Raph hauled me up and proceeded to help fit my armour on and tie up the laces. He was quiet, didn't say much.

"What's your opinion?" I finally asked.

He glanced up at me. His dark eyes burning into mine. His face was impassive, hard as stone and just about unreadable.

"Why would you want my opinion?"

"Alright. Then don't tell me." I shrugged, looking away, back out to the setting sun. I could feel the homesickness. I just wanted something familiar. Something normal. I tried to keep myself together, but the tears threatened to fall.

"I think it wasn't fair for the Orical to force it on you. Annabeth is right, the curse has been a while, there hasn't been a new host for Delphi in forever. Wasn't cool what they did. But..." He trailed off.

"But?" I encouraged.

"But you gotta learn to show respect."

"I've learned that to show respect they have to earn it. I've been tossed around, dumped on, picked on, told I'm worthless, useless, stupid, too much trouble, I've been used and abused. So to drop all that and pretend everything is hunky-dory? It's not going to happen just like that."

He indicated with his hands for my bracers, and he tied up the armour on my wrists while I kept talking.

"If someone you've never met shows up at your door gives you a bunch of stuff, says you're important to them, yet you've never met them or heard of them...you'd be a bit hesitant to trust them too. Your the son of the war god, doesn't that make sense? You don't just trust everyone."

"Fair point."

"Thank you."

"Doesn't mean it's dumb."

"Wow. You're unbelievable!"

"Thank you."

I rolled my eyes. And jammed my helmet on, took my knives, Aurum and Argentum and slid them into the belt Raph hand handed me.

"Ready."

"Good. Now we gotta hustle. Quintes said we were starting right away."

He turned and I followed him at a jog back up the beach and into the grounds. They were all milking about in the practice arena. I saw my cabin and jogged over.

"There you are! We couldn't find you!" Will cried, pulling me into a tight hug. For being 13 he was tall and very strong.

"Dude! Ribs!" I squeaked.

"Sorry. But.. your alright?"

"Well your definition of all right is very different then mine. But I'm alive."

"Raph found you?" Kayla asked, raising an eye brow.

I rolled my eyes. "Not you too! I just spent half an hour with Aphrodite, please don't start."

"You did WHAT?" Lee yelped.

"I'll tell you later, right now something is happening." I said, ending the conversation and turned to the group as campers yelled and cheered as Annabeth and two of her 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. From the opposite side of the pavilion, Clarisse and her buddies ran in with another banner, of identical size, but gaudy red, painted with a bloody spear and a boar's head.

I turned to Lee and yelled over the noise, "Those are the flags?"

"Yeah."

"Ares and Athena always lead the teams?"

"Not always," he said. "But often."

"So, if another cabin captures one, what do you do- repaint the flag?"

He grinned. "You'll see. First we have to get one."

Whose side are we on?"

He gave me a sly look, as if he knew something I didn't. "We've made a temporary alliance with Athena. Tonight, we get the flag from Ares."

The teams were announced. Athena had made an alliance with Apollo and Hermes, the two biggest cabins, and Posiden. Apparently, privileges had been traded- shower times, chore schedules, the best slots for activities- in order to win support.

Ares had allied themselves with everybody else: Dionysus, Demeter, Aphrodite, and Hephaestus. From what I'd seen, Dionysus's kids were actually good athletes, but there were only two of them. Demeter's kids had the edge with nature skills and outdoor stuff but they weren't very aggressive. Aphrodite's sons and daughters I wasn't too worried about. They mostly sat out every activity and checked their reflections in the lake and did their hair and gossiped, except for Selina, she seemed to be a bit more involved. She was as of right now in deep discussion with the big burly Hephaestus cabin councillor.

The Hephaestus's kids weren't pretty, and there were only four of them, but they were big and burly from working in the metal shop all day. They might be a problem. That, of course, left Ares's cabin: a dozen of the biggest, ugliest, meanest kids on Long Island, or anywhere else on the planet. Raph was smirking at me. Clarisse looked like she wanted revenge. This should be fun.

Chiron hammered his hoof on the marble.

"Heroes!" he announced. "You know the rules. The creek is the boundary line. The entire forest is fair game. All magic items are allowed. The banner must be prominently displayed, and have no more than two guards. Prisoners may be disarmed, but may not be bound or gagged. No killing or maiming is allowed. I will serve as referee and battlefield medic. Arm yourselves!"

The teams divided up and our team headed to the woods. I caught up with Lee, Annabeth, and Percy, the team leaders.

"I know their battle plan."

"Because you were cozy with the Raph just now?"

"Excuse me? What is your problem with me?" I stopped suddenly.

She turned to me, her grey eyes flashed dangerously.

"You got Percy kicked out of yet another school and-"

"Annabeth! They came looking for me. Not her."

"And he's my brother!"

"Step. Brother."

"What's the difference? I'm not interested in my STEP brother! And I'm sorry monsters ruined your date-"

"It wasn't a date!" They both cried.

"But you should be used to monsters interrupting your life! So stop blaming me, and taking your anger out on me! I've done nothing wrong. And now we're waiting time!"

"Percy's little big sister has a point. Game will start soon!" Tyson nodded.

I could see the wheels turning, she wanted to stay mad, but she knew Tyson was right.

"Fine. How do you know the plan?"

"She's got awesome super hearing! She ease dropped on them at supper. And your plan." Lee said snuggly, folding his arms.

Annabeth sputtered.

"It's a good plan. But your not using me as bait. Sure you did that with Percy his first games, used him to bait Clarisse. I'm not as skilled at hand to hand. Place me with Lee, and Kayla in the trees around the flag. Use Tyson as the guard. You and Percy go get the flag." I suggested.

"No. I want you with us." Annabeth countered. "Lee, Kayla, stay hidden in the trees. Shot anything with red. I agree, Tyson, will you guard the flag? Michael, Austin, Will, you have that high whistle only you Apollo kids can hear. Use it if you have a captive or need help."

"Yes! Make things go boom!"

"Don't kill anyone, my BFC!" I grinned up at him.

"Only kill monsters!" He nodded. "Campers are friends."

"Done. Okay, let's move out!" Percy said. The flag was handed to Lee, and the guards took off. The three of us walked deeper into the woods. As we walked I pulled my pendent off and it grew into a bow with an arrow knocked. Somehow, must be the magic associated with the gifts, the arrows weren't sharp like they used to be. They were dulled.

"I guess you can't actually kill Clarisse." Percy sighed.

"Well...I'm a pretty good shot. Aim for the right place, and I'd have her dead."

"Okay, so not only do we have to watch for red team, but also monsters."

It was a warm, sticky night. The woods were dark, with fireflies popping in and out of view. The three of us kept walking, deeper into the forest. Far away, the conch horn blew. I heard whoops and yells in the woods, the clanking of metal, kids fighting. A blue-plumed ally from Athens raced past us like a deer, leaped through the woods, and disappeared into enemy territory.

Then I heard a sound that sent a chill up my spine, a low canine growl, somewhere close by. I stopped and spun, I had the feeling something was stalking us. Percy had also raised his sword.

"Can you-"

"Shh!" I hissed. "I can hear it. In the bushes." I drew the string of my bow back and released. There was a squeal and a poof of dust.

"One monster gone."

"Nice shooting sis."

"Thanks."

"Come on. We still gotta get that flag!"

We followed Annabeth through the forest. Running through the forest was easier than I expected. I heard the feet coming before Percy or Annabeth did. They were heavier footsteps, so it must be from Aris cabin. Pulling the string back on my bow, as I was running flat out through the trees, the arrow having reappear as soon as the monster dust disappeared, I let the arrow go. It was rounded and a soft point. I heard a heavy thunk and then a thud.

Coming into the clearing we slid to a stop. Percy let out a wild laugh. Clarisse was laying on the ground fully knocked out. I picked up the arrow from the ground. There was a sizeable dent in her helmet. I place a hand on her forehead and concentrated for a moment.

"Just knocked out. She'll be fine inna minute or two." I stood up and put my fingers to my lips and whistled a high pitched sharp whistle. I heard a two more whistle back.

"Someone is on their way." I nodded.

"Good. We can leave her. Let's keep going."

She ran deeper into the woods, Percy and I right behind. A minute if running later we slowed down and came to a stop. Standing alone leaning on the huge tree beside the flag stuck in the ground was Raph.

Annabeth held a finger to her lips, indicating silence. She then pointed to her ears. I nodded in understanding. I closed my eyes and tipped my head this way and that. I could hear the wild breathing if Annabeth and Percy beside me. I could hear the rustling in the leaves from the wind. In the distance I could hear the clash of metal on metal. I could hear the bubbling of the brook near by, I could hear the steady rythmic breathing of Raph. I strained a bit more. My eyes popped open.

Leaning forwards I breathed just loud enough for them to hear.

"Raph. And two more hiding behind the rock waiting for the ambush."

Annabeth nodded.

"Percy you take out guys. Nora, creat a distraction with Raph. I'll grab the flag."

"Why you? All three cabins got to it." I protested.

"I have a hat of invisibility." She smirked and placed her Yankees baseball cap on her head.

"She does not know how to share."

"I heard that." An invisible voice whispered.

"You were supposed to. Just 'cause I can't see you, doesn't mean I can't hear you! I thought you were supposed to be a wise girl?"

"Enough you two!" Percy scolded. "on three."

"Just go."

I pulled the string back and let the arrow fly. It flew and pinned Raph to the tree by the strap of his armour. Percy held a snicker back as he sprinted towards the rock from the back. I stood up and sauntered into the clearing.

"Are we a little stuck?" I asked with a smirk. "What's the matter Raph, do I render you incapacitated?" I laughed as I saw his face morph into anger. I smirked and charged forwards. Ignoring Annabeth's plan I raced forwards, and as I ran past I grabbed the flag, yanking it from the ground and started to sprint away.

I heard a wild angry yell from behind me. There was a loud grunt and I heard the heavy footsteps behind me. For a huge muscles guy he was quick. I darted to the side and scrambled up a tree. Hiding in the leaves, I balled the ugly red flag up. All I needed now was to get to our side of the boarder.

I brought my fingers to my lips and whistled a sharp loud shrile whistle. I did it once for each cabin member. If I was going to bring this flag back, it was going to be with my brothers and sister. I heard the whistle return, the pitch only we could hear. This was a team game. Not an Annabeth game. I spung from tree limb to tree limb. I was just about to climb down when a branch tried to grab me.

"Holy Hades!" I yelped. I had forgot about the Demeter cabin kids. They could control nature. I jumped from the tree, and rolled. Coming up in my feet, I had to  duck under another tree branch swipe. And jump over the roots of another one.

"Get to the creek!" I heard someone behind me yell. Percy. I sprinted towards the water. I tripped on some wild flowers that tried to tangle around my feet. I managed to slice the stems with Aurum. I rolled over the Stony bank and into the water. Instantly the water rose, creating a wall on each side of me.

"Run! I got you!"

"Best brother ever!"

I sprinted down the middle of the creek. I saw Lee and Michael, Kayla, Austin and Will join the race. They shot arrows into the red plummed campers of Areas. A few of the Athena campers came to join the race. Percy sprinted behind me, still creating a wall of water on each side of us. At the end of the creek, before it bent and drained out into the lake I saw Tyson, using boulders like bowling balls, keeping the other campers away from our flag.

"I'm coming BFC!" I yelled. I saw his big huge crooked smile. Just before I crossed the boundary Annabeth shimmered into existence right infront of me. Her face was twisted in anger. I couldn't stop in time and I slammed into her, making us both crash to the ground.

"You didn't listen!" She screamed as I got to my feet."

"Get out of my way and we can win."

"But I had a plan!"

"Ya...me too. Just shut up and we can win together! It's not the Annabeth show. It's the TEAM CAMP HALF BLOOD GAME. Holy Hera your cranky when you don't get your way."

"Don't you even start!"

"Ya know what? Fine. Here, take the glory. You need to learn to play nice with others. Sure your smart and have all the plans. But so do others. Percy is a brother. He's all yours, I was never interested.. Get over yourself. This is a game and don't try to use me as bait or a distraction again."

I tossed the flag to her and turned and walked through the wall of water. Percy kept me dry. The Apollo cabin frowned at Annabeth and the rest of the Athena campers. They shouldered their now's and weapons and they all turned and followed me out of the forest. The game kind of lettered out. The other team who had seen what happened just kind of froze and watched a few of the Hermes kids also followed me Cabin 7 kids. We passed Chiron and Quintus, who were standing at the edge of the forest.

"What's going on?" Chiron asked, watching about half the Blue team leave the forest looking angry.

"We quite." One of the younger chambers said.

"It's always the Athena show. We're never apart of the actual game. And they use us like pawns. We don't wanna play a game like that."

"Good night Chiron." I said and continued on my way to the cabin. The rest of the campers all followed without a word. I didn't know what happened to the rest of our team who stayed behind in the forest, I don't know what happened with Percy and Annabeth, but at this point I didn't care. I was exhausted; mentally, physically and emotionally exhausted.

I was tired and cranky. It had been one of the longest days of my life. It was only this morning I had been dropped off with Percy by Sally for freshmen orientation. I groaned in frustration as I tossed my stuff into my cubby, washed my face in silence and changed into PJs I had been given by Silena and crawled into bed, turning my back to the cabin I feel asleep feeling homesick.

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