The multiple fire tricks seemed to work. The cannon sounded twice, which had the team's worries grow until Leo, Clarisse and Sean returned an hour later. Leo had a camouflage bandana around a bleeding wound on his right bicep. Clarisse's thin hair fell to her shoulders. Her sword was blood splattered, some of it still fresh.
"You should have seen it!" Sean exclaimed. "Leo had set up this… thing, like a catapult and they were not expecting it. It was in the fire and it just launched fire at one of them. The guy was running around like crazy, covered in flames." They all looked at Leo expectantly. He shrugged.
"Told you I could make stuff." His eyes glowed like embers in the setting sun, his skin glowing softly as if he were lit with fire on the inside.
"Well, dinner's done. Were ya followed?"
"No." Louisa nodded.
"Sean, can ya check Leo's arm over?" Louisa chucked a first aid kit at the medic. "If any infections are gonna sit in, we're gonna have ta chop his arm off." Leo paled slightly. "I'm just kiddin', Leo, gods."
"Funny." Leo muttered, miffed.
After they ate, they settled down for the night. Louisa kept the logs burning softly, enough to give off warmth, but not enough to give of tell-tale smoke. It was her and Clarisse on night watch. Louisa had sent Clarisse down to the river to fell canteens.
"There was another team on the far side."
"Did they see you?"
"Don't think so. Only one of them was awake. They haven't got much of weapons either, a few spears, a sword or two, couple of knives."
"Looks like we've got an arsenal then." Clarisse smirked in agreement. Leo mumbled in his sleep- something about flying pigs.
The sun was starting to rise when Louisa woke them all up. Leo complained at her, resulting in her threatening to roll him down the hill if he didn't get up pronto. "We leave in two. Get the gear together. Clarisse, Jason, Piper and Sean, ya all in charge of weapons. Jack 'n' Leo, take the supplies. I'll get ya all breakfast."
"The easy job then." Leo smiled.
"Know how ta find plants 'n' berries that won't kill ya?"
"Uh…"
"Exactly. Besides, ya like rabbit, yeah?"
"Piper didn't. She's vegetarian."
"But ya ate it anyway?"
"Yeah… but only 'cos I had to…"
"Smart thinkin'." Louisa nodded.
They got packed up and headed west, away from the river. The occasional bird sang or a small animal- rabbit, badger, squirrel- would dart out of the bushes. Louisa threw knives at a few of them. For an early lunch, she had two rabbits, three squirrels and a fat badger. For Piper, Louisa collected various fruits, berries and roots.
"We need a different tactic." Piper said as they climbed to the top of another hill. "They know about the fires now." It was midday, the sun shining down and warming the entire top of the hill.
"Get some sleep, guys." Louisa said. The hill was dotted with slabs of dark rocks, slate and some others Louisa didn't recognise.
"But what if-?"
"There ain't no 'but's 'n' no 'what if's. Not anymore." Louisa replied sternly. Piper fell silent. "Get some sleep. I'll tell ya when lunch's ready." They were so exhausted, they didn't protest further.
Louisa rested her fingers on the flat surface of a large slab of rock. It was hot to the touch, making her withdraw her hand quickly.
She carefully gathered a stack of hot rocks and piled them in the centre, away from shade. It took a while to balance the rocks, but she managed. She tested putting the badger on the rocks and was glad when it held.
Louisa drew her knife and skinned the animals. She sliced them into mildly thick slices and carefully arranged them on the rocks. Every few minutes, she used her knife to turn the meat over.
It took over a few hours for the meat to cook. When it was finally done, she went around and nudged everyone awake. Leo protested, like he had before, but this time, Louisa didn't threaten. She gave a hefty kick to his leg.
"Ow!" He protested, sitting bolt upright. He tried to glare at her but it was too bright for his eyes in the moments of just woken up.
"Uh, Lou? Did you invite people for dinner?" Piper asked. Louisa turned. Trudging up the hill were four Careers, either from Team 1 or Team 2.
"Ya good at bribery right?" Piper made an odd movement, something between a nod and a shake of the head. "Don't be so bloody modest! Ya bribed someone of their gods-damn Lamborghini!" Piper smiled bashfully.
"They have swords though." She mumbled. Louisa snatched a sword from the ground and shoved it in Piper's hand.
"Oh, look, ya have a sword. Just buy us some time, OK? Jason 'n' Sean, go with her. Clarisse, get the weapons. Leo 'n' Jack, sort the packs out."
Piper looked paler than usual but managed a confident march down the hill, Jason and Sean in tow. Leo and Jack scrambled for supplies while Clarisse stacked the weapons and wrapped them up in her jacket, tying the sleeves into a knot.
Louisa looked at the Careers. They seemed to be hanging off Piper's every word.
"Now what?" Leo asked.
"Take the stuff into the forest. Clarisse, ya with me." Louisa and Clarisse had taken to keeping a sword in their belt and knives up their sleeves and in their pockets. Louisa was also armed with a quiver and bow, both slung across her back.
Piper looked relieved as Clarisse and Louisa approached. She had been faltering with her bribery and the Careers were slowly looking more and more ready for a fight. They were all boys, seventeen or eighteen years old and hulking masses of muscle. Their dark, blonde or strawberry blonde hair had been shaved in a military fashion. Their faces had strong features and one had a scar running from his cheekbone to his jawline. All of them looked capable of handling themselves in a fight and their swords were obviously well cared for.
"Hey, what's up?" Louisa asked, as casual as anything.
The opposing team drew their swords.