note to readers

grammer will be fixed

Ch c27: Follow Onward

Camp Kronos... For all it's worth needed to be left behind. It was old even before the beginning of this war. The camp had protected and trained its demititans well and now they must see it off. Those who wanted to stay their injuries to great to move had been given a Rite of passage by Dante. But now the rest must march it was time.

"DEMITITANS!" Demi'se called clad in crimson armor Yin standing by his side as their soldiers formed ranks bannisters held high and shields close.

"MARCH!" Yin called as the Soldiers began to march Yin and Demi'se at the head not daring to look back at the only home they had ever known. Yin sighed as he lowered his voice so only Demi'se could hear. "you said I would know when I was number one... That I would be alone. And to pray it never happened."

"you felt it when you rallied the trooped to hold the line." Demi'se said his voic barely audible. "I've heard your speech from Alanna... The one you used to rally the troops."

"it was on the spot..." Yin said laughing silently.

"it worked and the line held... For the most part... Ether way in that instance you were alone." Demi'se sighed trying to find words "and maybe it was empowering or possibly-"

"no it was lonely in that moment I knew what had to be done and heck I had already dodged death..." Yin sighed glancing back to see Yang marching at the head of a Cohort arm in a sling. "but I knew I had to do it and... No one else could."

"most would say thats rising to the occasion..." Demi'se sighed.

"they've never risen then." Yin said solemnly. "at this pace we can march for another four hours with a fifteen minute break to continue from there."

"good." Demi'se said letting the sound of his army fill his ears. Most spoke of the ones they had left and those who had died. Others of battle and few of dreams. "You told me once... That all great armies respected their leaders."

"yes." Yin said not daring to look Demi'se in the eyes.

"only now do I see how right you were..." Demi'se said thinking it ironic that after nearly four years as leader that only now marching away from his only home he would realize this. For as much respect he had... It seemed out matched by fear. "the troops don't speak of happy times ahead or dreams of the future..."

"Only the ones they lost and the home we left behind." Yin finished knowing this from being one of Demi'se soldiers. Yin clapped Demi'se on the shoulder. "don't worry it isn't to late to change things... For every fall theres a grater rise... Albeit maybe a bit hard but still the saying holds true."

"Yin don't touch me... Your in my blind spot." Demi'se said brushing Yin's hand off his shoulder and readjusting his face bandages. "and thank you. Now go inspect our ranks and see to our injured."

"sure thing." Yin sighed falling back to the next line of troops which Alanna headed. "hey."

"hey." Alanna replied softly so her Cohort couldn't eavesdrop. "how was your chat with Demi'se."

"enlightening to say the least." Yin answered in equal quietness. "how your Cohort holding up?"

Both glanced back at the mass of twenty five in rows five by five. They quickly straitened up and chattered more silently.

"they're holding up." Alanna said with a smile. Ever since her first fight with the demigods Alanna had seemed to toss aside her shy shell and open up as a demititan and daughter of Kronos. "what about you?"

"better now that I talked to you." Yin said with a smile receiving a playful punch.

"shhh! I'd prefer camp Kronos not find out about the only child of Kronos falling for you." Alanna said blushing. Yin scratched off leaving shyness behind it was still there.

"Is that a bad thing?" Yin asked carefully.

"well with so many other girls in my dorm daydreaming about since your... Hmmm becoming a leader I wouldn't want to kill there hopes of being with you." Alanna said playfully.

"well that bites." Yin said with a quite laugh.

"why?" Alanna asked quickly.

"because they can't have me." Yin wrapped his arm around Alanna whispering in her ear. "Because I'm a one kind of girl guy."

The whole of the Cohorts began whispering about the strange sight before them. Daughter of Kronos and Son of Prometheus. Yin was sure they wouldn't buy it though their opinion didn't matter because right now he was with Alanna and that toped everything.

Dante sped up to Demi'se at the head of the army the two marched in silence waiting for the other to speak.

"you still don't trust him fully do you?" Dante said breaking the silence. "even after you've seen what he can do?"

"that makes me trust him even less." Demi'se said quickly hoping to close the subject.

"you're scared he is going to take your place?" Dante pressed.

"if camp Kronos choses to follow him so be it..." Demi'se glanced to make sure they were out of earshot of the others. "both a god and a Titan warned me of one who would betray me... A demititan one of my soldiers."

"you don't think it's Yin... Do you?" Dante asked surprised by this.

"Yang has tried to cross me many times... The two are by no means the same... Though-" Demi'se was stopped by Dante's hand which demanded to be respected.

"Never think Yin is the same as Yang... Their names should be a clue to how vastly different they are." Dante said sighing. "and what Rhea has planned is much greater than anything else."

"the Spear of Fire?" Demi'se prodded.

"yes." Dante said officially closing the subject. "we're approaching the point of no return."

"Yes..." Demi'se said as a large Stygian gate appeared in the distance. It stood ten feet tall with jagged edges and blood red words painted above. Demi'se read them aloud to his army. "Death to the gods!"

The army shifted nervously as a chill spread through their ranks searching for weakness.

"LOCK SHIELDS!" Yin called feeling deaths presence. The army reacted fast each body of Cohorts locking together forming into one mass. Demi'se and Dante stood waiting at the head. "guys... Get back here!"

"dad..." Dante gasped the temperature still dropping. "Demi'se we need to move!"

Yin knew it was to late but he surged forward anyway pushing the two aside.

"Death has no say here!" Yin called Neck Lacer springing to life. "begone!"

"how interesting..." Thanatos' voice called as Yin stood his ground. "Perhaps you our the target I must strike down."

"No I am their leader!" Demi'se called as the Cohorts moved forward backing the son of Hyperion.

"perhaps before demititan... Though loyalties change and this one..." the voice of death paused regarding Yin who held his stance. "this one I like... Perhaps my children could benefit from this war... Yin son of Prometheus You held strong in the face of death and have passed entry into this forsaken land... Lead them through the gates."

"DEMIGODS!" the army made formation into different Cohorts again. "march."

The army followed Yin through the gates and into a frozen forest. Despite no forest being visible before and their entrance gone Yin knew the path... He couldn't explain it but he had images of different markers that his instincts pulled him to.

For Demi'se this path was unknown and his suspicions grew of Yin. Though why had he surged forward to meet Death? Was it a calling? Perhaps Rhea... No they had eye contact when Yin pushed past him it was defiantly his will to charge. Than... Why?

Also it was clear the army trusted Yin and he had probably saved their lives from the god of Death. The son of Hyperion sighed remembering what Rhea had said about his rage... If any were to lead Yin was the best especially with only half of Demi'se's vision.

Demi'se stayed back and followed something that didn't come naturally to the natural born leader.