•as the world caves in•

•scary battles•

After telling Percy I'd be okay without him and Silena coming back, I was safe to finally shut my eyes and pretend everything was normal.

I dreamed of when Annabeth and I first met Luke and Thalia, how they gave Annabeth a knife and a dagger to me, but that got lost when running to camp with Grover. It didn't matter much, mom gave me my ring shortly after.

At one point I heard Thalia asking if I was okay, but that didn't actually happen so I assumed it was a mix between the dream and reality, but I was too tired to fully wake up.

Eventually my dreams turned into flashes of my life, and I thought maybe I was dying, like my life was flashing before my eyes.

I remembered May, Luke's mother and how deranged she was, giving us burnt cookies while Luke and Hermes argued before Luke ran out. I don't know what they argued about, I was so young, we all were.

I've never been the biggest fan of demigod life, but having no support was horrible and sometimes I did resent the gods for it, but I understood that was how it always was and nothing I did would change it.

Luke clearly felt differently and I had a feeling it had to do with his mom.

•.•.•.•

I woke up Percy, I was in full armor and he wasn't too happy about it. He kept telling me I needed to rest but I wouldn't, I couldn't. I couldn't sit in a fancy hotel while all the people I've ever loved are fighting for our lives.

I thought Ethan might now about Percy's weak, especially after Percy told me about his dream, but I thought Ethan knew because I jumped for Percy.

When we arrived at the Reservoir, everyone was waiting for us. Everyone looked upset I was there, but there was no argument. Thalia sighed. "They're coming, one of my scouts reported they've crossed the Harlem River. We can't hold them back."

"We'll hold them at the park." Percy said. "Grover?"

The satyr nodded. "As ready as we'll ever be. If my nature spirits can stop them anywhere, this is the place."

"Yes we will!" A fat satyr said, and out came Leneus. "I won't let an outcast lead the satyrs without my help."

After assembling our positions, I was with my cabin, protecting the outskirts of Manhattan. We heard the army before we saw them, and when we saw them I felt a true rush of fear.

"Positions!" I shouted.

The Athena cabin formed our front line, ushering the monsters into two rows that was lined with Greek fire, thanks to the Hephaestus cabin, and the Hunters and Apollo cabin fired arrows.

The plan was working at first, and when Grover called out his nature spirits, the monsters seemed overwhelmed.

Hyperion, Titan of the East and Light charged to us. Percy chewed his cheek. "I'll handle him."

I gasped. "Percy, not even you can do that!"

"Just keep the forces together."

I was vaguely aware of Percy fighting the Titan, pulling waves and getting tossed around, as I fought alongside my siblings and other campers.

At some point, Percy formed his own hurricane (what?) and he knocked Hyperion to us. Grover and other satyrs frantically played the same tune, causing roots to grow around the Titan until he was covered.

Our victory was short lived, as a squealing pig sounded throughout the air. A huge pink pig started flying at us, landing right next to me as I barely missed its hooves.

"Don't tell me that's from mythology," Percy groaned as he pulled me up.

"It is," I said, twist my neck. "The Clazmonian Sow, terrorized Greek towns way back when."

"Hercules beat it?"

Annabeth laughed. "As far as we know, nobody has."

"Guess we'll make history!" I grinned, but it faded as my arm seared in pain. "Actually, how about just Percy makes history?"

Grover nodded. "I can't use much more magic, it's too draining when that pig is scaring all my spirits."

"I can't even tell how the Hunters are doing," Annabeth muttered.

Percy sighed. "Alright. Do the best you can, I'll take down that pig."

Percy managed to get onto the pig and I saw Blackjack fly after him.

Our forces were spread thin and the Titan army kept pushing us farther back. We reached Midtown, each cabin holding different streets.

I had no clue where my cabin was, and I was worried for Silena, but I knew she was strong. I ended up with the Athena cabin battling a giant when Percy landed next to me right as I dealt the final blow.

Percy held me as I stumbled slightly. "Thanks. Pig down?"

"Pork chops."

"Good." I rolled my shoulder, wincing in pain, but I smiled to Percy. "I'm fine, come on! There's plenty of enemies left."

We went street to street, stopping at every defense. Too many campers laid wounded, too many were missing. I knew we would be stretched thin this whole battle, but I was finally feeling and seeing it.

I had wished Sam was here, I didn't doubt she was wide awake for all of this, probably hiding in fear next to my dad. But I knew she was safer hiding at home. I wished I had Silena right next to me fighting, where was she?

The entrance to Olympus was no more than 20 feet behind me and we were being pressed back more each second. I slashed at monsters who got too close, but there was too many.

Horns echoes and a cavalry charged down the streets. I grinned. "The party ponies!"

"Sorry we're late!" Chiron yelled to us.

"Dude!" A centaur yelled. "Talk later, kill monsters NOW!"

"Party Ponies, South Florida!"

"Heart of Texas!"

"Hawaii owns your faces!"

I laughed as a giant stumbled back onto Kronos from fear of the centaurs.

It was fun to watch, but we had to pull back. I grabbed Percy's hand and guided him to the Empire State Building. "Come on, we can't overextend. We've bought us time, that's all that matters."