The air started to cool as September wore on. Most of the Cabins at Camp Half-Blood were vacated for the school year, but as always there were the few year round campers continuing to train at the ancient Hero Camp. Two weeks after Amy left for Hogwarts, a delegation left for Camp Jupiter and New Rome. Due to a sour attitude and a few too many punishments, Erika was not part of the delegation for the first time in four years.
It had sparked a renewed flame of anger in the girl and sent her on another rampage, this time all her frustrations aimed at Percy Jackson and his wife, Annabeth Chase-Jackson. Erika was positive they had been the ones who told Chiron not to allow her to travel to New Rome. After a week, even that flame died; leaving Erika moody and irritable but at least manageable. Or as manageable as a child could be when she felt she had been slighted.
When the last week of September began, talk started about another game of Capture the Flag. All of the campers were waiting on the announcement, already deals were being made to secure teams for the game when Chiron finally set the date. And on the last Monday of the month, after s'mores and the sing-a-long at the campfire, Chiron finally announced that the games would be that Friday.
"Let's see, Athena shall lead the Blue team, and Nike shall lead the Red team," Chiron pointed out the respective groups sitting in the amphitheatre. It was the first game of Capture the Flag since the summer session ended. With the excitement of Amy leaving for London, the August game had been canceled.
"You may choose the cabins for your team starting in the morning; we will play the game this Friday at seven o'clock. Now, it's almost time for bed; everyone return to your cabins."
Beth and Heather rose from where the Athena cabin and Ares cabin were sitting together, they started down the steps already deep in discussion over the cabins for their team. As long as Beth and Heather were the cabin counselors, Ares and Athena were always on the same team.
"We should try to get Hecate," Beth was saying when they reached the ground level.
"Their ability to manipulate the Mist could come in handy," Heather agreed, earning nods of approval from some of her siblings, as well as some of the Ares campers.
"And we need to get Erika to like us," Beth added quietly, slowing so her siblings could pass her.
They had devised a plan. They had overheard Erika's complaints to Nico about Amy leaving, and since the world was lacking some pressing problem for someone to resolve, they were going to cause one. Heather and Beth wanted, more than anything, to fight in a war.
If they had to make a war, so be it.
"Or at least tolerate us," Heather looked over her shoulder to where Devin was talking to the new year round camper for Hecate cabin, explaining Capture the Flag most likely since they had arrived at the end of summer. "And Devin won't like it."
"He hasn't trusted you since you used him as bait for the Roman War Games," Beth snickered, elbowing Heather in the ribs. "He'd never join teams with you."
"Then it's a good thing you're the team captain," Heather smiled smugly, wrapping her arm around Beth's neck. "You can use the lovable charm of yours to sway him to the blue team."
Beth narrowed her eyes as she pulled out of Heather's grip. It was no secret that Devin had a slightly major crush on Beth. It was also painfully obvious to everyone except Devin that Beth was not interested. And Heather liked to remind Beth at every opportunity, much to Beth's annoyance.
"Or not," she folded her arms, cocking her eyebrow at her best friend. "I'd rather he hated me."
"No, we need the Hecate cabin on our team," Heather smiled in reply, forcing her arm through Beth's so they were arm-in-arm. "And if you have to pretend to kind-of, maybe just a little bitty bit, like Devin; that's a price I'm willing to pay."
Beth growled deeply in her chest, her eyes narrowing further as she looked at Heather in the failing daylight. "Fine, but we also get the Apollo campers so you can sweet talk Joel into joining us."
Heather's face blanched quickly. "Joel? Joel Fitone?"
"You know another Joel?" Beth asked sweetly.
Just like Devin was crushing on Beth, Joel was head over heels for Heather. But Joel was more of the "nerdy physician" than the "super cool musician", and Heather was not a fan of his medical talk. But like Devin, they needed Joel for the war they were plotting.
"That is cruel and unusual punishment," Heather finally sighed, shaking her head. "Where did you learn to be so conniving?"
"I learned from the very best," Beth smiled, pulling herself away from Heather as they reached the Green between the cabins.
Heather smiled, straightening proudly at the compliment.
"Not you," Beth laughed, covering her mouth. "It was the Stoll brothers."
Heather smiled despite her best efforts to look offended. "The Stolls, really?"
"Yes," Beth stopped in the center of the Green, looking around to see if anyone was close by.
The rest of their cabins had moved head of them. Most of the others had already reached their respective cabins as well. Beth looked over her shoulder to see the Hecate cabin walking with the Nike cabin, they had teamed up the last three games of Capture the Flag, the girls would have to find some way to separate them.
"Listen," Beth lowered her voice and leaned in closer to Heather. "I hate to admit this, but we'll need an adult to agree to this."
"We'll need Percy," Heather whispered back. "Mrs. O'Leary can shadow travel."
"And put us right outside this school thing," Beth nodded. After so many years of being more or less attached at the hip, the pair could finish each other's sentences without much thought.
"We should also get Frank to help us. He's a Blest of Mars."
Beth shook her head quickly. As good as that sounded, Frank Zhang was not a good option. He was possibly the most peaceful child of Mars either of the girls had ever seen. He would hinder their plans more than assist them. "No, not Frank, or Jason."
"I wasn't planning on Jason; he's too wishy-washy when it comes to fighting."
"Which is odd since he was a Praetor," Beth shook her head. They were getting off subject. "We can't have Piper or Annabeth either."
"Which automatically excludes Percy," Heather sighed chewing on her lip. Percy would tell Annabeth, she would stop their plans before they were even halfway thought out. "We could get Clarisse."
"She's only here during the summer," the girls sighed, their heads falling.
The beam of a flashlight cut through the settling darkness, a counselor was coming to make sure everyone had made it to their cabins before the Harpies came out. The light fell over them, temporarily blinding them. "Hey, it's time for bed!" Annabeth's voice cut through the still night.
"We'll continue this in the morning." Heather and Beth knocked the backs of their fists together and nodded.
"Tomorrow," Beth agreed as they separated, heading for their respective cabins.
Erika was sulking near the strawberry fields when Beth approached her. The girl had a half-filled basket of strawberries beside her and a sour expression on her face.
"I'm pretty sure, you're supposed to be in arts and crafts right now."
"And I'm pretty sure, I don't care," Erika snapped, throwing an overripe berry in her basket. "It's not like they'll think I ran away. I'd be attacked before I made it a half mile down the road."
"I think you could face the Minotaur with the attitude you've been wielding this past month."
Erika glared at the elder girl, a growl rumbling in her throat. Beth held her hands up in surrender at the girl. Erika climbed to her feet, folding her arms as she continued to glare at Beth. "What in Hades' name do you want?"
"What makes you think I want something?" Beth asked innocently.
"You never talk to anyone except Heather. Heather only talks to you. The two of you never talk to anyone without one another present, so you can gang up on them and trick them somehow."
"That's not true," Beth tried to defend herself, but it was feeble attempt.
"I see things, Beth. I notice things. And one thing I don't see here is Heather," Erika snapped looking around to make sure that she had not missed the approach of Beth's coconspirator. "So you obviously want something. Now talk."
"Or what?" Beth half laughed, looking down at Erika.
Erika's shoulders bunched together, like she was about to retort something. But instead she sighed, her entire self deflating. Erika shook her head and turned away from Beth and the basket of overripe berries. "Nothing," she muttered sulking down the row of twirling vines, "just leave me alone."
Beth's lips pursed as she watched the girl walk away. It seemed getting the girl to associate with her was more difficult that either Beth or Heather had expected. All her anger was falling aside the longer Amy was away. That would prove to be a problem; without some form of anger boiling inside her, how could they convince her to wage war?
"There you are," Beth could the mock exasperation in Heather's voice as she approached.
"We might have a problem," Beth frowned watching Erika sulk.
"She's already settled?" Beth clicked her tongue in response. "It's only been a few weeks," Heather continued as she came to a stop beside Beth.
"And still no word from Amy," Beth leaned to one side, sighing. "I think if she received some kind of letter or message it would help."
"Let Erika know how much fun Amy's having outside of camp," Heather agreed. "That's the sisterly thing to do."
"Those two have never been sisterly," a cruel smile spread across Beth's face. "And it would be just like feuding sisters to rub all the fun they're having, in their sister's face."
"Are you thinking, what I think you're thinking?"
"If you're thinking of some clever scheme to make Erika jealous all over again, then: no," Beth's smile grew as she turned on her heel and started down the row between strawberry vines.
Heather's brow furrowed as she sorted through Beth's statement, turning to follow after her. "So that's a yes?" she called after her friend as they left the strawberry field behind.
"That depends," Beth called over her shoulder, never slowing as she planned on how she was going to get Erika on their side for the war.
"Depends on what?" Heather asked, coming up beside Beth as they started toward the forest. "I mean, I've got a plan, and you've got a plan. I just need to make sure we're on the same page here."
"When are we ever not on the same page?" Beth asked, looping her arm through Heather's.
"Not in a long time," Heather answered slowly, looking over at Beth's pale blue eyes and sweeping brunette bob. "Or more recently, that haircut."
"You're so funny," Beth laughed mockingly. "I meant about the scheming."
"I think I understand what you're getting at. But how are we going to fake a letter from Amy?"
"Wait and see Heather," Beth smiled sweetly. "Wait and see."