The Fox of the East – Chapter 10: CTF
(Fluffy owns nothing that isn't his.)
I LIIIIIIIIIIIIIVE! –SMACK-
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Oh, shut up! Anyway, thank you for your patience and enjoy the chapter.
[(On with the madness!)]
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Capture the flag was everybody's favorite camp activity. (Amount of sarcasm varies between campers.) Usually it consisted of two teams of campers fighting for supremacy in a large wooded area, infested with traps, monsters, and other various hazards. The end result was always the same, one team bringing the opposing flag back to their side.
Today, however, was special. Today the camp was hosting the hunters of Artemis and, suffice to say, they never lost. Maybe it was the centuries of teamwork, but they worked well together. It didn't matter that their entire opposing team was the rest of the camp, they seemed unbeatable. Then Kai made one request…
It was the start of today's match and Chiron took his place. "Welcome everyone to capture the Flag. You know the rules. All demigodly powers and magical weapons are allowed. No maiming or killing is allowed. The teams are the Hunters of Artemis and the Campers of Half-Blood Hill." The centaur blew into a large horn and all bets were off.
The Hermes kids rushed off for scouting, the Hephaestus kids started prepping traps, and the Ares cabin stood proudly on the front lines ready for whatever was thrown at them.
Susan was at the sides, hoping to flank the hunters with Harry. Kai on the other hand was double teaming with Percy. Several shivers went through Thalia as she realized just how much damage they could do. Two water users paired together. Clarisse had out right laughed when Kai had suggested it, even if that wasn't his request to Chiron.
Kai gave Percy a knowing look. "Ready, quaker-kun?"
"I guess, shark breath." They were next to the creak and they knew it. Several archers, led by one Zoe Nightshade, stood on the tree branches above the water boys. Percy uncapped Anaklumos while Kai reached for his belt. Out of it came twin daggers. They had a rounded and curved blade that seemed perfect for slashing. The almost silver-colored metal gleamed in what little light made it through the canopy of the woods.
Several hunters were fuming. It looked to them that Kai was mocking them. They saw his mouth flick into a grin as if saying, "Bring it." At once, several arrows with red sacks as heads headed for the grounds around the water duo.
A loud whoosh came from the creak and the fart arrows exploded, sending up clouds of sulfur everywhere. Even as it cleared, the stank remained. The archers were all wearing something akin to surgeon's masks. Their mouths still could have dropped.
On the forest floor floated the sea kin in a large bubble of water. Kai yelled, "TO THE FLAG!" and he and Percy started rolling towards the Hunters' base. Several arrows left the hunters' bows but a structure of dirt rose to block all the shots. The arrows fell away and the wall took the form of Mikku before she bowed politely and morphed again. A seagull flew off from where Mikku once stood and chased after the bowling bubble.
Suffice to say, Kai was glad Chiron had allowed Mikku in on the game. He knew that her abilities as a mimic would be useful. The hunters took chase after the water duo. Thalia had set up a plan to deal with the hunters.
The boys never noticed the single bronze wire until they were on it, and by then the ball was already cut in half. Percy and Kai fell to the ground and the hunters were only meters away. "Now!" cried out an unseen punk girl. Several arrows were knocked and fired. They were all aimed at the hunters.
Zoe and Phoebe dodged while most of the others deflected them with their daggers. Serena (Chapter 1) was hit in the shoulder but that was the only casualty. Several holes opened up in the forest floor, taking several archers underground. They tried to escape only to find large bronze meshes covering them. At the bottom of the holes was a cave system. Then they saw the flash of light.
Zoe didn't know what happened. One second a flash came from the holes. Then a bang. Now smoke was coming up from them. The remaining active hunters took to the tunnels to assess the damage. A good six hunters were caught in bronze meshes, obviously disoriented from the makeshift flash bangs. (They were a joint project between Will Solace and the Stoll brothers.)
Zoe had her sisters freed easily enough and they got out of the holes even easier. All of the campers were gone but the entire ground was riddled with traps. Zoe exhaled in annoyance as she weaved her way through the course.
Meanwhile, Susan and Harry were at the flag. Only two hunters were at the flag with them and both parties were glaring each other into oblivion. "Back off. You won't get our banner," one of the hunters growled. The silver of the banner glowed slightly but faded before any could notice.
"We'll be taking that flag." Susan growled back and charged forward. The broadsword she carried was a little awkward in her grip but it would have to do. One of the hunters dashed forward with a knife drawn which Susan parried. The blades locked but the second hunter flanked to the side. Her blade was out in a flash.
Harry's mind went into overdrive as his instincts kicked in. He moved surprisingly fast with his bulk and stood between the second hunter and Susan, his arms crossed over his chest in an 'x' formation. The hunter, as if knowing she was being defied her orders by a man, attacked with reckless abandon. The knife came down…
… And broke on his skin, shattered into dust.
"How-!?" That was as far as the hunter got before a meaty fist slammed into her nose. The first hunter broke the blade lock and jumped backwards. Susan struck again. The hunter ducked below, disarmed Susan, and performed a low sweep effectively knocking her to the ground. Harry attempted to punch the hunter but was quickly flipped onto his back.
"Maybe next time you will think before challenging a hunter."
Susan's eyes were hollow as she thought about what happened. 'I lost…'
'HAHAHAHA! Of course you lost!' cried out a hearty voice nobody could hear but her. Recognition came back to her in a flash. [Who?] (A friend.)
'Are you really just going to take this?'
"No." The hunter kicked Susan as she tried to stand. "Stay down girl."
'Are you really just going to take this?'
"No." Susan stood again, subconsciously reaching into her pocket. An eerie feeling came from Susan as the Hunter watched, confusion growing. Susan's eyes curved menacingly.
'You don't need his help yet. Let me help you.' The wind picked up, flipping Susan's brunette hair violently. Her hand left her pocket, but it was still empty.
"Finally given up-" The hunter was cut off and the wind turned sharply at her. Several strands of hair fell, a gash across her cheek manifested, and an equally thick gash was cut out of a tree behind her.
"I haven't lost yet." Susan growled. The hunter smirked. 'Interesting.'
'HAHAHAHA!'
Susan took one step forward, but felt an immense pressure on the back of her skull. She crumpled instantly.
'Now that's embarrassing.'
Gracia (Chapter 1) walked up, the campers flag in hand. "That was surprisingly easy."
"Took your sweet time."
"I wanted to take a stroll," she said as if it was obvious.
A loud horn blew signaling the end of the game. Of course the larger group didn't care. Zoe's group had caught up with the majority of the campers and had begun to fight when it came down to the field. It might have been a beautiful maiden at one point, but that was at one point. It was a dead husk in a pretty dress and its presence instantly stopped the fighting. Even Chiron came down to the field in shock.
"Impossible. She's never left the attic before." The grim oracle floated over the field and stopped in front of Zoe nightshade. A sickly green smoke poured out of its mouth and voice started speaking. "Approach seeker and ask." Zoe gulped audibly. "What must I do to help my goddess?"
Five shall go west to the goddess in chains,
One shall be lost in the land without rain,
The bane of Olympus shows the trail,
Campers and Hunters combined prevail,
The Titan's curse must one withstand,
And one shall perish by a parent's hand.
At once the green smoke receded into the mummy's mouth. She remained motionless, like she had always sat there in the woods.
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It's a shame that the mummy couldn't move herself. Percy and his friend Grover were picked to take her back up to the attic of the Big House. Kai would have been volunteered, but apparently he couldn't touch her; something about it being a capital offense or something.
After that, the Immortal Whiner called a meeting for all cabin heads and the hunters. Kai couldn't go in but Mikku easily slid in as a bug. Apparently they were all standing around a ping-pong table with undrank diet cokes. Here's the quick version.
Zoe wanted to only take the hunters. Thalia stopped her. Zoe voted to take Thalia, Grover and Phoebe with her. Phoebe suggested that they take Susan as well and Zoe said yes. Apparently she was a strong maiden that should join the hunt. Oh, and the whole time Thalia was bashing Zoe's slang. Percy attempted to go but Zoe vehemently shot down his hopes. Sure, male satyrs could go but male demigods, pshhhaaaa. Like that was ever going to happen.
Mikku flew out before things got any more ridiculous.
Once outside, Mikku flew over to Kai –who was having a talk with Harry- and took her feminine Kai form. "They will leave tomorrow." She told them. "Percy-kun was not accepted so he may sneak off." Her glassy eyes turned to Harry. "They plan to take Susan-chan with them."
Harry's hand formed a fist. Kai put up his hands in surrender. "Maa, maa Hari-kun. You just need to catch quaker-kun before he leaves tomorrow. Hmmmmmm…" Kai put his hand to his chin. " You're gonna need a weapon. Follow me."
Harry was cautious but obliged the oni. The duo walked through the woods before finding a large hanger named "Bunker 1." Mikku formed into a door and let them in. Harry's eyes went wide. Every inch of wall was covered in classic weaponry from every era in every material.
Kai looked Harry up and down analytically. "Big, strong, not too fast, short-range… got it." Mikku formed into a ladder which Kai took to a far wall filled with shiny pointy things. His gaze rested upon a seven-foot long pole with a foot and a half long blade resembling a scimitar only a good bit thicker.
Kai got down and brought the pole-arm to Harry. "I think this will work for you. It is known as a 'naginata' and is forged of aetherial steel. This can, and will, cut nearly anything."
Harry raised his brow in confusion. "Kami, you don't talk much. Aetherial steel is essentially the Japanese equivalent of Celestial Bronze and can only be forged in the primordial river of the universe after being tempered in the fires of Mount Fuji."
Harry gestured to everything with a raised eyebrow.
"Don't know where all of this came from. I think it was an armory for camp at one point. I may let them in on it later, but for now it's my personal home." Harry rolled his eyes and left through the Mikku door once again. He experimentally swung it, only for it change into a six-inch long rod of steel. He was glad he wore sleeves.
"Fine, I'll play along, but only for Susan's sake."
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[This took too long to type.]
(Says the guy who procrastinated.)
[Nobody reviews!]
(Whatever. Anyway, now you know what their weapons are and what Mikku is. Mikku = Mimikku = Mimic. Next time, we get back to the original trio and start on the quest for Artemis.)
[Review and see you guys next chapter… Immortal Whiner?]
(Shut up.)