Chapter 4: A Mother
The sound of a horn trumpeted through the forest. Jenna's head jerked towards it. "That's it. Let's go." She sprinted off.
Thankfully, Emmaleigh did cross country on the side, so she was able to keep up with Jenna's long legs. Alyssa, who was curvy (but not fat or unfit), had trouble keeping up, her legs were shorter. They traveled around five hundred yards before Jenna stopped and pulled them behind the trees.
"There are archers a hundred yards from here," Jenna said, "They won't aim to kill, but they'll try to wound us. Probably try to hit a leg or shoulder. I'm going to block the arrows from hitting us, but it won't last long." She grabbed Emmaleigh and Alyssa's hands tightly. Her eyes closed and her lips parted. Green light poured from her lips and entered their hands. It seemed to travel under their skin, all over their bodies.
"Here we go." They sprinted away. Sure enough, arrows whistled past them, but all seemed to narrowly avoid them. They passed the archers and continued onwards. They didn't make it far.
Five demigods ran up to them, all wielding swords. Emmaleigh recognized one of Penelope's siblings underneath a helmet. Jenna unsheathed a curved blade and Alyssa notched her bow. Emmaleigh pulled out her dagger, but she didn't think it'd do her much good. Jenna immediately ran to the first demigod and Alyssa fired at another. Unfortunately, one advanced to Emmaleigh.
Emmaleigh's stance turned defensive as the demigod, a tall, strong boy, swung his sword. She managed to spin out of the way, and brought up her knife to block the tip of the sword as it whizzed past her. But he brought his sword back around, catching Emmaleigh by surprise. She danced backwards, but it caught her arm, splitting the cloth and drawing blood. Emmaleigh used all her strength to parry the next three blows. The power of it sent her steadily retreating. Suddenly, she found herself backed up to a tree, the demigod's sword raised. Her senses took over. Her peripherals blurred and she got tunnel vision, focusing on the demigod and sword. Might rippled through her fingers and he was knocked off his feet. His sword went spiraling from his hand. Emmaleigh ran over, and saw he'd been knocked out.
"I think you're a daughter of Hecate," Jenna said quietly, just as she finished off a girl. "That was magic you did."
Emmaleigh inspected her hands, "Magic?"
"I'd know it anywhere." Emmaleigh nodded. "We need to continue, come on."
The trio sprinted away from the unconscious group and deeper into the forest. Unexpectedly, Jenna stopped. "We need to split up. Alysaa, go left, I'll go right, Emmaleigh, backtrack." She took off without another word. Alyssa was right behind her, then veered to the left as they came to an almost invisible fork.
"She doesn't want me to find it." Emmaleigh realized. She frowned. If she could just summon magic...She felt the power within her hands again. "Take me to the opponent's flag." She whispered.
Emmaleigh's hands warmed and a light appeared in the center of her palm. She extended her arm. The light swept the area, and then stopped. It pointed west-southwest. Emmaleigh ran in that direction, keeping her arm stretched out in front of her. She followed the light-guide. Then, without warning, it turned off, and just between the trees, Emmaleigh saw the fluttering red flag.
Emmaleigh knew there was a trap, but she bit it anyway. It was the only way she could find it. As she stepped into the clearing, seven demigods jumped to the ground, out of the trees. Percy and Annabeth were among them.
"Hey there, Emmaleigh," Annabeth said, "You're alone, aren't you?" Emmaleigh nodded, seeing no reason to hide the truth.
"Well, we might as well hold her captive until the game's over," Percy suggested with a shrug. Emmaleigh frowned.
"Hey, who said I was giving up this easily?" And she sent her dagger spiraling end over end at Percy shirt, pinning him to a nearby tree.
"You're weaponless, now, not very smart." Annabeth said.
"Ah, but you're wrong." From her jacket she pulled her real dagger. "That was a duplicate."
"Duplicate?"
"Yes." She had duplicated it with magic, but she wasn't going to tell Annabeth that. She ran over to Percy, before he could free himself, and knocked his head against the tree. "Sorry, dude."
"Hey!" With that, Annabeth raced after her. Emmaleigh dodged her knife and spun behind her. Annabeth whirled around to face her, and someone behind her held up their sword to the nape of their neck.
"I'm not done," Emmaleigh said, with a wink. She tapped into her power one more time, feeling it deep within the pit of her stomach. Magic flowed from the tips of her fingers and collarbone. It burst out of her like a sonic boom, sending everyone around her sprawling. She ran over and grabbed the flag and raced away.
But as she ran, weariness began to overtake Emmaleigh. She didn't give up, though, and pressed forward, trying to overcome her fatigue. Before she knew it, arrows began to shoot down at her in volleys. She desperately hoped Jenna's protection still worked. She heard the yells and shouts of warriors, and realized she had the other team on her tail. The border was nearing.
She heard the wind whistle and automatically ducked. A spear shot past her and she shuddered, thinking of it piercing her shoulder. Emmaleigh deepened her pace, her strides became longer, but all the while her head was pounding and her stomach heaving. Her breathing became ragged. "You can do it, Emmaleigh!" It was Penelope.
You can do it. It was Jenna. Inside her head. She was so surprised she almost stopped.
And she crossed the border.
The blue-plumed team cheered in triumph. Alyssa came up and hugged her. Jenna walked up and nodded. "You didn't obey my directions."
"Yes, I did. You said 'if you see an opportunity, take it'." Jenna laughed.
"Glad you were listening, newbie. And about what happened back there...I'll keep your secret, until you're claimed by Hecate."
Emmaleigh opened her mouth to reply, but suddenly she felt heat above her head. She looked up.
That's wasn't Hecate's symbol. It was a shining, gray owl.
"Daughter of Athena," Jenna whispered.
