Chapter 19. Confrontation

Aria’s POV

One step at a time, we slogged through damp, uneven ground. For half a second, I smirked at the thought of Ares sinking into the ground, but a quick glance showed that he was making better progress than I was. I sulked. The steam had cleared up. Now we could see the fire.

Everything was burning. The trees, the shrubs... even the animals! As I watched a flaming squirrel skitter up a flaming tree, I knew I had seen all there was to see in the world. Because what the hell!? I didn't know whether to laugh at the absurdity or be scared at the freakishness of nature. I shivered and looked away when the squirrel's small, black, beady eyes turned to me. From the corner of my eyes, I could see several aflame figures running about in the bushes, spooked by the unexpected visitors and probably wondering what the foolish humans were doing in their blazing territory.

"Don't touch the trees," May called.

I rolled my eyes.

"Oh