Taking a Stand
The group settled down to eat George cooked some stew for them while he made himself a soup. As they ate, they talked about their journey to the Camp.
"So let me get this straight," George said. "Artemis, band of not-so-merry women came across you and they couldn't be bothered to help you to the camp?"
Thalia shrugged "apparently. One of them even told me not to trust Luke because he was a boy. Babbling nonsense on how he would betray me. I refused to listen, and she told me she was a fool."
George frowned, "if you are a fool to trust Luke, then they are fool to trust in Artemis protection. It's all fun and games until they catch the eye of the man in the sky. And when he comes, she won't protect them, if the tale of Kallisto is anything to go by."
Thunder rolled across the sky as the others looked around nervously. "You shouldn't speak that way about the Gods." Annabeth warned. "They have cursed people for less."
George scoffed, "from what I've read they curse you for simply existing."
This led to a silence as the other demigods looked at each other, then to Thalia. "Tell me about it," she muttered.
George cocked an eyebrow, "seriously?" He turned to Thalia who nodded, and George shook his head, "let me guess, your father's doing?"
Luke smirked, "what makes you say that?"
George scratched his chin, "I've read enough Greek mythology to know that whenever someone's life is ruined, it's usually him." He turned back to Thalia, "am I wrong?"
Thalia shook her head, "my father did something that made Hades angry so now he wants revenge."
George sighed, "so that's why there are monsters after you." Thalia nodded grimly.
Luke decided to change the subject to learn more about the newcomer, "So where are you from," he asked.
"Texas," George said proudly, "Though a year ago we had to move to Virginia so my mother and stepfather could begin their new jobs."
"So, you made the trek here all the way from Virginia on your own? Without a Satyr escort?" Annabeth asked incredulously.
George shrugged, "if your satyr is anything to go by, I think I'm better off without."
"That's enough," Thalia snapped. "Grover's made some mistakes, but he's done the best he can."
"Well, that's not enough," George replied. Perhaps it they had sent an experienced satyr to retrieve you, you would have made it to camp by now."
Grover simply bowed his head in silent acknowledgement as everyone else went back to her stew and George did the same. Unlike the others, George prepared a separate meal for himself. A cooked snake he had caught mixed with a soup broth and local herbs. The girls were disgusted but Luke watched the younger boy eat with slight fascination.
"Are you really enjoying that?" Luke asked.
George frowned, "nah, needs garlic."
Thalia took a whiff and made a face, "how can you eat that concoction."
"I've been taught to eat things that would make a tiger shark puke." He gestured to the soup, "this is a delicacy." He took another bite of snake causing Thalia to grimace before going back to her stew.
"Don't worry, I suspect you'll be able to fill yourself up with real food, once we reach camp," George assured her.
After they finished eating, they stored the leftovers in tupperware and made sure their things were packed and ready to leave in the morning. Luke and George decided to take turns on watch.
"I'll take first if you take second," George offered him.
The older boy nodded gratefully and settled down to sleep while George went up to the roof and took a seat. At the 5-hour mark George went down to wake Luke to take up the last 3 hours.
When they awoke, they had breakfast and packed their remaining belongings before heading out. It would take one whole day for them to reach camp but that would be without rest, so they figured at most a day and a half. They decided to try and cover as much ground as possible. Along the way they encountered several more monsters mostly hellhounds but also a couple more cyclops and several laestrygonians. In this regard George proved to be quite helpful.
With their journey going smoothly, it seemed that they might make it to Camp after all. But George was wary, his mother and stepfather had drilled into his head that the world never revolved around things going 'according to plan'.
As nightfall came, they had gotten a little over halfway and looked for a suitable place to rest and settling for a condemned farmhouse. But they only got few hours of sleep when the house was attacked by a pack of hellhounds. Though they were able to fight them off one of the hellhounds got away likely to inform the rest of the pack of their whereabouts. No longer safe to stay at the farmhouse, the group was forced to keep moving. This forced them to take short naps, every few miles with George and Luke once again taking turns standing watch.
It was midafternoon when they reached the edge of the forest that hid the camp. "One more mile," Grover assured them. "Just one more mile and we'll be there." But suddenly he paused and turned around obviously sensing something wrong. without a word, Grover sprinted off to see what it was. An unearthly screech was heard, and Grover came running back a few moments later panting.
"What is it?" George demanded.
"Monsters," Grover gasped, "swarms of them, hellhounds and the three furies."
With no time to lose the group began sprinting through the forest with Grover in the lead while George took up the rear to make sure nobody got left behind in the panic. All except George even ditched their packs in an attempt to run faster, but the barks and screeches were getting louder and louder. The monsters were getting closer, and it seemed that despite their best efforts they weren't going to make it.
Thalia paused and turned to where the monsters were coming from. Seeing her stop, the rest of the group turned to her.
"C'mon Thalia," Luke urged, "we have to go, before they catch up."
Thalia shook her head, "get to the Camp," she ordered activating her spear and strapping on her shield. "I'm going to hold them off."
Luke's eyes widened in horror as he grabbed her arm, "NO, YOU CAN'T," he pleaded. "We can still make it Thalia, all of us."
Thalia shook her head, "I'm the one they're after, If I stay behind, they won't come after you. and if not then I can stall them long enough for you guys to get to safety."
Tears welled up in Luke's eyes as he shook his head, "NO!" he cried, "no... that's not... we go together."
"Luke," Thalia said softly, "you and Annabeth are the closest I've had to a real family. I lost my brother; I will not lose any of you too. She cupped his cheek, "please Luke, get Annabeth to safety, do it...for me."
Luke has a pained expression and finally he nods reluctantly and goes to Annabeth."
"No, NO!" Annabeth shrieks in horror as Luke lifts her up and carries her away. "No, there has to be a way, Thalia, THALIA!" Annabeth continues to scream as Luka and Grover start running.
Tears ran down her cheeks as she watched her friends escape, then she noticed that one was not among those running, she turned to see George next to her setting his bags against a nearby tree.
"What are you doing?" Thalia demanded.
"A good soldier doesn't leave their battle-buddy," George replied with a determined expression.
"Look I can buy the rest of you time to escape if I give them something to hunt."
George nodded, and raised his hand towards her, "then allow me to double that time, and increase your odds of survival."
Thalia regarded the boy for a moment and took his hand with a grateful nod. With that they turned towards the sound of approaching monsters weapons raised. Thalia with her spear and shield and George with his xiphos and kopis.
Getting an idea, George quickly climbed a tree and waited for an opportune enemy to present itself. The first would take the form of one of the furies. The fury flew under his branch, her focus on Thalia and George leaped from his high point driving his swords into the Fury's wings. The Fury fell to the ground and as it thrashed around violently trying to escape, George withdrew his kopis, put it under the Fury's throat and slashed it dissolving her into dust.
The Fury was followed by a hellhound, trying to maul him from behind only for Thalia to spear it through the neck. George was quick to return the favour when a second hellhound leaped at Thalia only for George to get in front of her impaling the hellhound with both swords its body weight driving the blades all the way to the hilts.
This continued for some time with the pair of demigods cutting down monster after monster, watching each other's backs. But all they while they slowly fell beck in the direction of the camp. They weren't far, and if they could just hold out, they might just make it.
As George cut down another hellhound, he saw a second fury grab Thalia and lift her into the air. George retrieved his grappling hook from his bag and lashed the end of the rope to a tree. With a few twirls, he hurled it in an arch and latching onto the Fury's leg. The move surprises the fury and it turned to see what snared her.
"GET AWAY FROM HER YOU CRUSTY BITCH," George roared. He knew of the Furies reputation but hell be damned if he cared. They were going after a little girl like some sick sadist. He grabbed the rope and pulled the rope as hard as he could pulling the fury to the ground who thanks to the shock didn't get the chance to pull back. The Fury got up only for Thalia to slam into her with her shield. Tackling her to the ground and impaling her with her spear.
Suddenly a fiery whip lashed itself around George arm burning through the fabric and the skin beneath. George screamed as the whip burned his arm. Unable to break free or even cut the whip George did the only thing he could think of at the moment. He hurled his kopis at the fury Hoping to kill it. He didn't wholly fail, the fury managed to dodge the blade only for it to slice into the arm holding the whip. Now loose George was able to untangle himself from the whip. But by now it was scorched red and covered in welts and blisters. George, dashed for the fallen kopis only for him to be grabbed by the throat by the Fury who lifted him into the air, her other hand pinned the arm holding the xiphos while her taloned feet pinned his furiously kicking legs.
"You should not have interfered demigod," The Fury snarled, "You've made a serious mistake crossing us, now you will suffer as she will."
Her clawed hand moves from his throat to his face with the clear intent to rip it off. George keeps eye contact the whole time, so she doesn't see what he is doing. Seeing his chance, George's hand releases his xiphos letting it fall...into his waiting burned hand. Ignoring the pain as he clutches the blade.
"Get pregnant, old crone" he snarled as he slashed the Fury across her stomach before stabbing it into the hand pinning his other arm. The Fury shrieks in pain and releases her grip on his good hand.
George uses this moment to switch the xiphos back to his good hand and makes a trust into the fury's face. Enraged the dissolving fury swipes him with her claws intending to open his throat. George tries to deflect it with his sword and was partially successful as the swipe it deflected upwards into George's face. the force of the Fury's blow sends into a tree. His head hits a knot knocking him out as his body crashes to the ground.
"Get up!"
George stirs at the sound of his mother's voice, every inch of him awash with pain.
"GET UP GEORGE!" It's another voice, this one is his stepfather
George lifts his good arm and places it on the ground and tries to push his body up. He managed to get upright before the pain intensifies and overwhelms him, and he collapses against the tree.
"YOU MUST GET UP!" The voice of Joseph insisted. "YOU WILL NOT DIE HERE."
"IF YOU DON'T MOVE THE GIRL WILL DIE." Hilde scolded.
George stirs some more and looks up, but something is wrong with his vision, everything seems off. He puts his finger to his face and the hand is wet and red.
"So are you going to give up when you are so close," Joseph asked.
"Do not disappoint me." Hilde reminded him.
This was the final straw, the last bit of motivation he needed. Groaning and biting his way through the pain George struggles to his feet and looks around. Spotting his weapons, he retrieves them and sees Thalia next to him badly wounded and exhausted. The Daughter of Zeus had been defending his body from hellhounds before being knocked to the ground. George sheathes his swords and using his good arm lifts Thalia to her feet and wraps her arm over his neck. His burned arm wrapped around her and placed under her armpit.
"Come on," he said, "on your feet soldier." Even talking was painful. Thalia finds her footing and together, they stagger towards the camp.
Barking is heard and two hellhounds appear, three more appear behind them. they are surrounded. George grits his teeth and draws his xiphos. But something strange occurred, the hellhounds in front of them and leaped but not at them. Instead, they land behind them and start barking at the three behind. Without taking a moment to question it George continued to help Thalia along blood and sweat blur his vision. He vaguely makes out shaped of humans dashing past them including a woman holding kamas and another with a ball and chain. But he keeps his focus on the direction of the camp.
After for what seemed like forever, he bumps into the chest of a tall blonde boy. He can feel Thalia's weight lifted from him as they continue moving. He sees a firelight in the distance. He feels Thalia being separated from him and someone or something grasps his shoulder. Before he could say anything, his wounds and exhaustion finally get the better of him and he collapsed to the ground darkness overtaking him.