I know some of you aren't the biggest 'Tratie' fans, but I love them so much! I couldn't help but write another chapter about them! I think next chapter will be the rest of the gang..then maybe some more Percabeth :)

Travis's POV

I couldn't stop thinking about Connor. I don't think I'd ever been away from him this long before. Ever. The possibility of him being dead lurked in the back of my mind. No.

Katie reached for my hand and gave me a look of sympathy. "Connor's okay. I just know it." she assured me. I wanted to believer Katie, but part of me thought it would be too good to be true. I faked a smile and pulled her to my chest. Gods, I didn't know what I'd do without her.

We continued down the beach hand in hand. We had been walking for hours, searching for our friends. So far we hadn't made any progress.

"Remember when Connor and I put shaving cream on your hand while you were sleeping, and then tickled your nose?" Katie asked me.

I grinned. "Remember when Connor and I stole your clothes and towel while you were in the shower?" Katie shoved me and I laughed.

"That was not funny"

"You slept in the shower house."

Katie rolled her eyes. "And when the three of us released a box of crickets in the Aphrodite cabin."

"That was awesome." I agreed. "You know, you'd make a great child of Hermes."

She kissed me on the cheek. "But then I wouldn't be able to date you."

"Touche."

I peered past Katie into the forest. Two glowing, yellow dots illuminated the dark foliage. Could they be...eyes?

"Travis?" Katie whispered. "What's wrong?" She look at me concernedly. I didn't take my eyes off the forest. Out of nowhere, a huge manticore leaped out the jungle.

"KATIE!" I shouted. It was like slow motion. The fear flooding Katie's eyes. The manticore descending on her, teeth bared, enormous paws reaching towards her. She didn't even have time to turn around.

In a second it was on her. She was pinned under its clawed feet. Her green eyes begged for help. Adrenaline flooded my veins and I whipped out the only weapon I had: a celestial bronze pocket knife. I couldn't kill it with such a small weapon. I tried to stab at its eyes but missed and gored part of its ear instead. The evil, spinx-like creature jerked towards me, as if noticing me for the first time, and roared. Crap. On the bright side, it wasn't interested in Katie anymore. The manticore pounced. I tried to run, but it caught me by the ankle and pulled me to the ground.

"Travis!" Katie screamed in horror. I flipped around to my back and met the manticore's mocking, gleaming, red eyes. It stood over me, feet planted firmly in the sand, locking me in like a huge, furry cage. The monster blinked, waiting for me to make the first move. So I stabbed it again, and this time, my target was acquired.

The manticore howled in pain, pawing frantically at its skewered eye. While it was distracted, I thrust my knife into the monster's other eye. It shrieked in agony and defeat. I quickly rolled out from under it and backed away, prepared to attack.

But I didn't have to. Wailing, the manticore stumbled blindly back into the thick forest. I waited until it was completely out of sight before rushing to Katie's side.

I knelt and slid my hands under her back, propping her up. She cringed and cried out in agony. My gaze fell to her leg. There were deep claw marks on her calf, and it was bleeding heavily. She was hyperventilating and trembling in pain. My heart dropped in my chest.

"Katie..." I tried to stop the blood with my bare hands, but it wasn't helping. I cursed. Damn it Travis, you had one job!

"No. No no no no no. Katie you're gonna be fine. C'mon Katie it's okay." I began to panic. I couldn't lose her. I may have already lost Connor. If Katie died, I would have nothing to live for. I needed her.

Dad please. Please don't let her die.

"Travis," Katie managed between breaths, "It hurts..."

"I know Katie. Gods I'm so sorry." I cradled her tiny body in my arms. "You'll be okay Katie. Everything will be okay." Deep down, I knew it wouldn't. This was my last chance. I had to tell her.

"Katie, I-" Before I could finish, something shimmered in the sand next to me. I reached down and picked up a small vile clearly labeled 'ambrosia'. Desperately, I unscrewed the lid and poured it into Katie's mouth. Instantly, her uneven breathing slowed and the bleeding in her leg stopped. Relief spread through my body. It was working.

Thank you Dad.

There wasn't enough ambrosia in the bottle to completely heal her leg, but it was enough to guartantee her survival. The once deep gashes were now merely scratches.

We needed to get out of here in case the manticore came back. I slung a half-concious Katie onto my back. Her arms curled limply around my neck and she fell asleep almost immediately.

She'll be fine. I assured myself. She'll be fine...