I took to the skies, and started to scout. Since I could help literally anywhere and everywhere, I took it upon myself to help where I'm needed most.
The first place I saw was the Demeter cabin. I headed down to the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel. Though there were a lot of demigods, they still wouldn't cover the entrance in time.
So I shouldered my bow and let the Demeter part of me flow through my body and to my fingertips where it unleashed a grass green aura. I even called on Pan's blessing to give me strength. And in just five minutes, the tunnel's entrance was covered in thick branches of thorns and poison ivy, five feet in.
"Thanks, Clair!" Katie called up as I started making my way up.
Then I noticed the Hermes cabin. Most had swords, others had other stuff like homemade bombs and stuff like that, probably from raiding some nearby stores. I wouldn't be surprised.
It was the half on the Manhattan bridge, led by Connor.
"Huh! No wonder you guys have raided stuff!" I yelled down at the small battle, starting to shoot my arrows.
The monster headcount was at least fifty which wasn't too bad. I could easily take them out.
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Connor yelled up at me just as he sliced through a she-demon with his sword.
"I kinda expected it, that's all!" I landed next to him and took my pen from my ear, bringing out my sword and standing shoulder to shoulder with the son of Hermes.
"Nice knowing ya, Connor," I took a sidelong glance at him.
He just gave me a huge grin while staring at me with those bright blue eyes of his. "We're not going away just yet,"
And then we both charged into the cluster of monsters, the rest of the group following.
I kept hacking away at every monster I could, while Connor kept yelling orders at everyone while still fighting alongside me.
After a little while, a new voice broke through the air: "Retreat! Let's head back to HQ!"
Connor and I turned to see Travis at the back of our group.
I turned to Connor. "Go with him. I'll be right there,"
"Clair-!"
"Just go! There's like ten more left!" I said in the strongest tone I could muster.
Connor sighed then turned to his group, leading them away.
Most of the monsters in front of me were she-demons, which I seriously didn't need. They always nagged at you however they could.
But I just shut them out. They were killed in a matter of minutes anyway.
Even so, I was a bit delayed on getting to HQ since some monsters could be pretty stubborn.
We had chosen the Plaza hotel as HQ apparently. When I walked in, the first person I saw was Will Solace, my archery teacher as well as one of my close friends. I immediately demanded the situation.
I noticed he seemed panicky when I approached him. "Will, what's going on? How many are injured?"
"Wait you didn't hear about Annabe-?"
"Jake!" Will shouted before the senior counselor could continue.
"Wait, Annie? What happened to her?" I looked back at Will.
He sighed and gave in. "She got stabbed with a poison knife. She's in good condition but it did look a bit fatal for a bit and-"
"Where is she?"
"Um... Clair I know what you're thinking and you shouldn't-"
"Will!" I shouted, impatient. "You know I don't care what happens to me. She's one of the best strategists we have. I'm not saving her just because she's one of my best friends, alright? She's important to this war!"
"Clair..." Finally, Will sighed. "Alright. She's up on the top floor terrace. Percy's with her,"
That assured me a bit but I rushed back out and circled the hotel for the terrace. And then I found it.
I slowly made my way up, making sure that Percy and Annabeth weren't that startled. But when I reached the bottom of it, I knocked three times then made myself visible to them.
"How ya doin'?" I asked, sitting on the railing, facing her.
Annie was lying on a lounge chair with Percy kneeling next to her.
"Clair?" Percy asked. "What are you doing here?"
"I won't lie. You know why I'm here," I slid off the railing as Percy stood, almost like he was keeping Annie away from me.
"I-I know what you're thinking but-"
"Percy!" I snapped. "I'm not doing this just because I want to. You know more than anybody that Annabeth Chase is the best strategist we have here. If she stays out of commission anymore than she has, our force will weaken,"
"And if you die, Clair? You're one of the most powerful assets we have!" Percy argued back.
"Strength isn't everything Percy! We need the brains as much as the strength! If possible, even more!" I insisted.
"Well-" But then Percy faltered. He looked down to see a hand clasping his own. Annie had stopped him.
"Annabeth no... you're actually living. Clair has a bigger chance of-"
"Clair, come here," Annie's weak voice said.
I walked to her side and gingerly laid my hand on her shoulder.
"Is that a yes?" I looked into those stormy gray eyes of hers.
"Do it," she said. Percy had already up and left the terrace.
"I'll see you guys later," I gave her a smile then started to concentrate, my hand starting to glow a bright white.
I was going to fully heal her. Though it does sound stupid to do this, she's getting pretty closes to dying. I didn't want her to stay out of it for any longer than she already has.
So I opened my mouth and said a long Greek phrase that made just for this very purpose. Translated, it goes: In the name of Apollo god of healing, god of medicine I ask you to heal thee!
When the last syllable exited my mouth, a flash of white light shot into Annie's wound, making her jerk from the power. I felt relief wash over me. And then the world spun as I collapsed to the terrace ground.
And for the first time ever, I entered a dream vision.
***
I felt like I was falling. Like gravity was pulling me down. Until a scene formed in front of me.
I immediately recognized the Underworld. I was facing the thrones again.
But I didn't feel dead, like how I should've been. I mean I was in the Underworld. But somehow I knew that I wasn't dead. Somehow knew my life force was still tied to the overworld.
In front of me were Hades, Persephone, and Demeter as they were last time. Nico was standing in front of them, arguing with his dad, me right next to him.
"Father, come on! Your family is tiring. The demigods are dying. Do you know how much hold up that'll cause you down here?" Nico reasoned. I felt myself scoff since that was pretty legit reasoning.
His father had his best thinking face on.
"Tell me again dear daughter why you married him," Demeter interrupted the father-son 'bonding'.
"Mother! For the millionth time-"
"Quiet Persephone. The boy has a point," he turned to the two women.
Then I saw something flash through Nico's eyes: pain, worry. He started to become a little restless and fidgety. Then after a few seconds, paused and turned directly to look at me.
"Claira. You're well on the brink of death. I feel your spirit in front of me. I hope you hear this. Just... please wake up. Percy needs you. Annabeth needs you. The whole camp needs you. And... I need you," He looked down at that last sentence.
Then Hades called him, making his head shoot up and turn to look at his father.
"I'll consider it," my uncle answered.
Then I was sucked out of the dream vision... and entered what was going to be a long and dreamless sleep.