"Look out!" A strong voice called over the chaos.
Eliza and Ali just had time to duck as a ballista exploded against a nearby building. Looking up, Eliza notice a marble wall breaking free of its foundations.
A mother hugged her child close, unaware of their impending doom.
Eliza thrust her hand out and a massive tangle of vines burst from the ground, twisting and forming a hand, which caught the toppling wall before it could crush the family. "Run!"
The woman nodded her thanks, grabbed her child's hand, and hurried away to find shelter.
Eliza let the tipping wall collapse to the pavement with a loud crack.
Ali smirked. "Impressive."
Eliza shrugged. "Daughter of Proserpine." She flicked her wrist and a vine lashed out, flinging a legionnaire into the wall.
Ali turned to look at the unconscious soldier. "It seems we've overstayed our welcome."
Fighting had broken out in the square. Thank the gods no one was allowed to have weapons within the city.
Eliza spotted Jason about the same time Ali spotted Percy. They met each other's gaze and gave a curt nod before plunge head first into the battle, forcing their way towards their friends.
* * *
Eliza elbowed her way through the battle, making her way towards Jason.
About halfway across the square, a line of legionnaires cut her off. They circled around her.
One of them twirled a stick they'd found on the ground in their hand. "Where do you think you're going?"
Eliza felt her fists clench. "I don't want to hurt you. Step aside."
"I don't think so, Demon." Another soldier gripped a chunk of broken marble in his hand. "You still have to pay for what you've done."
The third, a girl still wearing her helmet, flashed a wicked smirk. "Jason's not here to protect you this time."
Eliza couldn't hold back her smirk. "Do you really think he was protecting me?" She squeezed her fists tighter and writhing vines burst through the cobbled street, throwing rocks in all directions and sweeping the legionnaires' legs out from under them or wrapping them up and hurling them into the crowd.
Releasing her fists, Eliza let the vines crumble out of existence and plowed forward. She had to get to Jason. She was the only person in the city who was armed.
* * *
Ali kicked the legionnaire in the chest, throwing the soldier backwards onto the stone street. She was so close.
Percy was fighting in the fountain. Smart boy. Well... sometimes.
She snatched a stick off the ground and swept the legs out from under a legionnaire. Standing, she bolted forward, elbowing through the crowd and lunging into the fountain to fight side-by-side with Percy.
He glanced at the stick in her hands and couldn't help but chuckle.
Ali shot him a glare. "Oh, shut up. Not all of us have super powers."
His smile grew and he blasted one of the Romans with the cold water of the fountain.
Ali smacked a helmeted soldier across the head, snapping her stick in half and rendering the legionnaire unconscious.
Annabeth and the others were all making their way onto the Argo II.
Ali landed a solid kick to a girl's jaw and turned to Percy. "You have to go."
He splashed a wave of water over a small group of Romans. "I'm not leaving you. Not again."
"You have to." She spun and whacked an encroaching legionnaire with the broken half of her stick. "This is one prophecy I can't be a part of."
"Why not?" He protested. "That's never stopped you before."
"Because," she explained, somewhat exasperated. "That first ballista was an act of war. Someone has to protect camp." She kicked another soldier in the chest, forcing him backwards into his companions.
"Clarisse can protect camp." Percy held. "We might need you out there. We have no idea what we're going to face and..."
Ali cut him off with a kiss on the cheek. "Shut up, Water Boy." She brought her fingers to her lips and let out a shrill whistle.
Barron came bounding through the chaos. Lunging, he landed on top of some Romans and slid to a stop near the fountain.
"Go." Ali ordered a speechless Percy. She jumped onto Barron's back. "You have a world to save." She spurred Barron forward, bounding through the crowd and out of sight.
* * *
Percy stared over the side of the Argo II, watching the landscape rush passed.
Annabeth walked up beside him, leaning on the rail. "She'll be okay. Ali can take care of herself."
"I'm not worried about her getting to camp." Percy couldn't tear his gaze from the ground far below. "I'm worried about what happens when she gets there, when the Romans attack, when she has to try and lead an army of people who have never cared about or respected her." He finally met Annabeth's gaze. "What happens then?"
Annabeth placed her hand on his. "She finds a way, like she always does."
From far below, something howled, a lonely cry in the night. Barron.
That's when Percy noticed that the moon was full, glowing brighter than the stars surrounding it. He pinpointed the constellation of a girl running across the sky with a bow - Zoe.
Another howl echoed through the night.
He dropped his gaze back to the ground.
Annabeth finally gave up and wandered towards the helm, where Leo was toggling switches and pressing buttons.
Percy closed his eyes. "I don't know if you can hear me Artemis, but, if you're listening, protect her. I can't lose her again, not right after I got her back."
Barron loosed a third howl as if to assure Percy that he'd see her again.
* * *
Ali watched the bronze trireme drift across the sky as Barron released another howl. She sighed. Percy was safe, at least for now. She tipped her gaze to the full moon. "Keep him safe, Poseidon."
Her gaze resettled on the flying Greek warship. "I will see you again, Percy Jackson. In this life or the next." With that, she spurred her wolf forward into the night.
A/N
Yay! I got another chapter out. 😁
I may or may not get one more out before I leave. We'll see. 🤷♀️
Anyway, hope you guys enjoyed this one.
Until next time.
-Cheshire