After what seemed like hours later, Eirene finally woke up. Her vision was blurred, but she noticed that the sky looked very dark. She could see the outline of someone's face very close to hers, and feel arm enveloping her and holding her up. It was then that she realized she was being carried. And as her vision cleared, she could see who it was.

"Connor?"

He smiled. "Sleeping beauty finally woke up."

She wanted to smile, but her face felt heavy. "How long have I been out?"

"Three hours. You haven't missed much." The casual way he said it made her not believe him, but she didn't press it. He set her down on what felt like dirt and grass, and she scanned her surroundings.

"Where are we?" There was an open but abandoned road up ahead, though all she saw around her were just faint patches of grass and dry soil. "Where's Andrew?"

"I'm not sure where we are. And Andrew's over there." He pointed right behind Eirene, and she turned around to see him lying on the ground, passed out. She rushed to his side, alarmed and worried.

"What happened to him?!"

"He got hit by a broken piece of bus." Connor sighed. "It broke his arm."

He lay on his back, his breathing heavy and his eyes closed. His face was scratched up with dirt and blood, and it looked like he had been sweating a lot; when Eirene touched his face her hand came back moist.

"I don't think he's used to pain." Connor said, reaching into Andrew's bag to pull out a fold of clothe and sticks. "He took ambrosia, but even the food of the gods takes a while to heal broken bones. He trooped on until we got here, then he passed out. Hey, help me assemble this tent. We're stopping here to sleep for the night."

She drew her attention back to Connor and began helping him assemble the tent. While they were doing this, she asked him several question about what had happened while she was knocked out.

"Well, the bus exploded and you flew into the air before smashing your head into a brick building." He winced. "I don't know what you're made out of, but don't let Leo here of it. He'll want to dissemble you."

She smirked a bit; glad to a little be reminded of home. "What happened to the birds?"

"Oh, they both exploded along with the bus. Debris went flying everywhere though, and there was more collateral damage in terms of random buildings and cars." He coughed. "And um, people."

Eirene tried to bush that one off, but she felt like she was going to be sick. She felt personally responsible for all the lives lost as a result of her existence, and the guilt was almost overbearing. "Did the authorities come?"

"Yes, several; though they couldn't pay much attention to the kids with the swords when there was fire erupting everywhere; they aided the civilians while we slipped away."

"Did you get hurt?"

He laughed; though it didn't sound happy, more ashamed. "I think Andrew got most of the damage. He was behind me when we were running so the debris hit him before it could touch me. I think his rib is fractured, too."

Eirene looked back at Andrew, who was still passed out cold. She didn't know what a broken limb felt like, but based on the sweat on Andrew's forehead, she imagined it was excruciating. "You said he isn't used to pain?"

Connor shook his head. "Nah, I don't think so. He's always walked around with this way about him, like he's lived a pretty privileged life. Plus he hardly participates in camp activities; he just sits there reading his books."

Eirene thought about that. It was true; Andrew did have an arrogant air about him when she first met him, and he looked very well-dressed and polished, like a rich man's son. Though he fought like he had been trained to do so, and it had made Eirene look at him even more admiringly. She wondered about Andrew's past life, but he seemed like a very private person.

"Thanks, by the way."

"For what?"

"For your quick thinking on how to kill the birds," He snapped his fingers. "Hey, maybe you could be a child of Athena."

She smirked. Yeah, maybe not.

They finished assembling the tent, which was conveniently large enough for them to stand up in, and then started discussing how they would get back on track to finding Dennis when the doors to the tent opened, and Andrew came crawling in with his good arm.

"Eirene," He breathed. "Is she—?"

"Awake," She waved, and then went over to his side. "Are you alright?"

He nodded. "Damn," He sighed, "Those ruddy birds," He then forced himself into a sitting position and closed his eyes. They sat in silence for a bit until Eirene spoke up.

"I think we should rotate in keeping watch; incase they're any monsters out there and also so we can all get some sleep."

"I call first watch." Andrew said, getting to his feet. He saw both of them giving him a skeptical look. "I'm fine; the ambrosia is taking effect."

"First watch in your condition? You look like you're dying." Connor pointed out. Andrew shook it off, putting on a poker face.

"I'm fine." He insisted, and then stepped out before any of them could protest. Eirene stood up to follow him, but Connor stopped her.

"Don't. Let him be alone with his thoughts for a bit. Plus…I want to talk to you about something."

She shouldn't have been, but she was oblivious to what he wanted to talk about. She sat back down and scooted closer to him. "What is it?"

"I…I just wanted…" He shook his head and started over. "Earlier today, when I was on fire—"

She suddenly got the drift. "Connor…"

"I know you said you couldn't tell me but, why?"

She just shook her head. "I'm sorry, I can't talk about that. It's…its private." She hated lying to Connor; he had proved to be a good person on top of a good friend, and she didn't want him to think that she didn't trust him. She just couldn't tell him.

"Is it that you can't tell me or is it that you don't trust me enough to tell me?" He seemed to be getting flustered. "Look, I know we've only known each other for a few days but—"

"Connor," She cut him off. "I healed you. Can't you just be glad about that and not worry about the other details?"

He leaned back, disbelief on his face. "I see." Then he smiled. "So I should just assume that you're a god or something?"

She stood up, preparing to leave. "Assume I'm something,"

He smirked and shook his head, and Eirene assumed the title was dropped. "Heading out to see Andrew?"

"Fresh air," She corrected. Though, she could stop and talk to Andrew on the way; see how he was. She exited the tent and went in search for him; spotting him leaning on a nearby tree. He was holding what looked like a book.

"Do you mind if I keep watch with you?"

She startled him and caused him to drop his book. "Not really, but I'd rather you get some rest."

"I came here to check up on you," She stepped closer. "To see if you were okay."

"I'm fine." He sighed. "I'm not some child you need to check up on."

"Uh huh." She rolled her eyes, and then poked his injured arm lightly. He winced.

"Why does it hurt so much?"

He clutched it and looked away, his face resembling a solider stripped of his honour. In the moonlight his eyes shone a gray-blue, and his hair looked white instead of blonde. His jaw line was clenched, showing off his cheekbones. Even though his face had traces of dried blood (The ambrosia had healed his scares) and Eirene couldn't help but stare, though Andrew seemed too caught up in his thoughts to notice.

"It doesn't hurt that much. The healing is just…not as fast." he crouched down to pick up his fallen book. "When it comes to bones,"

"Oh," She knew he was lying. She could see the pain in his eyes, but knew that his ego would prevent him from admitting it. Instead, she gestured to the book he was holding. "Can I see?"

He handed it to her. The title read Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. She flipped open to a random page and started reading but was stopped by Andrew's protests.

"What are you doing?!"

She looked up, confused. "Reading?"

He looked exasperated. "You can't just start reading from the middle; you're spoiling yourself halfway through." His expression was a bit distressed. "Plus I haven't gotten to that part yet."

She stared at him for a minute before slowly turning back to the first page. After a couple minutes of frustration, she slammed the book shut and wanted to slam it down out of anger.