Hi, I'm back! Thank you for that wonderful review! To answer your question, yes, I am twelve. I turn thirteen in August. Anyway, this is an extra long chapter for you since my friend will not be able to post another over April Break. However, expect one at least on the Monday or Tuesday after. By the way, this story will probably be four chapters long, but it depends on the way I write and how the story line goes.

Disclaimer: I cannot take credit for the PJO series (though I wish I could). They, along with HOO, belong to Rick Riordan.

Annabeth's POV (continued)

After Leo had shrunk Festus into a suitcase and dropped him off at Cabin Nine, we walked to the Big House. However, Chiron wasn't there, so we headed down to to forest to look for him. We found him in the woods, about to start the capture-the-flag game. As we walked up to him, whispers and hisses immediately began to fly around the group of campers assembled near him. Chiron himself looked lost for words when we walked up to him with Leo and Calypso in tow. I doubt he's seen anything like this in his whole career as a teacher.

Before we could say anything to Chiron or offer any explanation whatsoever, a loud voice from the gathering of demigods suddenly shouted out, "LEO VALDEZ! WHERE IN HADES HAVE YOU BEEN? YOU HAD US WORRIED SICK!"

A very angry Piper pushed her way out of the crowd, dragging Jason behind her, and stormed up to Leo. Leo looked like he was on his way to his execution, which he probably was. He was absolutely terrified. Piper let go of Jason's hand, and marched up to Leo until she was standing right in front of him. "WE THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD! IN FACT, NICO AND HAZEL BOTH FELT YOUR DEATH! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?"

Leo smiled weakly. "Hey, Beauty Queen," he said feebly.

"WELL?" Piper demanded.

Jason took Piper's hand. "Piper, let him explain," he said.

"Fine." Piper gave Leo a murderous look, but she didn't start yelling at him again. She just waited with an expectant look on her face for his explanation. Jason also looked curious to hear Leo's story.

"Well, after I; you know, died, Festus searched for Ogygia. It took him a while, but he finally found it, and gave me the physician's cure right before we landed there. Then I picked up Calypso and explained what a lot of modern things were to her, and showed her around. After we did that, we came back here."

"And that took three months to do?" Piper inquired, raising one of her eyebrows.

"Well, yeah," Leo said. He shuffled his feet uncomfortably at the look Piper was giving him. "We went to a lot of places."

"But they didn't find the dam snack bar," Percy muttered to himself.

I smiled at that, and then turned to Chiron. "Chiron, Leo and Calypso have asked to play capture-the-flag. Is that okay?"

"Well, my dear," Chiron began. "I guess they can play if they wish. There is a rule that states none of the gods or nymphs may play in the game. But since Calypso is technically a Titaness rather than a god, I suppose she can participate."

Leo turned and smiled at Calypso. She returned the gesture.

"Which team are they going to be on?" Jason asked.

"We've already arranged that," I said. "Leo will be on your team, and Calypso will be on mine."

"Great!" Jason exclaimed. "We're going to win!"

I rolled my eyes. "In your dreams. We're going to crush you."

Leo said, "No way! You're going the ones who are going to get crushed!"

"If that's the case, then you're going to get creamed." Piper said.

"Well, you're going to burn."

"Leo, that doesn't even make sense."

"It does to me."

"Can we please get back on track?" I asked. "We have to start the game soon."

"Can we do it in fifteen minutes?" Percy asked. "I have something urgent I need to do."

"Very well," Chiron said. He nodded, and Percy took off into the forest. Jason, Piper, Leo, Calypso, and I followed him. We had to run keep up with him.

"Percy, where are you going?" I called out. I had no idea what he was planning to do, and why he had run into the forest to do it.

"Just wait."

We followed Percy for about five minutes. He showed no sign of stopping, and seemed determined to do whatever it was on his mind. After a couple more minutes, he finally slowed down and eventually stopped. None of us were out of breath, but I was really irritated at him. Nothing like taking a eight minute sprint into the forest, blindly following your boyfriend.

Once I stopped running, I looked around at my surroundings. We were in a small clearing. In front of us was a stream, and behind us stood the side of the forest we had emerged from. Across from the brook lay another section of the woods. I recognized this place. This was the place where Percy had been claimed during his fist capture-the-flag game. I smiled at that memory. Then my smile faded when I remembered the hellhound, and who had summoned it.

Piper turned to face Percy. "I recognize this place. This is the border line for capture-the-flag. Why are we here?"

I was thinking about the same thing and probably so was everyone else, but Percy didn't answer. He just turned to the stream, raised his hand, and summoned some of the water to rise from its banks. It obeyed, following his command. Percy then bent it into a ten foot wall of towering water. The last bits of sunlight from the day streamed through the leaves of the trees growing across the river and into the barrier of water. When the rays of light penetrated the water wall, it created a rainbow in midair. I immediately understood what Percy was doing, and reached into the pocket of my jeans.

Percy also searched his pockets, but apparently he came up with nothing because he turned to us. "Do any of you guys have a drachma?" He asked. I knew he would not find anything, so I had already taking the liberty of finding one for him. I handed Percy the coin before anyone else could search for one, and he took it, giving me a smile. I smirked back at him, muttering, "Seaweed Brain," under my breath. He didn't hear it, and turned back to his makeshift water wall.

He threw the drachma into the the rainbow, and said, "Oh, Iris, goddess of the rainbow, accept my offering. Show me Frank and Hazel at Camp Jupiter." The rainbow shimmered, and we all waited in a semicircle around the reflection of light as the image of Frank and Hazel came into view.

Hazel's POV (surprised?)

Frank and I were at a Senate meeting when suddenly, a huge image of Percy, Annabeth, Jason, and Piper appeared in the center of the domed room. The moment it materialized, my jaw dropped and I jumped out of my seat, and ran towards the center of the room. The whole Senate gasped in surprise when they spotted it. I saw Frank leap out of his seat at the head of the room. We met at the mirage at the same moment, and turned to converse with our friends through the Iris message.

What I didn't notice until I was right in front of the illusion was that there were two other people in the background. Leo and Calypso stood a little ways away behind the cluster of our friends at the front of the image. The moment I saw them, especially Leo, my jaw gaped. I had never met Calypso-in fact, I've never even seen her, but I recognized her from the description Leo had given me when I drew the picture of her back on the Argo II. She had long, amber colored hair that was kept together in a braid, and dark eyes; almost as dark as Reyna's, but not quite. She was wearing an ancient Greek chiton, with a golden rope belt cinched around her waist, and had sandals on her feet.

I was speechless. I could hardly say a word. I looked over at Frank and saw he was also staring at Leo like he was an extraterrestrial being from outer space. I smiled at that thought, and turned back to the Iris message. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Reyna approach the image and stand behind us. Her jaw opened slightly when she saw Leo, but she quickly closed it and put on her signature blank expression. As one of the praetors of the Twelfth Legion, I could understand why she would have to be in control at all times, but I couldn't understand why she always had to be expressionless. I guess there were some things that no one could ever figure out about Reyna. I could respect that.

Leo was the first one to speak. "Hey Hazel and Frank, nice dresses!"

"Leo!" Jason exclaimed.

"What?" He asked, trying to look as innocent as possible. It didn't work.

Frank sputtered in indignation while I gave him my best death glare which from a child of Pluto should be plenty scary. "These aren't dresses, Leo! They are Roman style togas!

"Yeah, whatever." Leo said, waving his hand dismissively. Then he spotted Frank and his eyes instantly brightened with mischief. "Are you wearing your bedsheets?"

"Shut up," Frank muttered. I put my arm around him. There was an awkward pause.

"Hey Frank, Hazel, and Reyna," Annabeth said, breaking the silence. She looked around the Senate room in awe, and I suddenly realized that she had never seen the inside of it. "Wow," she whispered to herself, peering at every single inch of the building. After she had made a careful inspection of every architectural characteristic and design in the room, she turned and addressed us. "Sorry to disrupt your Senate meeting. I didn't think you guys would be having one this late in the afternoon." It was nearly dark in Long Island, and the sun in the distance was just a little sliver of fiery light on the horizon.

"Yes, well, we did start the discussion this morning, but it has taken a little longer to agree on this decision than I would have liked," Reyna said tartly.

Annabeth nodded once, and didn't ask what the conversation was about which I was grateful for. The debate we had been conversing before the five other demigods and Calypso had interrupted us hadn't been all that a pleasant, or that comfortable, so I was glad that they had tried to contact us at this moment.

"So, how are things on your side of the country?" Frank asked them.

"Well, everything's good here." Percy said. "Leo showed up about twenty minutes ago, and nearly scared us all out of our wits. Leo, tell them your story."

So Leo told us how Festus had resurrected him by giving him the physician's cure after he had died in the explosion while battling Gaea, and how he had rescued Calypso. He told us how he had explained to Calypso everything about the modern world, and how he had taken her everywhere and showed her all kinds of famous structures and landmarks. He said that Calypso had accepted all of the changes that had happened in the millennia she had been imprisoned on Ogygia surprisingly well which I could hardly believe. Most of the things in this age of the world still amazed and astounded me to no end.

"So that's what happened," Leo concluded. "And then I suggested to Calypso that we travel to Camp Half-Blood and she said yes. That was this morning. So we flew to camp after breakfast and here we are."

"Cool," Frank said. "So what are you doing now?"

"Well," Piper said. "We're going to play a game of capture-the-flag. We would ask you guys to join us, but the game starts in about five minutes and there's no way you could get here in time."

"That's alright," I said. "Anyway, even if we wanted to, we couldn't play. We still have to finish this Senate meeting."

"Okay," Annabeth said a little sadly. "We should get back to Chiron. We only said that we would be gone for about fifteen minutes and the rainbow connecting us is about to disappear. It's almost dusk."

"Well, bye!" Frank said.

"Goodbye!" I said.

"Until next time," Reyna told them. "Say hello to Nico for me."

I gave Reyna a scruciating look, but she purposely didn't meet anybody's eyes, especially mine. However, when I got a glimpse of her face, I saw it was red and a little flushed. I could tell that she was slightly embarrassed. Reyna usually wore a mask that covered up her emotions, and I was intrigued and surprised that she had let it slip so easily, especially in front of the Senate. Perhaps it was a mistake, but I couldn't shake the memory of it out of my mind.

The five other demigods and Calypso all waved their goodbyes, and then the image of them slowly disappeared. After a few seconds, even the slightest trace of the mirage had vanished from the air.

I walked back to my seat. Reyna and Frank did the same at the head of the room. A senator started to talk about the issue we had been discussing before we were interrupted, and I quickly grew bored with it. I wished I was at Camp Half-Blood, playing capture-the-flag. Anything was better than this.

Nico's POV

Chiron was just about to start the game when Percy, Annabeth, Jason, Piper, Leo, and Calypso came running out of the woods and into the clearing we were standing in. Almost everyone was surprised at their rushed entrance, but Chiron just merely raised an eyebrow, and continued with the speech he was annunciating, "The stream is the border line between the two teams. All weapons and magical items are allowed. I will serve as the referee in this game. Please avoided any killing or maiming to other campers. All demigods may use any sort of powers they wish." He fixed his eyes on me. "Just abstain from any fatal injuries or death."

Will leaned in towards me and whispered, "No death stuff, di Angelo. Doctor's orders."

"Oh, come on," I complained. "That might be the only way we can win."

Will shrugged, but he didn't look all that remorseful. "Disobey my commands, and you're going to be stuck in the hospital in the Big House for a week."

I scowled at him. "But what about-"

"No buts," Will interrupted me. "No raising the dead, no turning people into ghosts, no killing the grass around you; nothing. And above all, no shadow traveling. You are not to even allowed to connect some mice bones together. Understand?"

"Fine," I muttered angrily, but I didn't really mean it.

Will eyed me distrustfully. "I'll be watching you. Don't even think about doing something even remotely death-related because if you do, I'll find out."

I gave a sigh. "Alright. I won't unless I'm in mortal danger."

Will gave me a glare. Apparently, even that wasn't good enough for him. "No death stuff." He said.

"No death stuff." I repeated. Will gave a nod, and turned back to listen to Chiron.

"The teams playing against each other today are the blue team which consists of the Athena, Aphrodite, Nike, Demeter, Ares, Hermes, Dionysus, and Nemesis cabins," Chiron paused while the blue team yelled with excitement. "And the red team which consists of the Poseidon, Zeus, and Hades cabins along with the Apollo, Hephaestus, Iris, Hecate, and Hypnos cabins." My team screamed into the night while I watched the spectacle with annoyance. "Each team has ten minutes to hide their flag. Remember, there must be only two guards protecting each. The conch horn will be blown when it is time to start the game."

With that last note, the blue team ran into the forest, eager to hide their flag and start the game. I watched as Annabeth gave Percy a passionate kiss before she darted away to join the other campers on the opposing team. Our team just gathered in the clearing and watched as Chiron galloped into the forest towards the border. After he had vanished into the undergrowth, I turned to the rest of my team who had begun argue about where we should hide our flag.

"We should hide it up a tree," an Apollo camper stated.

"No way!" A Hephaestus camper called. "It would be too unprotected up there."

"The Apollo cabin could protect it," Will suggested.

"But we are only allowed to have two guards," Jason said.

"We could always set traps around it," another Hephaestus kid pointed out.

"What if they malfunction?" A Hecate camper wondered.

"Are you insulting our handiwork?" The same Hephaestus camper growled.

"O-of course not!" The Hecate kid stuttered, a little fearfully.

"Why don't we have the Hecate cabin disguise it with the Mist?" Asked an Iris camper.

"Is there anyone on the other team that is good with seeing through illusions?" An Apollo guy said.

"Anyone can see through our illusions as longer as they know they are there," Lou Ellen said.

"Which would be probably everyone," Percy groaned.

"Huh?" Clovis awoke was a start. "Do you need me to do something?"

"Go back to sleep, Clovis."

"Actually," Jason said, startling everybody. "I have a question to ask you. Can you put people to sleep?"

"What?" Clovis inquired, already drifting off to sleep again. He was leaning on a trunk of an oak tree, and using his hands as a pillow. I had no idea how he could sleep like that, since it must have been very uncomfortable, but he was already halfway to Dreamland, so that wasn't my main concern at the moment. I quickly elbowed him in the ribs and he sat up with a snort. "Yeah! What is it?"

Jason repeated his question while I made sure that Clovis stayed awake. When he was finished, Clovis slid down to the ground and sat on the forest floor, propping his head up with his hand. "Mmm, well, I can't really. At least, I've tried before and I'm really kind of bad at it. I also don't like to do it a lot. When you influence someone to fall asleep, it takes away so much of your energy that normal Hypnos demigods usually fall into a coma for at least three hours after using it." Clovis yawned, and I poked him to make sure he stayed awake. "But that's only if you overexert yourself. It you don't, well..." Clovis put his head on his knees and started to snore. I decided to leave him there.

"So, can anyone else from the Hypnos cabin use that power?" Jason asked, looking around our little group.

"Well, I can," said a small voice from the back of the crowd.

The demigods all parted to reveal a small, lithe girl. She had light brown hair that came down to her shoulders, and icy blue eyes. I had trouble believing she was even related to Clovis because she looked absolutely nothing like him. The girl had pixie-like features and had a quiet, drowsy aura that surrounded her. She looked nervous that she had spoken aloud, and fidgeted slightly. She tried smiling, but she was so terrified she couldn't keep it up. She looked like she was fourteen years old, but was short for her age.

"What's your name?" Percy asked.

"My-my name is M-Melissa." The girl said. She purposely didn't meet Percy's or anybody else's eyes. She looked down at her feet, and ground the toe of her shoe into the dirt. She kicked some pine needles into some bushes, and tried to look as small as possible, which wasn't easy when everybody's attention was on you.

"Can you put people to sleep?" Jason inquired.

"Yes," Melissa said without hesitation.

"Okay," Jason said, turning around. Everybody on our team gathered around him in a circle. "Here's the plan. Half of the Apollo cabin will travel to the border to prevent the blue team from progressing into our part of the woods. Hide in the trees or do whatever you have to, but just stay out of sight. The rest of the cabin, plus Leo, and the Iris and Hypnos cabins will dwell further back in the forest and protect the flag from the middle of our territory. Percy, Butch, and half the Hephaestus and Hecate cabins will approach the blue team's territory from the left. Melissa, Lou Ellen, the other half of the Hephaestus and Hecate cabins, and I will do the same with the right. The Hecate campers can disguise us as we sneak around, trying to find their flag. We will meet in the middle of their territory, disarm all the guards, and carry the flag across the border. Everyone got that?"

All the campers nodded at the plan. Not a single one disagreed, because they probably couldn't think of a better one.

"Alright," Percy said. "Now all that's left is the matter of where to hide our flag."

"Hold on," Leo said. "Who's going to be protecting the flag? We can only having two guards, you know? And how are we going to obtain the other team's flag?"

"Nico and I can guard our team's flag," Will suggested. Percy nodded. Will was probably only making that offer so he could keep an eye on me to make sure I didn't try any death stuff. I snorted.

"As for how we'll get the blue team's flag; that's easy," Jason said. "Melissa will make the other team's guard fall asleep, and while they're snoring, we'll get the flag."

I glanced at Melissa. She looked a little pale at the prospect of playing such an important role to her team, but she set her jaw determinedly. I recognized that look. It was the look of a young, unprepared, and inexperienced hero who had been called on to do something important, even world preserving. I should know. I had seen that look on Percy's face many times and on many others as well. I suppose even I had acquired that look on my face once or twice. Almost every demigod had, and others who had not would attain it in the not so distant future.

"Okay," I agreed. "But where are we going to hide our flag?"

"I've been thinking about that," Jason said. "We can't hide it up in a tree, and one of the Hecate campers can't disguise it with the Mist either. Although those are both good ideas, the other team has probably already thought them up by now and are prepared for both of them. We need to place our flag somewhere where the other team wouldn't think to look; somewhere secretive, hidden, and easy to defend." Jason looked at Percy. "I'm not coming up with anything. You've been at camp longer than me: do you have any good ideas?"

Perch shook his head. "Nothing really comes to mind." He looked at me. "Can you think of anything?"

As the matter of fact, I could think of something, but I didn't like the idea of it. "Well," I said. "There's this one place."

All the campers on our team perked up, and everyone turned to me. Lou Ellen frowned. "Is it in our territory?" She asked.

"Yes," I confirmed.

"Where and what is it?" Leo asked me.

"It's a small clearing a little east from here," I said, pointed to the right. "It is a very secluded place, and not many people have found it over the years. It is barely fifteen feet across, and a huge oak tree grows in the middle of it, surrounded by cedars. The oak would be the perfect place to hide the flag."

"You're right," Jason said, nodding. "Let's use that clearing as our flag's hiding spot." He handed me the flag. It was white with the emblems of a lighting bolt, trident, and skull on the front of it. He gestured to Will and some of the Apollo kids and about one or two Hephaestus kids including Leo, and they stepped up next to me. "One of the Apollo campers can plant the flag at the top of the tree. The Hephaestus campers can place traps near the clearing for extra security. They should be able to get all the materials they need for them from Leo's tool belt. The rest of you, head into the part of the forest you're supposed to be in. Those who are in either my patrol or Percy's, wait here for a moment."

The kids nodded, and were about to leave when Leo suddenly shouted out, "Hey! I figured it out!"

We all turned back to face him. "What did you figure out?" Percy asked.

"Our team name!" Leo exclaimed. "We can ourselves Team Leo!" He spread his arms wide, as if expecting applause, but he didn't get any. He took out a bottle of lime green spray paint from his tool belt, and turned to me.

"Oh, no you don't," I warned him. I was getting so edgy, I was about to summon a skeleton to attack Leo, but I saw Will shaking his head out of the corner of my eye and mouthing, "No." I ground my teeth together in frustration. I hated not being able to use my powers. I really wanted to shadow travel out of there, but if I did, I would have never heard the end of it from Will. Instead, I just sent Leo my strongest death glare, and to nobody's surprise, he immediately backed off.

"Umm," Leo faltered. "It was just an idea." He quickly put the spray paint away into his tool belt, and quickly tried to get as far away from me as possible. It was a wise decision.

I smiled coldly. "Anyone else have any more ideas for our team name?" When nobody answered, I smirked. I looked down, and saw the ground around me being drained of color. The grass was already brown, and it was starting to turn white with frost. Will was shaking his head at me and wagging his finger, so I quickly let go of my anger. There was another thing I hated even more than not using my powers: being stuck in the hospital.

"Great," Jason said. He smiled like nothing in the world was wrong. "Okay everybody, go to your assigned stations. Those who are on either Percy's or my patrol, follow us. The game is about to begin."

Piper's POV

Annabeth caught up with me before I crossed the boundary line which, ironically, happened to be the stream we were at earlier today. "Hey," I said as she jogged up to me. "Got a battle plans?"

Annabeth grinned at me. "Oh, yeah," she said, with a malicious gleam in her eye. "I've got one alright."

"Great," I said. "What is it?"

She put a finger on her lips. "Not now," she whispered. "Wait until we get into our territory."

We ran across the border, and deeper into the forest. Soon, we entered the clearing that everybody was gathering in. Annabeth and I pushed our way to the front of the crowd, and Annabeth turned to the other campers.

"Okay," she said. "Here's the plan. The red team will probably have two attack groups headed into our territory from two different sides. I bet anything in my cabin that they will contain either Percy, Jason, Leo, Nico, or more than one of them. That means our plan has to be focused mainly of defense, and secretive offense."

The campers all nodded. Her explanation was logical.

"I can't come up with a good spot where the other team can hide their flag, so it will probably be located somewhere not very well known by other people," Annabeth said. "The other team will have a good defense system so we have to be prepared to find the flag, and get out of their territory as fast as we can. So here's what we're going to do." All of the demigods leaned toward her, eager to hear the plan. "The Dionysus cabin will be stationed at the left of our territory on defense. The Nemesis cabin will proceed the same way on the right. Do whatever you have to in order to prevent the other team from getting past your defenses. Behind them, the Hermes cabin will be placed farther back on the left and the Demeter cabin will be placed further back on the right."

The demigods nodded and murmured among themselves. Annabeth continued to explain her master plan.

"If the red team gets past the first row of defenses, let them through." She paused when most of the campers complained at that announcement. She shot her fiercest glare at the people who whined the most, and they shut up almost immediately. Nobody wanted to cross Annabeth. She continued with her speech.

"The Ares cabin will be situated in a position right in front of the flag. Once the red team breaks through the first barrier, they will run straight into them. After that happens, both the Demeter and the Hermes cabins can corner, disarm, and send the trespassers to jail for the rest of the game. That agree with everyone?"

"Why do we have to be on defense?" Clarisse griped.

"Because that is the place you'll be needed the most," Annabeth said. "If we can make up a strong defense, then it is less likely the red team can push through our boundaries and get to the flag. Defense is one of the most important factors in a battle or war, Clarisse."

Clarisse scowled. "You're lecturing me about war? Have you forgotten who my father is, Miss Princess?"

Clarisse hadn't called Annabeth that in a long time, and Annabeth glowered at her. "No, I haven't," she said. "But my mother is the goddess of battle strategy. I know what I'll doing, Clarisse."

Clarisse sneered at that, but didn't continue disagree with her. "Why can't a different cabin be put on defense?"

"Believe me," Annabeth said. "For my plan to work, it's best if your cabin stays on defense. That is, if you want us to win."

Clarisse huffed. Even she wasn't stupid enough to keep arguing with Annabeth. "Fine," she mumbled moodily.

Annabeth continued with her speech. "The Aphrodite cabin will process across the border, and distract the other team's guards. A few of the Athena campers will go with them so that they don't get themselves pulverized. While the red team's guard are occupied, the Athena cabin and I will approach the enemy's territory from the right. A small troop of Nike campers will approach from the left. The Nike cabin will snoop around the territory secretly and find the flag. Once they do, they will give a signal to the Athena campers and together, they will retrieve the flag and head back across the border, winning the game." Annabeth declared. "Anyone got a problem with any of that?"

"Why, yes," I turned and saw Drew, the ex-counselor for the Aphrodite cabin push her way up to the front to the crowd. She crossed her arms, and pursed her lips. "Who gave you the idea to use my cabin as bait?"

Before Annabeth could respond, I rotated on my heel and turned to face her. "First of all," I began. "I am the head counselor for Aphrodite cabin, so it is my decision whether we proceed with this plan or not. Second of all, I think it's a great plan, and whether or not you agree or like it, my cabin is going to participate in it. If you have anything to complain about, you can step out of the game right now, head back to Cabin Ten, and go to bed. I won't stop you." I gestured with a hand toward the direction the cabins were in. The whole team was in utter silence. You could have heard a pine needle drop. Everybody was staring at us; clearing waiting for Drew's decision.

Drew curled her lip in disgust, but didn't leave. I stared at her for a few more seconds until she got so uncomfortable, she averted her eyes from my gaze. I turned back to Annabeth. "Who's going to guard the flag?" I asked.

Annabeth swallowed. "Well, I was hoping you'd be up to the challenge, Piper," she said. "I've also asked Malcolm, if that's okay with you?"

"Sure," I said. I was kind of disappointed that I wasn't going to go on offense with the rest of the Aphrodite campers, but I suppose I couldn't have everything. I could have used charmspeak to persuade Annabeth to allow me to not be stuck on defense, but I would never do that to her. I guess I would just have to ask Lacy and Mitchell to keep an eye on the cabin and Drew and be satisfied with that.

"What should I do?" Asked a voice from beside me. I turned in surprise and saw Calypso, her forehead scrunched up in deep thought, standing next to me.

Apparently, Annabeth also had forgotten about Calypso because she temporarily looked bewildered, and looked around to see who had spoken. Then she spotted Calypso, and her confused expression cleared. "Oh," she said. "Well, perhaps you can weave some traps. Percy said you're good with a loom." Calypso winced slightly at the mention of Percy's name. I could tell she was still a little sore from his rejection, and even though it had happened two years ago; seeing him again with another girl had brought back a flood of pain. I could tell.

"Alright," Calypso agreed. "Where should I put them?"

"Maybe you can place them around the border, by the river?" Annabeth suggested. Calypso nodded, and faded into the background.

"Okay, now the only other thing to discuss is where to put the flag."

"Hang on," somebody in the crowd said. "What will the signal be? You said the Nike cabin will send the Athena cabin a signal when they find the flag."

"Oh," Annabeth said. "Well, does anyone in the Nike cabin know Morse code?"

All of the Nike campers looked at each other in confusion. It was obvious they didn't. Annabeth sighed tiredly. "I guess we'll have to do this the old fashioned way," she said. "Once your cabin finds the flag, one of you guys will have to send us a messenger telling us that. And please, whoever's the emissary, try not to get caught. I suggest you send your fastest runner, just in case."

The four Nike campers that were at camp presently muttered among themselves; then looked to a tall, thin boy with brown hair. He had the stature of a runner and looked like he was fifteen years old. The boy groaned, and his shoulders slumped, but he nodded his head. "I'll be the messenger," he said.

"Great!" Annabeth said. "Now all we need to figure out if where to hide the flag. Got any idea, anyone?"

"Well," said Lacy. "We could hide it near Zeus's Fist."

"Are you kidding?" Asked an Aphrodite camper. "That place has be cursed ever since the death of Kampë. There is no way I'm getting within ten meters of that place, like, ever."

"But that's why it's a good place to hide the flag," Lacy argued. "Maybe the other team will be too scared to go near it, too."

"Oh, pleased." Clarisse snorted. "After all they've been through, I don't think a little superstition is going to frighten the Seven, especially Nico."

Lacy's shoulders sagged, and she slumped in disappointment. I put a hand on her arm. "It was a good idea," I told her kindly.

She sighed. "It was stupid."

I shook my head. "No it wasn't. I actually thought it was a really good idea."

Lacy perked up instantly. "Really?" She asked.

"Yes," I said. I smiled at her. "After all, it was a common place to put the flag before Kampë's death. Why should that change now? Everyone knew about it back then."

Lacy nodded. "You're right," she said. She ran up to Annabeth and whispered into her ear. Annabeth thought for a minute, then whispered something back. Lacy mumbled something under her breath, then turned around and ran back to me. Annabeth faced the crowd of campers again.

"Okay," she said. Everybody quieted down from the chatter they had been conducting, and turned to listen intently to her. "I've decided where we're going to hide the flag. We're going to keep it at Zeus's Fist."

Immediately, chaos ensued. Everybody started talking at once.

"That place is cursed!" Pollux shouted.

"No way," a Hermes camper breathed.

"Cool!" An Ares kid yelled.

"You're insane!" An Aphrodite camper screamed.

"Are you sure that place is safe?" Miranda inquired.

"Awesome!" A Nemesis camper declared.

"What?!" Drew screeched.

"Wow!" A Nike camper exclaimed.

I yelled at them with the charmspeak evident in my voice. "Quiet down!" Immediately, everyone fell silent.

Annabeth shot me a grateful look, and then turned back other crowd to address the group of demigods. "We're going to hide the flag on the top of Zeus's Fist," she repeated, pausing to allow anyone to voice their displeasure. No one did. "Piper and Malcolm will guard the flag. None of them have a problem with the rumors that have been circulating about it, I assume?" She looked at me, and I shook my head. She turned to her half-brother and he disconfirmed it as well.

"The rest of you won't have to go anywhere near it unless you want too. Now, I'll say this one more time. Does anyone have a problem with any of my plans?" No one answered, and Annabeth smiled. "Good. The game will start in three minutes. Piper and Malcolm, I'll go with you guys to hide the flag. Ares cabin, come with us too. Hermes and Dionysus, go left. Nemesis and Demeter, go right. Aphrodite, assemble at the border with Nike and Athena."

Everyone headed off with their cabins to their assigned positions. I followed Annabeth, Malcolm, and the Ares cabin deeper into the forest. We ran for about three minutes, and then entered another clearing. This one was bigger than the one we had previously been in. In the center of it stood a huge pile of rocks. I had once been told that it had looked like a fist, but now it basically resembled what it was: a gigantic collection of boulders. I could see nothing that important or significant about it, but I instantly knew it was Zeus's Fist.

Annabeth was carrying the flag. It was white and had the symbols of a dagger with a gray owl in the background. She clutched it with both hands. As soon as she saw Zeus's Fist, she began to walk towards it. Malcolm and I followed her with the Ares cabin trailing behind us cautiously.

Zeus's Fist was a huge structure about twelve feet high. It was surrounding by pine trees, and was almost as tall as them, but not quite. There was a large amount of rocks littered around it on the ground on the clearing. I smiled at the sight of tried to sprint straight to the flag would have to take the time to maneuver around them. That would work to our advantage.

I watched as Annabeth navigated around the boulders as gracefully as if she was dancing, and headed toward Zeus's Fist. No one followed her. She took the shortest possible route up to the structure, and as soon as she got there, she began to climb. She scaled the pile of boulders quickly and effectively. As soon as she got to the top, she planted the flag onto a rock and hurried back down to the ground. She ran back to us quickly, maneuvering around the rocks standed all across the clearing.

"Okay," she said, hardly out of breath. "That's that. Piper and Malcolm, it's your job to guard the flag. I suggest you stand underneath Zeus's Fist in order to watch it, but you don't have to. Ares cabin, you guys stay close to the clearing, but not to close. Guard the flag as best as you can, and make sure nobody gets through."

Clarisse gave Annabeth a curt nod, and lead her cabin back out of the clearing. I could tell she was still a little irritated at Annabeth by the way her emotions seemed to roll of her in waves. I guess it was a power of Aphrodite. Once they were gone, Annabeth grimaced, and then turned and gave me a smile.

"I should be going," she said. "It's almost time to start the game. See you later!"

"Bye!" I said.

She smiled again, and disappeared into the undergrowth. Malcolm and I cautiously made our way over to Zeus's Fist and stood underneath it. We waited for a minute or two. Then the conch horn blew and it was time to start the game.

Like the ending? I added in a little Solangelo and Reynico. How'd I do? Also, do you like the two teams' strategies? Please review and tell me!