EFFIE WOULD NEVER PARTICIPATE IN CAPTURE THE FLAG. They didn't understand the point of the mock game because it wasn't like they would ever get the chance to go on a real mission. When Effie first arrived at Camp, they loved the game, each Friday, Effie would play and then spend the other six days of the week training. Effie had thought that if they won, their father might claim them but the day that Effie got the Ares, Demeter and Dionysus Cabins' Flag, nothing happened, Effie's father didn't claim them. It was that day Effie gave up on their father, if he didn't want them, they didn't want anything to do with him either. Effie always tried to sit out on Capture the Flag but of course, like everything with the gods, they didn't get the choice. Every camper must play because, at Camp Half-Blood, a moment of peace isn't allowed.

Luke helped Percy get into his battle armour as Effie grabbed themself a helmet and vest, as much as Effie tried to avoid these games, Clarisse and Cabin Five never forgot about the victory Effie had three years ago and still sees Effie as a threat. Effie would rather wear a heavy vest for the next couple of hours than have the end of an Ares kid's sword in their chest.

"The first team to retrieve the opposing flag and return it across the river is the victor," Effie had to hold in a yawn as Chiron said the same rules that Effie had heard every Friday since they arrived at camp. Effie will never know how Chiron doesn't get bored of saying the same thing. "As always, there will be no maiming and no killing, I trust that these rules will be respected. Any magical items you may possess, are permitted as well."

Percy looked at a pen that was in his hand, it must have been the sword that the Stroll brothers were talking about. A sword disguised as a pen, interesting, Effie had heard about Thalia's shield that was disguised as a bracelet. "It's okay." He reassured Percy, "Let her rip."

"Every camper who is not injured has to play," Effie rolled their eyes, the dumbest rule ever.

"I still don't even know what my job is, maybe I won't even need a sword," Percy suggested hopefully.

"Your weapon will be your best friend, demigods can get pretty competitive," Effie thought about the time they had won Capture the Flag, they hid in the trees with nothing but a bow and a dozen arrows.

"Let the games begin."

Campers cried as the sound of the conch shell echoed throughout the camp. "I'm gonna need a sword."

Annabeth walked up to the group, "All right. We have 20 minutes before the second conch and game on," Annabeth always took Capture the Flag seriously, she would play every game as if she was heading into battle with little chance of return. Annabeth saw these games as something important, which is why she's won the last three games this month. "Effie, you're going to be our lookout, climb the highest tree and look for the flag."

Effie rolled their eyes, "You got it, boss."

Annabeth nodded. The young girl turned to Luke, "You know what you're doing?"

"Yes, ma'am. I'll see you on the other side. Company! Move out!"

The campers raised their weapons and shields in the air, crying out a battle cry, "Kleos!"

Percy looked at Effie, his hands covering his ears, "Are they always this loud?"

"Pretty much."

Percy nodded, taking his hands off his ears. He looked at Luke who had already started to walk away, "What do I do?"

"You're coming with me, sunshine."

Annabeth walked in the opposite direction of the group, Percy looked at Effie, his eyes widened, Effie couldn't help but chuckle, "You better follow her, if Annabeth wants you somewhere, that's where you're best to be."

"Great. I need to follow my stalker while you get to sit in a tree."

Effie shrugged, "I wasn't sitting in a tree for my first game."

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Effie looked at the sun in the sky, if Effie had to guess, it would have been at least two hours since the game started. Effie sat in a tree, swinging back and forward as they waited for the game to end, for the battle cry of one of the teams or even a cry from a camper in need of help.

Effie's fingers twisted the fletching on one of their arrows, Effie had never shot a person before, no maiming or killing, it's one of Chiron and Mr D's most important rules. Mr D personally couldn't care less about a demigod's death, after all, he is a god and just like all of the other gods, their children's lives don't matter to them, the only reason why Mr D cares about the rule is so that he has less paperwork at the end of summer.

An orange leaf caught Effie's attention, most of the leaves are green but in the middle of a group of bright green leaves, there is an orange one, a perfect target.

Effie grabbed their bow and placed the arrow in it, the motion felt so natural. Effie has done it a hundred times before, so many times that Effie doesn't even need to think twice about how to hit the target.

Effie let go of the arrow and... BULLSEYE!

The arrow pinned the leaf to the tree, Effie smiled as they looked for another target, a few metres away Effie saw another orange leaf. This one was definitely a more difficult goal but Effie itched for the challenge, sitting here for hours with nothing to do was driving Effie crazy, if they ran out of things to shoot, Effie might actually participate in the game.

Effie lined up another arrow and drew back the bowstring before releasing it, the wind traced Effie's fingertips as they let go of the string. Effie looked at their shot, another bullseye. Effie huffed, this is so boring!!!

"Help!" Effie suddenly heard a familiar voice cry out, it took Effie a minute to realise but the voice was Percy's. As if on cue, Percy ran past Effie, he couldn't see Effie because they were too high in the tree and in too much of a rush to look up.

Clarisse and three of her siblings chased after him. Without even thinking Effie loaded their bow and shot at one of Clarisse's siblings, the arrow gazed past the Ares kid and knocked her sword out of her hand. Effie grinned as they got their target, last time Effie checked there was no rule against shooting at other campers.

Effie started to climb down the tree but Percy and Clarisse were already long gone.

"This is bad..."

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Effie knows that it is physically impossible for the goddess of hunting to be Effie's father but if that was ever in question, Effie's lack of hunting skills made it impossibly obvious.

Effie had tried following Percy and the Ares kids' footsteps but it just made Effie even more confused. Most demigods' have ADHD and dyslexia and Effie is no different, but on top of that, most demigods can remember as far back as infancy, Effie didn't inherit that godly ability. Once the footsteps had run out Effie caused themself, they should've just stayed in the tree. Suddenly Effie was standing in the middle of the forest and had gotten where they came from, Effie looked around but nowhere looked familiar, Effie must have zoned out while following the footsteps, they have a habit of zoning out.

Footsteps caught Effie's attention, they turned around to where they heard the sound coming from and ready their bow. The steps got closer and closer, the sound of branches being stepped on and leaves being pushed around made goosebumps rise on Effie's arms, the steps got closer until-

"Woah! I come in peace." Luke stood in front of Effie, his hands raised in the air as his eyes fixated on Effie, curiosity dancing in his eyes, "What happened to you not playing Capture the Flag."

"Shut up," Effie muttered as they lowered their bow. "What happened to Annabeth's plan? You should be on the other side of the forest."

"I was, then I heard Percy yelling."

"He was loud, wasn't he?"

Luke smirked, Effie had to physically stop themself from rolling their eyes, "Aw, you do care."

"I never said that."

"It's not a bad thing to admit you care, Effie. It makes you one of us."

"I'm not like you. I don't take every half-blood I see under my wing."

"Is that such a bad thing? Our parents have given up on us, but that doesn't mean we need to give up on each other. We're the same, all of us, claimed, unclaimed, a forbidden one," Luke's voice caught as he said the word, forbidden, he didn't say her name but Effie knew he was talking about Thalia, the daughter of Zeus. Effie never met Thalia but they always wish they had.

"Luke-"

"I should probably head back to the group, Percy isn't here."

Effie bit their tongue, they never know what to say when Thalia comes up. Effie has never lost a person before, mostly because they never had someone to lose in the first place, one of the benefits of being an orphan. "Yeah-"

Battle cries came from near the beach as the conch shell went off. Effie looked at Luke, the game was over.

"Race you to the beach?"

"Oh, you're so going to lose."

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"Not fair!" Effie cried as they reached the beach. "Your dad is the god of travels, there was no way you were going to lose."

Luke laughed, "I don't think that works, Eff."

Effie pouted.

"WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?"

Percy yelled as Effie turned to face him. Percy was sitting in the water, a few cuts on him as Annabeth stood near the water, looking down at him.

Effie had to look twice at the scene, Annabeth has always been a lot tough but she has never been mean. "Did she just-"

Water began to rush to Percy's cuts. The water defied gravity, going up instead of down, rushing over the wounds and staying on top of them, one moment they were bleeding and the next not even a scar was there.

Effie breath caught in their throat as a glowing green trident hologram appeared over Percy's head, it was a sign, Poseidon's sign.

Two days it took, Effie's fist balled as they turned away.

"Effie," Luke grabbed Effie's hand, "Look."

All around them, campers were kneeling, paying their respects to Percy as if he were a Prince, which in a way he is, Poseidon is the ruler of the oceans.

Effie shook their head. Percy being claimed felt like a slap in the face, in fact, every time a new demigod gets claimed, it feels like a reminder that Effie isn't enough, that Effie isn't wanted, kneeling will only feel like more of a slap in the face.

"It is determined," Chiron announced.

Luke kneeled, still holding Effie's hand. Effie won't admit it but they're grateful for Luke, he's always there for them, even when they would rather he not be. He's like a big brother, or at least what Effie thinks one would be like.

"Poseidon. Earthshaker, Stormbringer, Father of Horses. Hail, Perseus Jackson, son of the Sea God."

Effie got on one knee, two days.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

this is chapter two! episode is finally done, time to start my favourite episode, episode three!

i adore luke and effie's relationship, luke is like a big brother to them, although effie would rather die than admit that.

don't be a ghost, heart, comment and tell me what you think so far!

2000 words