Going through Time-Chapter Twenty-Five: The End

    My eyes took in the battleground, and immediately I wanted to run to my cabin, bury my head in the covers, and never have to look at it again. Dozens of bodies littered the dead grass. Some had fatal gashes running from their throat to their hip. Others had been touched by Kampe's swords, which was enough to turn half of their body to dust and disintegrate. Some were alive, and a glimmer of hope sparked inside me, but was put out when Chiron surveyed the battlefield, shook his head, and galloped off to the infirmary. That meant that nothing could be done to the suffering demigods except leave them to die.

     At most, one-third of the campers had survived. This was the worst loss we had ever experienced in history except for the war against the Romans, a year ago. Will and his siblings in the infirmary were working overtime trying to save the lives of many wounded half-bloods, but every fifteen minutes Chiron or a pair of other campers stepped out with a limp body. Tears formed in my eyes as the twin sons of Hermes, Travis and Connor Stoll, were thrown into the pile as well as Katie Gardner, daughter of Demeter, and Pollux, son of Dionysus and twin brother of Castor, who had died three years ago. There were too many lost ones. Too many fatally injured. Too many tossed on the pile of dead bodies outside of the infirmary.

     This wasn't the time to mourn, I thought to myself. But as I walked toward the infirmary to check on Sadie, I couldn't help taking somber glances at the growing mound of the dead. A tear leaked out and dripped onto a patch of weeds, and that soon turned into long, slow sobs as I dropped to my knees staring at the dead demigods who had sacrificed themselves to save the camp.

     As Chiron trotted out with yet another body, the one of Malcolm (a son of Athena and Annabeth's brother), he stared down at me with surprise. "Jaz, what are you doing here?" He asked me. I couldn't stop crying and didn't answer. Chiron seemed to understand, though, and after disposing of Malcolm, grabbed my hand and pulled me onto his back as easily if I was a stuffed animal. Then he galloped to the infirmary.

    When I entered, patients looked up at me with dull eyes, then went back to staring at their wounds or their healers. Will was in a cot far to the left, and Sadie to the right. After standing and choosing which one I should go to, I ran over to my best friend and kneeled next to her.

     "What did you do, give Chiron candy or something?" She asked me. And even with all the death and whatnot, I chuckled.

     "Please don't make me laugh. I need to mourn properly," I said to her. But she still insisted.

     "I'm serious. Chiron doesn't give horseback rides to anyone. What did you do?" Her eyes were stubborn and I found myself answering her.

     "Nothing. I was crying next to the pile of dead bodies--" my face flushed as I said that. I wasn't used to telling people I had cried. In high school, that was suicide to your social life and good bye friends. "--and Chiron saw me. He just picked me up and carried me over here."

     After a few minutes of arguing and a few calls of "Be quiet" and "Shut up", I stood up, laughing, and told Sadie I was going to go talk to Will. She nodded and waved me then turned back just as Will came in with a bowl of some liquid and put it in her lap.

     I made my way over to Will and he lifted his head. He was still pale, however, and my throat constricted at the sight of it. Even though he was annoying, we had gone on that quest together, and somehow, some way going through that type of thing with someone else prevented you from disliking them. I wonder why.

     "Hi," I said, talking a little bit quieter so that the other grumpy half-bloods wouldn't complain, "how is it?"

     "Well, other than almost dying, getting slammed into the ground by Kampe and getting multiple cuts, I think I'm fine." He replied sarcastically. I rolled my eyes.

     "I would think so. Because even in a hospital, after a battle, and everything you said, you still manage to be annoying." I answered. Will glared at me, but was forced to break from my stare when he came down with a series of coughs.

     "Well, I'm only being annoying when the person I'm talking to is." He muttered. This time I glared at him.

     "Be careful, or I'll flip the bed over into the wall." I threatened. It was his turn to roll his eyes.

     "You know Chiron would make you wash the dishes every day for the rest of your life..." He pointed out.

     "Well, if it gets rid of you, then it was worth it." I shot back. Will shook his head.

     "Can we please stop arguing?" He asked me. "It's getting a little boring."

     "Fine. But I won't like it." Was my answer.

     "Just as long as you do it."

     "Well, bye." I called as I walked out of the infirmary. A few patients glared up at me but Will and Sadie waved.

     As I walked through camp, campers bowed their heads in respect. Not used to all the attention, I blushed and ducked my head down so the others wouldn't see me embarrassed. Some glared at me, blaming me for bringing the monsters to camp, but most were polite.

     Suddenly, the air before me shimmered and twelve figures began to fizzle out in front of me, starting from the feet and going up. In seconds, the twelve Olympian gods were standing above me all wielding weapons. The campers who were out running around knelt reverently, as did I. But Zeus wasn't having it. "Get up, yes, yes." He muttered, annoyed. "I don't have time. WHERE ARE THE THREE TIME TRAVELERS?" His voice boomed across the camp, reverberating off the cabins and the infirmary. Will and Sadie were rolled out on their cots, looking embarrassed. 

     "Your bravery has won this battle," the king of the gods said hastily. "And you have saves the camp, blah blah blah. We honor your courage, although," Zeus added under his breath, "it makes you very dim witted. But anyway," he continued. "We present to you, the heroes of your home and the Time Travelers of Camp Half-Blood!"

     There was an awed silence, then everyone began cheering. And standing there as everyone celebrated the victory (although it had come with a heavy price), I knew it hadn't been in vain. Everyone's efforts had contributed. And all in all, it was totally worth it.

The End