Tpov

"Mortals really don't notice much." Madeline said amused as we waited for the scouts to pass us beneath us.

"Not really." I said grinning and together we dropped from the branch we'd been sitting on and started running towards the command center I knew Michael would have set up in the western end of the woods.

"So how do you know we'll be able to figure out where the flag is if we find the command center?"

"I've been on Michael's team for capture the flag for years." I said laughing as the shot the dagger out of an Apollo girl's hand and we easily blew right passed her. "He's a brilliant strategist but he needs a home base. If we find it and his battle plans it will have the location of the flag on it."

"So we can go straight to it instead of wandering around or hoping a captured camper will tell us." She grinned. "Smart."

We continued to run, taking down every stray camper we ran into until we hit a series of traps and I knew we must be close.

"Well?" Madeline asked as we stopped in front of a stretch of the creek that was clearly rigged with landmines. "We could probably get across if we were careful enough. I mean most new hunters I'd be worried about but you seem pretty light on your feet. What do you th-"

But I pulled her out of the way as an arrow sailed through the space she'd so recently been occupying.

I swore and drew my sword as several campers stepped out of the woods including Michael and Kyle, who were both wearing smirks.

"Evening Thea." Michael said cheerfully while Madeline readied her weapon.

"Welcome to our trap." Kyle said as he and several of the campers raised bows, all trained on us.

I knew why they looked so smug. They had us surrounded on all sides, the only way out was through the creek full of mines and there was no way we'd be able to navigate through it fast enough not to get shot.

"Now that we have you two nice and cornered." Michael said casually. "Would you care to tell us where you've hidden your flag? I mean, unless you prefer to be shot full of arrows."

"I don't think either will happen." I said grinning.

I'd gotten a decent look at one of the mines while they were gloating and I knew exactly who made them.

"Oh really?" he asked raising an eyebrow.

"Really." I said casually letting my sword shrink back into my necklace and holding my hands up as if in surrender.

"What makes you think that?"

"Because there's a flaw with your mine trap." I said amused.

"What?" Kyle asked but I saw Michael's eyes go wide as he realized his mistake.

"He forgot who tested them."

"Shoot them!" he shouted but before any of their archers could even reach for their quivers, I grabbed my bow and Madeline and I both turned to the creek. I knew I wouldn't have to tell her where to aim. She would know.

We pulled back the bow strings in unison and let arrows fly into the trigger wires of two of the bombs.

"BOOM!"

Madeline and I laughed as smoke, stones, and water were thrown into the air and the campers were forced to scatter for cover. The bombs had set off a chain reaction down the creek setting off more traps.

"C'mon!" I shouted grabbing her hand and dragging her through the chaos.

"You know Thea!" she yelled as we ducked a boulder that had been catapulted across the creek. "I think you might be insane!"

"It's possible!"

We continued sprinting between arrows and campers and made our way on to the camper territory. Not ten minutes later we'd found the command center. It wasn't very impressive, just a few tents with a make shift fence made of razor wire around it and a few spikes every few feet.

"This place is a ghost town." Madeline said looking at the few guards that were posted around the site. There weren't nearly as many as I expected.

"He must have known I'd come here. And that he wouldn't be able to keep us out. I guess he's focusing man power on defense on the flag itself and the raiding party we saw earlier."

We had the plans in no time.

"Ah, here we go." I said brightly glancing at the map to see the flag was located just outside cave not too far from here.

In the distance we heard thunder rumbling and we both looked up at the sky.

"I guess Thalia found Adam." Madeline said glancing back at the map. "Think they've got any surprises lined up for us at the flag?"

"Oh I have no doubt." I said grinning when I spotted the familiar symbol indicating who would be in charge of the flag's last line of defense."

"What makes you think that?"

"Because of that." I said gesturing towards the fiery hammer. Of course Michael would put her there. No doubt he knew I'd find the flag and I knew he'd find this match up particularly funny.

"Why are you smiling?" she asked raising an eyebrow.

"Cuz you're about to meet my friend Tess." I said chuckling and putting my bow back over my shoulder. "And I don't think you're going to like her very much."

"Why would I not like your friend?"

"Just wait until we reach the flag." I said my smile growing as we started to run. "Then we'll see if you're asking that question."

It took us less than ten minutes, and when we reached it I saw Madeline's eyes go wide. In front of us was not so much a barricade, but what looked like a fortress that had been built in the woods that the Hephaestus cabin must have been working on all week while we hunters had been out and about. Inside the metal walls were holes for cannons and at turrets were catapults ready to hurl rocks that I knew would soon be flaming with Greek fire. In the ground in front of us was more razor wire and landmines and if that weren't enough, there was a slight creaking and a rumbling sound that was coming from the cave where red eyes were glowing in the darkness. I didn't know what, but some sort of mechanical monster was in there, just waiting for us to try and touch the flag.

"See what I mean?" I asked grinning

"You're right." She muttered. "I don't like your friend."

"TESS!" I shouted and a short figure poked and helmeted head over the side of the rampart. "Are you seriously going to try and kill me?"

"What good is your speed if you can't dodge a couple of lousy traps!" she shouted back.

"You know I'm going to get in there! Why don't you save us all some time and just bring out the flag?"

"You know I don't think I will!" she shouted and I could hear the smile in her voice.

My smile grew as several silver lined figures stepped out from between the trees including Thalia, Abby, and Artemis herself.

"I'm impressed Thea." The goddess said looking at me in approval. "You got here before we did."

"I had help." I said and Madeline beamed at me.

I turned back to Tess.

"So we're doing this then?" I called and I heard her laugh.

"Oh please! Don't pretend like you haven't always wanted to go up against me!"

I smirked. Well she had a point.

"Are we ready ladies?" Artemis said and while the others raised their bows I readied my sword. More demigods were appearing over the fortress wall, several of them archers.

"We're ready." Thalia answered for us, her eyes glittering with excitement and for once Abby was grinning.

"Well, why don't we remind the campers why we are the undefeated champions? Thalia?"

"On it." she said drawing back her bow string and an arrow appeared. The others followed her example while I prepared to run.

Thalia released her arrow soon followed by the others and I heard Tess shout.

"FIRE AT WILL!"

All hell broke lose. It felt as if the world had exploded as the assault began. My vision became nothing more than flashes of fire and chunks of flying rubble. People were shouting battle cries as I dodged arrows and obstacles covered by the others hunters who were following me at a much slower pace, shooting up at the demigods above us.

I made it to the door and easily opened the lock of the fortress door mentally, only to find myself standing in front of a semi circle of demigods guarding the entrance, each of them holding a spear pointed directly at me.

"Hi." I said brightly.

They charged but were thrown back by a wave of lightning that seemed to some how miss me and Thalia stepped through the door after me, obviously having followed the path I'd deemed safe.

"Shall we?" she asked smugly looking at the stunned and groaning campers on the floor.

Together we made our way towards the second wave of demigods that were charging for us. It wasn't hard, especially when the others joined us. Finally, I managed to break through their ranks and reached the mouth of the cave where the flag was standing suspiciously out in the open. It fluttered innocently in the breeze but I didn't reach for it quite yet.

"Ok Tess." I said eyeing the cave warily. The eyes had disappeared but I wasn't stupid enough to think whatever had been in there was gone. "What have you got planned for me?"

I grabbed the flag, and ducked as I heard the trip wire set of a series of mechanisms. Arrows flew above me from hidden crossbows disguised as bushes and I froze when I heard a low growl.

I turned to see something massive and bronze stepping out of the cave into the trees, it's eyes glowing like red hot coals. The metal cheetah fixed its eyes on me, incredibly detailed, beautifully put together in a way only Tess and her siblings could. It moved as smoothly as a real cat and though I could hear the whirring and clanking of it's gears, it's chest heaved in a way that made it seem almost like it breathed.

I grinned when I spotted something engraved on the side.

'Klepto catcher 9000.'

"Like it?" A familiar voice asked and I turned to see Tess not that far from me.

"Klepto catcher?" I asked her laughing. "Really?"

"We've been working on this for years." She said smirking. "Just on the off chance you and I ended up on separate teams."

"It's a good design." I said looking back at the cheetah. "I wonder which one of us is faster?"

"Me too." She said amused. "Did I mention it was turbo powered?"

"Is it really?"

"Yeah. Want a head start?"

"In your dreams Fixit." I said letting my sword shrink back into my necklace and redoubling my grip on the flag.

"Alright then." She said with an evil laugh and the cheetah looked at her waiting for a command. "Klepto, fetch."

…..

The game didn't last very long after I'd gotten the flag. While the campers put up a brilliant fight, there were just no way they could compete us. While I felt a little disappointed that the camp had continued their loosing streak, I'm not going to lie. It felt pretty damn awesome to bring that flag back to Artemis and the other hunters.

After the game, Artemis removed the enchantment she'd given to make me a temporary hunter saying she awaited my decision after the bonfire tonight, but I was pretty sure I had my answer. There was just one thing that was holding me back, the ring Adam had given me that was now attached safely to my camp necklace.

"So," a voice said entering my room in my father's cabin and I looked up to see Tess leaning against the doorframe and spotting my back pack and duffle bag. "You're not silver any more, but you haven't unpacked."

"Artemis said she had to take the temporary enchantment off in order to do a permanent one. In the mean time I'm spending some time with my friends and family."

"So you're really going to go with her?" she asked looking a little disappointed and I nodded.

"I think so."

"Well I can't say I'm thrilled about it." She said straightening up and holding out her arms for a hug. "But if it makes you happy I'm happy for you."

I smiled and crossed the room to pull her into a hug.

"So when are you leaving?" she asked as we broke apart.

"After the bonfire probably." I said. "There's rumors that a pack of hell hounds has spawned near here and she wants to go after it."

"You're not even a proper huntress yet and she's already got worked lined up for you." She said and I laughed.

"I guess I'd better get used to that." I said checking my watch. "But we'd better get going, it's almost time for the camp fire."

We walked towards the camp fire together and for a moment it felt like old times. She went to sit with her family, and I sat with mine, but then the hunters showed up and I caught Adam staring at me from across the fire and the ring on my necklace felt heavier. A constant reminder of how much things had changed.

The camp fire went as it usually did. The Apollo cabin lead us in a couple of songs and a couple people acted out a scene from the Iliad, but I was anxious to get it all over with. Today was my last day as a camper and I was eager to get it over with and start my new life with the hunters. That, and I didn't think I could stand seeing Adam look at me. It had been hard enough making the decision without him saying what he had before the game. I just wanted to move on and he wasn't making it easy.

Just as I'd started saying my goodbyes to my siblings and things around the camp fire were starting to wrap up, there was a brilliant white flash across the sky as what looked like a star hurtled towards the earth.

"Hit the ground!" Chiron shouted and we dove for cover as whatever was heading towards us, crashed straight into the fire scattering flames and hot coals everywhere.

"What the Hades is going on?" I asked looking over at Austin who shrugged as a man shaped figure rose and stumbled out of the flames.

"Chiron!" said a voice I recognized, but couldn't quite believe I was hearing. "Chiron you have a message from Olympus, dear Gods it's chaos up there. Eris is at it again, up to her usual tricks. She's stolen it, them, everything! And she's locked them away!"

My eyes met Austin's again, and I knew he was thinking the same exact thing.

I pushed myself off the ground to see a tall skinny man with neat brown hair and mischievous hazel eyes, just like mine.

"Dad?" I asked incredulously.

"Oh hello Thea sweetie," he said giving me a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. He looked stressed. "I heard you were joining the hunters, I'm so proud!" he then turned back to Chiron as, slowly, the other campers recovered from their shock and picked themselves up as well. "Chiron, you need to send a team on a mission right away or Olympus is going to be destroyed!"

"Calm down." Chiron said looking a little alarmed at the desperate expression on my father's face. "What happened?"

"I told you, it's Eris. She stole an artifact from each one of the Olympians and she's locked them away somewhere. Look!" he said stretching out one of his sandals. "She even took one of my wings! That's why I can't break properly." He said gesturing to the smoldering pile of half burnt logs that, thirty seconds ago, had been our campfire. "It's chaos up there, everyone's accusing people of stealing other people's possessions. Things are falling apart!"

"Adam." Chiron said his expression tense and everyone turned towards him. "How fast can you get ready?"

"I'll start packing now." He said standing.

"He'll have to take one of mine Chiron." My father said gesturing towards the unorganized mass of Hermes siblings that had just gotten to their feet.

"Adam prefers to do missions alone." Chiron said.

"But you don't understand Chiron." He said frantically. "The place where she's hidden them, it's vault made for her specially by Hephaestus himself. It's got traps that trigger bombs, and Greek fire, it's delicate work that can't be done by the son of Zeus. He'd have to be an escort at best."

"An escort for what?"

"Someone who can get in." he said. "It's got to be one of mine."

There was a moment of silence where I saw anger creep into Adam's eyes, but then Chiron turned to Austin and said. "Which one is the best at picking locks?"

"That would be Thea." He said and everyone looked at me. A low buzz was starting around what was left of the fire as people started to whisper to each other. "She's the best at thieving in general."

"No!" said Adam indignantly.

"Can I say something?" Artemis said crossing her arms over her chest and looking annoyed and everyone went silent.

"Of course." Chiron said politely but his eyes flashed.

"As a huntress, Thea is unavailable for missions or quests run through the camp unless given express permission by me."

At this I saw Adam look relieved, but it was short lived.

"This is perfectly true," Chiron said pleasantly. "If Thea was a huntress, but technically Thea is not a member of the hunt right now is she?"

Anger flashed through Artemis's eyes but Chiron continued his voice calm.

"Unless I am mistaken, Thea has taken no oath. She is still a camper and in that respect has every right to choose to accept or deny any mission she wishes."

I looked at my father.

"Where are we going?"

"You're not going anywhere." Adam said angrily.

"Why not?" I asked indignantly.

"She hasn't even been on a mission before!" he said looking at Chiron. "You can't just throw her into something so important. She wouldn't know what to do."

"Excuse me?" I asked offended. "I can handle myself."

"In the arena maybe, but this is the real world Thea." He said darkly.

"You didn't seem to have a problem with me going into the real with the hunters." I said and his expression hardened.

People were looking back and forth between us as if watching an extremely intense tennis match.

"Yeah," he said in exasperation. "That's when you with were other, experienced people. There's a ton of them, and only one of me. What happens if we get separated?"

"Then I'll fend for myself." I said angrily.

"No you won't." he said and again looked back at Chiron. "I refuse to accept this mission until Thea's reassigned."

"Then I'll go by myself!" I said in frustration.

"What?" he asked in furious disbelief.

"You heard me." I said my eyes narrowing. "I'm the one they need for this mission, not you. If you don't want to go that's fine, but I am." I turned to look at Chiron. "I accept."

"Well then I claim seniority." He said looking at Chiron who was frowning. Traditionally, more experienced heroes got their pick of missions. Unlike quests that were assigned by the oracle, missions were given to the person Chiron thought was best suited for the job. This of course that meant that all the good missions went to the most powerful demigods and also the older more experienced heroes had the ability to petition a case for missions that were not assigned to them that they wanted.

"And how exactly do you expect to get through that lock?" My father asked raising an eyebrow.

"I'll figure something out." He growled.

"Enough," Chiron said eventually looking between Adam and I. "Both of you are being ridiculous. Adam, I will grant you as leader of the mission." He said and Adam looked relieved, but once again, it only lasted a couple of seconds. "But Thea will be the one to accompany you on this mission, no arguments." He said stiffly when Adam started to protest and there was an angry clap of thunder shook the air above us, but he remained silent. "I want both of you packed, armed, and back here ready to leave by the morning. Hermes," he said gesturing to my father who'd been looking at Adam his expression difficult to read. "Give me all the information you can, I'll need to brief those two before they leave."

Adam glared daggers after Chiron and my father but then turned to Kyle.

"Help Thea pack." He said stiffly. "She's never been on a mission before. Make sure she brings what she needs."

He nodded then walked awkwardly towards me.

"Let's go." He said uncomfortably and I we extremely aware of the eyes that followed us as we made our way to the cabin.