The Wheel Of Time

I walked past the Demeter cabin to see them watering the flowers on the roof and in the flower boxes. I was headed to meet Piper in the Aphrodite cabin. It was the day after the plan was made, which made it Capture the Flag night. Some how -- probably Percy's doing -- I ended up being in charge this time, and running the whole thing. I was terrified but it was exciting.

In only less than three hours, everyone in the camp had their instructions. Each cabin had a different set of instructions to handle, in case the Artemis girls wanted to try anything. There were only fourteen of them, but that was one of the things that worked for this game. It amazes me what the power of underestimation can accomplish.

I walked through the door to cabin ten, and then to the back wall. I knocked twice. Piper opened the trap door, and waved me down. I climbed down the ladder closed the door. She led me down a narrow spotless hall.

I assumed n underground cavern would be dusty, or damp at least, But the floors shined and the walls were as smooth as glass. Actually the walls were glass, and behind all of the walls was plain earth-- Just dirt and grass roots and bugs-- But it was still beautiful. Well, everyone loves something. I guess a child of Aphrodite liked dirt.

I walked into the brightly lit room and three girls all turned to look at us, Huge grins on each of their faces.

"We've got it." the brunette said-- Molly I think.

"We were just about to test it, actually." Lisa, the younger blonde girl said.

They all backed up, and Lisa held out a string. I followed the string to see that it was tied to small glass bottle, in a closed glass case. She let go of the string, and the bottle dropped to the floor breaking. the glass case filled with A deep pink gas, and I could faintly smell roses.

"Is it going to be strong enough?" I asked. The giggled a little and nodded.

"That's why we were testing it in the case; Merry passed out when she dropped the first test, before it was enclosed. The rest of us managed to get our masks on though." Molly said.

"It's perfect," I said smiling. "Can you make more?" I asked

"How much do you need, Lisa said, pulling a white curtain to the side, revealing several huge pots of mixed perfumes and chemicals. I chuckled in surprise. Then I looked up at them in pity.

"We have to bottle all of it." They nodded, still smiling, to excited to care about the work. <>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>


I walked over to our table to sit with Percy and Jessa, my new half sister. I hadn't met her until dinner the night before, but she was funny and smart, and great to be around. They were laughing about the look on one of the older hunters' expression upon trying pizza for the first time. They quickly quieted when I sat down.

"Everything is set. Watches synchronized, weapons clean, and armor ready to go." I said. I sat there trying to eat something, but only managed some sweet tea and fruit.
Before I knew it, Chiron was lightly pounding on the floor with his hoof, and calling us to settle down. After the rules had been read, everyone ran to action, from the outside it would have looked like total mayhem, but to us, it was organised chaos.

Percy tightened Annabeth's shoulder straps while she fiddled with his helmet. she ended up calling Leo over to help as Percy finished. Once the helmet was on him and the other two were squared away, they started whispering to each other. I noticed why when I saw the three hunters less than ten feet away, getting themselves ready.

After only ten minutes everyone was ready. Chiron stood in front of us. He was talking, and going over the rules again, But I only caught the last part of it.

"...And all magical objects are allowed. Try not to kill anyone. Alright, you all obviously want to get started. that was the fastest preparation in five years." He said smiling, everyone laughed. When Chiron trotted out of the way, we surged forward, Hunters moving to the north woods, and the campers moving to the south woods.

As we jogged on, different groups broke off and went in different directions, some carrying small crates others sacks and ropes. With my Group about to break off, I grinned at Percy. I knew he was excited, but He still managed to look worried as well. Annabeth had been in the group that broke away five minutes ago, and he still didn't like to be away from her for very long.

I jogged away with Leo, Andre from Demeter, Melissa from Ares, Jonah from Hecate, and Michael from Apollo. We all ran through the woods until we found the cluster of marked trees. We untied the ribbons and started to climb up as Chiron blew the horn sounding the start.

We each found a branch in our trees about halfway up, with plenty of coverage from bellow. I looked to my right and found Jonah watching me. I held up my wrist and looked at my watch. five seconds. three seconds. one. I locked eyes with him and nodded. I watched as he looked to Michael . He already had an arrow loaded, and aimed, ready for any sign of movement. the small flash of a crystal bottle assured me that they were all ready.

I waited, and Then looked at my watch. Fifty-three seconds to go. I could barely keep still, the ADHD and all, But this is what it was ment for-- Battle readiness. and we were all unnaturally still with excitement and concentration. you could heard a pin drop... or a twig snap.

It was very quiet, but we heard it. the others all turned to me. waiting for orders, for the signal. I slowly held up my hand. Wait. I looked around bellow me, to see only tree leaves grass and bush... until it shone in the moonlight. the slight silver aura of the hunters that came with the blessing of Artemis.

The first girl looked a little less then thirteen, maybe ten. She walked lightly and quickly, then stopped and looked around. After a moment she waved forward, and two others came out of the bush. I looked toward Michael, and when we locked eyes, I slashed my hand down, careful not to touch the branches around me.

I watched as he aimed at the girl and then shifted his aim to several feet to her left. He fired. The arrow whizzed silently down until it hit the ground, braking the crystal. I watched as the pink gas started to quickly spread. After only a few seconds, the cloud had spread more than eight feet in every direction. We waited silently. Melissa was aiming her bow now, as well.

I looked at my watch: five seconds, four, three, two... The forest was silent. Good. The plan stayed on course. I heard light rustling, and looked down. The gas had dissipated already, so that only the smell of fresh roses remained when the second group of hunter came across our patch.

Melisa and Michael both aimed. In less than a minute the thirty feet surrounding the four hunters was covered in yellow smoke, and the smell of sunflowers drifted toward us. Leo, locked eyes with me. I nodded.

He slipped off his branch and started to quickly climb down, and I followed, just after him. We landed on the ground within seconds of each other. I grabbed the rope from inside a bush, and through him the end. We pulled hard. The thick wire-mesh net sprung up and grabbed all seven of the unconscious hunters, and held them in the air suspended between three of the trees.

I motioned for the other to climb down. Leo and I covered them. I heard the other three touch down and draw their weapons. We backed up slowly and fell into the shadows of the brush. I saw two other groups touch down and fall back into the brush as well. Everything was going according to plan. And that of course is when everything went wrong... sort of.

A red flash shone above us. a flare had just gone up on the north side of the river. the hunter's side of the river. It told me one thing: Our team had to make a run for the river, and someone was hot on their tail. The five teams that were down ran for the river weapons drawn and ready. By the time we reached it, there were six hunters already battling with group four.

As I watched, Piper took one of the girls she was fighting down, and then turned to the other.

"Hunter's will lay down their weapons and surrender." When the fighters only froze, she made eye contact with each of the remaining five. "Now." She said. there was a clatter of bows and hunting knives falling to the ground.

Another flare went off less then thirty feet away. I knew this one wasn't set off on purpose because it shot straight up into the air. It was set, not fired. We had one right on top of us.

Thalia burst out of the trees to find her self surrounded by about thirty armed campers. She stopped and froze in front of the river, and looked around at us.

"What?!" She almost yelled, but not at us; She seemed to be yelling at herself.

Then the bush closest to the river rustled, and Jessa sprinted out of it. She ran over the water to the other side of the river.

As soon as her feet touched solid ground again the banner changed from silver with a bow in the middle of it, to blue-green with a trident in the middle of it.

Cheers went up all around. Hunters trickled in, and other campers joined the group, cheering as well. Percy finally showed up and hugged Jessa. I slowly moved to the outside of the cheering crowd. Let someone else have the limelight and all that.

"Well..." I heard Thalia say, "Looks like you finally beat me, Jackson."

"No way. I had nothing to do with it." I heard.

"Of course." Thalia said.

"Not me, either." Annabeth said, and I could practically hear her grin.

As I watched the campers closest to me moved. After only a minute, there was a clear path between Thalia and I.

"Should've known it was the new girl." She said and walked toward me. I froze, but some how managed to not cower. She stopped almost directly in front of me. The she moved her arm... To stick out her hand.

I realized at that moment that everyone was silent. I took her hand and shook it. The campers roared, and cheered and clapped. She smiled at me and I grinned back. Maybe she wasn't so scary after all.

"Maybe next time, I shake hands with you through a net, as I tie you up." She said and walked off, still smiling.

Nope.... She was definitely still terrifying.

"Everyone to the campfire! Cocoa is on the Hunters!" Someone from the front of the group yelled, and Another wave of whoops and hollers spread to the back of the group.


"I did not agree to that, Jackson!" I heard thalia yell.

'I don't need any quest to prove I'm good enough,' I thought to myself as I moved with the group to the campfire.

I hate it when I'm wrong.

Notes

Hey guys sorry it took me so long for this last chapter. If the end isn't very good, tell me: It was almost one by the time I finished this. Anyway, her plan is explained in the next chapter; if you were confused, that is what I planned on, So I guess it worked.
Hope you all still enjoy this!

~LCCabin3~