Reyna

Normally in different circumstances I would've enjoyed going out to battle with my fellow people, but I needed this moment to think about what happened with my outburst and Percy. Mostly Percy. I also trusted Percy in being able to led the First, Fifth and Second to battle since he was Praetor. I was deep in thought and barely noticed that Tony Machs, a son of Honos, and also the youngest Centurion in all cohorts that leads the fourth was waving me down like a madman. I muttered a curse from my distractions and came down from the tower I was positioned in.

"Yes Centurion Machs what is it?, I assume that its something important and not like the third cohort that asked if we can go home.", He laughed at the joke as I couldn't help but smile a bit, ever since he came from Lupa he's been nothing but a joy to have in New Rome, always willing to help out which got him his position.

"Praetor the fourth has heard screaming and yelling and barking was it? It seems to be about two blocks away from where we're stationed, your command?", I cursed since we most likely allowed intruders to get past our border but more over barking? At that moment I realized that Aurum and Argentum weren't by my side and most likely weren't this whole day, I turned pale as I realized that the barking was most likely them in distress.

"Centurion your command is to stay in position, keep the cohorts in charge as I'll go check the noises, tell the third to go look for Terminus to secure the border without him the whole thing will collapse". Tony nodded as he ran off to inform the fourth and third as I ran the other way to check out the noise, I silently prayed that they were okay.

After a few minutes I was around the location that Tony said and to my left was what was waiting for me. Three shadowy humanoid figures and something moving in a huge bag while the other site made my blood boil, both Aurum and Argentum were tied up and in the process of being put in a bag, at that moment it was when I was acknowledged by the three kidnappers.

Now when I mean "shadowy figures" I mean that two of them were completely covered in black, it looked as if the color around them was slowly being subjugated to darkness. The other appeared to be covered in darkness in some places, but you could tell that they were human, the only semi-covered one had an eyepatch so it made it seem he was a corrupted pirate.

"If I were you Praetor I would suggest walking away and ignoring us", the taller one of the three and the one that seemed to be a man said, he looked intimidating but those were my dogs.

"And if I were you I'd suggest putting down my dogs and walking away with you group here", he laughed as if the idea amused him, that's when the second one that look like a woman put down Aurum and acknowledged me.

"I'll gladly take you on Praetor any day of the week but see we're on a tight schedule here, I'm not sure how long Eris is gonna keep your hero at bay since she isn't exactly a smart cookie. Both of the shadows (that's what I'm calling them) laughed it off as if it was some cruel joke, as it came to my attention that the army was a set-up, keeping Percy distracted and the Romans so that they can kidnap my dogs? That doesn't make any sense, that was when the other bag began to speak.

"Praetor Reyna I would suggest you hurry up and get me OUT OF HERE, this is no way to treat a god that hasn't done anything at all!", it finally dawned on me that the other bag was Terminus, his block figure only could move side to side but I could recognize that muffling voice from anywhere. They're trying to collapse the border.

"There you go you're so smart!, now I do think we have time partner maybe Ethan would love to prove his worth to us and fight this lovely lady" the man shadow pointed his finger towards the eye-patch kid which was apparently Ethan, he looked towards me and sighed as if he didn't want to do this at all, his eyes were what bothered me, they look glassy as if he's seen things that shouldn't have been seen. I brought out my sword too stubborn to let them take the god and dogs away, at that the man shadow spoke again.

"Now now Praetor on second thought we'd love to stay and chat but Eris is very close to losing to Jackson and- OH SHUT UP", he kicked the bag that carried Terminus as if that would keep him quiet, Ethan tensed up when Percy was mentioned and I took that opportunity to stab him and begin the fight.

He was a good fighter, I went on the offensive as we circle around sizing up the competition, we exchanged thrusts and parries and you'd be able to tell he was trained, not Roman but maybe Greek? To my frustration he was able to defend his blind side very well and kept his guard at well, He kept glancing at his comrades as they kept quiet and watched the fight, I made the mistake at looking at Aurum and Argentum as they were whimpering in the bags, and at the moment Ethan was able to land a solid punch to my right cheek as I staggered backward.

"You don't want to do this Praetor", he said

"Trust me, you didn't want to take my dogs", I responded back as I got up and pressed him even harder, the motivation of getting my dogs back helped put more pressure on him, he was stronger but I was quicker and soon I was able to disarm him. Before I could celebrate my win the shadow man growled and disappeared into the shadows and reappeared behind me and landed a solid kick to my back, I groaned as I layed on the floor and saw the shadow man smile.

"This was fun to watch Praetor. I'll give you that, but not even Jackson could take us on, so if you'll excuse me." a shadow-like portal appeared on the floor as the shadow woman lifted Ethan by his back and tossed him in there along with Aurum and Argentum, I stifled a sob as Terminus was still yelling and was then tossed in there. The shadow man backed up and mocked saluted before heading into the portal as well. Before I could get up and follow them in the portal closed in on itself as the color returned to the area. At that moment I noticed Tony and the fourth cohort arriving as he lifted me up, I wasn't even angry that they disobeyed my orders more sad I wasn't able to stop Ethan and the others.

"I know you said to stay behind and defend the border but we heard more yelling and swords clashing so we came to back you up, what happened", he said as he looked genuinely worried about what happened.

"There's no time right now, we have to head back and go check on how Percy's team is doing", at which point the Cohort headed back as we marched back to where the Third was and combined forces. We crossed over the border to witness the battle ended and Percy having one of the intruders at point-blank range, I felt proud at the moment as I winced from the pain, I locked eyes with Percy as then the intruder vanished in a fit of laughter. I cursed myself out for letting Percy get distracted, as the other Cohorts lifted Percy up yelling "Praetor, Praetor" as the third and fourth went on to join them, not knowing what happened earlier. Soon they crossed over the River as I locked eyes with Percy again, his eyes looked scared as ran over to check on me, I must've looked worse than I thought.

"Are you okay? What happened?", he said concerned, he pulled out ambrosia and I ate it as the Romans surrendered us.

"They took Terminus! And my dogs as well!", before I could tell them more all around us the border began cracking as the new dome placed was slowly falling.

"Shield's up!" yelled Hazel as the border began falling in chunks as Percy pulled me close under his shield as all Romans lifted theirs up to protect themselves from it. A few seconds later it stopped as around us the pieces of the border fell which left one huge problem, New Rome is defenseless against intruders.