Deep in the woods. (open)

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Seeing and talking to the Lares were amazing gifts given to her from her grandfather Mors. She loved that gift, it was amazing to be able to talk to them, to know about ancient times by the voice of those who for so many were already forgotten. The best place to go and talk to some of them were the woods, there were a lot of them in there, also in the graveyard, but she found it more intimate to be in the woods where other campers couldn't see her or listen to her.

There was a simple reason why she liked to be alone there, She used to practice her singing and trained her voice out there. Lares usually helped her, they told her when she was making them feel better, happier or if she wasn't and they felt depressed and desiring to die again. Her voice could do that, but only when she sang, so she knew she could use it to help or to destroy. She wanted to have that muscle also as trained as the other muscles in her body. She already used it to help in the infirmary, even more now that she worked there as a nurse, she also sang to the injured ones there and they seemed to feel better after she did, but she knew she needed to practice everyday to keep her voice tuned and good for the moment she might need it for an emergency.

She walked down the road to the woods, it was dangerous because of the creatures living in it and some considered it as cursed because it was full of wandering spirits, but for someone like Lilith it was was a pleasent place to be. The sky was cloudy that day, maybe at some point of the afternoon it would turn into a thunderstorm, it seemed that Allmighty Jupiter wasn't very happy that day, maybe he wasn't angry but sad or upset, some campers were already unsure about their loyalty at the gods, she had heard heavy rumors about another Holy war and she was afraid it could be truth.

She walked among the bushes and trees, looking for the lares she usually saw there. Besides practicing she needed a solo time to think on the conversation that Lilith had with gunnar the other day in the infirmary. He always made her feel as if she was nothing good, but after that she was confused and when Tessa told her that he said that he did care for her, she felt so happy, so warm inside to know that he did. Well he then was worried about her fate... she thought that was nice of him and she would always care about him, her cousin, her family.

Suddenly there was a noise among some bushes. She looked around and put her hand on her hip, but she realized that she wasn't carrying any weapon, she had forgotten all of them in the cohort. "Is... someone there?" She remembered what gunnar told her about his enemies being able to get into the camp. But she didn't think that they would think that she was at least 1% important to Gunnar. but if it was a creature, then she would be in huge troubles too, she was unarmed. "well... what a legionarie I am!" she thought and waited there without moving.

TAG: Open
WORDS: 569

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There was a good bit of things on his mind at this particular point. HE would not admit to it, but he really felt bad that there was nothing that he could do to protect his niece. His sister was fit to be tied, and understandably so. He felt bad so he could only imagine what it would feel like if one of his own children had been taken from him. Mars knew that his children, while he played favorites, all of his children were precious to him. He remembered how horrible he felt when he lost his own children all those years back. Well, it was only two years but the pain was still pretty fresh. He knew what it was like and he despised some of the gods for their part in it. There were plenty of things going on. He heard about the thoughts of one of the daughters of Victoria. Stupid girl, she really didn't know much of anything now did she? She blamed the gods for the death of his son, blamed the gods for inaction. How stupid did she think that they were that they were not involved in the war? They fought the titans in other places, but where ever there was a battle, Mars was there. He always fought alongside the Romans. Though it was never in actual god form, it was always in the guise of a normal legionnaire. How his son could have been attracted to such an idiot girl was way beyond him.

But for now, he was walking through the woods. His boots crushed the undergrowth, snapping twigs as he stepped. Mars had nothing to fear in these woods, monsters couldn't hold a candle to him and any angry demi-gods who decided to side with Saturn, well they would have been stupid to cross his path. In his hand he held a bunch of flowers he had gotten from Persephone. They were important each in their own way. An Aloe flower for grief, an Amarylis for pride, an Azalea for temperance and fragility, Marigold for grief, other flowers that all meant something to him. He gently placed them at the spot where Val had fallen. Lastly, he produced a black rose and then a dried white rose. Mars wasn't used to the feeling that he had. Stupid mortal emotions, he was a master of them and they could not get the best of him, he thought. She was a good warrior, Val was, she was strong, someone that he knew her mother was proud of. Someone was toying with his camp. This might have been named after Jupiter to keep that air-headed buffoon pacified, but it was made of Romans, all Romans were his. Rome was his city and he felt so horrible that there seemed to be little that he could do to save it from the schism that was about to befall the camp. He was proud of both Charlie and Remus, both of them worked hard to better the camp so the demi-gods that came after them would have a sanctuary, someplace to call home. Even Nick, his grandson, he was proud of. Strong and slightly kind hearted, Mars wished that he would have a bit more temperance like Nick had, but it just wasn't in the nature.

Mars knelt down next to a small makeshift monument that had appeared at the place where Val had fallen. He didn't know who had constructed it, maybe it was Jason, the newest praetor. There was a rumbling from above. Mars turned his gaze skyward as Jupiter split the already overcast sky with a fork of lightening. The ground below flashed, illuminated for another couple of brief seconds. Mars took in a deep breath, smelling the ozone that permeated the area. It was familiar, but while he didn't agree or necessarily get along with his “father”. Jupiter was a blowhard, that much was true. But after all he was the man married to his mother. He went along with the things that he said, but Mars would never fully obey that man's commands. He shouldn't be here, that's probably what the sudden storm was indicating. He didn't care, this was his camp. He belonged here more so than any of the other gods. There was another flash of lightening, then the raindrops started to fall. Once more Mars turned his gaze skywards. First one drop hit his face and then another, it felt cool and rather refreshing on his face. He stood up tall, his head still tilted backwards. He took a step backwards, stepping on a bush, making a bit of noise. Once again he had no real reason to fear anything that was in the woods. His black shirt was stretched tight across his chest, his jeans were soaked and his boots were caked in mud. There was the sound of the rain hitting his shield in a comforting manner. His sword flashed at his hip, Mars adjusted the wrap around sunglasses that he wore on his face. He had taken them off briefly before replacing them back. He didn't look like his usual self that he tended to like to grace camp with. Today he looked like a much older legionnaire, someone who probably had retired many years ago.

Mars took in a deep breath, hearing someone call out to whatever was roaming around the woods. He could only assume that she was talking to him. At least it sounded like a female or it could just be a really young boy who hasn't hit puberty yet. He didn't judge. But before he could stop himself, he replied to the voice. “Here!” indicating his position by the makeshift monument. In his hand he held one last dried white rose. He planned on leaving it in the temple of the dead. Even though he had quite the beef with Mors, he knew how to honor the god. He wouldn't do it directly, but there were times that even other gods honored other gods. “Over here!” He called to the voice. So thinking wasn't his best suit, but he didn't care.

((sorry it's long i had a lot of muse))

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The seconds passed in a normal way like a heart beat each of them, but for the young blonde girl that was standing in the middle of the woods, the seconds between she got the reply from who or whatever was behind the bushes were slow and painful. For those slight seconds she was trembling, bitting her lower lip and hoping in many ways that it was a who and not a what. She thought that a who would be better, she could talk to them, distract them, even try to fight or sing at them and crush their hopes with a really sad and depressing tune. But a creature... a tune would only slow them down and not enough to run all the way back to the safety of the camp.

She felt her heart beating in her ears when suddenly she heard the voice of a man. She opened widely her eyes and walked a step or two closer to where the voice came from. Her feet broke some thin sticks on the ground, but the sound was diminished by the soft wet ground. In several parts of the woods was already muddy, but where Lilith was standing, it was only soft and wet at least before the raindrops started to fall to the ground. She craned her neck a bit to check if she could see the owner of the voice without getting too close. But then she heard the voice once more. She smiled and scolded herself, a murderer, a spy would never tell her where he was right? A spy, a murderer would only jumped behind her and kill her on cold blood... right?

She walked closer and moved the branches of the bush so she could walk through it and meet the guy behind the bush. when she saw the man behind the bush, she had to look up and for a second she thought that her neck would regret it later. She was amazed by the high of that man, he really seemed to be strong and his presence... well he would be for sure a proud member of the legion and maybe even Mars would have recognized in him that he was the perfect icon for the Camp.

Her hands were still trembling so as her fast heart beats, but she seemed to be much more calmer in that moment. She walked a couple of more steps closer to the man, for some reason she wasn't scared of him. "I'm sorry... you really scared me a moment ago, I thought I was all alone in the woods." well, not all alone, she knew about the lares, which were the ones she wanted to talk and sing to, but she didn't want the man to think she was crazy, some campers thought that of her, some didn't like to talk to lares.

She looked his clothes and then the rose on his hand. She looked around and then back at him. Maybe she just interrupted a personal moment, maybe he knew one of the lares and had just brought that rose and pay some respects to the lare. "if I'm interrupting someting... I'm very sorry" she said tilting her head to the rose and then smiled gently at the man. He seemed an older camper, maybe he was a veteran, living in New rome, he for sure had been one of the best in his days in the camp.

OCC: No worries!! I loved it!! I love this side of Mars! XD

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Today was one of those days where Mars would have given anything to be able to just be a god. To be one of those aloof dieties that didn't care. But he did. For all of his gruff exterior and his harsh words, he wanted nothing but the best for this camp. He observed the senate meetings, wondering why they were busy verbally debating pointless things when this was a time for action. This was no time for sitting around and being lazy. This action needed to be taken seriously. He observed the fights in the coliseum, some of the younger fighters were green but the only way to get rid of being green was time. Experience was the best of teachers and losses were even better for teaching. You learn from your mistakes. This child, whomever she was, it was a mistake that she was here alone in the woods. He was well trained, immortal and the god of war, there was little in the woods that could hold a candle to his skill and ability. She was either stupid or young, or both, but he wasn't.... he resigned himself to the fact that not everyone could be his kid. Even a bunch of legacies from his kids... well he couldn't account for his kids taste in mates or life partners. Remus was dating that Pluto girl. At least it wasn't a Jupiter girl. Charlie was dating Mors, the god of death. He had a bit of pride that it was his daughter that was able to tame death. A funny thought at this point in time.

He surveyed the girl with a hard look behind his sunglasses. The scowl wasn't visible to her, as it was his eyes that narrowed behind the black lenses. She seemed to be in awe of his presence, as well as she should be. He looked down at her. She was shaking, but it was barely visible to an untrained eye. His ears heard the sounds of the forest, a tweet of a bird or the sound of the rain on the leaves that covered over the forest floor. But now she didn't seem to be scared of him, that was good. He was a friend to camp and didn't understand why they were always terrified of him. The lares around the forest were avoiding him out of respect, so he didn't bother to chastize the people who had served him in life as they now did in death. “You're not alone, little girl. The lares are here, I'm here. Hardly alone.” He said, his voice was rough as he spoke. He was never one for being soft spoken or sugar coating words. Most people thought that he came off as an uncouth brute. Mars watched her as she spoke. HE took a deep breath, again he felt the rain on his face as the over head sky started to grow dark once again. Jupiter was in one of his moods, the idiot. He always failed to realize that there were things that Mars did that were for the benefit of the world, not just the mortals but for the gods too.

Her eyes traveled to the rose that Mars held in his hand. She apologized for interrupting what seemed like an intimate moment. “No, you're fine.” He said. Again his voice deep and halting. “I simply came to pay my respects to Valerie.” He said as he looked back over his shoulder where he left all of the other flowers. He set his jaw as his thoughts traveled back to his niece. She was such a good girl, a centurion and a good fighter. He would kill that daughter of Trivia. Well at any rate, he would have if Bellona didn't claim dibs on her. Mars almost felt sorry for the girl, almost. “You shouldn't be out in the woods unarmed. Do they not teach you that in camp? Monsters lurk all over.” He said with a warning in his voice.

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The weather was descending a bit because of the rain, enough to make Lilith get goose bumps for a moment. But she just breathed deeply and tried not to think on the rain, the cold or how muddy the ground was getting. It was very easy for her to get distracted, something that didn't help her at all neither in her life as an almost warrior nor her life as a nurse, She was always forgetting things just because she got distracted by the most simple things but that for her got some kind of beauty and deserved to be seen or heard or felt. When she was in the infirmary was when she got all her attention in what she was doing, she forced herself to focus because the life of others were in risk there, but when it came to her own safety she tended to get distracted all the time, reason why she didn't have the dagger with her. "Maybe Ethan was right... maybe I should leave a dagger in the woods, so I would always have a weapon at hand..."

She was thinking about that when the huge man talked to her again. She looked at him once more, focusing her eyes on his face. His voice sounded like a thunder, or if you listened to it in a closer way, it was more like the rumble that made the thousands of feet marching to battle. It was an impressive sound, she didn't know a mortal could have such kind of voice, he definetely had to be a son of Lord Mars. Again she got distracted, this time by his voice. so when he finished the sentence, she delayed a couple of seconds to reply, it wasn't because she was thinking about the reply, but because she was admiring the tone of his voice. "oh!... I know about the Lares, they are the reason I'm here today... they and the ghosts... I use to come to sing to them... it seems that they like it... my voice is my offering to them." She smiled gently at him, then she continued. "I meant alone... that not many compers come here... or civilians." she said still thinking he was one.

The rain kept coming and even with all those trees above them to covered them from the water, she already had all her silky blond hair soaked and stick to her head, some stripes of hair were like golden ribbons falling and sticking to her cheeks and forehead. She noticed the water was falling on the guy too, but he seemed to either not notice it or not care about it. "oh... Valerie... I've heard she's still around... likea ghost..." her eyes seemed sad. "I'm also looking for her... no one knows who did it, and I don't believe that she was with Saturn even when she had his sign with her..." she shook her head. Then he reminded her how stupid it was to be out there without a weapon. "I know... and they teach us that! specially our new centurion, Ronan." she smiled in a soft sweet way, she really thought Ronan was a good guy. "but I always seem to forget about it... my mind is always getting distracted. besides, I'm no threat... I don't think any one will try to kill me out here and monsters... usually Lares tell me if there is one close." she smiled gently at him. "My name is Lilith Mckinnon, by the way." she smiled a bit more and stretched out her hand.

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Mars watched her, the rain coming down steady. This child looked like a ghost to be perfectly honest. He knew who she was the instant that he saw her. She was a legacy of Mors and Apollo, named Lilith McKinnon. He had heard a few people gripe about her. She wasn't a good soldier, but she tried. Though compared to Gunnar, this particular child was... to put it lightly a disgrace. He sensed no weapons about her at all. No bow, no dagger, not even a knife or a sharp stick. Anyone could just attack her and she would be defenseless. She wasn't even able to hold a candle to Charlie, at least his daughter didn't need to bring a weapon with her, she was quite skilled in hand to hand combat. That and she carried a knife in her boots at all times. To top it off, this girl was alone in the woods. Her intentions were noble and she didn't look like much at all. She must have gotten this stupidity from Apollo because he couldn't believe that Mors wouldn't have told her many times she shouldn't have gone out by herself unarmed. He was the god of death after all, and not his uncle pluto. Pluto couldn't be bothered though he had to admit that Pluto was much better than Neptune or Jupiter. At least he cared about his kids, well that nutter Felicity non-withstanding. To put it simply, if HIS kids went that bonkers, he'd have nothing to do with them either.

She seemed to be distracted by something, Mars wasn't sure what this child was distracted by. It wasn't the same as a battle senses that most actual Demi-gods had. The Legacies, he wasn't sure if they had the same ADHD problems that the demi-gods did. The legacies of the more battle oriented gods, like himself or his sister, probably had those same senses that his children had. “Lare's can't help you if something were to happen.” Again his voice low and grumbling. “Civillians or campers aside, this place has been known to carry monsters from time to time.” Mars made a mental note to mention something to Remus the next time he saw him, or even Jason. Better yet, on the next thought, Mars would have to speak with both of them. The safety precautions needed to be upped, with all of the strange things going on, there needed to be a change in the rules. Mars wanted his Roman's to be safe, to be ready if battle should strike. Danger was on the horrizon and that meant things had to be changed to keep the camp, the city and the people that resided in them safe. He watched this girl and his thoughts increased about making sure protocols and safety regulations were in place and enforced.

Lilith spoke about Val, while his heart warmed at the thought of his niece, he scowled at the thought of his niece siding with that titan. He glowered at the girl that he spoke with. “She wouldn't be so stupid as to side with that.... that bastard.” He knew the truth but he wasn't able to share it with mortals as he wished that he could. Damned Jupiter and his rules, on many occasions Mars had told that blow harded idiot to go shove his lightening bolt up where Apollo's sun didn't shine. She spoke of Ronan, the newest centurion of fifth cohort. The boy was strong and he had issues, but he was fitting to be the fifth cohort centurion. It's not like they had much to work with in the Cohort of Greeks, Geeks, and Freaks. Then Lilith stated that she wasn't a threat. Mars shook his head. “Any legacy or demi-god is a threat. Saturn's forces wouldn't hesitate to pick off loners who stray from others. A lare can't help you so you might want to keep a knife in your boot or something.” He said. His brow furrowed as he looked at the outstretched hand as she offered up the name that he already knew. Mars gripped it tightly, trying to not hurt her, but it was hard to judge his strength against legacies. He fought against the little neptune girl, she had spirit even though she was a bit ditzy. Mars couldn't help his aura, it made people mad, they wanted to fight him every time he came near someone. But it also exuded leadership, strength and courage, even if it was for battle. “I'ts nice to meet you Lilith.” He stated, not offering up his name. “I need to speak with Jason and Remus, do you know where they are right about now?” He questioned, wondering if his son was training or if Jason and he were passed out in the praetoria.

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The think drops of rain were rolling down their faces, but only Lilith seemed to notice the temperature of this or the fact that the wind was already moving the top of the trees a bit more. For sure Jupiter was really upset that day. She looked up to the trees and then back at the man in front of her. He really sounded worried, in a distant way, not in the way Mors talked to her, but in a way that a fellow camper would be worried about the weak girl in front of him and she thanked the gods for someone gentle. Well in that case she needed to thank them too about Ethan and Tessa, Lance was among them too and Jason. She half smiled thinking on that then forced her mind to get back to the conversation with the man.

"Oh... I know..." she said in a shy way when he reminded her that lares wouldn't be able to help her and that not only campers or civilians could go there, but also monsters. She nodded at him, he was right at that as many others. But then he also spoke about how it would be impossible that Valerie joined Saturn. She agreed on that with him, usually she didn't feel angry or upset at anyone, not even Felicity, but in that moment when she spoke with anger in his voice, she felt as if anger was lit inside her heart too. It felt so weird, considering she almost never got upset. anger and wanting to discuss with that man was... an alien feeling for her.

"I didn't say that she was with Saturn, in fact I said I can't believe it! that is the reason why I'm looking for her..." she said with a bit more firm voice than a second before. "I'm good talking to ghosts, in a way I understand them, so maybe she could tell me who killed her, who is the traitor, then I would tell Remus or Jason." she smiled. "I'm not a good soldier, so think about it if I got... killed. the real forces of the camp wouldn't be deminished as if someone like Remus or Charlie or Rhia or Nicholas were killed. This is the only way I can imagine to help, to be of some use..." she said but then bit her lower lip and breathed deeply, she didn't like the anger inside her.

But with his next words she looked at him with eyes wide open. "Sir, no matter how lonely I am, I would rather die that join the Titan! My loyalty is with The gods, all of the Olympians, not only the ones whose I am honored to have their genes in me. My loyalty is with New Rome, where I was born and where I was so happy with my parents. Also My loyalty is with the Camp, where I found so many good soldiers, where my best friend lives, where the guy I have an affection for will come back to... I may be weak, but I'm not a traitor." she lifted up her chin and smiled at him. "and I won't forget my dagger next time."

But then she knew for some reason she had spoken a lot, so she closed her eyes and then when she opened then again she looked back at him, "Remus... and Jason... yes I've seen them" she thought for a moment and nodded at him, she had seen them, not in the past hours but she had seen them that day, but one thing was to talk to that man about herself, about what she was doing but talking about others... as she just told the man, if she died... well Camp wouldn't lose much, it would be painful for Mors, Ethan and Tessa, but they were only three against all the good she could do if she could find Valerie and her information. But Jason and Remus, they were the leaders, if they died, their army would be an army in battle without generals.

"Why do you need them, Sir?... who are you, you didn't give me your name, which wasn't polite because I gave you mine." she smiled in a gentle way. He could get the info anyways if he ask other, if but if she didn't see a good reason to tell him about others, then... she wouldn't tell him.

OCC: I hope it is ok XD sorry if it is long.

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The rain, it was starting to come down even more steady. It made him think of the time he had spent in Europe during the world wars. The first one was, horrible. There was the stench of slaughter, of death, knowing that Mors was all around gathering up souls. Even Mercury was there that day, helping Mors ferry the souls of those who died in droves those days. It was raining then too. France, he remembered it well, marching northward to Germany. Soldiers were his brothers and sisters in arms. It was enough fighting to almost make the god of war loose his taste in battle. Almost. But the slaughter, the dying breaths and the sound of anguished screams were the things of nightmares. Almost no one was alive that had seen it, save for the gods and the spirits that now roamed the earth. Even now he could hear the distant sound of mortar shells booming and the sound of the bullets whizzing by his helmeted head as he ducked and dodged the machine gun and hand grenades. He let out a slow breath as he could hear the sounds of the men dying around him, their last breaths, the calls for loved one and prayers to gods that may or may not hear them as they wished for their last moments to be peaceful. The souls that he garnished as a result of that war, some he released from their bondage. Their stories were sad, even the loved ones missed them dearly. Knowing that there were boys, not even men, that were leaving to never return home from war. This was the ugly truth of war. Sometimes he wished there was a way to get rid of that, but that was what war was. It wasn't pretty nor was it something that Mars could do anything about.

When the girl spoke again, she had a hint of anger in her voice. Mars couldn't help but smirk at the thought of his aura affecting someone as calm and collected like her. “Her ghost isn't here.” Mars said as he looked around. No, Valerie wasn't the type to hang around after the battle was over. She was looking for the next great adventure. “You work in the infirmary, that's help enough for the upcoming turmoil.” He said, looking over her again. She was like that girl Tessa he had met a few months back. Remembering the names of women was easy and it helped that they had boobs. But for once he wasn't concerned about women. Not in the way he was usually concerned with them at any rate. She spoke with such conviction about not being a traitor. Mars knew who really had done that dirty deed. The one who killed his niece, he knew who it was, but he wasn't allowed to say. He was to let the demi-gods figure out what was going on on their own. It wasn't much fun if they had all the answers laid out in front of them. They didn't think for themselves and wouldn't be able to figure out things if everything was just given to them. No divine intervention. Sometimes Mars could bend the rules and give a gift or something to help his children out. But more than that, it was off limits.

“Why do I need a reason to speak to my son and jason?” Mars said sternly, frowning down at the girl. Okay now the pensive and reflective thoughts were gone. His thoughts were back to their usual destructiveness. “Rather impertinent aren't you?” Mars said with a raised eyebrow. She had spunk, but other than that, her sword arm left much to be desired. She was as much a danger to the legion as Saturn was. No he didn't say that thought out loud. That would be insulting, but since when did he care? No he didn't care. But at this point, here in the forest, where Valerie fell, it wasn't the place nor the time for being a complete and utter stiff. She deserved better than to have someone squabbling over her grave like a common ass. So maybe he was a common ass, but he knew that she deserved better. She was a strong warrior, unlike this girl here. Lilith wasn't strong nor was she strong willed, she didn't have the same personality or inner strength that Charlie had, nor was she lucky or adorable like Lyn. Even Rhiannon, she was talented in magic and had a half decent sword arm. He was grateful that Charlie was his daughter and not Lilith.

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It wasn't unusual that a demigod or a legacy could see ghosts, some of them decided to show themselves to other demigods that weren't children or legacies of Pluto or Mors. But they only did so when they needed to give a message, to look at a beloved one, or simply because they thought the demigod was one they knew in life. But the voice of this man was firm and confident, he was sure that Valerie wasn't in that place as if he knew very well that she had crossed the river on Caronte's boat. She knitted her thin blondie brows and looked around too, as if she was trying to find a proof to tell him that he was wrong, to tell him that her efforts hadn't been useless, but then looked back at him when he told her that she was useful by working in the infirmary.

She tilted her head and felt some weird rage inside, she wanted to yell at him, to tell him how wrong he was, that she was still a rookie there and that her ignorance and incompetence almost killed Gunnar, if Tessa hadn't been there, he would have died there. It was true that she had been studying really hard after that, she had almost learnt by memory several books and texts that Tessa had given her and recomended her, she knew she still wasn't a proper War Medic, she was maybe a nurse, and still she wasn't sure she could be a good war nurse, although if the situation required her to do it, she would do it and would focus her mind on that and only that. But she didn't yell at him, she reminded herself he was an older legionarie, he deserved respect. She looked at him and then shook slowly her head. "I really work hard for that to be true." she said, she wanted to be useful even if it wasn't going to be with a sword in her hand.

Then he reacted to her bad temper, well she didn't blame him at all! She shouldn't have talked to him in such way. But his words made her open widely her eyes and bit her lower lip really hard. "Mars... he is Lord Mars!" she thought and then breathed deeply trying to calm down the noisy bumps of her worried heart. "I'm sorry my Lord... I shouldn't have been rude to you..." she said and half bowed, then looked up at him again. Now that he mentioned it, she could easily see the similarity of Remus' body with that guys' body. also the rude way to move and act, her firm strong voice and presence.

She breathed deeply and then told him what he had just asked to her. "I saw Remus walking to New rome no long ago, and Jason must be at Principia with paper work." then she shook her head and opened slightly her tiny pink mouth. "no sir, it is not that I am impatient... it is just that, one things is to talk about myself, and other very different is to talk about others in camp. to people that I don't know... I apologize again." she said and felt bad, once more she had just proven herself to be a bad soldier, a bad roman who oculdn't even recognize the mighty god of War.

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“All kinds of people find their place in war.” Mars stated in his gruff voice. His eyes narrowed at her and his brow furrowed. He inwardly shook his head. No wonder this child was having such a hard time dealing with war. There was little to no self-confidence and little belief in her own abilities. There were many people that could go to many wars and see combat day in and day out, but still never find their grounding. They did learn one thing, that they themselves had no taste for war. “Whether it's on the field of battle or if it is in the infirmary or on the supply line, all kinds of people are needed for war.” His jaw was set and he continued to look this child up and down. To a degree he would have recommended this girl for the Hunters, but even he wouldn't insult Diana by suggesting this. She was one of those types of women that set back the woman's liberation and rights by a couple of decades. That damsel in distress worked for the daughters of Venus, hell even the sons of Venus played the damsel in distress roll fairly well, not that he would actually say it to Venus herself, but they tended to have a flair for the overly dramatic. Mars had come to expect a good deal more from the descendants of Mors. While he was on decent terms with the actual god of death, he had more respect for that man named Gunnar who slinked around in the darkness, stealing lives like his parents did. Mars had his respect for the man, his actions could leave Camp Jupiter for the better if the boy wasn't so much like his grandfather.

Maybe he shouldn't have been in such a foul mood while talking to this girl. She had such a fragile ego and bearing, but it took all of his self control to not take a hammer and smash the psyche of this girl into thousands of pieces like a mirror struck with a cannon ball. He could hear her heart pounding, loud and rather obnoxious. His lip curled over his white teeth into a slight sneer. “you would do well to remember most others are your betters, whether it's me or other legionaires. We put in our hard work and paid our dues in blood and sweat.” His voice barked at her. She might have had those lines on her arm denouncing the years of service, but she sure as hell didn't earn them. No wonder Apollo didn't want to claim her. At least that bag of hot air had some sense. Though Mors was a big family man, that could be the only reason that Mars would see him claiming this... this.... this girl. What kind of roman didn't recognize their patron? Well to be fair, he wasn't in his usual form. That still didn't stop him from wanting to gain the recognition that he so rightly deserved.

“You'll become a good roman in time, Lillith McKinnon.” He really had contempt for some of those in the fifth cohort. That Joshua boy was strong as was that new centurion. They just needed some time to grow into their roman ways. “you will learn....” Mars narrowed his eyes at her expectantly. The groveling could begin at any time. “You will find your place in my camp, in my rome.” He stated. His hand tightened around the hilt of his sword. Even Terminus would not begrudge the patron of Rome his weapons. Not that the idiotic god could stop him if he wanted to.

((sorry it's short, but the muse started strong and then the toddler intervened. sorry it's late too, my muse for my gods has been... a pain in the butt lately))

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Tag: Mars

Word: 438

Notes: sorry the delay!!! <3

Mars definetely was an amazing and imponent God, he wasn't showing in that moment his goddly form, still he could be considered one, Lilith was slapping herself mentally for not being able to recognize the god. But slowly his deep grunting voice made sense, he was totally right, in a war everyone was needed, in the second world war, even the little kids worked hard collecting metal scraps to take them to the factories and build more weapons. So everyone in this upcoming war was needed too, even someone like her, even a weakling, but... she wasn't going to be a weak one anymore! well, physically she would always be one! but not mentally, she promised her grandfather she would try to be better, also to Tessa, she promised her to learn and be a good medic. so she would do it and stop crying, stop being a baby about everything, or at least she would try.

"you are right, Lord Mars... every single piece is needed to make an army go on..." she said looking at him, which it gave her a slight ache on her back neck, because he was such a tall man! he was way taller than Ethan or Jason, he was even taller than her Centurion, Redpath, which was extremely difficult to achieve, but well... he was a god after all! "I will work hard to earn the priviledge to be called a roman." she said and smiled at him, a bit more confidently than before, it was good to know that the god protector of the Romans, of the Legion, trusted that she could be better, that someone like her could help the legion in times of war at least in a small amount. If the Patron of New rome could think that she cwas capable of that, then she must work harder t become a better Roman!

"I really hope that someday I can be a roman that you feel proud of." smiles again then looked around and then at him. "Sir... I know this is... something that I shouldn't ask and that probably I'm not allowed to ask, but... could you walk with me... back to camp?" P-A-T-H-E-T-I-C!!! she just told Mars she would be strong and blah, blah, blah! but she asked him to walk with her, like a little girl scared in the night! well, he wouldn't be very happy about it, but... maybe he would understand that she wasn't strong enough and that maybe she might die if he didn't walk back with him. "also... that way you could see your son, Remus." she smiled at him.