Madeline was sitting on the ground a few yards away watching everybody at their weapons practice battle. Travis was dueling some girl, using two daggers against her. Connor was battling some boy, his assigned weapon being a long spear type thing. The point of this class was to familiarize yourself with weapons you don't usually use. Demigods should be able to fight with anything, according to the instructor. Madeline wasn't familiar with any weapons, other than what she's seen in movies and heard about. The instructor, an older camper named Chris, said that Madeline should sit back and watch for the few first minutes. She was amazed at how intense these battles were between the teenagers in front of her. She felt like there was a war going on and had to remind herself that this was only practice. She walked up to Chris a few minutes in and decided that she wanted to try. He looked her up and down and began to think about her weapon.

"This is your first time ever battling?" he asked her, trying to narrow things down. It was true. Madeline had always had a peaceful childhood, ignored bullies and didn't get physically involved in any trouble. She was, until today, a pacifist. But now she was a demigod, and demigods have to be able to fight.
"Yes," she answered out loud, feeling a little foolish at admitting that. Here she was, surrounded by people who looked like expert warriors, and the most she'd ever held in her hands was a kitchen knife.
"You can't go wrong with a sword," he stated, handing her a simple, long blade with a black hilt. I was heavy, but Madeline would have to make do. They walked over to an open spot amongst the fighters and began practicing. Chris gave her simple pointers; keep a strong stance, don't rush, think clearly, stay focused. He showed her how to hold her sword, and then began "attacking" in slow motions, giving her instructions the whole time. The other campers had dispersed and were taking a break, now watching the instructor and new girl "battle". Madeline realized she must look pathetic, and felt an embarrassed blush grow in her cheeks. But she ignored that and focused on her opponent.

Chris started to speed up his movements, until they were going at a pace just good enough to look like a decent fight. "She's not that bad," commented Travis as he walked over to his brother who was intently watching them.
"Seems like a quick learner," Connor replied. Madeline looked very focused as he watched her. She moved gracefully, he thought, almost seeming as if she was dancing as she maneuvered around Chris. 'Like a ballerina,' he thought with a small smile.

After a few minutes of sword fighting for the first time, Madeline stumbled when she backed up from Chris' blade and fell onto her butt, ending up with a sword positioned to her neck and the word, "Dead," coming from the mouth of her instructor. Madeline dropped her shoulders as she was defeated and accepted Chris' hand as he helped her up.
"Back to training everyone," Chris said to the observing crowd. They all picked up their weapons and the sound of clashing metal and determined grunts resumed.

"Nice job, Madeline," Connor told her as he passed to his partner. She nodded her thanks and felt a smile grow on her face. Connor's compliment made her feel like she was blushing, but thankfully she already looked flustered from her sword fighting, so you couldn't tell.
"That's a good starting point for you to improve on," Chris approved.
"So, just keep practicing?" she asked, wanting to fight again. And not fall this time.
"Exactly. That's the only way to get better," he pointed out. "Stoll, get over here."

Both Travis and Connor halted their partners as they perked up to Chris's call.
"Travis, get over here," he corrected himself. "Practice with Madeline."
"Sure thing," he answered, grinning at Madeline as Chris walked away to check the other training campers.
"So, how do you feel about your first sword fight?" Travis asked her.
She thought about it and safely answered, "I think I wasn't completely terrible."
"You were pretty good for a beginner. Fighting is in your blood, you know. It's in all of our blood."
"Actually, I think I'm AB+," she joked. They both laughed.
"Shall we begin?" he prompted, bowing to her.
"We shall," Madeline answered, laughing at his clowning.

The two picked up at the speed she'd left off with Chris, which Madeline figured was slower than what Travis was used to, from watching him fight at quite an impressive speed earlier with his first partner, but he politely compromised for her. They kept up the fighting for a few minutes, until Madeline lunged at him. Travis dodged her attack, hooked her leg with his sword, and caught her right before she hit the ground. She winced, and he teased her as he held her defeated like that, with his sword curved at her neck and his hand on her back.
"Dead," he taunted.
"Yeah, yeah," she said, chuckling as he stood her up.

Connor watched them as he fought his partner, and was "killed" due to his distraction. He looked at his brother training with Madeline and wanted to be the one laughing with her and helping her up. He walked over to them and hid his jealousy with witty banter.
"Killing the newbie. How rude, Travis."
"I'm just trying to help," he said, defended himself with his hands in the air.
"It's okay. This is actually kind of fun," Madeline interjected between the two brothers.
"Fun?" Connor asked.
"Maybe that's not the best word," she replied. "But it is interesting."
"Well then, mind if I test your skills," Connor asked, directing the question towards Travis, too.
"Fine with me," Travis replied, walking towards his water.

"Sure," Madeline added. The two started up, Connor spinning his spear weapon this way and that against Madeline's sword, making for a new kind of battle. They had been deflecting each other's blows back and forth for what seemed like a long time before something happened. Madeline swung her sword, just like all the times before, but Connor was distracted and met the sword with his arm. Madeline immediately dropped her sword and rushed towards Connor. It hurt, but he hadn't been planning to stop. You wouldn't stop in battle. Besides, the cut wasn't too serious, and some ambrosia would easily heal it. But he had to stop once Madeline dropped her weapon and was running towards him. Connor stood there, using his spear like a cane, while Madeline fussed over the gash she'd given him.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to. Are you alright?" she blurted out nervously.
"Madeline! I'm fine, it's just a... cut," he assured her, interrupting her state of panic.
"Well, I guess I made my first kill," she joked, smiling feebly.
"Actually, I think I would be the one who made the kill, since you pretty much surrendered," Connor said, slowly shifting his spear up and then swiftly positioning the tip at her throat with his wounded arm, and his good arm hooked behind her neck, holding her in place. Madeline rolled her eyes at her slip-up and held her hands up. Connor released her and then added, "But whatever," shrugging his shoulders with a smug grin on his face.

"What about your arm?" she asked as they walked to the bench nearby.
"Ambrosia," he replied, taking out a plastic bag from a duffle under the seat. It was a medical bag.
"That clears everything right up," she said sarcastically, scrunching her eyebrows together.
"It's the food of the gods. We can only eat a little, unless you want to turn into ashes. But when you eat a little, it heals you completely. So I'll be fine. This isn't even that bad a wound, " he explained, while he began wrapping his forearm in bandages and chewed on the little golden square he had put in his mouth.
"Whatever you say," said Madeline. She sighed and sat down. Travis walked over to the bench where the two were sitting and instinctively took over bandaging his brother's arm, tying the fabric in a tight knot for him. He clapped his brother on the shoulder, bringing an annoyed wince out of him.

"Impressive. You got a slash in on your first day," Travis joked, looking at his younger brother's bandaged arm.
"Accidentally," she defended.
"We're gonna have to keep an eye on this one, Connor," Travis continued.
"I know. She's a monster," Connor followed. The horn blew and everyone began putting away their weapons. Travis went his own way, leaving Madeline and Connor alone, and they stayed behind in the arena with a few stray campers scattered around. It was starting to get dark outside and the sky was painted red and purple with the colors of sunset.

"The sunset's gorgeous, isn't it," a girl commented, coming up next to the two of them and catching Connor's gaze. "It'd look even better on the beach."
"I think I'm just gonna…go for a walk," Madeline said meekly, taking the hint. She recognized her as one of the girls Connor has introduced her to earlier but couldn't remember which name was hers.
"C'mon," the girl said, grabbing his hand and trailing him behind her.
"Yeah, I'm just gonna go," mumbled Madeline as she turned away, barely audible.
"Hey, I'll see you at the campfire tonight," Connor called out over his shoulder as he was lured away. Madeline held her hand up, about to wave, but lowered it, knowing he wouldn't see. The pair's backs were turned as they walked away.
'Have fun,' she added lamely in her head as she heard the girl's voice die away.