𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟒: 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐘 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐀 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊 𝐀 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐄

"It doesn't matter if you win or lose, it matters that you try again."

PRESENT

IF THERE WAS ONE THING TO KNOW ABOUT ERIS LEWIS IT WAS THIS:

She was a harder worker if she wanted to be one.

She knew this because it was 4 a.m. in the morning and she found herself on the training grounds barely dodging an attack from Hippolyta.

It was like this most days. Wake up at 4 a.m. train with Hippolyta for as long as she could hold her form, work out then get ready for the day.

"You seem to be getting faster," Hippolyta commented nonchalantly as she readied her Axe in her hands.

Eris panted and twirled the spear in her hands, "Thanks," she muttered.

Hippolyta lunged at Eris again, making a swipe her for her feet only to be slightly caught off guard when Eris quickly flipped a couple feet away from her with a well done back handspring.

Seeing her confusion Eris quickly said, "I'm in dance, remember," she told her, panting slightly.

Eris was on her school's majorette dance team and she loved it. She wasn't the best on her team, she was still only a freshman while a majority of the team were seniors but she thought of herself as being good. Her coach always praised her for best on her having the best flips on the team, Eris thought it was because Hades made her do yoga during her time in the Underworld.

A flash of pride splashed over Hippolyta's face before it quickly disappeared, "Impressive," she told Eris.

Something filled Eris's chest with warmth because Hippolyta was rarely ever impressed. The last time Hippolyta was impressed it was because Eris told her she had gone a whole week without crying.

Eris narrowed her eyes and tried to focus. She had one main goal today and that was to finally land one single hit on Hippolyta. They had been training for months but never once has Eris actually been able to land a strike on the Amazon Queen. She tried not to be disappointed in herself when she never landed a strike on Hippolyta because Hippolyta was a literal warrior queen, it made sense that she was able to block every single one of Eris's attacks but today was different. Never in her life had she been so determined to land a hit on Hippolyta before, so confident in herself that she could do this.

Sucking in a deep breath Eris lunged forward, her spear clashed against the handle of Hippolyta's axe. Hippolyta blinked, slightly surprised because Eris never attacked first, usually it was her who had to make the first move. Quickly regaining her posture, Hippolyta rammed her shoulder into Eris's side knocking Eris back, before she easily shoved her elbow into Eris's stomach with a bit too much strength making Eris fly a few feet in the air before crashing into the ground on her back.

Eris winced and rubbed her ribs before sitting up but before she could sit up all the way the cold edge of Hippolyta's axe stood threateningly at her throat.

"You are now dead," Hippolyta said, she removed her axe from Eris's throat. She tossed her axe in the air, letting it spin like the blades of a helicopter and as it lowered back towards the ground she shot out her hand, then without looking she caught it.

So cool, Eris thought, rubbing her sore ribs.

Hippolyta glanced at Eris's aching rubs and a brief look of concern flashed over her usually stoic face, "Did I use to much force, Mistress?" she asked worriedly, walking over.

Eris quickly shook her head, "No...no, um, I'm okay," she told her. Hippolyta held out her hand and helped Eris stand. Eris winced. She was hurt but it wasn't anything some nectar and ambrosia couldn't fix.

"Are you certain--''

"I promise," Eris told her quickly, "I...I don't know...I feel like I'm not getting anywhere with my training," she muttered, "I'm always losing...I...I never land a hit on you once....I need you to be hard on me...so I can get better...I need to get stronger." She hesitated. "I don't want to be just good...I...I want to be great... I'll either be great or..."

I'll either be great or nothing at all

"Ah," Hippolyta said, "I see. Mistress?"

"Yeah?"

"Listen to me carefully," Hippolyta said seriously, squatting to Eris's height. Hippolyta was almost seven-feet tall. "I am an Amazon who spent all her life training, you, however, have only been training for two months. Do not feel sorry for yourself."

Eris swallowed, "But, I—"

"It does not matter if you win or lose," Hippolyta said, looking Eris in the eye. "It matters that you try again."

Eris knew a war was coming even if the Gods didn't want to believe it. She didn't want to be protected by her friends anymore, she didn't want them to prioritize her safety over their own. Tyson 'dying' made her realize that. She wanted to get better.

Try again...

Eris was used to wanting to giving up but she wanted to stop habit. She wanted to be strong, she wanted to be better.

"The only question is...in a matter of life or death will you stand there and do nothing or stand and fight?"

Maybe a couple months ago Eris would have said the first option but now—

"I'd fight," Eris blurted out without missing a beat. "My friends....Lena and Katherine...I'd fight...for them...I." Eris clenched her fist and looked at Hippolyta with a determined gaze, "I'll...I'll land a hit on you at least once next time, I promise." she said firmly.

Hippolyta smiled a bit, "I look forward to it."

AFTER EATING BREAKFAST PERCY PULLED ERIS AND GROVER ASIDE.

They sat in the meadow watching the satyrs chase the wood nymphs through the snow. The nymphs had promised to kiss the satyrs if they got caught, but they hardly ever did. Usually the nymph would let the satyr get up a full head of steam, then she'd turn into a snow-covered tree and the poor satyr would slam into it headfirst and get a pile of snow dumped on him.

Percy told them about a nightmare he had. Apparently, he dreamt about Annabeth. She had been tricked by Luke when he tricked her to thinking he was trapped and Annbeth had tried to save him. Annabeth was somewhere trapped under a rock of some kind, trying and struggling to hold to it above her head.

Eris knew one thing, Demigod dreams were a bit vague, they didn't give actual answers, you had to figure out the metaphors in the dream yourself. But, she knew this...Annabeth was struggling to hold up something not a ceiling.

Eris already knew one thing; if there was a quest to save Annabeth, she'd go. Eris hated quest, and hated having to fight in general and truthfully she didn't want to go but she knew that if was Eris who had been taken Annabeth would have done everything in her power to help Eris. It wouldn't be fair for Eris to go on a quest to save Grover but not go on a quest to save Annabeth even if Eris really did not like quest.

She just had to hope that if there was a quest, it was something simple and easy but knowing how all of her previous quest went she had a feeling it would be anything but that. The idea made Eris feel sick.

Eris just hoped she survived and was safe. She didn't know how anyone would explain to Katherine and Lena about her dying on a 'camping trip'.

Grover started twirling his finger in his shaggy leg fur. "A cave ceiling collapsed on her?" he asked Percy.

"Yeah. What the hell does that mean?" Percy asked.

"It...it has to be a metaphor," Eris said hesitantly, "There's no way she can hold an actual ceiling..."

Grover nodded in agreement. " Eris is right...I don't know. But after what Zoë dreamed—"

"Wait. What do you mean? Zoë had a dream like that?"

"I...I don't know, exactly. About three in the morning she came to the Big House and demanded to talk to Chiron. She looked really panicked."

"Wait, how do you know this?"

Grover blushed. "I was sort of camped outside the Artemis cabin."

Eris wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"What for?" Percy asked.

"Just to be, you know, near them."

"Creepy," Eris muttered.

"I am not! Anyway, I followed her to the Big House and hid in a bush and watched the whole thing. She got real upset when Argus wouldn't let her in. It was kind of a dangerous scene."

"What did she say?" Percy asked.

Grover grimaced. "Well, she starts talking really old-fashioned when she gets upset, so it was kind of hard to understand. But something about Artemis being in trouble and needing the Hunters. And then she called Argus a boil-brained lout...I think that's a bad thing. And then he called her—"

"Whoa, wait. How could Artemis be in trouble?"

"I...well, finally Chiron came out in his pajamas and his horse tail in curlers and—"

"He wears curlers in his tail?"

Grover covered his mouth.

"Shit, my bad," Percy said. "Go on."

"Well, Zoë said she needed permission to leave camp immediately. Chiron refused. He reminded Zoë that the Hunters were supposed to stay here until they received orders from Artemis. And she said..." Grover gulped. "She said 'How are we to get orders from Artemis if Artemis is lost?'"

"What do you mean lost? Like she needs directions?"

"No. I think she meant gone. Taken. Kidnapped."

"Kidnapped?" Percy asked. "How would you kidnap an immortal goddess? Is that even possible?"

"Well, yeah. I mean, it happened to Persephone."

Eris frowned at the sound at her...kinda step-mother's name. Persephone was never fond of Eris. Persephone came back to the Underworld in the Winter and Fall and because Eris stayed a year in the Underworld they saw a lot of each other. Persephone hated Eris which Eris didn't understand. If Eris had been in Persephone's position sure she wouldn't happy about her husband having an affair and having a baby on her (truthfully, she'd just divorce him) but she wouldn't take it out on the child. Eris never asked to be born, if Persephone had a problem she should've taken it out on Hades but instead she focused it on Eris. Eris remembered on time when she accidentally stepped on one of her flowers and Persephone made her room infested with fruit flies for a week.

"But she was like, the goddess of flowers," Percy said.

"Springtime," Eris corrected him absentmindedly because Persephone absolutely hated it when people mispronounced her title.

"Yeah, that. Artemis is a lot more powerful than that. Who could kidnap her? And why?"

Grover shook his head miserably. "I don't know. Kronos?"

Eris swallowed thickly. She didn't even what to think abo what would happen if Kronos was already that powerful. They were nowhere near prepared for him. If Kronos came now, Eris was sure she would join her spirits in the Underworld soon.

"He can't be that powerful already. Can he?"

"I don't know," Grover said. "I think somebody would know if Kronos had re-formed. The gods would be more nervous. But still, it's weird, you having a nightmare the same night as Zoë. It's almost like—"

"They...the dreams have to be connected," said Eris quietly. "I...I don't know how but...something isn't adding up."

Over in the frozen meadow, a satyr skidded on his hooves as he chased after a redheaded tree nymph. She giggled and held out her arms as he ran toward her. Pop! She turned into a Scotch pine and he kissed the trunk at top speed.

"Ah, love," Grover said dreamily.

Love....A queasy feeling erupted in Eris's stomach. She wasn't in love, hell, she didn't even know what non-platonic love felt like but for some reason she like Aphrodite effected her with some kind of disease.

    Eris hated feeling like this.

"I've got to talk to Zoë," Percy said.

"Um, before you do..." Grover took something out of his coat pocket. It was a three-fold display like a travel brochure. "You remember what you said—about how it was weird the Hunters just happened to show up at Westover Hall? I think they might've been scouting us."

"Scouting us? What do you mean?"

He gave showed Eris and Percy the brochure. It was about the Hunters of Artemis. The front read, A WISE CHOICE FOR YOUR FUTURE! Inside were pictures of young maidens doing hunter stuff, chasing monsters, shooting bows. There were captions like: HEALTH BENEFITS: IMMORTALITY AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU! and A BOY-FREE TOMORROW!

Percy stared at it for a long time with a constipated look on his face.

Oh, no

   "I found that in Annabeth's backpack," Grover said.

Percy stared at him. "I don't understand."

"Well, it seems to me...maybe Annabeth was thinking about joining."

Eris glanced at Percy uneasily unsure of his reaction. She knew how Percy felt about the hunters. Sure, she wouldn't be happy but if that was what Annabeth wanted to do she would respect that choice.

Instead of blowing a fuse, Percy surprisingly stood up, turned on his heel, and walked away.

"Percy!" Eris called worriedly.

Percy didn't even look back.

Eris stood, ready to run after him but Grover grabbed her wrist and shook his head, "Give him some time."

LATER THAT EVENING ERIS FOUND HERSELF ON A WALK WITH NICO AROUND THE LAKE.

There weren't many campers around at all. Actually it was almost deserted, most campers were off training around this time.

Walking with Nico around the lake made Eris completely forget that she couldn't swim.

3 minutes later, she would regret that.

"I can't wait for capture the flag tonight!" Nico rambled on excitedly, "I'm gonna kill all the hunters!"

Eris frowned, "Uh...you don't kill people...." She told him.

Nico actually looked disappointed, "Oh...really...I thought you could kill people then when they game was over the people who died came back to life...wouldn't that be cool!"

"I...I guess," Eris muttered dishonestly.

"Are you gonna be on my team?" Nico asked, "I mean...I wanna fight...But I don't wanna fight you...I wanna fight, next to you y'know!"

"I..." Eris smiled, "Yeah...I'll be on your team and...I won't let anything happen to you," she promised.

Nico grinned brightly and Eris felt something warm fill her chest.

She would have to talk to Thalia and Percy, she knew some conflict would happen from both of them being stubborn but maybe is she could just talk to them they would work out their differences for Nico's sake. She just wanted Nico to have the best first capture the flag possible.

"Y'know...I wish you were my big sister," Nico told her and Eris froze, "Bianca only spends time with the hunters now...she doesn't have time for me anymore," he added sadly.

Truthfully, Eris didn't know how to reply. It's not that she wasn't flatter at the thought of Nico wanting her to be his older sister but Eris tried to imagine what she would feel if had been Bianca and heard that. She'd probably feel hurt. Eris had always wanted to be someone's older sister but she would never want to replace Bianca.

And Willow....Eris didn't even want to imagine what kind of expression would be on Willow's face if she told her she wanted someone else to be her sister. Willow was tough but still had feelings.

Eris swallowed, "Nico...I appreciate it...I really do but...Bianca is your sister," she told him softly as they continued to walk around the circle of the lake. "I...I know things have been hard for you and her but she loves you...Y'know I have a sister...kinda,"

Nico blinked innocently, "Kinda?"

"Yeah...um...her name is Willow...she passed away a couple years ago," Eris told him, "she was attacked on a quest with her...brother. She went out fighting...she was always so cool like that. But then...a couple month after she died....something changed. She started to appear in front of me as a ghost...I mean I thought I was crazy at first but then I realized she was...real."

"Woah," Nico said, "So she's a ghost? That's so cool! Can I see her?" he asked eagerly.

Eris quickly shook her head, "No...sorry, she only appears when she wants to visit me, no one else can see her though unless you're Hades or if you travel to the Underworld...it's kinda tricky to explain. Right now she's down there with her girlfriend, they live together."

Nico froze, "Girlfriend? Your sister's...with a girl?"

Eris nodded, "Yeah, they've, um, been together for a while now."

"She's a girl in love with another girl?" Nico asked slowly and Eris nodded. "And...and you still love her?" He asked sounding stunned.

"Yeah, of course...um, why wouldn't I?"

Before he could answer, Nico didn't seem to watch where he was walking—

It only took a minute, no, not even a minute for Eris to watch wide eyed as Nico's slipped on some ice before falling backward into the lake. Nico's eyes seemed wide and stunned, his hand reached out and Eris lunged for his hand.

It was too late.

Eris watched as Nico sunk into the lake with a loud splash.

She tried to remain calm. Maybe Nico could swim? Maybe the lake wasn't as deep as it seemed? Maybe Nico would swim up to the surface and be perfectly fine.

Seconds passed and there was still no sign of Nico returning.

Dread filled Eris's stomach.

There was no way...he couldn't be.

Her breath quickened and Eris's didn't even thinking before jumping into the Luke.

It was only when she hit the water that Eris remembered-

She didn't know how to swim.

ERIS LEWIS FELT STUPID.

As she sunk lower and lower into the Lake that felt like an endless ocean all she could think was-

I'm a fucking idiot

Not for jumping in and trying to save Nico, she didn't feel stupid for trying to save him. She felt stupid because why the hell didn't she ever force herself to learn how to swim? Out of all the times she's nearly drowned on quest and she never once took swimming lessons.

But there was nothing she could do now.

A part of Eris felt at peace as her lungs burned as they slowly ran out of air. The more oxygen that ran out of her system, the less she squirmed in the water until she finally just..stopped moving.

She didn't know why she stopped fighting, she thought she had gotten out of her quiter mindset.

As always she was once again Eris 'Worth-

"Mmphh!"

Her blurry, water filled eyes fluttered open again and that was she saw him.

Struggling deep under the water was Nico. And Nico was fighting for his life

He seemed to have his leg trapped in a piece of thick seaweed that was wrapped and noted around his leg. Nico seemed panicked, squirming around and trying to tug his leg free.

Nico was fighting while Eris was here giving up.

She watched slightly dazed as Nico's eyes became half-lidded and his body fell limp.

"The only question is...in a matter of life or death will you stand there and do nothing or stand and fight?"

Eris watched as Nico's eyes flutter shut.

Nico had someone he had to go home to...Lena and Katherine...they were waiting for her.

BOOM!

Something exploded and the entire lake began to be filled with a flash of bright green light.

"Eris!"

"Eris!"

"ERIS!"

Eris sat up with a loud gasp, she didn't waist a moment before turning onto her hands and knees and throwing up water.

"Are you okay?"

Her chest heaved up and down before she swallowed and looked up.

Sitting next to her with a concerned gaze with Nico Di'Angelo who looked so happy and so alive.

Eris had never been so relieved in her life.

"Are you okay?" She asked hurriedly, looking him over quickly, "Y-You're not hurt are you?"

Nico quickly shook his head, "No, I'm fine. He saved me!"

Eris frowned, "He?"

Someone cleared their throat and Eris turned her gaze to the Lake.

Her breath hitched.

In the lake seemingly standing on actual water was a man that seemed no older than twenty. His skin was light blue with blue scales on elbows and knees. His hair was a mess of curly black hair, his face was handsome with high cheek bones and a charming smile that screamed mischief. He had familiar looking sea-green eyes. He wore a white baseball hat with swim shorts, flip flops and a Hawaiian shirt.

The man crossed his arms, "Sup'."

Eris swallowed, "Uh...hi Mr.?"

The man raised a brow, "Dude, you called me here and you don't even know my name. It really hurts my feelings, man," he put a hand over his chest and frowned.

"Um...sorry?"

It had been a minute since Eris had seen a new spirit. She had tried to study more on past demigod heroes, the more people she knew about the more options she had for who to summon. She couldn't just summon a hero she had never heard of before, it had be someone she knew about.

"I'll give you a hint, dudette," the man shoved his hands in his pockets, "I'm the guy who slayed that uh..what was the fucker called again?" he snapped his fingers, "Ah, Chimera!"

Eris's eyes widened, her head connecting the dots. "You're—"

"I'm the flesh," the man nodded, "Bellerophon, son of Poseidon...also the hottest hero known to man," he added the last part a bit cockily.

Eris nodded absentmindedly, "Uh-Huh, I'm sure you are," she muttered.

"So cool!" Nico practically shouted, "Can you turn into water? Oh! Oh! Can you turn into animals?! Can you use a triton like Poseidon? Wait, does Poseidon actually even use a—"

"Whoa, little dude," Bellerophon said, "Chilllll," he dragged the word out. "Oh question at a time my man."

"Sorry!"

"It's cool, bro," Bellerophon replied, "but you answer your questions: Nah, I can't turn into water. I can turn into sea animals though, that's pretty cool. I don't use a triton, weapons make me feel uneasy so I usually use water," or give an example he calmly raised his hand and in perfect sync a large glob of water raised from the lake.

"Awesome!"

"Oh, shit, I almost forgot," he snapped his fingers, "I can do this too."

He snapped his fingers again and the gob of water shifted into a very well water figure of Beyoncé, then the water slowly began to covered in frost before becoming a complete ice figure of Beyoncé.

Bellerophon smiled, "Awesome, right?"

"Yeah!"

"I..." Eris didn't get to finished because the bell signaling it was time for dinner rang. "Nico, we have to go."

Nico pouted, "Awe, man."

"That sucks," Bellerophon groaned, "I guess I'll see you two kids around?"

Not trusting her voice, Eris nodded.

"I guess, I'm out then," as his body slowly disappeared Bellerophon quickly said, "Shit, I almost forgot, if you ever wanna summon me again you gotta be in water or I'll—"

There was a bright flash of green light and he was gone.

ERIS SPENT LUNCH IN A BIT OF A DAZE.

Bellerophon appearance surprised her, never in her life had she summoned a new spirit for the first time and not be in pain before especially not a spirit as powerful as him. Though he seemed relax his entire aura radiated intense power. He was strong, maybe even stronger than Hippolyta.

If he was so strong...why wasn't she in pain when she had summoned him. The stronger the spirit, the more painful summoning them could be so why...

     Eris looked down at her hands.

Am I stronger than I look?

After a dinner of Nico asking Eris what seemed like a billion questions about Bellerophon (which she didn't mind, she thought it was cute.) Eris found herself preparing for capture the flag.

It was her first capture the flag game in years maybe she should be nervous but...she wasn't the same girl she was years ago. She had grown as a person a bit, or at least she liked to think so.

She wasn't as nervous as she thought she would be. If anything...she felt kind of excited. She wasn't excited about the thought of fighting the other team (she hated violence) but she was excited because Nico was excited. And whatever made Nico happy made Eris happy.

Eris was suited up in armor for the first time. Because she was more flexible and needed agility she only wore an armor chest plate, dark jeans, a long sleeve green shirt, her signature old boots and her spear was already in her hand. Charlie Beckendorf had given her googles to go over her glasses.

Capture the flag was going to be small this time. There were only thirteen Hunters, including Bianca di Angelo, and about the same number of campers.

Zoë Nightshade looked pretty upset. She kept glancing resentfully at Chiron, like she couldn't believe he was making her do this. The other Hunters didn't look too happy, either. Unlike last night, they weren't laughing or joking around. They just huddled together in the dining pavilion, whispering nervously to each other as they strapped on their armor. Some of them even looked like they'd been crying.

On Eris's team, was Beckendorf and two other Hephaestus guys, a few from the Ares cabin, the Stoll brothers and Nico from Hermes cabin, and a few Aphrodite girls. It was weird that the Aphrodite cabin wanted to play. Usually they sat on the sidelines, chatted, and checked their reflections in the river and stuff, but when they heard the team were fighting the Hunters, they were raring to go.

"I'll show them 'love is worthless,'" Silena Beauregard grumbled as she strapped on her armor. "I'll pulverize them!"

"Hold still," Eris told Nico as she bent down the strap him into his armor, "We don't have any smalls sizes."

Nico didn't seemed bothered in fact he seemed more excited about the fact that he even had armor on. "So, cool.." he muttered as Eris placed a helmet on his head.

Maybe she was putting a bit too much armor on him but she just didn't want to see him hurt.

"Wait," Nico said suddenly, "I don't have a weapon, how am I going to chase down the bad guys."

Eris glanced around, truthfully she didn't want to hand Nico a sword or axe, he was only 10. She also didn't have the heart to tell him that because he was so young he probably would just stand on the sidelines. But still...the eager look in his eyes made her feel bad.

Then Eris remembered the one thing she always kept on her since her first ever quest. Nico was ten and a demigod...it would make sense for him to have something.

Eris reached in her boot and Nico watched as she pulled out an average looking celestial bronze dagger. "Here," she handed to him. "But don't cut or stab anyone, okay...it's only for self-defense. If you do good...I'll let you keep it."

Nico's eyes sparked, "Really?"

Eris smiled and nodded, "I pinky promise," she held out her pinky and Nico locked her pinky with his own, "But remember..."

"No cutting or stabbing," Nico finished for her, "unless it's in self-defense."

Suddenly Eris could see Percy and Thalia out of the corner of her eye. "I'll be right back." She patted Nico's head before heading in Percy and Thalia's direction.

She didn't know exactly what was said but whatever it was made both of her friends look uncomfortable especially Percy.

"Hey," Eris came up from behind them drawing their attention.

Thalia flushed and averted her gaze, suddenly seeming shy, "Hey." 

"I...I need a favor," Eris blurted out, "I...I never ask you guys for anything and...I really, really need you guys to do this for me...look, this is Nico's first capture the flag, and he's really, really excited...I want him to have fun. So...please don't fight and mess up the game. I know you two don't exactly get along but for this one game just...please for me. Don't mess this up for him. You guys don't have to get along, hell, you don't even have to like each other but please don't mess this up."

"We won't," Percy said.

Thalia nodded, "Yeah, we already have a plan. Right, Percy?" She nudged him harshly.

Percy frowned, "Yeah..."

"Promise me?"

Thalia and Percy exchanged a look, "We promise," they replied with reassuring smiles and Eris smiled in relief.

CHIRON STOPPED HIS HOOVES ON THE GROUND TO GAIN ATTENTION.

"Heroes!" he called. "You know the rules! The creek is the boundary line. Blue team— Camp Half-Blood—shall take the west woods. Hunters of Artemis—red team—shall take the east woods. I will serve as referee and battlefield medic. No intentional maiming, please! All magic items are allowed. To your positions!"

Thalia said, "Blue team! Follow me!"

Nico reached out to grab Eris's hand, Eris lightly squeezed his hand before following Thalia.

They set their flag at the top of Zeus's Fist.
The top boulder was twenty feet tall and really hard to climb, so the flag was clearly visible, like the rules said it had to be, and it didn't matter that the guards weren't allowed to stand within ten yards of it.

Eris already knew she would be on guard duty with Nico, Beckendorf and the Stoll brothers. Eris didn't care what position she got as long as she wasn't the leader.

"We'll send out a decoy to the left," Thalia told the team. "Silena, you lead that."

"Got it!"

"Take Laurel and Jason. They're good runners. Make a wide arc around the Hunters, attract as many as you can. I'll take the main raiding party around to the right and catch them by surprise."

Everybody nodded..

Thalia looked at Percy. "Anything to add, Percy?"

"Um, yeah. Keep sharp on defense. We've got four guards, two scouts. That's not much for a big forest. I'll be roving. Yell if you need help."

"And don't leave your post!" Thalia said.

"Unless you see a golden opportunity," Percy added.

Thalia scowled. "Just don't leave your post."

"Right, unless—"

"Percy!" Eris watched with narrowed eyes as Thalia touched his arm and shocked him.

"Thalia," Eris said a bit sharply. "Please...you two promised."

"Sorry," Thalia said, though she didn't sound particularly sorry. "Now, is everybody clear?"

Everybody nodded. They broke into their smaller groups. The horn sounded, and the game began.

Silena's group disappeared into the woods on the left. Thalia's group gave it a few seconds, then darted off toward the right.

Nico stayed by Eris's side most of the time, his hands carefully examining the dagger Eris gave him in awe. Eris made sure to keep a sharp eye on him to make sure he didn't cut himself.

Percy had climbed onto Zeus's fist to get a better view but Eris didn't play him much mind. Most of her attention was focused on making sure Nico was safe

Suddenly Percy looked at Beckendorf. "Can you guys hold the fort?"

Beckendorf snorted. "Of course."

"I'm going in."

"Wait, Percy—" Eris tried but he was already gone.

Frustration boiled in Eris's stomach but she tried to let it go. Eris never asked for much or anything at all but this one thing...Eris hoped they wouldn't go back on their promise because if they ruined this game for Nico by fighting....

Suddenly seemingly out of no where a silver arrow came blasting towards them. Not even hesitating, Eris lunged for Nico, covering him with her body protectively on the ground.

"We're being ambushed!"

Eris struggled to stand up but just as she stood and another arrow launched from the shadows this time it hit her in her face and exploded into a cloud of nasty smoke.

Everyone gaged at the foul smell.

"Fart arrows!"

A figure came running out of the shadows in their direction. Eris turned to Nico and swallowed, "Stay here!"

Just before the hunter could reach the flag Eris came in, tackling them to the ground.

Zoë Nightshade grunted as she tried as wrestle out of Eris's firm hold, "It seems you are much stronger than thee looks, Eris Lewis." She commented.

     "It's nothing personal," Eris told her, wrapping her legs around Zoë's waist and holding her arm in her hands. "Sorry."

     Zoë pulled her elbow free and slammed it into Eris's face hard.

Eris automatically let her go as her nose exploded in pain. She winced and covered her nose as it bleed viciously.

Zoë grunted as she struggled to stand, "Do understand, it is not personal." With that as two of her hunters took out Charlie and the Stoll twins she grabbed the flag and ran.

Eris watched as she left feeling a bit stunned.

"Are you okay?" Nico asked worriedly, touching Eris's hand.

Eris nodded, "I...I'm fine...my nose is a bit messed up though...but I'm okay I—"

Far away she could see lightning striking and the earth trembled slightly.

Please tell me they didn't....

Feeling slightly pissed off Eris turned to her teammates, "Watch him," she told Charlie and the twins a bit snappily before starting to walk away.

"Where are you going?!"

"I...I have some business to settle."

MEANWHILE, TWO MINUTES EARLIER.

"The Hunters win!" Chiron announced without pleasure. Then he muttered, "For the fifty- sixth time in a row."

"Perseus Jackson!" Thalia yelled, storming toward him. She smelled like rotten eggs, and she was so mad that blue sparks flickered on her armor. Everybody cringed and backed up because of Aegis. "What in the name of the gods were you THINKING?" she bellowed.

Percy scowled, "I got the flag, Thalia!" He shook it in her face. "I saw a chance and I took it!"

"I WAS AT THEIR BASE!" Thalia yelled. "But the flag was gone. If you hadn't butted in, we would've won."

"You had too many on you!"

"Oh, so it's my fault?"

"I didn't say that."

"Argh!" Thalia pushed me, and a shock went through his body that blew him backward ten feet into the water. Some of the campers gasped. A couple of the Hunters stifled laughs.

"Sorry!" Thalia said, turning pale. "I didn't mean to—"

A wave erupted from the creek, blasting into Thalia's face and dousing her from head to toe.

Percy stood up. "Yeah," He growled. "I didn't mean to, either."

Thalia was breathing heavily.

"Enough!" Chiron ordered.

But Thalia held out her spear. "You want some, Seaweed Brain?"

"Bring it on, Pinecone Face!"

He raised Riptide but before he could strike
Thalia yelled, and a blast of lightning came down from the sky, hit her spear like a lightning rod, and slammed into his chest.

"Thalia!" Chiron said. "That is enough!"

Percy growled, willed the entire creek to rise. It swirled up, hundreds of gallons of water in a massive icy funnel cloud.

"Percy!" Chiron pleaded.

The water hurled in Thalia's direction until—

"Stop."

A voice so cold and and so vicious came out of no where. Everyone froze. For a moment, Percy thought it was Lord Hades because of how dark the voice sounded.

The crowed of campers slowly moved out of the way and coming through the crowd never looking more pissed in her life was Eris Lewis.

Percy swallowed slightly. Eris didn't get made often but when she did...he knew there was hell to pay.

    Eris had a lot of patience, she was nice...too nice. So when she was angry it took a lot to piss her off.

Her clothes were dirty and ripped. As she walked her head was held high like a angry royal princess. Her goggles were gone and her hands were clutched around her spear.

But that wasn't made him feel uneasy.

No, it was the way Eris's eyes glowed a bright color but instead of being green...they were red just like Hades. Most of the time, Percy never thought Eris looked anything like Hades, it always seemed like she had taken after her mother but now watching as the same cold stone eyes looked at them all, he had never seen one person who looked more like their godly parent.

Patches of snow melted away in her path leaving a trail of dead grass. Each step she took the earth shook a bit and the wind seemed to be picking up. The aura around her seemed darker...like death was following her every step.

Eris looked...ungodly.

"Eris, I—"

"Stop talking," Eris said so sharp she could cut a knife. "I never ask you two for anything and this one thing I ask of you two to do—"

"Eris," Thalia started to say.

     Somewhere on the ground a few campers took a step back as a actual hand from a skeleton bursted from the ground.

    "Essence," Chiron called worriedly, "Please stop this—"

Eris turned her head in Thalia's direction, "Stop talking," she hissed and Thalia flinched slightly. "I understand you two have your differences but I never expected you two would go back on our promise because you two don't know how to work and communicate like civilized people for one day," she said flatly never sounding more like Hades than now. "Both of you have proven I can't trust either of you to do one thing together. It's stupid. It's like you two like to try my patience which if you haven't noticed I have a lot of."

Thalia opened her month to reply but something was approaching. It was shrouded in a murky green mist, but as it got closer, the campers and Hunters gasped.

"This is impossible," Chiron said."It...she has never left the attic. Never."

    The withered mummy that held the Oracle shuffled forward until she stood in the center of the group. Mist curled their  feet, turning the snow a sickly shade of green.

Nobody moved. Then her voice hissed inside Eris's head. Apparently everyone could hear it, because several clutched their hands over the ears.

I am the spirit of Delphi, the voice said. Speaker of the prophecies of Phoebus Apollo, slayer of the mighty Python.

The Oracle turned unmistakably toward Zoë Nightshade. Approach, Seeker, and ask.

Zoë swallowed. "What must I do to help my goddess?"

The Oracle's mouth opened, and green mist poured out. The vague image of a mountain, and a girl standing at the barren peak. It was Artemis, but she was wrapped in chains, fettered to the rocks. She was kneeling, her hands raised as if to fend off an attacker, and it looked like she was in pain. The Oracle spoke:

Six shall go west to the goddess in chains,

One shall be lost in the land without rain,

The daughter of dead shall feel pain worst than death,

The bane of Olympus shows the trail,

Campers and Hunters combined prevail,

The Titan's curse must one withstand,

And one shall perish by a parent's hand.

Then, as they were watching, the mist swirled and retreated like a great green serpent into the mummy's mouth. The Oracle sat down on a rock and became as still as she'd been in the attic, as if she might sit by this creek for a hundred years.

Thank you so much for reading. Please comment it helps me update often.

   Tbh I don't know how I feel about this chapter, if you feel like it needs to be improved please let me know. I didn't have a lot of time to go over grammar so sorry if there were any mistakes.

   Sorry, I didn't update last week I just started my senior year last week and my school doesn't let us have our phones and our laptops have Wattpad blocked.

    Is there anything I can improve? Is there anything you liked?

   What do you guys think the ungodly hour is? To be honest I kind of want to give you guys a hint if you want a hint let me know and I'll put it in the next chapter.

      In the previous chapter Eris was drawing lips...whose lips do y'all think they are?

   With Eris getting mad at Percy and Thali, she wasn't asking them to become friends or to get along she was just asking them to put their differences aside for this one game so they wouldn't fight and end up ruining the game for Nico who was excited. I have some scene ideas coming up with her and Bianca soon.

I love you all.

Coming up: Bonus Chapter: Eris's birthday

Also coming up:  chapter 5: never been kissed...

   Yeah...you guys know what's happening in chapter 5