Over the next few days I settled into a routine, both in camp and in feelings. There were a lot of lessons, and a lot of missing my mom and Triton.
Every morning started with feeding Carl, though I did get some looks for having a goldfish named Carl in a fish tank that looked like ice (cause it was ice). Luke made sure there was a safe spot for him though.
Carl liked to comment on things around me and explain stuff. He knew a surprising amount about the camp.
One of the most interesting things he'd explained was why people were wearing headcovers.
The headcovers were used for veiling, and that was done mostly by girls. Mothers and crones were supposed to always veil, but I didn't know what a crone was.
I found it all really interesting, apparently women were more susceptible to Lyma, or maybe it was miasma, which was basically… bad energy that the Gods didn't like? Carl didn't really explain the history of it all, but the Lyma could get in the way of healing too so healers wore veils as well. So did magic users apparently.
It wasn't really necessary for children, but was recommended regardless of age for festivals. Since the Summer Solstice was coming up a lot of them were wearing the veils.
Because I was a guy and not a healer I wasn't really expected to veil, but I still could if I wanted to (like some were doing).
After Carl's morning commentary we'd go to breakfast. After that I was required to take remedial Ancient Greek, with Annabeth as my teacher. I already knew Ancient Greek though, if not as well as Halmaheran, so the lessons weren't hard. Annabeth seemed surprised by that.
The rest of the days were spent rotating through different outdoor activities, trying to find something I was good at.
Archery was definitely a no. I managed to hit Khiron when he was standing behind me.
Though it was odd, there was an itch crawling over my skin when I used the bow. Was I cursed? But I could only feel it when I tried to fire the bow? I made a note to look into it later.
Whatever it was, I didn't like archery.
I tried foot racing and I wasn't anywhere near as good as the nymphs or the rest of the Hermes kids. The nymphs assured me that was normal, they'd spent centuries running away from lovesick Gods.
I made a note to work on my running anyways, they seemed to approve and said they'd help me.
I did like being around the nymphs, it was so pleasant. The smell of a dozen different trees filled the area, at least to me.
I never wanted to try wrestling again though. Clarisse crushed me dozens of times and it was too visible for me to risk waterbending.
I did enjoy canoeing though. I loved spending time in the water, and definitely enjoyed being able to use my powers in a way they couldn't notice.
I snuck out later to chat with the naiads too, they were nice and it was fun to talk to someone in Halmaheran.
I also stopped to chat with the girl at the fire in the center of the cabins. It was like a bubble of calm there, all the sensations gone with only the warmth of my mom's hug and the sea breeze brushing against me.
It turned out the girl was the Goddess Hestia, and She was more than happy to talk with me.
She told me about the camp and the hearth, and explained why even though She took the form of a child She still wore a veil.
"The veil is a link to the household and the hearth. When you wear a veil you bring the safety of the hearth with you. It protects and gives modesty to those who wander away from the hearth."
"Oh…"
She was really nice and easy to talk to.
Sometimes I even sat with Her and played my ocarina. It was really relaxing.
And I did work on my ocarina playing. I got to sit in the fields and play for the plants and learned some songs from the satyrs. Though figuring out how to make the song sound right with a different instrument was an interesting experience.
One of the satyrs mumbled something about Apollo which confused me. Obviously I wasn't Apollo's kid, I couldn't shoot a bow to save my life.
It was nice to get to practice the Siren's Song freely, and no one batted an eye at plants growing just slightly faster since they were all growing extra fast.
I got to know some Demeter kids out there too. Imani and I sat together a lot while she clipped the leaves and gathered strawberries and dug up weeds. She was really talkative and loved to explain what she was doing.
Silena (the Aphrodite cabin counselor) heard me playing in the fields one time when she was talking with Katie (the Demeter cabin counselor) and insisted I play for them sometime.
Imani assured me she did that with any child that showed musical talent, they loved listening to different people play music.
It was fun despite my nerves, they were really encouraging and super nice. And several of them talked to me about my ocarina, asking how I learned and stuff.
Silena also had the same note to her voice that Fetu (my merfriend) had. It was something melodic, the natural tone of the Siren's Song. It was strange, Aphrodite was of the ocean, but I didn't realize Her children could inherit the Siren's Song...
I didn't say anything then, I would ask Triton sometime. At the very least the Siren's Song didn't work as well on those of the sea, especially those skilled in Purification. I didn't know how powerful she was with it, so wasn't sure if her Siren's Song could affect me, or if she was even aware she had it.
Ignoring the Siren's Song, their cabin was comfortable. It was kinda like home, even their eyes did the same eye color change my mom and I did!
OO OO OO OO
The counselors seemed to be trying to figure out who my parent was. I personally thought it was obvious, I mean who else could it be but Okeanus with the knowledge that I had?
Someone that wasn't safe for the campers to know about, someone that was high ranking in the sea, someone powerful, and someone that would be blamed for a high ranking theft, oh and was a guy.
Honestly, as far as I knew none of the current generation of Gods fit those requirements, and Okeanus was the only Titan I could think of that fit.
But then, the counselors didn't know most of that information, so none of them could guess that my Metua was Okeanus. Lucky me.
Drew (from Aphrodite) was more than happy to inform me of the theorized parents though. So far there was:
Apollo – for my music skills (argument against this was my skill, or lack thereof, in archery)Hephaestus – for my crafting skills (argument here was that I didn't look anything like him and couldn't do machines at all)Demeter – because I spent so much time in the strawberry fields (argument against it was that I didn't seem to have skill with growing the plants)Aphrodite – for my eyes, apparently others had noticed how they shift a bit too (argument against this one was just that my eyes didn't do it to the same extent as most of the cabin, weakest argument so far)Lord D – because of the same thing as Demeter (but everyone was against this cause Lord D claimed His kids immediately)Demeter and Aphrodite were partially dismissed because I insisted that my parent was a guy, mom said so.
In the end, they're all wrong, so it didn't matter.
Despite my wariness, the camp was nice. Most of the campers were welcoming and the place almost felt like a home.
I enjoyed eating dinner with cabin eleven, despite being on the edge of the seat. The sacrifices, while weird at first, were almost comforting to do now and I was definitely planning on doing it after I went back home too. Whispering prayers to Triton and Tethys and Okeanus was soothing.
I spent my nights settled into the sleeping bag reading through the scrolls on sea magics I had.
I needed to learn more about purification to handle the sensations of the camp. I needed to learn more about everything so I could figure out how to save my mom.
Flashing gold, shimmering and fading and twisting in a flare of burning shadows. A blaze across my skin, a promise in the light.
She wasn't dead. Missing, not dead, taken, not dead.
It kept me sane to remember that.
OO OO OO OO
Thursday afternoon I got my "first" sword-fighting lesson.
Of course I'd trained with Triton before. He was very big on weapon training, even though most of my focus had been on my waterbending. He'd mostly taught me a trident, but he'd also worked with me on swords, knives, even nets and shields. I'd sparred with Elei too, though that was mostly with my trident.
This was the first official lesson I supposed, seeing how despite how serious Triton was, it was still informal.
I discovered very quickly that this wouldn't be like training with Triton. Just picking up the swords revealed a major difference: the swords were unbalanced.
I didn't understand why that was, my ice ones weren't unbalanced, nor were the ones that Triton would bring me. I almost wished I had Anaklusmos back so that I could use a balanced sword. But using it for sparring would be rude, so I wouldn't do that.
Luke was our instructor, and he did his best to find me a good sword to start. He was apparently the best sword-fighter in three-hundred years.
Once they'd given up on finding me a balanced blade, we began to practice. He ran us through drills, basic stabbing and slashing on straw-stuffed dummies in Greek armor.
They were kinda fun, if I ignored the unbalanced blade. But it was really hard to hold back the urge to use water in a fight. Triton had figured out it was my go-to and had trained me to do so, drilling me in it until it was instinctive. I was not allowed to use that instinct at the moment though, so I had to hold back.
After the warm up Luke paired us up, naming himself my partner since it was my first time.
Based on the snickers from the other campers, that was not necessarily a good thing. I held back a sigh, just my luck.
Maybe he'd go easy on me because I was very small and wanted to cry?
Luke's bright smile did not inspire confidence, nor did him declaring he was going to show me (and everyone else) how to do specific moves, like thrusting, parrying, swinging, and blocking. He proceeded to do as he said… by doing it to me.
So that was a no to going easy on me.
Thankfully I did have some experience sword fighting, just… not much. I still suffered soooo much, but it wasn't as bad as it could've been… probably.
I was good at dodging, which helped, except I wasn't supposed to be dodging I was supposed to be blocking. I did manage to block a few hits but when I failed it hurt . I was much more used to the undersea style of sword fighting, not the style he was teaching me.
The way we swung the sword in the ocean was vastly different from how they swung it on land.
I tired quickly with all the sparring, and was exhausted by the time he called a break. My skin crackled with lightning, flitting across my skin in skittering arcs of burning trailing pain. I took the first opportunity to dump a cup of water on my head… then did it again.
It was like a shot of caffeine (I assumed, caffeine didn't really do anything for me), rejuvenating me and lessening the annoying electric feeling on my skin. The arcs of lightning settled to a thrum of static.
"Okay, everyone circle up!" Luke called. "If Percy doesn't mind, I want to give you a little demo."
I did sigh this time, but nodded and moved to stand beside him.
The rest of the Hermes cabin gathered around, not even bothering to hide their amused grins at the sight.
I could only assume that they'd all been where I stood now and were glad it wasn't them this time.
Luke cheerfully explained to all of us the technique he was going to demonstrate, the disarming technique. It was a move where you twisted the enemy's blade with the flat of your own so that they dropped their blade.
"This is very difficult," He stressed, smile not faltering for a second. "I've had it used against me, so no laughing guys. Most swordsmen have to work years to master this technique."
He turned to me with his blade raised, having me place my blade for him to demonstrate the technique. He did it in slow motion, blade curling over mine in a smooth motion that did indeed make the sword clatter out of my hands.
He smiled kindly at me after, as if he hadn't been giving me bruises a few minutes ago and wasn't prepared to make them brighter colors now. The sand of his presence brushed over my skin, drifting and settling like fine dust.
"Now we'll do it in real time," he said, raising his blade once more. "We'll keep sparring until one of us pulls it off. Ready, Percy?"
I nodded and changed my stance, shifting into one that Triton taught me. It was one of the few stances and style he had for fighting on land, and I relaxed as I settled into it. My gaze lingered on his blade but took in the rest of his form all the same, and I was ready when his blade snaked forward.
I slipped past the opening attack, letting the blade slide right past me as I stepped forward with a quick thrust, and twisted neatly to the side to dodge the follow up.
Flow like the tide. We are of the sea, all of us, including our battles.
In the ocean blocking was far more likely to send you back in the water, and thus dodging was a bigger part of the style. So I kept light on my feet and avoided his blade as much as possible while striking back in quick movements. It was a good style for facing him, he was much more experienced than me and a lot stronger, it would be hard to block his strikes without giving him an opening.
His blows grew harder, faster, snaking past my guard and forcing me to block them. I grit my teeth, arm shaking under the force of his blows, my experience was not enough to match his. It was only a matter of time before I lost at this rate.
So I decided, 'why not' and tried the move he'd shown us.
My blade hit the base of Luke's and I twisted, blade levering as I put my whole weight into a downward thrust.
CLANG
His sword rattled against the stones, the tip of mine an inch from his undefended chest.
The arena was silent.
My blade wavered slightly as my gaze flicked to the audience, but I didn't drop it.
Always ensure your opponent knows the fight is over, else you open yourself to a strike when unready.
"By the Gods, Percy, that was great!"
I lowered my sword slowly in the face of his delight.
"Show me again!"
I really didn't want to, once was hard enough. My arms were tired, and my hands were shaking, but he picked up his sword so I settled back into my stance and we began again.
I managed to keep up despite my exhaustion, but only for a minute or two. My style was different from what he was used to, I could tell he was having some trouble countering me properly… but he was skilled, and he learned quickly.
He figured out how to adjust to my style as the spar went on, and once he'd figured it out he was quick to disarm me. I did manage to snag a scrape on his arm so I counted that as a win regardless.
Luke grinned, "You're good Percy. It'll be interesting to see how much you improve over time. And I'll be very interested in seeing how you'll do when we get you a balanced sword."
Sand curled over my skin, a sharp contrast to the breeze that wrapped like silk around me.
OO OO OO OO
I enjoyed the arts and crafts area a lot, especially working on the sun catchers. They kinda kinda reminded me of dream catchers, mom had one she'd had since childhood (it was my grandma's, I was pretty sure), but they had a very different function. Plus, dreamcatchers (or at least the one my mom had) didn't have glass all through them.
I was trying to figure out how to make a sun catcher work underwater, since the ocean didn't really have a lot of sun that deep… I wanted to gift one to Triton, and- and maybe Okeanus and Tethys too.
The sundials were cool as well though, but we didn't have time to start making another thing. That one was a more longtime project, the year-rounders tended to start it and the summer campers would finish it. They made them for the Solstice, then offered it to their Godly parent or mortal family.
That did explain the multiple Dionysus themed sundials around the camp, Lord D must've kept them all at camp… or maybe some, I doubted that was all the sundials he'd ever made.
It was a shame they tried to finish cabin sundials early, I did want to make one. But then again, the ocean didn't really have a need for a sundial.
I wondered if there was such a thing as a tidedial?
OO OO OO OO
Friday afternoon had me relaxing by the lake. I was cooling off after the lava wall earlier, with the Hermes cabin. That thing was a terror .
Leilani (who was unclaimed) had to pull me out of the way of a boulder, and Ella (Luke's right hand woman) almost fell off stopping Conner (a Hermes kid who liked to cause trouble with his full brother Travis) from falling.
Ocean training was so much better, there was no climbing you just swam .
Grover had enjoyed the activity at least. He just scampered up to the top like a mountain goat, not a singed fur on him. Alabaster, while dragging himself over a particularly difficult section, declared it wasn't fair and he was going to design a spell to do that.
Grover was with me, at the lake, which I wasn't entirely sure how to feel about. I'd come down to chat with the naiads, but couldn't do that with him there.
They were weaving baskets and I wondered if they would teach me.
I glanced at Grover as the silence grew too long. He was staring at the water and wringing his hands that way he did when he was nervous. I held back a sigh.
Might as well see what was up with him.
"How was the meeting with Lord D?"
Grover's face turned a sickly shade of yellow at the question and he ducked his head.
"Fine," he mumbled. "Just great."
I tugged at the conch charm on my bracelet. "So… your career's still on track?"
His eyes flicked to me and he licked his lips, "Ah, Khiron t-told you I want a searcher's license?"
"Well… no." I'd figure out what that was later. "He just said you have big plans, and that you need credit for completing a keeper's assignment. So, did you get it?"
Grover looked down at the naiads. "Mr. D suspended judgment. Said I haven't failed or succeeded yet, so our fates are still tied together. If you got a quest and I went along to protect you, and we both came back alive, then maybe He'd consider the job complete."
I nodded slowly at that information. I wasn't entirely certain I wanted him with me on a quest, not with how complicated my feelings were. But… I didn't really see the harm in doing a small one with him.
And, I realized with a twist in my stomach, I did want him to succeed. Even with all the lies he'd given me, I'd seen him as a friend, my first land friend. It… it was hard to let that go, especially when he clearly cared for my safety.
I glanced at him once more, "Well that's not so bad, right? I mean it might be a few years but you'll get it eventually."
Even if camp didn't give a quest, I was sure that Triton could figure something out. It didn't need to be much, probably.
"Blaa-ha-ha! He might as well have transferred me to stable-cleaning duty. The chances of you getting a quest… and even if you did, why would you want me along?"
I pursed my lips and tugged at my hair, musing over the subject. Did Camp not often give quests?
"You know man, your hair is getting pretty long, shouldn't you cut it?" Grover said, in a blatant attempt to change the subject.
I blinked, fingers running through my hair as I considered that. Mom had made a comment too, but I had the hair clip Triton gave me so I'd been using that to keep it out of my face. But it was now down past my shoulders. I really should've paid more attention but…
"It does need to be evened out," I muttered, mind drifting to my friends' hair. Samoa's hair was long and really pretty… I kinda wanted long hair.
I missed my merfriends, it had been ages since I'd seen them and well…
I tugged my hair once more, I didn't think I wanted to cut my hair short again.
"I'll talk to Silena," I offered.
Grover shrugged, gaze returning to the water. He didn't seem inclined to start up another conversation.
I chewed my lip, fingers returning to tug at my hair as I debated asking a question I'd been wondering for awhile.
"So…" I hesitated as he turned to look at me. "What's with the empty cabins?"
"What?"
"The cabins, the ones that don't have anyone living in them. What's up with that?"
Grover blinked, twisting to look towards the cabins before turning back to me, "Oh well… uh… Number eight, that's the silver one, it belongs to Artemis. She vowed to be a maiden forever and all that so… the cabin is kinda, you know, honorary? It gets used by the Hunters when they visit too."
I didn't know what the Hunters were but I nodded anyways, "What about the other three? At the end. Are those the big three?"
That didn't quite make sense to me, one seemed like Hera's. So where was Hades'?
Grover tensed and I frowned. What was the issue?
"No," he shifted. "One of them, Number two, is Hera's. She uh- that's another honorary thing. She's the Goddess of Marriage. She wouldn't have affairs with mortals, that's more her husband's thing."
I snorted.
"When we say Big Three, we mean the three powerful brothers, the Sons of Kronos."
I nodded, "The Guy Kronides, Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. But what about the Daughters?"
"Right. Uh, well, two of them, Hera and Hestia, don't have kids. Hera 'cause of Her marriage vows, and Hestia cause well… She's an eternal virgin and all. Demeter kids don't tend to be very powerful themselves."
My eye twitched, there it was again. That- that talking down of Demeter. What did people have against Her?
"Anyways, After the great battle with the Titans, They took over the world from Their dad and drew lots to decide who got what, or well that's what some versions say."
I nodded, I'd read a little on it, some versions said Zeus assigned Their domains, others didn't say how They got them at all.
"Zeus got Sky, Poseidon Sea, and Hades the Underworld." I added.
"Uh-huh."
"Sooooo," I paused when he looked at me. "Where's Hades' cabin?"
"Er… he doesn't have one. He doesn't have a throne on Olympus either. He sort of does His own thing? Down in the Underworld. If He did have a cabin here…" Grover shuddered. "Well, it wouldn't be pleasant."
I frowned, that didn't sound right. Yeah, He ruled the Underworld, but that wasn't… that wasn't a bad thing? It was a really important job! And I couldn't really think of any negative myths with Him, except the Persephone one but that one was kinda complicated from what Triton had said.
I didn't really know His myths, or much about any non-sea connected ones, but- wait-
"Wait… but that means the other two cabins are Zeus and Poseidon, right?"
Grover nodded.
"So… where are their kids? They both had like- a bazillion kids in the myths, didn't They? Why are Their cabins empty?"
Grover shifted his hooves, staring at the water intently.
"It… okay so uh… about sixty years ago, after World War II, the Big Three agreed They wouldn't have any more kids. Their children were dangerous, and they were affecting the course of human history too much."
I looked at him in confusion, uncertain as to what he was talking about.
He swallowed, "Right, um, so World War II- it kinda happened like right next to a war between the kids of the Big Three. A child of Hades was on one side, and Children of Zeus and Poseidon on the other. We don't know exactly what happened, Khiron doesn't like to talk about it and no one is gonna ask Mr. D but… what they did had an impact on the war and the winning side, Zeus and Poseidon, made Hades swear an oath with them to not have any more children. They all swore on the River Styx."
I flinched as thunder boomed and a lash flashed across my skin. I knew about the River Styx, of course I did. That was the Immortal River, and making an Oath on that was big , even for Gods… Especially for Gods. Mortals couldn't really- couldn't really make an oath on the River, it was a Divine Oath.
But a God swearing on it? If They broke the Oath made on that River then there were major consequences, though what exactly happened tended to vary based on who you talked to.
Triton said the consequences had changed in recent years, but he didn't really explain what they were. But that meant that breaking the Oath would be a very big deal.
"So, They didn't have any kids?" I asked slowly.
Grover's face darkened, an old pain reflected in his eyes. And then he began to speak. He told me the story of Thalia, Daughter of Zeus. How she and two others were led to camp by a Satyr, a Satyr who failed to get her across the border. He told me of how she and her friends made it so close, but she bought them time and… she didn't make it.
I stared up at the Oak Tree, her Oak Tree, the Oak Tree Zeus had transformed her into when she fell. Was the feeling that glinted through the Camp her ? Was that… her power? Her life force? Her protecting the Camp?
I wondered how she'd managed it, fighting a whole army of terrors. If I were in the ocean maybe I could fight like that, assuming they weren't sea creatures. But on land? I'd barely faced the Minotaur, and I still had bruises from that fight. She- she'd done a great thing.
She'd saved her friends and guarded the whole Camp now. I could feel her presence, the electric spark on my skin that danced with static.
I understood what she must have felt, because I would've done the same. It would've been worth it, if it would've ensured my mom would be safe.
I swallowed and decided that was enough of that for the day.
"I'm gonna head out Grover, it was nice talking." I flashed him a smile that I hoped was brighter than I felt and headed towards the cabins. Maybe Hestia would let me sit with Her, I could use a little Home at the moment.
OO OO OO OO
The Camp was alight with joy as dinner wound down. It was finally time for Capture the Flag, and people had grudges from last week to settle.
After the plates were cleared away a conch horn sounded and everyone stood by the tables. Cheers rose up as Annabeth and her two siblings ran into the pavilion carrying a silk banner.
It was about ten feet long, glistening gray, with a painting of a barn owl above an olive tree on it.
From the opposite side of the pavilion, Clarisse and two of her brothers ran in with another banner amid more cheers, though this one was bright read and painted with a bloody spear and boar's head.
Those were the 'flags'? They didn't seem like flags, they seemed like tripping hazards.
"Those are the flags?" I yelled questioningly to Luke.
"Yeah!"
I considered the teams as Annabeth and Clarisse came to a stop, "Do they always lead the teams?"
Lord D seemed to imply that wasn't the case but I wasn't sure how Capture the Flag worked.
"Not always," Luke said. "But often."
A hum bled over my skin as we neared the flags, the crowd shifting to hear what was going on better. It reminded me of the way low-level magic items here hummed. I supposed they had some bit of magic in them… but what?
"Whose side are we on?" I called.
He gave me a sly look, like he knew something I don't, which is likely 'cause no one here wanted to answer my questions. The sand of his presence brushed over my skin in a feather light touch.
"We've made a temporary alliance with Athena. Tonight, we get the flag from Ares. And you are going to help."
That sounded ominous.
The teams were announced: Athena made an alliance with Apollo, and our cabin (Hermes), the two largest. They traded privileges like shower times and chore schedules and best slots for activities to win support.
Ares allied with everyone else.
Dionysus's kids were pretty good at the outdoor stuff from what I knew, but there were only two.
Demeter's kids also had an edge, I'd worked in the strawberry fields with them before, they were very good with plants. It really made me wonder how people didn't consider them powerful, did they not see them train?
Aphrodite kids were great, and I really enjoyed spending time with them (Silena had even agreed to even out my hair tomorrow if I let her style it), but they didn't really join in on the activities. A few might hop in, like Lizzie, Tyrone, or even Lapis… but the rest would probably sit out.
The Hephaestus kids were pretty big threats. They were all big and burly from working in the metal shop all day, and with ten of them they were important to watch.
And of course, the Ares cabin themselves, a dozen of the biggest and meanest kids on Long Island, or anywhere else on the planet. They were very good at fighting.
And Clarisse was definitely still holding a grudge for my comments when we first met. The glare she shot me might've been scary… had I not seen Triton's when he tore into some rude merfolk.
I supposed she didn't like being called Claire. Maybe she should've tried to learn my name.
Khiron silenced the crowd by hammering his hoof on the marble.
"Heroes!" He called dramatically. "You know the rules. The creek is the boundary line, the entire forest is fair game, and all magic items are allowed!"
I rubbed my arms even as I brightened. All magic items?
My fingers dipped down to brush over the hilt of my knife (that was still lacking a name, Triton said I needed to name it but…). I'd been keeping it on me, just in case, but it wasn't really safe to use in battle. Abyssal Platinum was… dangerous. Maybe I could use the hilt though?
I zoned back in, trying to ignore the various sensations that tried to draw my attention. I'd been adjusting, but my skin felt raw, too many feelings I didn't know how to deal with.
"-may not be bound or gagged. No killing or maiming is allowed. I will serve as referee and battlefield medic. Arm yourselves!"
I did a double take when he spread his hands and a buzz traveled right down to my bones. A blink and the table was covered in equipment: gleaming helmets, bronze swords, shining spears, heavy shields. That was a lot for a game.
"Are we supposed to use all this?" I asked.
Luke looked at me like I was crazy. "Unless you want to get skewered. Here, Khiron thought this might fit you."
The shield was a hard no, too heavy and unwieldy, I was ditching that as soon as possible. I did reluctantly accept a horribly balanced sword, if only because I couldn't use my other weapons. My knife alone might've been better, but I was trying not to horribly maim or kill someone. The helmet at least fit properly, and the blue plume was satisfying.
Annabeth yelled, "Blue team, forward!"
With a cheer and the clatter of swords and shields, our team headed out and followed her down the path to the South woods. The red team yelled mockery and challenges at us as they turned to the North.
I caught up with Annabeth, miraculously not tripping over the useless shield.
"So, uh, what's the plan? What's border patrol? Any advice?"
She pursed her lips and kept marching.
"Just watch Clarisse's spear, you don't want it to touch you. You'll guard the creek, don't worry about anything else. We've got everything else handled."
She pushed ahead, leaving me in the dust.
"Lovely," I mumbled, wishing I had my waterskin with me, "Glad you wanted me on the team."
That was weird, she was generally nicer during out Ancient Greek lessons. And she'd been the one to want me on her team, plus Luke had said I was helping them win? And the way he'd said it- it was weird to put me at border patrol when they just wanted me to stand there…
I arrived at the station Annabeth designated for me, the one that showed me the place heading further in, to their station.
The first thing I did was ditch the shield, dropping it in the grass by the creek where it nearly vanished in the tall grass. That done, I held my stupid sword, and stared around.
One moment passed. Two moments passed. Three moments passed. I was bored. The sword was basically a bowling ball in my hand, not anything like the swords Triton lent me before. Pontus, I missed Triton.
At least I was by water?
The conch shell blew, whoops and hollers filling the air.
I sighed, was anyone going to actually attack me? Or am I just going to be standing here dumbly, like fishing bait…
Bait…
My mind flicked to Clarisse glaring at me as we prepared for the game. The way Annabeth definitely knew about Clarisse's grudge.
…
I was bait for Clarisse.
That slimy little, she didn't want me on her team as a fighter, she wanted me here as bait!
And Luke knew it too!
I wish I could've said no. That was entirely unfai-
My breath caught as the sparks on my skin vanished, for just an instant, as a chill crawled up my spine.
A low canine growl rumbled through the air, my breath fogging the air.
I drew my knife with my free hand, its familiar currents filling the air even as its dull gleam belied the threat it was. The growl faded away and the air warmed, the chill on my spine gone. I looked around for a long moment, taking in my surroundings, before slowly sheathing my knife.
On the other side of the creek, the underbrush exploded in red figures.
Five Ares kids came screaming out of the dark, blood pooling in my mouth even as they encircled me. My hair rose, electrified, and I pinned the feeling on the one right in front of me after a moment.
"Cream the punk!" Clarisse screamed, raising her five-foot-long spear.
A magic spear… that would explain why Annabeth warned me of it.
The others raised their standard bronze swords (and one battle ax of all things) and started forward.
It was five to one, with a battle ax, a magic spear, and three swords vs my own single sword that I couldn't actually use right. I wasn't allowed to use my waterbending, or my trident, and my knife wasn't friendly-fight-friendly.
'Yay,' I thought sarcastically. 'I loved those odds.'
The first kids swing went wide and I managed to side step it, but that only gave the rest time to surround me.
I swallowed, but readied myself, sliding into my best stance. I'd never fought multiple opponents at once before though, so I wasn't quite sure… what to do.
Clarisse solved that issue for me, stamping her foot down and thrusting viciously with her spear. I deflected it with my sword, letting it skate towards one of her brothers, but hissed at the painful tingles that scittered up my arm.
I could at least appreciate the electric feel of the camp having numbed me to the feeling.
I flicked my blade clumsily as I swung around, successfully deflecting one boy's strike, but had to duck under the battle ax a moment later. The third strike caught me in the chest and I staggered, before stumbling to the right to dodge another strike. My blade sparked as it clashed with another, and I had to scramble for proper footing as I ducked the battle ax again .
I swung then, kicking one of them, and then dragged my blade up to block Clarisse's spear once more. The painful tingling made my arm shake and my grip faltered just long enough for another to slip past my guard and slice my wrist.
I hissed, stumbling back and watching them as they followed.
"Oh, wow," Clarisse laughed, "I'm real scared of this guy. Really scared."
"You're clearly very brave," I snipped back, shuffling closer to the creek. "I mean really, a five on one fight just screams how unafraid you are. I couldn't be more convinced."
Clarisse's eyes narrowed, "You're gonna get it now, punk."
"The flag is that way, by the way." I said, pointing in the opposite direction of the flag. "In case you wanted to actually finish the game."
They sneered, and I wrinkled my nose as the blood drenched field mixed with the smell of freshly pressed olive oil. My fingers rubbed against crinkling paper.
"See, we don't care about that. We just want to make you pay."
I snapped out of my thoughts and blinked at them in confusion. "For what?"
"You humiliated me!"
"You tripped and fell?!" I cried back, conveniently ignoring that I was indeed the one who made her do that.
"You called me Claire!"
"It's a nickname!"
"You're gonna pay punk!"
Clarisse lunged, faster than before, eyes bright with anger, and I just barely managed to leap back. Her spear clipped my side despite my movement, and another sibling's blade left a gash on my bicep. I stumbled into the creek as my breath left me from the painful jolt.
"No maiming allowed," I managed to snap as I straightened.
Energy was flowing through my veins, the water filling me up and whispering to me. The naiads of the river splashed, their water swirling around my feet.
"Oops," the one who'd injured me said. "Guess I lost dessert privileges."
Clarisse and her buddies were starting to climb into the creek, water splashing around them. The river churned, a subtle act that I doubted they noticed.
They weren't welcome. This was my territory.
My lips curled into something vicious, teeth bared in a threat that in the sea would have blades drawn.
But blades were already drawn, and this was already a battle. So when the first guy charged forward, I didn't hesitate.
My sword slammed against his head, knocking the helmet off in one clean hit as he crumpled into the water. There was a yelp as number two slipped on my shield, slick with river water from the spray of the current crashing on the rocks. The water opened as he fell and he tumbled right onto rocks the water no longer hid. He didn't move even as number three charged forward with his battle ax raised. I slipped below the battle ax, my knife sliding into my hand as I popped up and flicked my blade right through the plum of his helmet. My knife hilt jabbed into his neck even as he stumbled back and he choked.
He stumbled right into number four, who caught his arm and backed up quickly, gaze wary.
Clarisse didn't seem concerned, her eyes merely narrowed and she stalked forward. The water twisted and hissed and spit but she thrust forward, footing solid in the rocky bottom. My blade hooked up, twisting around the spear and dragging it off of my body and further forward. She staggered forward, the yank destabilizing her, and my knife came down on the shaft. The Abyssal Platinum, mined from the Abyssal Zone itself, slipped right through the wood.
"Ah!" she screamed, electricity crackling and blossoming in a deadly corona. "You idiot! You corpse-breath worm!"
She likely would have said worse, seemed ready to say worse, but I brought the flat of my sword down hard on her head. She stumbled back, eyes crossed as she tumbled out of the creek with a push of the currents aiding her.
They all probably had a concussion.
As if that was the cue, yelling became audible. Both elated screams and shouts of rage chased a figure racing towards the boundary line, with the red team's banner lifted high. There, coming right to the stream, was luke, with the tripping hazard of a flag streaming behind him.
He was flanked by a couple of Hermes guys and Apollo kids who were fighting off the Hephaestus kids, arrows and grenades and swords flashing.
The Ares kids attacking me were dragging themselves up, the stream's water pushing and shoving at them as they stumbled out of it. Two stayed down, the stream's waters curling away from their faces and allowing them to breathe. I hoped they were alright-
Clarisse shouted something, raising the remains of her spear that crackled like crashing waves, but he'd already reached the creek and leapt. Our side exploded into cheers as with a hum that reached my bones the banner shimmered and shifted and rippled silver, the boar and spear replaced with a- a staff with two snakes intertwined on it.
(What was that called again? I was pretty sure it started with cad… caducus? Cadicus? Cadmicus? Cad- cad something.)
The blue team picked Luke up and cheered, shouts filing the air as they started to carry him around on their shoulders. A conch horn blew out to signify the game was over and they began to let him down.
Khiron had arrived, watching the scene with an approving look.
So… yay… blue team won! Could I get rid of the sword now?
"Not bad, hero," a voice said as the smell of olive oil vanished alongside the crinkled paper on my fingers. I turned to find Annabeth on the edge of the creek, where there'd been no one just a moment before. "Where the heck did you learn to fight like that?"
I side-eyed the magic item before turning a glare to her. "You set me up as bait!"
Annabeth shrugged, offering a small smile, "Athena always has a plan."
I scowled, "A plan to get me beat up."
"I wasn't gonna leave you to fight on your own," she argued immediately. "I came here as fast as I could and was going to jump in but- well- you didn't need it."
Then she noticed my arm, "How did you do that?"
"What?" I glanced at my arm where I'd been cut… only to find dried blood and no injury. "Uh, sword cut."
Don't ask, don't ask, don't ask-
"It was a sword cut, it's certainly not now!"
"Weird," I muttered, trying to hide my panic. Please don't think anything of it, nothing to think here, just a normal camper with a normal life didn't need to look twice at it-
"Step out of the water, Percy," she said, her gaze intent and her brow furrowed with thought.
"Why?" I asked, not at all inclined to step out.
"Just do it."
I hesitated, and the river current curled around me in a silent offer to keep me, but… refusing would be equally as suspicious. I swallowed and waded to the side, stepping out. The electricity in the air, the echoing pain from the hard hits, and exhaustion hit me like a barge. I stumbled just a little despite my best efforts.
Annabeth steadied me.
"Oh, Styx," she cursed, and I flinched at the lash across my skin. "This is not good, I didn't want… I thought it would be Zeus…"
What did she mean she thought it would be Zeus? What would be Zeus? Was she talking about my dad?
I shivered in fear, then shivered again as I realized how cold it felt. A low growl echoed through the forest and I shivered a third time as I realized that that wasn't cold, that was the same coolness I had felt earlier.
The campers' cheers died instantly, and Khiron snapped a command.
"Stand ready! My bow!"
Annabeth drew her sword, shifting her stance beside me even as my eyes were drawn up and up. There, on a high and wide tree branch, was a black dog the size of a rhino. It had lava-red eyes and fangs the size of daggers. And naturally, because why not, those eyes were locked on me.
The beast growled, yet didn't lunge, not yet. As if something was making it hesitate. Annabeth, however, didn't hesitate.
"Percy, run!"
She tried to move in front of me even as I stumbled away from her and the terror above, but the beast got over its hesitation and leapt . It cleared the distance between us, and went straight over Annabeth, in the space of a breath. Its enormous shadow blanketed me, an icy coolness stealing my breath.
I didn't think, I didn't have time to think, I simply acted as it came down on top of me.
My hand was out, reaching for the river which had aided me in the battle mere moments before, and with a sweep of my arm the water surged , the river roared in tune with the wave that crashed up and with a twist and a puff of breath I could see, it froze. The dog yelped, letting out a whine as it was captured in a prison of sharp edged ice.
And then it fell silent, as a cluster of arrows sprouted at its neck. All that was left was gold dust drifting down like snow.
The campers were silent, eyes locked on me. My eyes were locked on the ice, dread climbing up my throat.
Annabeth let out curse, looked at the dog, at me, then back at the dog… or where the beast had been.
"That's a hellhound, from the Fields of Punishment… how…"
"It was summoned," Khiron said with a shake in his voice. "By someone inside the camp."
Luke moved closer, the banner long forgotten.
"It was Percy! It's all his fault!" Clarisse yelled finally. And… really? Seriously? That was so Rude .
"Be quiet, child," Khiron said seriously, even as all eyes locked on me once more.
I looked around, uncertain what to do, what to say. If I was to do anything at all. But before I could speak, gasps rang out, and their gazes shifted off of me to lock on something above me.
I looked up.
The symbol was already beginning to fade, yet was clear enough for me to see. This wasn't what I had expected, it wasn't the coiled sea serpent that Okeanos would no doubt use to mark a claim. No, instead what spun above my head in what I could only assume was the claiming they all spoke so covetously of, was a glowing green trident.
"Your father," Annabeth murmured. "This is really not good."
"It is determined," Khiron announced.
The campers sank down to their knees, eyes wide, fear burning in the air. Even the Ares cabin knelt, frowns on their faces.
I stood, slow and unsteady, confused as I'd never been before. That wasn't Okeanos, was it? That was- That symbol was-
"All hail Perseus Jackson," Khiron decreed, voice solemn and mournful. "Son of Poseidon. Earthshaker, Stormbringer, Father of Horses. Hail, Perseus Jackson, Son of the Sea God."
I blinked, once, twice, three times.
"… what?"