Chapter 12 Story time with warriors

Sarah's POV

A few minutes later Percy Will and I were settled in chairs around Annabeth's bedside. She had been watching me closely the entire time I was getting treated. Now she said,

"You were on the bus earlier today weren't you?"

"Yes I was, how did you recognize me?"

Percy and Will exchanged a knowing look, as all three chorus in unison.

"First rule of being a Half-Blood, take stock of any and every change in your surroundings. Expect the unexpected and you'll have a better chance of survival."

I stared, Annabeth laughed.

"Do I really say it that often?"

"Yes."

The boys said in unison, shrugging she told me.

"Whenever I step into a new place I try to identify everything. I break it down into people/monsters, exits, blind spots and possible weapons."

"Why?"

"I like to know what's going to be most likely to try and kill me first. That way when the attack comes I'm ready. I'll know where it's most likely to come from, where to take cover if I need it. If I'm disarmed I know what to grab and when given the chance I can leave."

I nodded thinking about how Luke had made me describe the bathroom to him in full detail. Her strategy was probably what Luke was having me do. I wondered who had taught it to whom.

"That makes sense, and it seems to work. It was incredible to watch you fight that thing. I wanted to help but I didn't know how, and my boyfriend wasn't about to let go anywhere close to what was going on."

Percy had frowned when I said I had witnessed the fihte and did nothing. Annabeth also noticed and gave his hand a squeeze. Percy was about to say something but Annabeth beat him to it.

"That's alright I can handle one ogre, besides I understand having a protective boyfriend."

She shot Percy a look that clearly said he was in trouble.

"I assume the guy with you was him."

"You would be correct."

Will coughed to get our attention,

"Sorry, but can we talk about how you got stabbed, and why it looks like Percy has an Iker stain on his jeans?"

I glanced between the three of them, Will Looking at Percy accusingly, who in turn was looking at Annabeth. Her expression was unreadable, but the displeasure in her tone was clear.

"Go ahead Percy, tell them about how you picked a fight with a mirror god."

Will groaned, my jaw dropped.

"Hey, he had it coming." Percy said defensively,

"Hold up," I said. "You fought a god and lived."

Percy huffed, "I fought a god alright, and kicked his immortal but."

I didn't know how to respond, it was hard to believe this scruffy guy had actually fought a god. What was more surprising was that the other's weren't impressed, Annabeth actually scolded him.

"Percy you don't need any more enemies, especially among the gods."

"She's right Percy." Will chimed in, "why did you do it?"

"The guy was being a jerk. Not only was he trying to flirt with Annabeth and not taking no for an answer. He was being disrespectful and ungrateful. Once I saw what was happening I told him to quit, he didn't. So I reminded him why half-bloods deserve some respect."

I wondered what Percy meant by a god being ungrateful and half-bloods deserving respect. The way I was raised respect had to be earned, it wasn't atomic. I could be wrong but it sounded like Percy felt entitled to something.

Annabeth was about to speak but Will held up a hand for her to wait. He leaned forward saying,

"Percy, I realize that as a Warrior your first instinct for solving a problem is your sword. But not every problem can be solved with a sword, remember the gods are changing. That change has been slow but it's there and you have to be patient with them. I realize the magnitude of what you guys have done for Olympus, and believe me it hasn't escaped them either."

Percy grumbled, "If that's true they have a funny way of showing it."

Will was probably about to try another approach when Annabeth interjected.

"How about this? I'll drop the subject if you promise not to fight any gods on my behalf."

"Ok, fine."

A moment of silence followed, so I asked.

"What happened to your arm?"

Percy rubbed the spot where the wound had been as if it still hurt.

"Well like I said I told the god to stop, when he didn't I punched him in the face. Instead of leaving he threw a punch back, so we fought hand to hand. I almost had him pinned when he pulled a knife giving me the cut. Sense he used a weapon. I got out my sword, and backed him into a corner, then like a coward he disappeared."

He sounded so matter of fact, like it was no big deal he got in a fist fight with a god. Not for the first time I wondered who these people were. I looked at Annabeth,

"How did you get hurt?"

"That happened later, we were most of the way here when we got ambushed by some rogue half-bloods."

She looked at Will,

"Apparently some of Octavian's soldiers had come back to the area."

Will actually shuddered,

"I'm embarrassed to have been related to him. We should send a group out to round them up, we can't leave them at large in the countryside. We can't run the risk of them killing someone."

Percy and Annabeth exchanged looks, Percy glanced at me as Annabeth said.

"That won't be necessary. Octavian's soldiers won't be hurting anyone else."

Will nodded,

"I understand, and in that case we can sleep soundly tonight knowing we won't be murdered in our beds."

He stood as if was getting ready to leave.

"Hold up," I said. "Who's octavian, why would we have to worry about getting murdered, and how do you know the people who attracted you won't do it again."

Will put a hand on my shoulder,

"Most of those are questions for later."

I was about to protest that the potential for being murdered was a question for now not later. But Annabeth said,

"Wills right, just know that inside the borders you're safe, especially when you're in one of the cabins. As for the rogue soldiers, they are waiting to stand trial for their crimes."

The voice whispered, "half lie." I came to my feet indignant,

"I may be new but I'm not naive, I am not a child, I am twenty-four. So please answer my questions truthfully."

The room was silent, Annabeth studied me as if she were debating if I could handle the truth. Finally she said,

"Sit down."

Her voice was calm, not at all angry, yet there was unmistakable authority in it. Her face had gone from a friendly smile to sober. Not wanting to provoke her, I sat.

"Last year there were two wars being waged at the same time."

I flinched at the thought of warfare. Who could have been fighting everyone here are kids?

"One war was against Gia and her Giants, the other was a civil war, Greek versus Roman, led by Octavian. He was technically a traitor because of what he did but that didn't stop many from following him. He collected a vast army outside the camp, many of whom were unsavory caricatures. Upon Octavian's defeat and death, those of his army that didn't turn on him either ran or were killed. Some of those who got away banned together, apparently one of those groups moved back into the area. Probably seeking revenge, see the borders will protect us from a lot, however any one with godly blood can walk right in. If you catch my meaning."

I nodded, if the ambushers had wanted they could literally walk in and try to kill someone.

"A war is never over once the fighting is done, the effects are felt long after. Now when you're in a fight against a Half-Blood you have to make a choice to wound or kill."

I swallowed, beginning to see where this was going.

"Sometimes your opponent will make the choice for you, but most of the time you are the one who chooses if your strike is supposed to be fatal. Keep that in mind."

I nodded.

"When Percy and I were attacked we chose for our strikes to be fatal. If given the chance they would not have hesitated to kill us."

I flinched again, and she put a hand on her side for emphasis.

"Not only that, we had to consider the camp and the mortals in the area. How much danger would we be leaving everyone in if we didn't kill them. It sounds harsh and it is, but without back up it would have been far too risky to try and capture them. Especially with one of us already wounded. Do you understand that we did what we thought was necessary to protect our friends, innocent bystanders and each other?"

Annabeth and the others were studying me critically. Everything she said made sense, and I understood she was trying to teach me a lesson, but I couldn't imagine someone killing a person when they had the choice not to. Let alone two teenagers being the ones making that kind of choice.

"I understand."

"Good." She said,

A thought occurred to me as I looked between her and Percy. I took in the meny scars that showed on their arms, and the brokenness in their eyes. Dred settled in my stomach as I realized that I wasn't looking at teens. I was looking at soldiers, survivors of some brutal conflict. Will replaced his hand on my shoulder, I looked up.

"Come on," he said, "time for bed."

I stood, allowing him to gently steer me to the door. We walked in silence till we got to the ring of cabins.

"Will."

"Hmm."

"Percy and Annabeth fought in the war didn't they?"

"Yes, then again most of the older campers did."

I took a few paces to digest that, then asked.

"Which one did they fight in?"

Will gave me a sad look as he replied.

"All three."

"Wait, what do you mean all three? Were there actually three different wars?"

Will nodded.

"The past five-years have not been easy. First it was the Titan War which ended two years ago. Last year it was the Giant War and the Civil War. Percy and Annabeth took the brunt of all three. But everyone involved was hit hard at some point. Though you'll find that people are more willing to talk about the second two."

"Why's that?"

"The number of casualties. If you combine the death count of last year's wars you still won't come close to what we lost during the Titan war."

My mouth went dry,

"How many died?"

"Too many."

With that I was left on the front porch of my cabin. I watched after Will as he made his way to his cabin, once he disappeared inside I stepped into cabin 11. My Counselors helped me get settled into my bunk, after lights out I tried in vain to sleep. Too many thoughts tumbled through my mind, like what caused the wars, why did the kids have to fight? What did Nico, Percy and Annabeth see that could have given them that broken look in their eyes? And of course what did Luke have to do with all this? It was possible, well not just possible but likely that Luke had been on the other side of the Titan war.