Hey guys, I'm just having writer's block with Jacob Spark, and it's getting tedious to write, so I'm going to take a break from it for a while. Don't worry, it'll come back, just maybe in a month or so. For now, here's a fiveshot- don't even know if that's a word- about a child of Haphaestus who builds a celestial bronze suit, based on the movie Iron Man.
Tanner swung his hammer angrily, molding the hot metal into the shape of a sword while he mulled over Camp Half-Blood's situation.
He had fallen into these moods for the last week or so, looking around the camp and seeing how few demigods there were. Each time, he went down to the forges, which seemed the only place he could calm down. He would make a sword or an axe and give it to a camper for no reason, just because it helped him think to make them.
He didn't know why he was so angry. It wasn't his fault that half-bloods were disappearing left and right everywhere. Ever since Percy Jackson had killed the Titan Lord Kronos almost a year ago, and all the half-bloods had gone home for the school year except the year-rounders, the demigods who were at home had just begun being kidnapped, by monsters that were still loyal to Kronos. No one knew where they were being taken, or who was directing them, but it was terribly sad that so many were gone.
Tanner wasn't sure, either, why he felt a sense of responsibility. He had been claimed by Haphaestus almost a month ago, and since then he had felt like he should be doing something to help these half-bloods. He felt like his father had claimed him for a reason, although what the reason was he had no idea.
He sighed and dipped the sword into the huge bucket of cold water that was next to the table he was working at. There was a long hissss and steam rose from the bucket. Tanner waited several moments, then withdrew the sword. He examined it critically. Most people would have said it was incredible. He gave it a 5 or a 6. He was very fastidious of his craftsmanship.
He walked out of the forges and saw Connor Stoll walking by. "Hey, Connor!" he called. "You want a new sword?"
Connor walked over. "Whoa, that thing is wicked!" he exclaimed, examining the celestial bronze sword in awe. Tanner had designed this one after Hermes- he had put little wings sticking out of the handle and had even inscribed the word MESSENGER in Greek (A/N: sorry people I don't know how to read Greek to translate it, but if you know a good sight please tell me) on the leather grip. "Can I really have it?"
"Knock yourself out," Tanner replied, handing him the sheath. He walked away from an extremely excited Connor and headed into the woods.
He drew his own weapon- a heavy broadsword that only Haphaestus kids could carry- and walked through the forest looking for a monster to fight. He wasn't sure what he was looking for, but a fight would help take his mind off of the gloomy thoughts running through his head.
He didn't find any monsters, but he did bump into someone he wasn't expecting- Percy. The guy was walking through the woods with his sword drawn, so he obviously had the same idea as Tanner. He turned, surprised, when Tanner called his name. Then he relaxed and grinned. "Hey, Tanner," he said. "You out looking for a fight too?"
Tanner nodded. "Just gotta get my mind off all these half-blood abductions, you know?" he said. "It gets worse every week."
Percy nodded in agreement. "I'd like to say I was thinking the same, but I'm really just trying to get away from Annabeth. Jeez, she used to be all about business, but since we started dating she never stops talking about whatever's on her mind at the moment."
Tanner had to laugh. The two had been dating since the fall of Kronos, and since then they had been the prime talk of gossip for everyone, especially the Aphrodite kids. "Aw, come on, don't pretend you don't like it," he said.
Percy blushed. "Shut up," he said, but he was smiling. "Well, I guess I'll see you around."
"Yeah, see ya," Tanner replied. Percy waved and jogged off deeper into the woods. Tanner headed the opposite way, toward Zeus's Fist. He knew Percy well. He had become good friends with him and Annabeth ever since his claiming. He was also great friends with Percy's half-brother, Tyson. He was the only one at camp who could compete with Tanner when it came to metalwork.
Tanner came to rest beside the pile of boulders that supposedly looked like a fist sticking out of the ground. He stopped to rest and rested his hand on the boulder. He flinched back when he suddenly felt something warm under his hand. He looked at the spot he had touched, and was surprised to see a little symbol engraved there: a Δ, glowing blue. The mark of Daedelus.
Suddenly the rocks began to tremble, like there was an earthquake occurring. Then two boulders suddenly moved apart, leaving a gap just big enough for Tanner to squeeze through. The rumble soon faded, and Tanner stared at the gap, startled.
He knew it would be dangerous to go in there without knowing what was inside, but his curiosity was killing him. He also knew he should probably go and get help, but the opening might be gone by then. So Tanner shrugged and did what was to him the only logical solution. He turned sideways and squeezed through the gap, finally letting out a breath when he made it into a dark tunnel.
Staring at the blackness ahead, Tanner hesitated. He had been afraid of the dark when he was younger, and some of those fears still lingered on him. Then he remembered he didn't have to be in the dark. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a cigarette lighter. Being the son of the god of fire, he always carried one with him. He lit it, and was satisfied to see a warm glow illuminate the tunnel. He took a deep breath and began walking forward.
The tunnel was made of stainless steel, and the floor was a metal grate. Tanner ran his hand along the smooth steel as he walked. He kept going for about ten minutes, and just when he was thinking he should turn back, he saw something up ahead: a huge set of double doors, inscribed with the same Greek Δ.
Uncertainly, Tanner approached the doors. He reached up and touched the middle of the symbol. It glowed, and the metal doors hissed and opened.
Tanner walked into the room and stared around in awe. No, it couldn't be. It was exactly like Annabeth had described it in her story, but she'd said it was destroyed, gone, forever. Still, as Tanner continued to examine it, he realized it was true.
I found Daedelus's workshop!