CONNOR

Defend and attack

Those three words played over and over again in his mind, threatening to drive him to the point of insanity. There was a plan, a simple, foolproof plan that Percy had relayed to Connor, but he couldn't help but lead the others to the battle point without a heavy heart. These kids could be dead in the next hour, and Connor couldn't help but feel responsible.

He reached to his side, drawing his sword as the bridge came into view; Connor gripped the sides of his armor. The air was deathly quiet, as if half of the Hermes cabin was stuck in the eye of a hurricane. Sure, the position was safe for a time period, but then, fighting was the way to go.

Connor quickly broke up the cabin into three sections. Strongest, quickest, and the smallest were spread out across the perimeter, weak spots being covered be their respectful defenders. Armored and tense more than ever, he looked to his side for Ash, who had taken her bow and arrow to a more convenient spot.

The son of Hermes sighed; she was always disobeying his orders.

TRAVIS

The first advance had been all a blur. A waterfall of crimson shadowed over Travis' eye sight as he fought, keeping his swift hands steady holding the blade. A slash here, a scream there. After a while, it was hard to differentiate, in the chaos of voices, who was who. He thought he saw Will perched in one of the oak trees, sending arrows through any monster who came into his viewpoint.

His best friend's presence urked Travis. The Apollo kids had the injured to worry about, and the fact that Will was far from an infirmary, he realized how little a chance they stood.

A voice broke through the mesh of demigods and Travis followed the voice to his best friend who was desperately trying to retrieve his fallen bow.

"Travis!" Will screamed over the blur, "Come! Hurry!"

A billion possibilities ran through his head. Gods was it Connor? Or did Katie not hold up in her fight alongside the Demeter kids?

Unfortunately, over the urgency in his voice, the outcome could've been positive or negative. Giving his lead position to another older Hermes kid, in a frenzy Travis followed Will through the city, through that masses of sleeping humans, to a classic hotel.

Both demigod's faces went ghastly when they entered the scene. It seemed like every available couch was taken, the Apollo and Asclepius children were dashing in and out of rooms, pushing to tend to another injury.

"Will please what happened?" Travis put his hand on Will's shoulder, stopping their pace, he didn't turn around.

"I'll try to do what I can," The son of Apollo simply said, his blonde hair was far from put together, and there were bruise marks covering his exposed neck. Will looked like shit to put it lightly.

Travis could feel his breathing quicken, but before he could say anything, Will led him up a mini set of stairs. When they reached the top, Will pulled something out of his back pocket. A vial, no surprise there, with a sickly green liquid in it that reminded Travis of the cough syrup his mom used to give him.

They traveled into one of the first rooms, rose gold décor was splattered all over the room, and the ceiling had a faded painting of springtime. But what caught his mind over anything, was Connor.

He was crouched on the ground, and Travis could hear him panting. Will made his was over to him, placing the vial in Connor's scarred hands.

"This will help the pain," Will said softly, who seemed to be looking at something in Connor's hands

Travis heard a whimper, then stifled sobs, then a weakened voice. Just like the happiness had been torn out of the person's speech.
Connor was uninjured, Travis figured that out when he walked over to him, but he could've never thought of what he saw next.

"You hear that Ash?" Connor's voice broke, his face was tear-stained, and his hands shook, "It's not going to hurt anymore."

A broken bow and arrow laid next to her contorted figure, there was a deep gash in one of her legs and another wound that was across her chest. She tried to speak but all Ash could get out was a cough, followed by her convulsing blood, marking the white carpet underneath her.

Connor cradled her head in his bruised arms, he was rocking her gently, reassuring her from time to time. She was only 13 and she had already faced more pain than Travis could even imagine.

"T-Trav—" Ash's brilliant orbs caught her half-brother's eyes, her painful whimpers killed him.

Travis crouched down, stroking her matted golden hair with his lithe fingers, "I'm right here,"

She nodded slowly and to steady her breathing. Connor was pressing a, previously white, towel to her fatal wound, desperately trying to reduce the bleeding. He put his forehead to hers and clenched his eyes shut, tears rolled from his cheeks onto her freckled nose. He had to look away from her mangled figure.

Travis recalled the first time that she showed up at the cabin.

"You look like Pippi Longstocking," Travis had said when he had first met her, his voice was rich with joy, full and confident.

Ash had looked mortified, "What?!" Her hands had immediately flew to cover up her freckles, blushing underneath her pale fingers. Ash's hair was more red back then, and Travis had always been one to find allusions between demigods and iconic characters.

"Don't worry, it's a good thing kid," Travis had joked, crouching down to meet her at eye level, "What's your name?"

Ash hadn't missed a beat, "Asher, but I think it sounds like a boy's name…"

Travis had chuckled, "How about a nickname? " He stood up straight, basically towering over the pre-teen, "Ash?"

As if that little girl's face couldn't get any brighter, she started beaming, "I love it!"

"Still hurts," She croaked, bright red liquid staining her camp t-shirt. They all knew that nothing could be done, which was why Will had come in the first place. Easing the pain was all he could do for her, Ash was in a condition that even using nectar or ambrosia wouldn't do anything.

"I know, I know," Connor gasped, his voice coming out in shudders. She was still leaning in his arms, her small fingers fisting bunches of his shirt fabric, "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry,"

He kept repeating his apology, his arms tightening around his broken half-sister. Ash unclenched her hand, moving her fingers up to his cheek; her head was shaking 'no'.

"Not your fault," She managed to speak, before sputtering out more blood. Connor was still cradling Ash in his lap when her face went slack. Her fists let go of his shirt.

"Do you have a brother? Like a real brother," Ash was bounding up the stairs behind Travis, making sure not to accidentally bump into him.

Travis smiled at her, "Yeah, his name's Connor, he's kind of a jerk though."

Ash grinned from behind his tall figure , "Connor," She repeated.

Not gonna lie I did cry when I wrote this. Reviews are goodgoodgood also I'm hoping to get out a mini chapter before I leave for vacation this wednesday, but dON'T WORRY! When I return I will return with 2-3 new and very long chapters to make up for the wait. I appreciate everything!

You guys are 2 cool

~Amita