Ch14
The next few days passed by in a blur as Magnus followed his routine at camp. He would do his camp activities and help patrol when he could and even helped out with the medics. The monster attacks were getting more and more frequent and the mood at camp was getting more depressing by the day. He mostly kept to himself and read in the cabin or hung out with Beckendorf when he was free.
"Don't worry Magnus we are almost at our destination we already ran into Clarisse," Annabeth said through the Iris Message. "How are things at camp? How have you been? She asked in concern.
"Don't worry Annabeth I am fine," he said trying to sound as reassuring as possible. "Things at camp are more or less the same, I have been helping in the patrols more."
Annabeth's face looked concerned, "Magnus don't push yourself too much ok. You need to rest too."
He smiled at his cousin. "Don't worry I will. Will Solace is getting on my case about resting more."
"Then maybe you should listen to him," Annabeth said with a sigh. "Well we hope to be done with this quest soon. We both have been working hard to find the fleece and Grover," she said as she talked about their latest exploits on their quest.
"Well sounds like you all have doing well on your quest. How's Percy doing?" He asked
"Oh he is doing ok, still getting over what had happened with Tyson," She said with a sad look on her face. "But we are both doing well. He hopes to find Grover soon along with the fleece. So just hang on over there for a little bit longer."
Magnus nodded, he had heard what had happened to Tyson and was glad that Percy and Annabeth were able to bond with him more. "Well let Percy know I said hi, good luck on your quest both of you."
Annabeth nodded and smiled at him, "Thanks, I will let him know you send your regards. Be safe now and don't get into trouble," she said seriously.
"Hey I never get into trouble," he said with a small laugh. "Anyway, I will head off to bed now, good night."
"Oh and um thank you," she said as she avoided his eyes. "I know you would have wanted to come on this quest too. I feel like I have learned and grew a lot on this quest and I am grateful for all that I learned while being here on this quest.."
"Its alright, you cannot go on all the quests. I am just glad you both are safe," he said smiling at his cousin.
Annabeth looked up at him and smiled. "Thanks. Stay safe over there."
"I will good night," he said.
"Good night," Annabeth said before the message ended.
"Man she can be a bit motherly at times," he sighed as he decided to go to bed. He read through the book he had on his nightstand a bit while he thought about Percy and Annabeth. It looks like she has gotten over her fear of the cyclops for the most part he thought as he closed his book and decided to call it a night.
As soon as he fell asleep he felt his mind enter a dream. He looked around and realized he was at his mother's house. "Mom," he whispered as he watched her cradle a baby version of himself in her arms while she hummed some tune.
He watched his mother hold his younger self as he felt a variety of emotions, mostly a mixture of happiness and sadness. He wanted to say something, to run up to her and tell her how much he missed and loved her. Yet he knew he was in a dream and could only watch as his mom danced around with him in her arms.
Suddenly the door opened and a figure walked in, he couldn't make the figure it was as if he had been blurred out and he could only barely make out his body. He saw the figure wrap his arms around his mother and kiss her. His mom responded well to the hug and kissed the man back.
"Our son will accomplish great things dear," his mother said with a smile on her face. The man said something but he couldn't make it out, it was almost as if he were speaking some unknown language.
"Yes dear I understand," his mother said with a sigh. Her face looked sad, "Do what you have to do, I will take care of him." With that, the man left the room leaving her in the room again. "Oh Magnus I will do all I can to help you prepare for your future whatever that might be," she said with a smile on her face as she continued to hold him and in her arms and sing her song.
The dream then slowly fizzled away and suddenly it was the dream about the wolves again, they had become more common and more frequent since Thalia's tree had been dying. The wolves were still chasing him while he rode on a horse. The blue eyes of the wolves were trained on him as they snarled at him. The horse was riding and he knew he would never allow the wolves to get to him. He knew that the horse would defend him to the end while in the air the two ravens circling over the wolves keeping their distance from a large owl and eagle that flew over him and the horse.
"You will meet your end you traitor, you will get what is coming to you deserter," said a sinister sounding voice that seemed to come from all around him. "You may think that you have found a new home but you will eventually return to where you belong one way or another. Traitors will swiftly be taken care of."
"What are you talking about? I haven't betrayed anyone," he yelled back. "Camp Half Blood is my home."
The voice laughed, "Your insolence will cost you dearly traitor. You may pretend to be one of them but your true colors will eventually show."
With that the dream ended and he awoke in a cold sweat, "What the hell was that," He said as he felt his heartbeat race. He cleaned the sweat off of his forehead with his blanket as he looked up. "What do these dreams mean? I wish Chiron were here so that I could ask him," he sighed. He had never really talked about the dreams with anyone, he just thought it was a normal part of being a half blood.
"But something about them is wrong," he said as he rested in the bed and looked up at the ceiling. "That dream felt a little too real, a little too dark," he gazed out the window into the dark sky. "Hopefully things go back to normal soon," he mumbled as he rested in bed. He missed Annabeth and Percy and wished that they could hurry up and be done with the quest so that they could hang out together again.
"Hopefully things get back to normal soon," he said as he got up and got ready for the day. His head still hurt a bit as he washed his face.
When it was time for breakfast he headed out and on the way ran into a familiar person, "Hey Magnus did you sleep well you look tired?" Silena asked as she walked up to him.
"Yeah I just had a hard time sleeping," he said hoping to end the conversation. Why does she always try to talk to me? We aren't even that close, Silena was nice and all put he couldn't but shake the feeling that she was forcing herself to talk to him and the topics always seemed to revolve around what he was doing and how Percy and Annabeth were. He always caught her in the corner of his eyesight occasionally, it sometimes looked like she was spying on him the way she would often try to find excuses to get close to him.
Silena smiled at him and he couldn't help but notice a shred of nervousness in her face that she quickly hid. "Ah ok, well I hope you get better. See you later," she said with a smile before heading to her table.
"Yeah see you," he said as he went to the Poseidon table. Something is up with her she has been a little more nervous than usual lately. He sighed as he got his food and made his sacrifice. The rest of the day he followed his daily routine. He rode on the pegasi while Silena continued to try and make small talk with him, he wanted to tell that she didn't have to force herself to talk to him but he didn't want to be rude. He then practiced archery with Will Solace who was actually a nice guy and seemed more genuine in trying to get to know him.
"So Magnus are you going on patrol today?" Will asked as he helped him try and improve his aim.
"Yeah are you going too?" He asked as he released the arrow and watched it hit the outer part of the target.
"Nice job, you are getting better. You are at least hitting the target this time," Will said as he patted his back. The son of Apollo smiled at him, "And yes I do plan to go to today. Michael Yew is also going also you remember him from last time?"
Magnus nodded, "Yeah I do, he is cool."
"Yeah, hopefully we can keep this up," Will said with a sigh. "People are waiting anxiously for Clarisse or Percy to return," he said with a sad expression on his face.
"Yeah I know," he said. The mood among the campers was getting worse every day. The constant attack of monsters had left a huge dent in the spirit of the camp. "But don't worry I am sure that things will get better. I mean both Percy and Clarisse helping out to get the fleece."
Will smiled at him with his bright eyes, "Yeah that is true. They are both capable of completing this quest."
Magnus only nodded as he fired another arrow. Sorry Will but I cannot say anything about Percy and Annabeth's quest with you. As much as he trusted the son of Apollo he didn't want rumors flying around, people have already been pestering him with questions about Percy and Annabeth and he played dumb and said he knew nothing, those that more persistent he was more aggressive in his response.
"Good job you are actually hitting the target this time," Will said as he clapped his hands.
"Yeah thanks, archery isn't my strongest point," he said as he pulled another arrow and aimed it at the target. He released the arrow and watched it fly and hit the target.
"Don't worry man not everyone is good at it. Us children of Apollo are usually better though; it is like second nature to us," Will explained. The son of Apollo was very straight forward and enjoyed helping others. "Though don't worry you are a strong guy Magnus, really strong."
"Thanks," Magnus said as he felt Will stare at him as he pulled back his final arrow. The arrow flew through the air and landed a little bit closer to the center part of the target.
"Good job Magnus," Will said his face lighting up. The two hi fived each other before they decided to clean up. "You are doing great dude," he said as he helped him collect the arrows that they fired.
"Thanks, this is pretty fun but I still prefer using my sword and axe," He said as he put the arrows back into his quiver and put it away with his bow. "See you in a bit I am going to take a small break before patrol."
Will nodded at him and smiled, "Alright man see you in a bit."
Magnus waved goodbye before heading back to the cabin and took a quick nap before getting ready for patrol. He put on his armor and grabbed his sword before heading out to meet Beckendorf and Will with their patrol group.
"Hey Magnus glad you can join us today," Beckendorf said with a big smile on his face. "Can I ask you to do something?" He asked as he got closer to him.
"Sure what do you need?" He asked
"I want to put you in charge of a small group of campers today. You will work directly under me," Beckendorf explained.
Magnus felt his eyes widen, "Um really? I mean sure if you don't mind, but I've never really led anyone before."
Beckendorf laughed, "Don't worry this will be good practice then. You are a good fighter and I know you will make a good leader too. Don't worry we will both work together today."
Magnus sighed, "Fine sounds good, so who will I be working with?"
Beckendorf smiled, "I'll show you," he said as they watched the remainder of the campers who would be patrolling with them. "Alright everybody I will divide you into two groups so that we can better maneuver. Magnus here will be working directly under me and some of you will be working under him."
Crap I hope I can do this he thought as he felt his heart rate increase. He looked away from the gaze of the campers as he felt his palms get sweaty.
He felt Beckendorf pat his back while giving him a reassuring smile. Magnus smiled at him back as he was given control of some of the campers. He had a group of variety campers from various cabins. He recognized Will Solace who gave him a comforting smile, Magnus smiled back at him as he looked over the group. He noticed Malcolm from the Athena cabin and Castor and Pollux from the Dionysus cabin.
"Um alright everybody lets do our best. We must work together and hold out until Clarisse and Percy return," he said trying to sound as reassuring as possible. He felt the various eyes of the campers watching him and he felt his heart rate increase. Crap why couldn't Annabeth be here she is more natural at stuff like this.
He saw Will smile at him reassuringly and he smiled back at him. He watched as the twins of the Dionysus Cabin look at him intently, he could tell that they were willing to fight and give it all as well. He didn't know them well but he knew that they were willing to fight even though and that they were loyal to the camp. "Lets stick together and work together to defend the camp," various campers nodded their heads in agreement as he felt his own heartbeat rapidly.
"Alright everybody lets move out," Beckendorf said loudly. Magnus gulped as he and the campers under his control began their march to the camp border. Magnus looked around nervously as he gripped his sword as they looked out for monsters.
They walked around their patrol path watching out for any signs of monsters. Magnus felt on edge, he wasn't used to leading people and the thought that he was responsible for them made him even more nervous. Calm down everything will go well just try to be calm he told himself as he and his group followed Beckendorf.
"Look out everyone! Archers get into position," Beckendorf yelled. Magnus looked up and saw a pack of Stymphalian birds. Crap there are a lot of them.
"Everyone ready your shields archers fire when you can," Magnus yelled as he activated his shield.
The birds launched their feathers at them that flew as fast as an arrow. He felt the arrows hit against his shield with such force it sounded as if rocks were hitting it. He looked up and saw that the birds were diving towards them.
"Everyone watch out they are diving at us," he said as drew his sword. Some of the arrows from their patrol group hit the birds causing them to fall down. He slashed at the birds who got close to him causing while doing all he could to avoid their beaks and feathers. He looked over and saw that the campers under his control were doing their best to hit birds but with no success.
If only we could somehow distract them then we can hit them better he thought as his brain raced through different ways that he could do it. He thought of the campers in their group and what they could do and then an idea came to his head.
He went to his men and called out to Castor and Pollux. The two sons of Dionysus quickly came to him. "What is it sir?" Castor asked.
"Your dad has control of madness, do you both have access to that power?" He asked as he shielded them from a series of bird feathers.
Both boys nodded immediately, "Yes we do, though Castor has better control of it," Pollux explained as he struck down a bird.
Magnus nodded, "Do you both think you can inflict it upon the birds? That way our archers could get a better chance of hitting them?"
"We can try," Castor said as he looked up at the sky. "We may have to do it by area though, I don't think we can do it over a large amount of area yet."
"Ok no problem; do what you both need to do," Magnus said. The two twins nodded and Magnus watched as they both looked up at the sky above them at the small cloud of birds. The two twins said a prayer to their father and Magnus watched as a purple light came from them and went up into the sky.
Magnus watched as the birds went crazy and started flying through the sky erratically, occasionally hitting each other but mostly flying in circles, "Archers take them out quickly," he ordered. Will Solace and the other archers in his group fired at the birds while the birds who flew near them were cut down.
Before long the birds over them were gone, "Alright everyone lets go support Beckendorf's group," he said. Castor and Pollux followed right behind them as they quickly went to Beckendorf's group which was dealing with a slightly smaller group of birds.
"Good job Magnus I saw what you did there. I knew you could do it,' Beckendorf said smiling at him.
"No problem lets finish off these birds," he said as he turned to Castor and Pollux. The two twins nodded and said a prayer to their father and before long the birds above them were going out of control. Their archers then took quick of the birds and before long they were all dead.
"Alright good job everyone lets keep moving," Beckendorf said as he was cut off by a loud piercing howl.
Magnus felt his blood run cold as he slowly turned around, his face white with terror. "What are those things?" Beckendorf said as he looked at the pack of white wolves. There was about a small pack of them all with blue eyes and Magnus could feel their eyes trained on him.
For a moment he was a child again as he felt his feet freeze up and his body shake. No No what are they doing here? This must be some kind of dream The wolves let out another howl and began to charge at them. Well, charge specifically at him to be more precise. Magnus was frozen, not knowing what to do, his body told him to run another part said to fight but he could not make up his mind.
"Magnus snap out of it," Beckendorf said shaking his shoulder. He turned to the son of Hephaestus who had a serious look on his face. "Don't get sacred on me know, you've faced tougher before, are you just going to let them attack our camp?"
The words snapped him out of his thoughts and fears as he shook his head, "No lets do this." What the hell is going on? This can't be real, but they are here
Beckendorf smiled at him, "Everyone get into position," he ordered as the campers grabbed their shields and swords.
Magnus turned and saw Castor and Pollux along with Will looking at him waiting for his instructions, "Do not underestimate them. Attack with all of your might but do not get separated from the group or they will tear you to shreds," he said. His group of campers nodded as they all got into formation together.
Both groups got into a phalanx formation as the wolves charged at them. Spears and arrows flew at the wolves, some hit them but the wolves seemed unphased. wolves collided with their shields but they seemed to be going after him in particular. He saw their blue eyes and sharp teeth snarl and attempt to bite him as they tried to get to him. Damn it I can't attack and defend at the same time if they keep trying to get to me he thought as he held his ground with his shield.
Luckily for him, the wolves that were trying to get him ignored the other campers who started using their spears and swords to attack them. The wolves slowly began to realize that they were being attacked and tried to attack the other campers.
Magnus managed to draw his sword and stab at a wolf that attempted to charge at him. He ignored the fear in his body as his body moved on its own as he swung his sword and slashed at the wolf. The wolf glared at him with its blue eyes and Magnus glared back at him.
Traitor a voice growled in his head. Magnus ignored the voice, I can't afford to get distracted now, people are depending on me he thought as the wolf lunged at him again. He felt the adrenaline run through his body as reacted on its own and ignored the fear inside of him. He gripped his shield as the wolf collided with his shield and stabbed his sword at the wolf. He felt himself fall to the ground as the wolf fell on top of him.
He heard various campers yell as they stabbed at the wolf while he tried to get it off. He felt his heart beat like crazy when suddenly he yelled, "Stop! Get off me!" His voice wasn't harsh and was surprisingly calm. The wolf paused as if confused by something and he managed to use its confusion to pull himself out from the wolf. "Magnus are you ok?" Will asked as he helped him up.
"Yeah lets get rid of that thing," he said quickly. "Everyone don't let any more of them in," he said as he grabbed his sword and watched as the wolf charged at him.
Will supported him by shooting arrows at the wolf while some other campers stabbed it with spears and swords. The wolf appeared to have slowed down a bit but its eyes were still focused on him. He ignored the fear in his body as he forced his feet to move. He gripped his sword tightly as he swung it and stabbed the creature in the throat.
The wolf glared at him as he withdrew the sword and slashed at it again until it disappeared, its eyes never leaving him. Magnus turned around and saw that most of the wolves were dead, except for one more.
It stood a bit farther from the rest and was larger than the others. Their eyes met and he felt anger and hatred towards him as it let out a loud howl and charged at him. "Everyone get into formation," Beckendorf yelled as the wolf charged at them.
His group quickly got into formation but he noticed that Castor had fallen away as a result of the chaos. "Castor get back," he said. However, Castor appeared frozen as he stared in shock and fear at the large wolf who charged at them and he was right in its path.
"Castor," Pollux called as he broke rank and ran to his brother while ignoring the calls to get back in the group.
"Guys get back," he yelled. He watched the wolf charged at them and he felt his vision go white as he ran at the wolf and drew his long axe. The only thing he could think about was to kill that wolf and protect them.
He didn't know what he was thinking as he gripped his axe and ran in towards the twins. He felt his heartbeat as he found that small remaining bit of inner peace inside of him, "Stop!" He yelled with all of the energy inside of him. He felt a burst of energy release from his body as he directed it at the wolf which appeared to slow down. He let out a sigh as he felt his heartbeat like crazy, "Don't come any closer!" He yelled at the wolf as he felt the calm in the air around him, the wolf stared at him as if dazed and slowly stopped. Castor and Pollux were stunned and looked at him in surprise, "Go back to the others now," he said to them. They both nodded and quickly ran back to the group.
He then quickly turned to Beckendorf and everyone else who was shocked at what they were seeing, "Everyone don't just stand there!" He said snapping them out of their thoughts.
Beckendorf looked at him and nodded, "Everyone lets take this last one down!" The rest of the campers cheered as they all charged at the wolf. By the time the wolf snapped out of its daze, it was already too late as a half dozen campers ran spears through it.
However, the stress of everything appeared too much and as he plunged his axe into the wolf finishing it off he felt himself pass out as he slowly lost consciousness. Nice job traitor, you have escaped your fate for now said a sinister voice in his head as he heard the voices of various campers call out to him.