Reyna's POV

Dinner was silent and for once no one sat at their designated table. It was quick, lacking its usual festive air and as soon as it was over final preparations were put together before the first night watch began.

No one was going to be able to sleep tonight. Even if they wanted to they'd be lying in their cabins staring blankly at the ceiling.

Hazel and I had the first shift and were taking the center tower as our post. Other groups would line the walls as well. The more eyes that could see a possible threat the better.

She leaned on the wall looking out of the Archer's window; the moon causing her bright gold eyes to reflect brilliantly.

"Hey Reyna?" She asked glancing back at me.

"Hm?" I asked looking back at her instead of the sky.

"Just wanted to let you know while you were gone I did my best to have things run smoothly," Hazel sighed.

"I know Haze. I put you in the job because you're the best one for it," I smiled warmly.

"No I'm not. You are," She said standing up straight.

"You know there's going to come a time where I have to step down." Although it was difficult to voice I'd known for a long time it would happen eventually.

"Not anytime soon," Hazel worried.

"Maybe not. It could be today. Or tomorrow, maybe another three years." Her eyes took on a bit of a sadness to them. I hardly ever saw her wear such an expression. "Eventually I'll get tired of it. Or I'll want to move on. Maybe I'll die on the battlefield. Or maybe I'll just get too old to do it anymore."

"Don't talk like that." Hazel said looking back outside.

"It needs to be said. And whether it's today or tomorrow if there's someone I want taking over it's you." I rested a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm glad you trust me enough to do it," Hazel smiled. "Even if I'm not a fan of it."

"Oh come on, everyone likes you." I laughed.

"People like you too!" Hazel argued.

"Yeah, but you have no enemies. I do. There are still those who secretly support Octavian's ideas and though I haven't told anyone this the longer I stay in my position of power the antsier everyone gets." Hazel shivered not liking the mention of Octavian -even if he was dead- and his supporters. We both knew that there were those who secretly agreed with his viewpoints.

"I don't understand why," Hazel frowned.

"It's because they want a change. They think I'm getting too...relaxed. Content with things. Don't forget that Romans were bred for war. The instinct is still buried in us and it's stronger in some than others. But the only thing keeping people from openly being against me is politics. There are too many legionnaires who support me." Hazel nodded knowing I was right. "But after today I have a feeling things will change."

"How do you know?" Hazel asked.

"Easy. War brings change. For hundreds of years territory borders have been altered. Old alliances have broken and new ones have been formed. New enemies become what old enemies were. Governments shift. People alter their beliefs. Mankind changes as a whole." I explained keeping my eyes trained in the horizon. "I'm not sure how things will change but they will."

"Are you worried we won't keep our relations with the Greeks?" Hazel asked.

"Oh no. Too many bonds have been formed. I'm not worried about that." I laughed lightly.

"Then what?" Hazel asked.

"I'm worried about Rome Hazel." I said and glanced down.

"Everything is fine. There's no reason to stress." Hazel promised.

"Yesterday , my sister tried to cheer me up because I was rather grumpy." I admitted. "I didn't tell anyone why. Not even Thalia when she asked. See, a large group of Legionnaires were refusing to prepare for what's to come. They were wasting time and goofing around. Of course I was mad. So I told them to get to work. That lives depended on them. They ignored me."

"What?" Hazel asked in surprised.

"Three times. They were mad about having to fight again. Angry that war wouldn't just disappear." I sighed studying where the land met the sky in a thick black line. "I yelled. Maybe threatened a bit and they did nothing. So I sent them back home. But do you know what that got me?"

"What?"

"Three less men. I had to replace them with older legionnaires. Ones who were supposed to have earned their retirement." I explained. "So in all six new enemies."

"They'll get over it." Hazel said.

"Ah but here's the thing. People are asking me to let them go as well. People are scared and I can't keep them for running away like they used to in the old days," I shook my head.

"The new laws require intense probation restrictions but that's it." Hazel sighed in dismay.

"Meaning we have deserters." I spun the ring on my finger nervously.

"How many?" Hazel asked.

"As of now thirteen." I said. "And when this is over the Senate will have my ass for not preventing it."

"Do you think they'll..." Hazel didn't finish her sentence.

"Switch to the other side in hopes of not dying or losing? Yes, maybe a few. Those who lack honor will. And they'll tell the enemy all they need to know about us." Hazel gripped the hilt of her sword that rested at her hip. Her grip was so tight I thought her knuckles might burst through her skin.

Hazel wasn't the type of person to get angry but I could see she was clearly upset.

"I'll back you up if things get tough after this. So will Frank." Hazel said. "And Dakota and Gwen. "

"That means a lot, but I believe we have more pressing matters." I was eager to drop the subject now.

"Right." Hazel nodded and turned her attention to the horizon. We stared in silence for what felt like forever. It was so bad that I felt like my eyes were frozen open. The ability to blink was almost gone and things started to blur together when I heard something that would snap me back to reality.

The the long drawn out sound of a horn. They were here.

"Looks like this is it," I sighed. "You know what to do."

Just like that Hazel disappeared into the shadows as I made my way down the wall turning on the flood lights that had been installed. It was the only possible way we'd be able to see what was to come but the light could only reach so far.

Already everyone was scrambling around trying to get into position. Still I couldn't make out where the enemy was. Something was...off.

"Hello dear I see you're up and ready to play!" My sword was in my hand in an instant and I wheeled around to face Lycoan poised on the edge of the tower roof.

"Where are the others?" I demanded. He leapt down from where he was positioned. And started to creep forward exactly as his wolf form would.

"Oh...the two on the far left tower?" He chuckled and locked his teeth that were covered in blood. "They're taking a long nap."

My eyes widened and I glanced about to see his wolves creeping along the walls unnoticed blending in perfectly with the darkness. They were making their way slowly into camp.

"Where are the rest of you?" I asked backing up slowly. Keeping my blade in front of me.

"They'll be here soon enough. I'm not following their schedule," Lycoan shrugged and rolled his neck causing the bones to crack loudly. "Mmmm I'm in the mood for a main course."

"Yeah? And what's that?" I asked.

"You." He growled and lunged shifting mid air. I ducked and rolled under him swiftly popping back up onto my feet. He snarled and turned slowly.

"You'll have to try harder than that," I said rolling my shoulders. With a roll of the eyes he let loose a growl and snapped at my ankles. I dodged before he could catch my foot in his mouth.

"Hey! No one bites my friend but me!" I glanced up to see Thalia sanding with her bow drawn. "Wait-that came out wrong. But still!"

Lycoan howled in anger and shifted back into his normal form drawing two blades I didn't know he could use. "Why is it where there's one of you there's the other?"

"We're a package deal." I smirked and swung my sword. Lycoan dodged, blocking the strike with his blade as Thalia shot an arrow that whizzed past his shoulder. His head snapped in her direction eyes ablaze with anger. She'd recently been resupplied with silver arrows. This time it would actually hurt if he were hit.

He growled and spun trying to kick out her legs and stab her on the way down. Thalia danced out of the way easily firing another shot that forced him to back up towards me. He barely managed to duck under my blade as I made a hurried slash at his back. The attack left my torso open. Seeing his opportunity, Lycoan elbowed me firmly in the side throwing off my balance. 

His blade scratched my arm as I struggled to dodge, leaving a good sized cut behind. Thankfully, Thalia had moved to intercept the werewolf and planted a foot in his chest sending him sprawling backwards. He landed hard on his back and tried to roll to his feet. Thalia planted her foot firmly on his wrist while I kicked the other blade out of his hand.

"What are you planning?" She demanded voice gruff with anger that I didn't understand.

"Like I'll tell you." Lycoan snorted.

"You better because I'm gonna find out one way or another. You killed two guards. I don't take that lightly. Not to mention you hurt my friend." She said putting her bow away and making her hands crackle with electricity.

"What are you gonna do little girl? Torture me? Waste your time while my wolves have a field day?" Lycoan sneered.

I glanced down at camp where a rather large battle was taking place. The wolves seemed to be making quick work of the campers until I saw flashes of silver tear open the night. I smiled slightly. "Sorry but I don't think that's gonna happen. See we have some help. I'm sure you know who Artemis is."

Lycoan paled drastically. "I call your bluff."

"Do you?" Thalia asked. "What about Zoë Nightshade?"

"She's dead!" Lycoan snarled.

"What if I said my Uncle brought her back." Thalia smirked. Lycoan growled in rage. "Now tell me. What are you doing?"

"What does it look like?" He spat.

"A distraction." I said.

"Very smart ." He replied sarcastically. "Anything else?"

"Testing for weaknesses." He laughed again at my answer.

" Aren't you smart." His voice was gravelly and his eyes held a humorous glint.

"What else?" Thalia demanded.

"Oh nothing." Lycoan said. He howled a long and drawn out sound. The wolves responded and quickly began to retreat. "Tah tah ladies."

Lycoan moved in a flash. He twisted his wrist violently and a loud crack sounded. He'd broken it but carried on unphased as he buried his blade into Thalia's calf. She cursed loudly falling backwards. I made a lunge for him but he leapt over the wall and disappeared along with his wolves. Although I took some satisfaction in noting that his pack was significantly smaller.

"Fuck. Why is it always me?" Thalia cursed and grasped the hilt of the blade.

"Don't pull it out," I warned kneeling next to her.

"What else do I do?" She demanded.

"Wait for Will."

"He's going to busy doing other things," Thalia growled. "God I'm so pissed!"

"Look I know it hurts but-"

"No not my leg I can deal with my leg but what was the point in building these damned walls if they don't work?" She asked.

"It was a surprise attack they're meant for direct assaults. Not to mention we couldn't see them. They had the cover of the night." I said forcing her to lay down. "How did you even know to come here?"

"No idea. Just a feeling I guess." Thalia winced and I put pressure around the outer edges of the wound.

"Well thank you." I said. She nodded and we waited for a rather long time before someone found us. It was Leo who happened to come our way.

"Hang on I'll go get someone." He said before taking off at a run. A minute or two later a sibling of Will's was taking care of the wound.

While Thalia was being treated, my curious mind got the best of me and I wandered down to the far tower. I studied the ground and saw the blood first. My stomach was already twisting in knots. It was a dribble but the closer I got the more graphic it was.

Paw prints of blood blended in with smeared hand prints like someone had tried to crawl away. It got thicker and pooled together. None of the lights were on which was a blessing. But I needed to see what damage had truly been done done. Hesitating, I flicked on one of the tower's floor lights. It took my eyes a while to adjust but I suddenly wished they hadn't.
(Warning very graphic)

A corpse tattered and mauled to a nearly unrecognizable state lay in the middle of the tower floor. Strands of skin lay scattered on the ground and sinews of muscle looked like uncooked spaghetti resting in blood. I felt sick and nearly puked as the thick smell of iron and raw meat hit my nose.

The scent of blood was heavy and overwhelming but that wasn't the worst part. There were supposed to be two of them. All that remained of the second was a hand.

I couldn't keep it in any longer and with pure disgust both in my heart and stomach puked over the side of the wall. It was cruel and horrible and I could only imagine the suffering of those who died. I felt too weak to move and sat down with my back against the ledge.

Lycoan had meant something else entirely by coming here. Sure it was to poke at our defense, gather information, but there was something else that was far more important.

He meant to send a message to all of us. One that was rather clear. This wasn't going to be like any other war we'd faced. They were here for death, bitter cold and cruel death. No remorse. No regret. And I knew in that moment no matter how much I had hoped things would be okay and that it would would all go away easily- we were going to suffer.