Audentis Fortuna Iuvat

It was almost a year since I had arrived at Camp Jupiter and I sat on Temple Hill enjoying the view and my day of rest. I could smell the musky autumn air that hauntingly blew through the abandoned mausoleums that dotted the hills, but the isolation didn't bother me at all, in fact, I found it nice to have some quiet time alone. Giggles rose on steamy air from the bathhouse- some people enjoyed their rest differently. But I was content just to sit there and think until I got hungry enough to move.

"Kerri!" A voice called from the path, startling me from my quiet time.

"What?" I groaned, getting up from the damp grass to see who had disturbed me- it was Jason.

"You're on guard duty." He said.

I uttered a few curses under my breath and bolted for The Tunnel, I always forgot my guard duty which wasn't exactly a good look for the newbie.

I finally arrived at a sprint, hardly puffing, but Mark was already waiting for me and looking cross (the Praetor had been assigned my fellow guard to keep an eye on me).

"Late again?" He gave an exasperated sigh as I picked up my armour, bow, quiver and spear from a hidden supply closet.

"I may have forgotten..." I replied, wincing when he shot me a glare.

"You're already on a warning." He said, giving me a pointed look.

"It's not like I meant to stab Aria!" I protested, doing up the straps of my breastplate.

"But you did."

I made a frustrated noise that was somewhere between a groan and a sigh before wandering over to the edge of the platform and scouring the surroundings as Mark had taught me countless times.

"Nothing over here!" He reported from the other side.

"Same here!" I called back.

"Proper responses." He warned.

"Negative sightings over here, Praetor Mark!" I said mockingly.

He just sighed and continued to look, I did the same- still nothing. I stared at the highway for hours until I started going crosseyed and the sun began to sink.

"I think it's about time for dinner!" Mark called, beginning to unload his armour into the supply closet.

I breathed a sigh of relief and began to turn away when something caught my eye. "Hang on, come take a look at this!" I called to Mark.

He joined me and squinted at the hill where a little black dot was running toward us, getting chased by a-

"Oh gods." Mark's eyes widened. "Is that?"

"I think so." I turned back to the dark haired boy who was being swarmed by griffins, I silently urged him to get within range of my bow so I could help him.

He got within earshot and I could hear him screaming at us to help. The griffins gained on him. "He's not going to make it." I muttered, going for the ladder.

"Kerri, don't!" I heard Mark scream behind me, but I blocked him out and swung down onto the hill, then I began to pick off giant birds with arrows.

"Run!" I screamed to the boy. "The ladder!"

He sprinted towards me, griffins still hot in his wake. The boy caught up to me and together we sprinted towards the ladder, my bow unused as my legs powered. We reached the ladder and I shoved him up before me, picking off yet more of the monsters until only a few were left. I climbed up and reached the platform to see Mark firing at the last of the griffins.

"Run!" He yelled, shoving me and the unnamed boy through the tunnel, him close on our tails.

The boy stopped to gape at the view but I pulled on his arm to keep him moving. "We'll be safe when we cross the river!" I yelled as we hurtled down the hill at terminal velocity, our legs struggling to keep up with our bodies.

We crossed the bridge and collapsed to the wet grass, struggling to fill our tired lungs with oxygen.

"Thanks." The boy puffed out.

"Anytime." I told him, then rethought my answer. "Actually, scratch that, I need to get much fitter before I can do that again!"

He gave a tired laugh and I shut my eyes, trying to regulate my breathing.

"That wasn't smart." I opened my eyes to see Mark glaring at me.

"Why?" I frowned, struggling to my feet.

"You just broke camp rules. Not to mention the fact that you're still on probatio and you have your first warning."

"Oh." I breathed.

"Yeah." Mark snapped. "Now come on, we'll get some food and sleep before deciding what to do with you two." He gestured to me and the boy before storming away, leaving us to follow which we did gladly at the promise of food.

The boy gave me a confused glance as we walked. "What's his problem?"

"Oh, many, many things." I said grimly, drawing a laugh from the boy.

"I heard that!" Mark called over his shoulder, making us both laugh even harder.

"Tom." The boy introduced himself, offering me a hand to shake.

"Kerri."

We walked in silence towards the wafting smells of food, the promise of punishment momentarily forgotten.

Notes