Blood in the Forest
Clarisse straightened with her spear in hand, staring directly at the one who had once been the finest swordsman in all of Camp Half-Blood.
"Protect Annabeth and the Fleece," she said, her tone serious and firm.
Grover and Tyson nodded almost immediately. That was the priority, even without Clarisse saying it.
Suddenly, as if there were no time to prepare, an arrow shot straight toward Tyson's eye. He reacted instantly and ducked, dodging it by mere inches. The arrow brushed his hair lightly before slamming into a tree behind him, still trembling from the impact.
But Tyson had no time to be surprised by the near-fatal strike. The two bear brothers were already charging at him, spears ready to impale him.
Tyson quickly shoved both hands into the pouch at his waist. The bag, no bigger than a small coin purse, suddenly stretched wide as something massive emerged from within.
A gigantic tower shield.
He pulled it free and planted it in front of him with a heavy thud as metal struck the ground, covering Annabeth behind him as well.
For a moment, the bear brothers looked confused at the sight of such an enormous shield coming out of such a tiny bag. But they did not stop. They flanked him from both sides, trying to circle around.
Before either of them could strike, Tyson moved first. He twisted the shield with force and smashed it into the nearest brother, sending him flying several meters through the trees. The other stood stunned for barely a second. Long enough.
Tyson spun on his heel and charged like an out-of-control truck, slamming into him with the shield and launching him even deeper into the forest.
Another arrow flew straight toward Annabeth.
Tyson moved again, even with the full weight of the shield, positioning himself in front of her like a living wall. Alison's arrows struck the metal one after another, producing a dull, repeated clang.
Seeing her shots were useless, Alison tossed the bow aside and drew several daggers from her back. She began hurling them toward Tyson while running straight at him.
Clarisse tried to intercept her, but Luke moved at that exact moment. Clarisse was forced to step back when Luke's sword pointed directly at her throat.
"I'm sorry, but I need to finish this quickly. It's not time to face Percy yet," Luke said with a calm that was almost insulting, his blade moving with precise speed.
Clarisse retreated several steps, trying to gain enough distance to use her spear. But it would not be easy against a swordsman as skilled as Luke.
Grover, seeing the situation, quickly searched through his clothes and pulled out his flutes. The one he had received from Miraak seemed to have no energy left, so he used the other. Blowing sharply, a piercing sound filled the air, and the roots beneath the ground began to move like serpents, advancing toward Alison, who was running straight at them. Or more specifically, toward Annabeth, whose expression showed clear bloodlust.
Alison slashed through the vines that tried to bind her, then hurled another dagger toward Annabeth. But Tyson did not stand still. He shifted the shield again and deflected the blade, which snapped back into Alison's hand as if it had bounced off the air itself.
At that moment, the bear brothers burst out of the forest again, enraged, and charged once more at Tyson.
Grover blew harder on the flute. The surrounding tree branches shook violently, striking one of the brothers and stopping him just long enough. The other kept advancing, snarling furiously as he leapt toward Tyson, who was still defending himself from the constant cycle of daggers flying back and forth.
The bear's spear thrust straight toward Tyson's throat. He reacted in time and avoided the strike, but a thin red line appeared on his cheek as one of Alison's daggers managed to slice him in passing.
The brother who had been delayed lifted his spear and hurled it directly at Grover. Seeing the weapon flying toward him, Grover's eyes widened in alarm as he blew the flute again while leaping to the side to dodge.
The vines wrapped around one of Alison's legs, slowing her just enough to give Tyson an opening. The Cyclops rammed his shield into the bear brother who was trying to stab him. The impact sent the monster crashing into a tree, splitting it in two. The creature's spear fell to the ground.
Tyson grabbed it without hesitation and hurled it with brutal force toward the other brother.
The spear pierced him clean through.
The monster exploded into dark dust and was sent back to Tartarus in a single blow.
"No!" the remaining brother roared, watching his twin be destroyed. "You will die!" he bellowed furiously. His fur bristled, his muscles swelled larger, and his teeth seemed longer and more savage.
"Graaaah!" he roared as he charged like a beast unleashed straight at Tyson.
Meanwhile, Alison cut the vines binding her leg and launched a rapid volley of daggers toward Grover. One pierced his shoulder, knocking the flute from his hand. The other two flew directly toward the unconscious Annabeth.
Tyson, seeing the enraged bear charging and Grover wounded on the ground, lifted his heavy shield and hurled it with all his strength at the monster, who was already close enough to smell his foul breath.
The shield slammed full force into the bear's face, sending him crashing to the ground with a roar.
At the same time, Tyson leapt forward to cover Annabeth with his own body. The daggers struck his back.
"Aaah!" Tyson shouted in pain before trying to turn around.
But Alison was already right in front of him. With a swift leap, she drove a kick straight into his jaw. The blow made the giant lose all balance and fall, the world spinning violently around him.
"Tyson!" Grover shouted. He barely knew him, but seeing how he had used his own body to protect their friend ignited something in his chest. He tried to get up to help.
He did not get the chance.
Alison, moving with almost elegant precision, rolled across the ground after her strike. Grover lowered his gaze trying to follow her movement, but the only thing he saw was the daughter of Apollo's foot slamming directly into his neck. Air suddenly felt impossible to draw into his lungs. Before he could react, she spun and kicked him across the jaw, knocking him unconscious.
Then, with almost insulting ease, she raised one finger while glancing at the fallen bears with mockery.
The daggers embedded in their bodies ripped free and flew back into her hands.
Alison then looked at Annabeth with a cold smile, raising a dagger to finish the job.
"Stop. That's enough," Luke said.
His voice halted her just before she could strike.
Luke walked toward her with complete calm, as if all of this were nothing more than a minor errand.
Behind him, Clarisse was on her knees, clutching her stomach. Blood heavily stained her armor and the ground beneath her. She stared at Luke with pure hatred. She had not lasted more than a few seconds against him. Her spear lay at her side, used only to keep herself from collapsing entirely.
The bear brother who had been struck by the shield rose again in fury and charged at Tyson, who was struggling to get back on his feet. Each time he managed to stand, dizziness forced him to stagger. Even so, his eyes searched for Annabeth with concern.
"I said enough!" Luke shouted at the enraged bear.
The monster stopped just in front of Tyson, his fangs barely inches from the Cyclops's face.
"Take Annabeth and the Fleece. We're leaving," Luke ordered.
The bear, still breathing heavily with rage, stared at him for a moment before letting out a low growl. Then he obeyed. He grabbed Annabeth under one arm roughly, anger still clear in his animal features.
Tyson tried to move, but his body would not respond. The last thing he saw before darkness swallowed him was Annabeth being carried away.
And for the first time, he felt he had failed not only Annabeth, but his brother as well.
"Coward!" Clarisse shouted, feeling the blood drain from her body. "Are you so afraid of Percy that you have to run?"
Luke glanced at her over his shoulder.
"Oh, it's not fear. It's respect for an equal; that's how I see him. Unlike you," he replied with a faint smile. "Besides, the sooner we complete our mission, the sooner we receive our reward."
"And what reward would a traitor like you get?" Clarisse spat, filled with hatred.
"A new world. In the hands of the Titans," Luke said calmly.
Then he gestured for the others to withdraw.
Alison looked at Annabeth one last time, clearly annoyed she had not been allowed to finish what she started. Before leaving, she delivered one final kick to Tyson's jaw, leaving him completely unconscious.
Clarisse finally collapsed to the ground, defeated by blood loss. The metallic scent filled the damp forest air, mixing with the smell of disturbed earth and splintered wood. Her fingers still tried to tighten around her spear, but they no longer responded. Blood spread beneath her, warm, dark, relentless.
The forest fell silent, broken only by the distant echo of footsteps fading away.