Misslieness:

"the feeling of solitariness that comes from missing something or someone you love."

- A continuation of Rubatosis –

In loving memory of Kirby Morrow

Jay clutched his palms tightly as he desperately surveyed the uneven landscape of the battlefield before him from the safety of Zeus's army base. He had called for a retreat almost two hours ago, yet only Theresa and Odie had made it back to the Olympian's tent with the rest of Zeus's troops. A lump grew in the back of Jay's throat as each minute passed by.

"I can hear your thoughts from Chiron's tent," a gentle voice uttered as he felt a slender hand on his shoulder.

"I'm worried…They should have been back by now," Jay replied as Theresa studied his tired eyes. She had never seen him look so defeated before, he had barely slept since the second Titan war had begun. "Do you think you could use your powers to make sure they're ok, Theresa?"

"It's difficult with so many energies around here but I can try," Theresa pressed her fingertips to her temples as Jay watch on eagerly. "I see- "

"Jay!" Cried the voice of Atlanta as she tumbled through the tent panting in exhaustion. Jay and Theresa rushed over to steady her; a small sigh of relief escaping his chest.

"Atlanta, you made it!" He grinned, helping her to a near-by lounge.

"Atlanta's back!? – That's four down, three to go!" Odie announced excitedly, returning from Chiron's tent with his arm in a sling.

"But that explosion – how did you make it out before the cave blew up?" Theresa marvelled in disbelief at the sight of her friend.

"I didn't, it's kind of a long story..." Atlanta smiled to herself; she glanced through the cracks of the tent towards the horizon of the battlefield. In the distance, a cloud of ash and dust circled around Cronus's base from where the cave exploded. It was hard to believe they were standing amongst the rubble just hours ago. She remembered Archie in that moment; how angry and desperate he sounded when she ignored his pleas to follow Jay's call for retreat. She didn't even think of the possibility that he would follow her into the fray. What if he was still at Cronus's base? Her face fell into worry, "Where are the others?"

Jay turned to Theresa,

"I'm on it." She nodded, closing her eyes once more as she pressed her fingertips to her temples. A moment passed before her eyes shot open, "oh no- "

"Jay!" A gruff voice desperately cried from outside, the four teens looked at each other for a moment before charging out of the tent. Approaching the base was a very bruised Herry and Neil each supporting a barely conscious Archie, who had a deep wound slashed across his abdomen where Neil was pressing a rag in an attempt to stop the bleeding.
"Archie…" Atlanta gasped under her breath before rushing over to relieve him from Herry.

Jay turned to Odie, "get Chiron now." As Odie rushed towards Chiron's medical tent, Herry swayed as Atlanta took Archie's weight from him. Jay quickly guided him inside,

"It was Cronus, he attacked during the retreat. If Neil hadn't found him when we were scouting, Cronus would have finished him off for sure." Herry explained, head in his hands.

"I should have known he'd play dirty." Jay scowled venomously, "but the main thing is we're all here."