Stark's Deadly Daughter (S.P.N.D. Book 4)

Chapter 2: The Camp Is Being Attacked

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The camp was under attack. Two bronze bulls the size of elephants that could- and I kid you not -breathe fire. What worried me most weren't the bulls themselves. Or the ten heroes in full battle armor who were getting their bronze-plated booties whooped. What worried me was that the bulls were ranging all over the hill, even around the back side of the pine tree. That shouldn't have been possible. The camp's magic boundaries didn't allow monsters to cross past Thalia's tree. But the metal bulls were doing it anyway.

"Curse it." I mutter, now running towards the rest of the campers.

One of the heroes shouted, "Border patrol, to me!" A girl's voice- gruff and familiar.

Border patrol? The camp didn't have a border patrol. Oh my Ares, It's Clarisse.

Normally, rushing to Clarisse's aid would not have been high on my "to do" list. She was one of the biggest bullies at camp. The first time we'd met she tried to introduce Percy's head to a toilet.

Still, she was in trouble. Her warriors were scattering, running in panic as the bulls charged. Grass was burning in huge swathes around the pine tree. One hero screamed and waved his arms as he ran in circles, the horsehair plume on his helmet blazing like a fiery Mohawk. Clarisse's own armor was charred. She was fighting with a broken spear shaft, the other end embedded uselessly in the metal joint of one bull's shoulder.

I reached the tree line and was halfway to the battle. I took off my bronze bracelet- Nightmare -and a sword came from it's magical metal.

That's when I saw the taxi my friends were in pull up to camp. They all climb out, and I see the taxi speed off, leaving my friends standing there. Even from here I can see their faces, looking like they're going to be sick.

I'm glad I skipped out on that ride.

Running towards the Clarrise and the fight, I end up beside the oldest of my sisters- Ginny. The white haired girl looked at me, nodded, then turned back toward the bulls.

Clarisse yells at her patrol, trying to get them into phalanx formation. It was a good idea. The few who were listening lined up shoulder-to-shoulder, locking their shields to form an ox-hide-and-bronze wall, their spears bristling over the top like porcupine quills.

Unfortunately, Clarisse could only muster six campers. The other four were still running around with their helmets on fire. When I looked around to see this, I saw Percy running at full speed towards us. From where he came from, Annabeth ran toward the bulls, trying to help. She taunted one of the bulls into chasing her, then turned invisible, completely confusing the monster. The other bull charged Clarisse's line. Right where I stood. Clarisse hadn't even seen me yet, nor Percy.

The bull moved deadly fast for something so big. Its metal hide gleamed in the sun. It had fist-sized rubies for eyes, and horns of polished silver. When it opened its hinged mouth, a column of white-hot flame blasted out.

"Hold the line!" Clarisse ordered her warriors.

Whatever else you could say about Clarisse, she was brave. She was a big girl with cruel eyes. She looked like she was born to wear Greek battle armor, but I didn't see how even she could stand against that bull's charge.

Unfortunately, at that moment, the other bull lost interest in finding Annabeth. It turned, wheeling around behind Clarisse on her unprotected side.

"Behind you!" Percy yelled before I could. "Look out!"

He shouldn't have said anything, because all he did was startle her. Bull Number One crashed into her shield, and the phalanx broke. Clarisse went flying backward and landed in a smoldering patch of grass. The bull charged past her, but not before blasting the other heroes with its fiery breath. I had thrown up a shield around me and my sister, taking the majority of the flames, but I could still feel the heat. The other's shields melted right off their arms. They dropped their weapons and ran as Bull Number Two closed in on Clarisse for the kill.