! Gaea is our mother and master, she always has been. You were meant to be her right hand man against the demigod camps! You were to lead us to victory, but the gods hid you away. Even now you let them hide you away. Look at what you can do!"

The hill moaned and the trees groaned. I could hear everything, feel everything. "I would have never led you against the demigods. Not if it meant the destruction mother wanted!"

"It would have brought a new world where we would rule!"

They were being stubborn. Rhea had been right, because I was just as stubborn. It was time to put my foot down.

(Harley wants to warn you all that what happens next really did happen, and that he totally wasn't squealing like a girl through the whole thing.)

"Will you submit?"

By now Percy and Nico had gotten all the demigods out of the way, leaving a clear path between me and the giants. Sharrock took my question like a joke and laughed it off. "Don't act tough. I can see you're nothing more than a weakling, a failure that mother was kind enough to keep alive."

Instead of focusing on his annoying pride I focused on the ground beneath him. I felt every particle of soil churning, and willing it to the right momentum-

Sloomp!

Sharrock sunk waist deep into the hard ground. He shook about but couldn't move, snow covering his body. "Aeneas! This is the power of Gaea, at last!"

I told the ground to sink him further, up to his neck. Only his head stuck out, but still he smiled. Actually, he was grinning. "This is what the gods fear."

I didn't think it was much. Surely there were children of Demeter or Hecate who could perform the same trick. However, looking over the expression of the campers, it seemed as though I had done something rare.

(Yes, I know Nico could do similar things, but to a giant? Uh-huh, I was the first.)

"They will never accept you," Sharrock spoke aloud for all our brethren to hear, "you belong to us! Join our ranks and create the world mother wanted for us – for you!"

"…Do you see that?"

His smile faded. "I can see nothing from down here."

"Do you see her?"

"Whoa," Harley gawked as he slid off Peleus onto a mound of dirty snow and slush, "hey!" It lifted him and Mattie's body up into view.

"Are you telling me that you're willing to pay this price for our world?!" I spoke to all the giants now. "You would take on the gods in your arrogance?!"

The giants looked from face to face but gave me weary glares. I was going to have to give them more of a reason to believe me than simply giving their leader a dirt bath.

"Mother failed. There is no new world waiting for us, her children. Forget what she told you about defeating the gods! If you leave now, I won't hurt you!"

"You would attack us?" One of the taller giants spat my way. "We're your brothers!"

"And they're my great-nieces and great-nephews," I gestured to the campers, "are you asking me to hurt them instead? I'll tell you one last time. Leave, or I will hurt you."

"Don't listen to him," Sharrock sneered, "he cannot kill. He wavers."

I won't deny that he was telling the truth. Marge's cries of desperation as she turned to dust still rang in my ears. Killing the giants wasn't what I wanted to do. I wanted them to leave peacefully and never return, but I knew it wouldn't work that way. They were all that was left of the great army from the camp wars. They needed a sign.

I looked back at Mattie. Harley was trying to do her hair back up and keep her jacket from slipping off her limp shoulders. If I hadn't come she could have made it safely to Camp Jupiter. None of the demigods would have been hurt, and she…she wouldn't have…

I let the ager fester as I turned back to Sharrock. "I work for the gods. This camp is my home, and I won't let you harm it."

There was crazy practically glittering in his eyes. "Prove it."

I did just that. I held my hand out and willed the ground to heed my command. For only a moment it became my land. Slowly I closed my fingers into a fist, tightening it until my nails tug into my palm. At first, nothing happened. Soon, however, Sharrock began to moan, his eyes widening.

"Wh-what's happening? Something's crushing my legs-AH!" His head squirmed as the ground around him turned on its own. "A-Aeneas! What is this?!"

"My power, remember?" I closed my eyes.

"Y-You wouldn't! We aren't the enemy, they are! What are you doing?!"

"…Proving you wrong."

The ground lumped over his head and squished down, until his distant wails of pain were dampened out by the now flat soil.

I had taken his life.

Your welcome, Hades.

Decided to post so I could update you guys! We're filling up a pod tomorrow with furniture. It's so exciting to think that I'll be in Ottawa in the next few weeks, but leaving is going to be rough. I'm sorry chapters are being released so slowly, but with everything going on, I've had little time to work on them. Don't worry, though, the story will come to a close. It may only be a few more chapters, too.

Let's see if Aeneas can survive for that long, eh?

Until the next chapter!