The creek was the boundary line, just like last time. Many of my teammates had wanted me to put the flag on top of Zeus's Fist, a large clump of boulders that looked remarkably like a fist. But I thought it was a bit obvious. I mean, Zeus's team, with Zeus flag, on top of Zeus's fist? I might be Zeus's daughter, but I thought it was a bit much. Instead, we found a reasonable clearing.

I put two of the burliest Hephaestus kids, Charles Beckendorf and Jake Mason, on guard with it. Demeter's kid were surrounding it in a reasonable size circle that wouldn't give the location away too easily, setting up traps that blended in incredibly well in the forest. The rest of the Hephaestus cabin, half of the Hermes cabin and half of the Ares cabin were out creating distractions and fighting off any advances. The other half of the Hermes cabin and Ares cabin had been split into groups of four or five and were aiming to get Poseidon's flag. So that was everyone. Apart from Luke, Clarisse and I.

"So, what are we doing again?" Clarisse asked.

I rolled my eyes. "Border control."

She gawped. "What? You pulled me away from my cabin to do border control?"

"Clarisse, what is the border made of?" I asked patiently.

She looked confused. "It's the creek," she answered uncertainly.

Luke chuckled. "Water," he answered. "You're after Percy, right?" I nodded once as we stepped out of the forest and onto the pebbles on our side of the creek. It looked reasonably quiet. That was, until an arrow missed my left shoulder my inches. Luke had his sword out and Clarisse her spear in seconds as I heard Lee curse loudly.

"Hold them back," I ordered. I pulled my locket open and took my bow and an arrow. "Gods, let this work." About ten of Percy's team had burst out the forest and I could see more outlined in the forest. All those, against Luke, Clarisse and I. I released the bow.

It slammed it a nearby tree and lightning cracked it in half. A forest fire (that I hadn't really predicted, but what the Hades) broke out and raced in either direction, cutting them off from backup. I put my bow back around my shoulders and pulled out one of my two swords. I had replaced the first sheaths with the sheaths Zeus had left in the cabin, which were two white belts with bronze studs, until you turned a lightning bolt shaped stud that rested on my hip on its side. I turned both to the front.

I refused to use the jagged side. Just the thought of accidentally catching someone with them made me sick. Last night, I'd stay out quite late with Luke and Clarisse, until Chiron had come down to the arena and ordered us to bed. I was actually getting quite good at this sword fighting business.

Lightning cracked the second the first blade slammed into mine. Whoever it was gasped in surprise and stumbled back. As they hit the ground, a large shadow was cast over us. I hesitated and turned to the side. Percy was stood, knee deep in the water, fighting Clarisse with a determined look on his face.

"CLARISSE! BACK!" I yelled, taking out another opponent with a crack of lightning through my sword.

"She won't!" Luke exclaimed, taking on at least four at the same time. "She thinks you'll go too easy on him!"

There was Percy fighting Clarisse in the creek, Luke fighting another four opponents, and four more headed for me. Two sneaky sods had crept around us and were heading for the forest. I forced my concentration again and knocked one of the four down with the hilt of my one of my swords around the back of his head.

The wind picked up, forcing the water from the creek back. My hair whipped around my face as I watched a camper lunge at me. It was easy to catch her by surprise, slam the flat of my blade into the hilt of her sword and disarm her, the way I had done yesterday. The only thing was, I didn't want to actually injure anyone. I knocked them down, disarmed them and didn't feel the least bit surprised when they kept getting up.

An idea struck me almost as harshly as lightning. I watched the four I'd taken down stand up and head right back at me. The wind picked up again and the two that had been sneaking around were thrust back toward their own territory. The water was pushed back, away from Percy and Clarisse.

Clarisse slammed the blunt end of her spear into Percy's chest and he stumbled back, gasping for breath. She whipped around and raced toward the fire. Luke and I were back to back, eight relentless opponents surrounding us.

"Acacia, we're going to have to-" Luke cut off, blocking one of the swords aimed right at my side.

"I know," I said breathless. "Here goes." I gritted my teeth and went for it.

My sword met another's and I side-stepped, bring the hilt of my sword up rapidly and slamming it into the camper's chin while I blocked another attack with my other sword. There was a small shock and the camper crumbled to the floor, dazed and paralyzed for now. Luke moved swiftly and carefully, never hurting the camper more than necessary. I had to say, I was impressed.

Three campers still stood before me. Two came at me at once. I ducked and only one of them expected it. The sword came down and I remembered how I had disarmed Luke it this situation. I pushed the sword down to the ground and spun so that I was stood between the two campers. I brought my sword back and slammed it's hilt into the campers chest. They yelped as they too were paralyzed. I turned to the other camper and brought my knee up into their stomach as fast as I could and brought the hilt of my other blade into the back of their neck, right where the spine met the head. They were silent when they hit the ground.

Luke and I gasped for breath, surrounded by eight unconscious campers. We glanced at each other, eyebrows raised. A loud howl ripped the air, and I spun around in panic.

Clarisse had her spear pointed at what looked like a dog. I frowned and realised with a jolt that it was actually a wolf. Its stomach was pure white, along with the paws on its hind legs, the tip of its tail, its front legs, its chest and its snout. Its back, the rest of its tail, its face and ears and its hind legs were all a dull grey, speckled with black as though someone had flicked a paintbrush at it. Its eyes were an amazingly bright blue, that seemed to pierce right through you.

And Clarisse was ready to kill it.

"Clarisse!" I snapped. But she lunged forward. "CLARISSE! NO!"

Lightning cracked, inches in front of Clarisse. She was thrown back and skidded across the pebbles. The wolf snarled through its teeth, but turned on me and stopped abruptly. It stood, rooted to the spot. But Percy had recovered, just as his team burst from the forest behind Luke and I and ran for their own territory.

There was no victory cheers. Clarisse was still on her back, groaning and holding her arm. Luke and I were still stood in the middle of eight unconscious campers. And a wolf was stood in the middle of the it all.

The wind stopped. The water flooded back into creek rapidly. The rest of my team was back, gawping at the edge of the forest. Chiron had galloped onto the scene, frowning. Apollo wasn't far behind him, eyes wide.

"Acacia? Luke?" he asked, staring at the campers.

"They'll be fine, honest," I assured him, gulping. "They're just paralyzed. Give it another ten minutes."

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE PLAYING AT?" I turned and straightened, glowering. Clarisse was on her feet and storming toward me. "YOU ATTACKED YOU'RE OWN TEAM MATE!"

"What am I playing at?" I scowled. "What about you? I told you to stay with Luke!"

"Acacia was supposed to take Percy," Luke frowned. "You know, level the playing field and give the rest of the team an opening to get across. You left her to deal with the others, while you mucked around threatening a wolf!"

"Wolf?" Apollo asked, his face straightened. The wolf howled and bolted forward. It skidded to a halt in front of us all and stared around. Clarisse held up her spear in anger and Luke stepped forward. The wolf snarled. "No! Stay back," Apollo warned. Luke stopped just in front of me, eyes narrowed at the wolf. It bared its teeth at him threateningly, until Clarisse jabbed her spear toward it, frustrated.

I leapt around Luke, slamming the flat of my sword on top of Clarisse's spear, pushing it to the floor. I met her gaze, eyes narrowed. She stared at me, almost willing me to fight her. I waited, but she didn't move. For some reason, I felt oddly protective over this vicious wolf.

"It's an animal Clarisse, not some monster that reappears in a month or two," I said quietly. "It hasn't done anything wrong."

"You lost the match for a wolf," Clarisse hissed. I didn't know why the game was so important to her. Maybe she thought she could get back at Percy. But she pulled her spear back and advanced on me.

"Clarisse!" Chiron snapped. But she didn't pay him any attention. I frowned at her, stepping back as she stepped forward, spear raised threateningly.

"Clarisse, don't," I warned, both my swords in my hands. She didn't say anything, but her eyes narrowed. "Clarisse. Back off."

"Acacia," Luke said slowly. Water crashed into the creek and I glanced across. Percy was still knee-deep, frowning at Clarisse. Annabeth stood on the opposite side of the creek, muttering instructions at Lee and Will. They raised their bows a second later.

"No!" I snapped. "Guys, stop." Lee and Will frowned, but lowered their bows. Percy stepped forward and climbed out the creek, his face straight. Luke moved to stand beside him, eyes narrowed. Clarisse looked as though she thought I was stupid for taking her on my own. Maybe I was. She was a lot more experienced at this than I was. She lunged forward. I hit my sword against the pole and pushed it away, still backing up.

"Fight me already!" she scowled.

"No," I said with a sigh. "This is ridiculous Clarisse."

"No it isn't!" she snapped back. "I've lost to that weed twice now! How is that dignified?"

"How is this?" I retorted lightly, shrugging. She let out a yell of frustration and lunged forward again. This time, I caught it between my swords with the jagged edge and snapped it easily. Clarisse looked shocked, but she leapt forward, her fists clenched. I sighed and dodged her fist, bringing the hilt of my sword into her back. She collapsed to the floor, yelping slightly. It had only been a little shock, but it was enough to stop her.

I didn't know what everyone expected me to do now. Clarisse stared up at me, as though I'd bring the blade down and decapitate her. Everyone else seemed to expect something. But I slipped the swords back into their sheaths and turned the bolts upright again.

"It's a game Clarisse," I said. "The only reason you lost any dignity was this. Being a sore loser. You can't win everything."

"Acacia-" Chiron started, but the wolf barked angrily at him, leaping into his line of sight and spreading its stance defensively. Apollo stepped forward and pulled him back slightly, eyes locked on the wolf. It snapped again, backing up slowly. When it was halfway between Clarisse and I, and Chiron and Apollo, it relaxed and straightened. Its ears pricked up and it turned away from Chiron, facing me and Clarisse. Or rather, me.

It whined in its throat, as though looking for approval. It took a small step forward slowly, lowering its nose closer to the ground in surrender. Clarisse and I shared a glance and she scrambled to her feet, tensing her muscles threateningly. For a moment, it raised its head and snarled again, but it quickly went back to surrender. It's piercing blue eyes were on me. I straightened, eyes wide. It whined again, stepped forward again. When I didn't move, it started moving a little faster.

In a second, the wolf barked happily, its tail wagging furiously, as though it was just a dog. It whined and jumped in front of me, sitting down and staring up.

"No way," Apollo breathed, eyes bulging. The wolf barked indignantly and walked toward me slowly. For some reason, as it neared, I bent down.

"Acacia," Percy and Luke started, stepping forward. The wolf turned and snarled.

"Guys," I frowned, waving a hand dismissively. The wolf moved closer to me, but its eyes were locked on Percy and Luke. They shuffled nervously, their hands tightening around their swords. I scowled, but the wolf turned its head and nudged my hand with its nose, whining. Carefully, I stroked the top of its head and ruffled its fur slowly. It whined again and sat down in front of me like a loyal guard dog.

"Well, that's Artemis sorted," Apollo mumbled at Chiron. He frowned at the god disapprovingly, but stepped forward.

"It does seem as though Sasha has chosen," he said thoughtfully.

"Sasha?" I asked.

That would be me. I let out a surprised yelp before I could stop myself, my hand over my heart. The wolf's head tilted to the side. Sorry. Forgot you wouldn't know about it yet.

"Chiron, is that...?" I trailed off, heart hammering.

"So you hear her too?" Apollo snorted, smirking slightly. "Artemis is going to go insane over this kid!"

Chiron sighed. "Acacia, Percy, a word."

The two of us exchanged a glance, and Sasha sat herself down at me feet. Remembering my earlier meeting with Zeus, I tried my hardest not to groan irritably. This should be interesting.