Chapter 42: Coming In Like A Blaze Of Glory

                                    

                                          
Glitter ran across the sky like a street of light. I swear we had already passed over all of Texas. 
"After I passed out what happened?" I asked. I didn't need to hold on. There was also nowhere to hold on, there were no reins. But I had no need, it was like I was born to ride. It must have been an Apollo thing. 
"We fled the area and came to rest on the desert mountains on the border of New Mexico and Texas, right by the ocean. You needed rest. As we touched down. Lord Apollo and Lady Artimis showed up."
"Where are we now?"
"My geography isn't very reliable, but I believe we are just passing into Arkansas."
Glitter was racing across the sky. I had never traveled this fast. She was galloping, but at suck incredible speed we out ran a plain.  In no time at all I saw the familiar outline of New York. I wished I had time to stop by the apartment and call Dad and Sally. But I knew camp was in trouble. 
"Almost there!" 
I could feel the anticipation. I didn't know what to expect, but from everything I had seen and heard and experienced on this quest, I knew it wasn't going to be good. 
"Yes My Lady-"
"Please just call my Nora."
"Nora. As you wish My Lady."
I sighed and figured there was no point in arguing. 
"I'm going to call up The Sight."
"Yes Lady."
The air in front of me shimmered in heat, everything around me dissolved and the camp shimmered, and sharpened.
Every camper was at the clearing, dressed in full battle armor, but this time it wasn't for capture the flag. The Hephaestus cabin had set up traps around the entrance to the Labyrinth- razor wire, pits filled with pots of Greek fire, rows of sharpened sticks to deflect a charge. Beckendorf was manning two catapults the size of pickup trucks, already primed and aimed at Zeus's Fist. 
The Ares cabin was on the front line, drilling in phalanx formation with Clarisse calling orders. I saw Raph. And my heart fluttered. He was pale, but he was holding a shield and sword. I zoomed in just slightly and saw how fractured his eyes were. But he was up and he was fighting. 
I saw Lee and Michael and Austin and Kayla and the rest of the Cabin 7 and Hermes's cabins were scattered in the woods with bows ready. Many had taken up positions in the trees. Even the dryads were armed with bows, and the satyrs trotted around with wooden cudgels and shields made of rough tree bark.
Annabeth went to join her brethren from the Athena cabin, who had set up a command tent and were directing operations. A gray banner with an owl fluttered outside the tent. Our security chief, Argus, stood guard at the door. Aphrodite's children were running around straightening everybody's armor and offering to comb the tangles out of our horsehair plumes. 
Even Dionysus's kids had found something to do, they were running around providing all the sweaty warriors with water bottles and juice boxes, on the orders of Will. He had set up a front line medical tent. He had his cargo shorts stocked full and had two bags slung over his shoulders full of emergency medical supplies. 
I saw Percy talking to Chiron. Chiron had his bow and a full fee quivers. Percy was clipping up his armour as he talked. I saw Grover talking to Juniper. I saw Tyson helping the Hephaestus kids prepare the defenses. He was picking up boulders and piled them next to the catapults for firing.
I blinked and shook my head releasing the Vision. 
"NICO!"
I wasn't sure if he would be able to hear. No idea if distance was a problem or we needed like wifi for this to work or what. I figured Hecate was interfering in our connection back in the fortress.