Solis

Chapter II

The boy rubbed the dirt over his face as he trudged towards the top of the hill, his jacket was torn apart, and his body was covered in cuts and blood, yet he continued to stand there as the darkness grew closer. All he could see below was thick, heavy smoke and the scent of burning as he clutched something metal and heavy with his wounded arm while looking up.

He had no idea where he was, but the scent of burning flesh was coming from everywhere, and what confused him the most is that–every time he stepped on the green grass, it simply turned into dried ones.

It seems very vivid and realistic.

Then, out of nowhere–something struck him in the back of his head, startling him back to reality.

The boy with the flaming red hair coughed for air as his blue sparkling eyes opened wide, he then sat up straight–and that was a bad choice.He heard several grunts from the dryads as he felt himself slide from a tree's thick branch accidentally, earning a loud ow ow ow from him.

"M’ sorry." He apologized quickly. 

He glanced up and quickly realized that he had slept off at the top of the tree, which was dangerous. He was relieved to be near the strawberry field–otherwise, a monster would have eaten him. He exhaled loudly and allowed himself to sink to the ground. He shouldn't already be acting like an adult, he thought. The ground was also comfortable, and he could spend an hour there! 

However, there's a chance that his siblings are looking for him–and they might get mad–but the ground–

It's not like his big brother assigned him any important tasks…well speaking of his brother.

"Ron." The red-haired boy was startled at the voice, he looked at his top and he saw a pair of snickers. His eyes darted towards up and landed in a fuming face, oh. Oh no. There stood his older brother, Lee Fletcher. His arms were crossed and it appears the teen has been looking for him for an hour. 

He was dragged back to their cabin and Ron kept trying to escape from his grasp, but his brother's strong grip says it won't happen. 

"I told you guys to watch him!" Lee yelled, frustrated, as Ron ran towards his bunk bed to hide under his yellow thick blanket. The last thing he wanted was to listen to his older sibling's conversation about him, though it didn't stop him from giggling loudly when someone tickles him through the blanket.

They were soon joined by others, leaving him breathless and with a flushed face as the blanket was uncovered

"Lee's grumpy ways, a constant haze, our baby brother seeks cheerful rays." Bea, one of his older sisters, smiled while gently holding Ron's cheek and planting a kiss on his adorable nose, covered in tiny freckles.

Ron giggled at the sensation.

Lee exhaled exasperatedly. "I'll let you escape this time, just–don't go in the woods alone."

Ron bit his lips trying not to grin widely, "No promises." He whispered.

"What?" 

Ron released himself from Bea and rose from the bed."Um, like, summer is coming! There's gonna be lots of people at camp and maybe even new brothers or sisters. They'll be super duper excited to see the woods!" He explained while continuously bouncing on the bed,

"It doesn't mean you will go to the woods alone." Lee rolled his eyes. "And Ron, it is dangerous–and who would want to visit the woods?"

"Me Me! I'll be okay, so no worries–"

"And new campers are not allowed in the woods," Lee added, interrupting Ron.

"Oh, c'mon, Lee. New campers are required to be shown around--and that includes the woods." One of them replied.

"Yeah!" Ron agreed, "And I know myself really, really well in the woods, so!"

"You what!?" Three of his siblings, who were seated below Ron, gasped.

"Not the entire woods! Just the ones I'm going to and stuff…"

"Ron."

"And and and–"

Ron sweats heavily and shouted, "Look, a snake!" pointing to the floor since he has no other option. They all yelled backward, which gave Ron the opportunity to go towards the door while nearly kicking their faces and chests.

"Ron, you come back here, RIGHT NOW!" He heard Lee yell but he kept running and headed straight for the volleyball court, joining the other children playing together who are two or three years older than him.

🔆

"So, I heard what happened." 

Lee, who was holding a plate of ambrosia, flinched a little when someone spoke to him from behind. He arched an eyebrow at the 10-year-old blonde girl who was peeking her head over the door. 

"I know you're worried about Ron, but he'll be fine with us." Lee stated, examining the condition of one of the campers resting in the hospital bed. 

The girl–Annabeth shrugged her shoulders. "Just wondering, do you mind if he spends the entire day with me tomorrow?"

Lee sighed in response to the query, "Don't you trust us?" He was aware that this Annabeth girl was the first to discover Ron when he was a baby, abandoned in the woods during a storm, and that he should be grateful for this–but he feels a little hurt by the girl's constant scrutiny of them whenever she comes to visit and checks Ron.

Annabeth was silent for a moment before responding, "I guess? I mean," and began looking around. "Sorry." She seems a little bit sheepish.

Lee placed the plate on the table next to one of the beds and added, "Nevermind, just don't make him go to the woods."

Annabeth beamed at him, but she quickly regained her cool. "Thanks," she replied as she turned to leave.

Lee felt a sense of gratitude despite not really wanting to know more about what had happened to them. Particularly when their former cabin counselor requested him to watch for Ron before they stopped going to camp so they could concentrate more on college. Lee was aware that he would eventually have to take the same action.

And it sucks.

Lee always looks out for the wellbeing of his half-siblings and ensures that they are strong enough to defend themselves from any outside threat.

He's been sighing constantly all day owing to pressure and tiredness, and did so once again.

Oh, how he wanted he was there for his half-siblings at all times. Ron becoming an adult and protecting the others was something he longed to see one day. 

He's not sure why he has the impression that his wish won't come true.

It was after supper when he saw Ron wasn't in the Dining Pavilion. He hurried quickly to the cabin, brushing against other campers, and sighed in relief when he spotted Ron sleeping soundly at his own bed, cuddling a book—about their dad.

Lee gave a small smile. 

He hoped that one day their dad could introduce himself to Ron.