XVII: The Calm

-Alpha-

"The forest runs quiet today, huh?" A forest once beautiful and filled with life now turned to a war position. Holding the thicket with every trick in the book would lead to the least casualties. But victory, was as always, uncertain. Campers ran through the woods placing traps and locating surrounding points. You can only prepare so much for an enemy you know nothing about.

"Dry as well, you'll burn the whole thing down." I turned, confused by the unfamiliar voice and tone. Their stood Clarisse, pride rolling from her shoulders. One day since the first attack. Planning had immediately begun for the inevitable second attack. Clarisse had been opposed to Hannah's idea the whole way, no matter how solid.

"The plans solid were already going through with it." A creak flowed from behind me as a tree slowly timbered. Smashing to the ground in a tornado of leaves, branches, and slim trunks began being separated from the main log. "Those used to be the living space of Nymphs, you know. I'm sure they don't like what's to come of the forest."

"No," I admitted to the fair claim. "But I'm sure they'd rather be alive and in need of replanting than dead with a whole world on fire. Besides, we only need a few trees cut down, and the Greek fire will only take out a portion of the forest. Not to mention it's a backup plan."

"A backup plan that could happen. You off-worlders think you're so tough but in reality, no one knows this camp, this forest like us. Since five years ago this wall was held, the lead defense being or Ares campers. It hasn't fallen yet, and it won't unless your plan fai-"

"Quit whining you brat," a voice erupted from the left. Eyes locked between the angered Clarisse and the planner herself. Hannah wore a smug expression even in her eyes. She even stood up straight just to look down on the daughter of Ares. Yet the warrior's spirit seemed to leave, as she stormed away in a huff.

"Why are you picking fights," I asked with a tilted head. Black eyes told a whole story. I could see the shared pain where the incident with Percy laid. Back when Percy first joined the army, he and Hannah didn't hang out or talk much. Surprisingly, he chose me of all people to stick around first. Only later would I learn the true reason he left camp. Maybe he sought after me under the idea I was right about the gods all along. Was I?

In the second year, we began going on duo missions, and Chaos would purposely pair Percy and Hannah being the two strongest. After one mission they came back laughing, and acted completely different. It was a brother-sister relationship except they never bickered and argued. Everyone has disagreements, but the constant sibling squabbling wasn't there. It was like they were blood related, living together since birth.

Hannah became the big sister in the group the years after that. She cared for everyone and their problems, whether physical or emotional turmoil. Percy's secretism behind the betrayal on that day lead three years in, when the story came out in conversation about visiting Earth. Horrid tales of your world being turned against you as you choked in the water you thought was on your side. Hannah had cried.

So knowing who affected Percy would take toll on the mission. People like Clarisse wouldn't be reasoned with, instead shut off completely, before something worse happened. She had already been in one fight, though she didn't start it. Camp fell faster than the snow in an avalanche.

"We have multiple plans, each that only might work. If a basilisk comes again were done for. All our plans our based of military situations fighting man to man or humanoid sentient. Creatures of mass destruction, titans, and giants will tear through the defenses."

"On the contrary the fire trap killing or immobilizing a titan would be vital to our success here," I provided.

"Yes," Hannah said, pondering the idea. "But if it breaks through the defenses first the other monsters will run rampant and tear the campers to bits. Is it weird were using somewhat medieval war tactics for a modern fight against crazy mythological monsters?" She questioned, her happier tone returning from the previous stern one.

A smile pursed my lips. "Hey, those crazy mythological beasts almost instantly die to celestial bronze and imperial gold. If all it takes is leaving celestial tipped pikes and pits for them to run into, and kill themselves, so be it. The least lost the better. But yeah, it is a modern day battle. They should employ celestial bronze bullet guns. Not sure what the mist would do to that though."

Hannah smirked, and stared upon the evergreen. "The fight will come to us, not us to it." Those were her final words before walking back down to supervise the trap placement.

"Infantry check!" A gleeful voice broke the silence. Bianca clutched a paper reviewing the walls current situation. Enough weapons for everyone to have a primary, and half a secondary. More melee combatants than archers upon the descent of the hunters into camp. Only armor for around fourth campers, and the armor is heavily infused and hardly mobile.

Surprisingly, that worked somewhat perfectly. Enough armor for a reasonable sized camper group to draw the monsters in without dying. The plan was a full go, they just had to get lucky and execute it without a hitch. "I don't think Winter is ready to recall the full vision. However, off the top of my head I can remember something about a fight on the beach, a forest aflame, and someone ordering to 'burn them all.'"

A forest aflame huh?

Hello everyone. I never wanted to be an author who left notes all the time, but I feel like I should apologize. I didn't update last week, and this was a short chapter. No excuse for last week, but this week I had a lot of family of thanksgiving. Also the last chapter seems to have a lot of typos and kind of embarrassing errors. I will fix last chapter this week, and try now to finish each chapter a day early to allow time for additional editing.

I may delete the first part of that authors note, but this is really important. When I started this story I thought I could easily create something with dimensional characters and earned moments and twists. While some characters I like my direction with, others I feel like could be better. This week I will also be trying to plan out developments for each character and the overall plot. If next chapter is short it is only because I'm editing for the better of this story. This is my first big/long story to be posted online and really written at all. If you read this, thank you.

NEW FANFICTiON FOR PJO PREMIERS JANUARY 1ST!