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3.

''Funny how we end up together, ALONE. Don't you think its nature's way to tell us to do something-'' Travis started as soon as they were beyond hearing limit.

''I didn't know you were interested in a relationship-'' Katie asked, surprised a little.

''I'm not. I was just suggesting we make out'' he smirked.

''This is the hundredth time I'm telling you; I'm not interested in you. I'm sorry, but in case you haven't noticed, I DON"T like you at all. I totally dislike you.'' She cleared.

''Who said I like you, I'm just a hormonal teenage boy and I need my daily dose. I don't care as long it's a girl. Well it's a bonus if her body-''

''Stop it, stop it. Don't dirty-talk when I'm around.''

''This is what you call dirty-talking? If I'll start talking dirty, believe me, you're knickers are going to get soaked, no matter how much you hate me, Gardner.'' Travis smirked.

''Yeah yeah fine. Now can we stop talking about that and focus on our work.'' An irritated Katie shrieked.

''Focus on work? There's nothing to focus on. You just gotta find some dry twigs and take them back.'' He chuckled.

''Fine! Now I think we are close to getting dry 'twigs'. They're all semi- dry from. We must be real close.'' Katie explained.

So they went walking for some time, they left the forest and started a new way, unknown to them, of course, when Travis exclaimed.

''How much far now? I can't walk. I'm not walking, I'm tired and plus I think we're walking on a new, wrong way, Gardner.''

''We're almost there, and this is the right way. C'mon, I thought you were tough than that. Or maybe that was just-''

'' I'm not getting a good feeling about this place, but if you're so sure, c'mon. Let's go'' Travis growled, when Katie smirked at him.

After some more time of walking, they reached a place where the wood was dry and perfect for them to use, according to Katie.

''Someone's been here, and something's happened here.'' Travis exclaimed.

''And how in the world can you say that?'' Katie asked.

''Can't you see? The barks of these trees are ripped, the plants around here are squished and most importantly, half of trees have fallen off. Something really brutal has been there. But what could be SO brutal? Who'd do such a thing?'' Travis wondered out loud as he went forward, checking the trees and their barks.

''Umm... Stoll. I think we have the answer right in front of us'' Katie's voice was barely audible as she told Travis.

What are you talking abou-'' Travis stopped mid sentence, as he noticed what she was talking about.

A giant, growling Minotaur, was steadily moving towards them. He could be at least 50 yards away from them.

''Maybe, just maybe he can't see us.'' Travis said. Both of them slowly started backing down.

''Don't you have your sword? Aren't you suppose to carry it with you?'' Katie asked.

''Do you see my sword anywhere with me? It was suppose to be a picnic. Who'd bring a sword with them on a trip?'' Travis muttered to her.

''Stoll... What do we do?'' Katie sounded terrified.

''Ok, I'll tell you what, RUN!'' he shouted and both of them sprinted, with the Minotaur behind them. Travis ran forward, leading the way, with Katie hot on his heels.

As they ran, they reached a huge stoned wall. It was way too high, for both of them to climb. They had to think something. Fast. Travis suddenly had an idea.

''Gardner, lets climb the tree, one of these. They're pretty high. It'll keep him at bay for some time'' He said.

Katie seemed to follow the plan. So she and Travis climbed the tree. Katie clung close to Travis, she sat on his lap and he put his legs up, so as to not been seen. Katie had never actually fought any of these alone. During the war, she had all her siblings and brothers to support her. And now, they did not even have their weapons.

''I'm really scared. What are we going to do?'' Katie asked Travis. He looked at her. She looked pale and about to faint. He knew she was pretty delicate, no matter how tough she pretended to be.

''I... I don't-'' but before he could say anything she put her head on his shoulders and sobbed silently.

''Hey, shhh... nothing's going to happen to us. Shhh... C'mon, you're a brave girl. And brave girls don't cry, right?'' Travis tried to sooth her, he stroked her back. She nodded into his shoulders. Both of them knew that if one Minotaur was here, there might be plenty others, and that's what scared them.

As they sat there for about 10 minutes, two Minotaurs arrived. They both sniffed the area. Katie closed her eyes in Travis' shoulder. She was too scared to look.

As they sniffed the area, they came close to the tree they were sitting on. As they sniffed that tree, one of them looked up and grunted. Maybe he was happy that he found them, Travis thought. He knew that they were caught. They would have to do something fast, but he couldn't think of something.

And by the time Travis was thinking, the beast started shaking the tree. Both of them on the tree started swaying from side to side. Katie screamed loudly as she held on to Travis tightly than ever. He tried to keep his voice down and hang on to the trunk, but the pressure of swaying was way too much. And curse the gods, the tree started to fall down.

''Katie, just hold me tightly and stay on top of me, understand?'' Travis shouted.

''Yaaaa'' came her response.

As the tree fell, the trunk fell first and then Travis banged against it. He screamed loudly, but didn't let go of her. She then fell on top of him. Though nothing happened to Katie, she knew she heard a crack or two from Travis. She felt all the more scared then. She got up from on top of him and tried to help Travis get up. They weren't fast enough because the Minotaurs were closing up on them, and it didn't help that Travis felt pretty heavy to her.

Katie couldn't do anything, she felt helpless. All her body was frustrated with her uselessness to help them. Just then, one of the Minotaur stepped on Travis' leg. He let out such a blood-curling scream, goose bumps rose on her arms. Her heartbeat stopped for second and then suddenly accelerated so much, her heart could have blasted right then.

Suddenly all the roots of the trees curled around the legs of the beasts, their hands and their horns. Huge branches of trunks of other trees banged against the Minotaur, as the land beneath them shook. She wasn't sure what was happening but she saw this as an opportunity to run. Her new found strength helped her to support Travis as he limped with her.

They tried but Travis slowed them. So she held him by the waist, and let his upper body rest on hers and ran. She didn't know how she was doing it, but she just went on.

She ran for an hour or more, until she saw the camp borders over some distance, what felt like 100 yards to her. She was totally exhausted, but she knew that if she waited more, anything could happen. So she ran and ran, until she finally crossed it.

She put Travis down, and a sense of security dawned, 'They were in the camp, within the boundaries. They were safe'. She collapsed next to Travis.

As soon as she enough strength into her, she first put Travis to bed in his cabin, IM'd Chiron and told him everything that happened.

''Chiron, there's no one in the camp at all. It's totally empty. There's nothing, nothing at all. It's just the two of us. Can you get back here?'' Katie asked Chiron as she sat in the Hermes cabin where Travis was fast asleep.

''I would have, but this meeting is so important, that we can't leave from here. It's an order from the gods so we can't disobey them. And besides, there is no need to get scared at all. Nobody can cross the camp borders, apart from our fellow mates. So don't worry. And it's just a matter of five days. We'll be back in no time ok? And... as far as what happened to Minotaurs and why... that we'll discuss when we all get back together. '' Chiron told her.

''And Katie... '' Chiron said one last thing as the IM began to fade. ''Take care of Travis.''

She next saw Percy, Annabeth, Thalia, and everybody else looking deeply in tension.

''Percy, Annabeth...'' Katie called them.

Annabeth rushed to the screen. ''Oh my gods Katie, are you fine? And where's Travis? What happened? Where are you guys right now? Are you at the camp?'' Everybody looked so worried, as Katie told them what happened to Travis.

''Is Travis alright? Tell me! Is he fine?'' Conner interrupted loudly, as he rushed forward.

''Yes, he's alright. Just unconscious right now. He'll be fine in no time.'' Katie answered and then she continued the remaining story.

''How did that happen?'' Annabeth asked as, Katie told them about the root-and-plants-getting-hold-off-the-Minotaur part.

''I don't know. But Chiron said we'll discuss it when we get back together.''

''But Katie, I don't understand one thing. How did you get to the camp? It's pretty far from this campaign site.'' Percy asked.

''Well... while we were walking, we took a short route which led us to the western part of the forest near the camp. And that's why the woods were not wet. I doesn't rain in and near the camp. So although, it's not included in the camp forest, it got excluded from getting rain... I think.''

''Fairly possible'' Percy thought loudly.

''Don't worry Katie, we'll get there as soon as possible'' Thalia perked up.

''Oh no! Actually there's no need. You're going to be here for only a week. Might as well enjoy it. I think we'll manage it here. And to think of, it's not at all scary and lonely, even in this time of the night. It feels safe here. So don't cancel the trip. Just enjoy it.'' Katie told her.

''Are you sure Katie? Because if-'' Annabeth started.

''I'm telling you guys, we'll be absolutely fine. And as it is I didn't want to come on this trip. I'd rather stay here and take care of my plants.'' Katie chuckled lightly.

''Ok, then. We'll stay here, but if you need any help, contact us immediately.'' Percy instructed.

''Yes, but make a promise to me, you guys. Please enjoy your trip thoroughly while over there. Don't worry about us, we'll do just fine.''

''We promise'' Annabeth smiled, as the vision faded away.

Katie sat there, while Travis was asleep on the bed. She decided to wake Travis and give him something to eat. She went and got nectar and ambrosia along with some other foodstuff for him to eat.

She brought the tray to the Hermes cabin, set it down and tried to wake up Travis. She sat on his left side so as to not hurt him even by mistake.

''Hey, wake up Stoll.'' She said as she ruffled his hair to wake him up.

''Stoll, will you wake up? You need to eat this... c'mon Travis, get up!'' she called as she shook him slightly. He turned to look at her as his eyes fluttered open, and groaned immediately at the pain in the neck.

''Easy there, yeah slowly. That's better... there.'' She helped him get up. He got his back against the wall, and groaned again.

''Uh... this hurts like hell. Guess, you finally made it, huh?'' Travis muttered.

''Guess WE finally made it!'' Katie exclaimed. Travis slightly chuckled at that.

''Yeah, I just added to the weight you had to carry, and you say WE made it, yeah right!'' Travis sarcastically muttered.

''No, if it hadn't been had for you in the first place, I don't think I would have even survived till now... I'm... I'm so sorry Travis, it's all because of me that right now you're suppose to sit in the bed, with your right hand and leg practically not working.'' Katie's voice began to quiver.

''Hey, I'm telling you, it's not your fault-'' Travis began, only to be cut by Katie.

''No, if I hadn't told to go on that way when you said, you felt something wrong about it, you could have been back there at the camp, instead of rotting here with me!'' now she literally started to sob.

''Hey... come here... '' Travis made her sit next to him as she put her head in her hands and silently cried. He removed her face from her hands and put his hand under her chin, he tilted her face with his good hand, so he could look at her. He knew she felt guilty about his condition, guilty that had she not directed the way, they would have been there with the others. But no matter how much he would tell her, he knew she would blame herself for it, which was certainly not the case.

''Look, it's no one's fault, ok. It could have been anybody instead of us. And if you think that you got us in trouble, then think that it was you who got us out of it. I don't think I've ever seen something like that any time in my existence. So if it would not been for you, I would have been dea-''

''Shut up, don't say that.'' She put her hand on his mouth. She looked him in the eye, as another rolled down her cheek. He pulled her closer to him, and kissed the tear from her cheek, making it wipe away. And she directly hugged him, as she almost sat on his left leg.

''Ouch, Katie, ouch, that hurts.'' Travis grimaced. So Katie hurriedly backed down. ''But that was good'' he smiled, as they hugged again. ''Like having sex, hurts like hell, but the pleasure it gives-'' he started.

''Stoll... stop that talking. '' she warned as she got up.

''What, back to last name basis, are we?''

''We were always on the last name basis.''

''Yeah, that's right.'' Travis smirked at her.

''Stop it.'' Katie blushed.

''Stop what? What did I do now?'' he tried to act innocent.

''You very well know what, now eat your food and get clean so I can put the dressing on your hand and leg.'' She said as she turned to leave.

''You're joking, right?'' Travis asked. ''How do you expect me to eat and bathe, when my right body doesn't work, and it doesn't help that I'm righty.'' He cleared.

''Oh, right.'' She said awkwardly.

She came and sat beside him, reached for the nectar and reached up to his mouth to help him drink. As he completed, she helped him with the ambrosia. While eating, sometimes if the food would stick to either sides of his mouth, she would wipe it with her thumb and he would smirk, making her blush. She would then resume making him eat more than his mouth could contain and then laugh at him.

After they were done with eating, Travis mentioned.

''Will you... uh... help me... the... with... um... taking a bath... well; I wouldn't have told you to if this fracture-''

''I'll help you. C'mon let's go'' she muttered. These five days were going to be really long.


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