Oh, those half-bloods were so going down at Capture the Flag. We had already won 55 times before, why not make it 56? So far, one of the Ares kids had already managed to start a fight with Phoebe and those Stoll brothers had snuck a spider in my shirt. I had almost cut their throats out but Zoe had stopped me. I couldn't wait to whip their butts tomorrow. The best part so far is dinner. We have our own table, and Zoe sat at the head. Delucy was arm wrestling with Phoebe and we had decided to have a challenge. We wanted to see who could make the others laugh the hardest.
"Hey Nico!" Naomi yelled to me. "How do you Italians die?"
"Uh, like everyone else?" She stifled a laugh.
"No! You pasta-way!" Oh course I was drinking some soda at that moment. It shot out of my nose and everyone at our table broke into laughing fits, even Zoe was giggling.
"Naomi! Gods, it burns!" I started choking on the soda and because I was laughing too hard. We got napkins and started wiping it off the table and myself. Everyone had managed to calm down soon, but the jokes still continued. I was currently playing a lively game of rock paper scissors with Celyn.
Dinner ended and we all piled into the Artemis cabin. I got in one of the bottom bunks and pulled the covers up to my chin, sighing deeply in satisfaction. I closed my eyes and shut off my mind.
I was back at the hotel in DC. I heard a laugh and saw someone I had lost long ago.
'Bianca...'
She slapped my back and started running away. "Tag! You're it!"
Unwillingly I ran after, reaching out to tag her, our laughs echoing in the lobby as we ran around. I noticed my parents talking worriedly not to far away. Mama put her hand on Father's cheek and smiled at him. She walked away, but at that moment the room exploded.
"NO!" I heard Father yell. Bianca and Mama were to far away. A black shield encased me. The ground shook and I fell to the ground. It disappeared and the room was rumble. I saw father crying and cradling Mama and Bianca's bodies.
"P-papa?" Little me asked weakly. He looked up to me. Furies appeared and he turned to them.
"Take him to my palace."
"Yes my lord." One shot at me and scooped me up with it's claws. I screamed and started crying.
"Papa! Papa, help me!" I fought and kicked at it, thrashing, not wanting to leave my family. I saw Mama and Bianca open their glassed over eyes and stare at me. They started chanting my name, making me cry harder.
"Nico, Nico, Nico-"
I shot up and hit my head on the bunk above mine. Turns out Bianca and Mama's chanting was actually my fellow hunters trying to wake me up. I had tears streaming down my face and they had worried looks on their faces. Zoe came up to me and wrapped me in a hug. I buried my head in her shoulder and started crying harder. She made shushing noises and the others gave me words of encouragement and rubbed my back. This is what we did when one of us had a nightmare. We all tried our hardest to make them feel better.
"Hast thou had another nightmare?" I nodded, my crying becoming small sniffles now. She nodded and everyone helped me up. We got ready and went to the dining pavilion. Breakfast was fine. I had pancakes, since it had been awhile since I had them, and pancakes were amazing. Today would be our Capture the Flag game, and we were all excited.
The day went by pretty uneventfully. I got into at least three fights with the campers, and I defend some of the other hunters as well. Lunch was fine, we kept to ourselves. After lunch I decided to take a walk along the beach. Snow fluttered on the ground, and it gave an aesthetically pleasing feel. I looked out at the lake and sighed. I wonder where Lady Artemis is. I hope she's alright. I heard footsteps approaching, so I drew my celestial bronze knife and whipped around. Percy Jackson held his hands up in a 'whoa there!' way. I let my knife disappear and turned back around.
"Perseus. What do you want?" He came and stood beside me.
"I just like to come here to think. Water helps me do that, Poseidon being my father and all." I knew exactly who he was thinking about.
"You're thinking about that Annabeth girl, right?" He coughed and looked at me like I was crazy, a blush spreading on his cheeks. I rolled my eyes at that.
"Don't look so surprised. You boys only ever think about one thing. It's annoying." He looked at me with an angry expression.
"What's so wrong with being worried for my friend?"
"That's the thing. You call her a "friend" when it's clear you have feelings for her, and then all you'll do with those feelings is use them as an excuse to hold her back." Her glared at me.
"Look Nico. I don't know what happened to you, like seriously. But you need to stop taking your anger out on me. All of you hunters actually."
"We wouldn't have to do that if boys were decent. You never listen. I know you're going to spout off about how you aren't like that, but tell me this. If you aren't like that, then why does Annabeth want to join the Hunt?" He looked like I had punched him in the face.
"S-she wants to what?" I smirked at him.
"She didn't tell you? Guess you aren't as good of friends as you thought." With that I walked away, leaving him on the beach looking like I had killed his goldfish.
I found the Hunters huddled around Zoe. They all had worried faces and some were even crying.
"What's going on?" I asked. Zoe looked at me with an upset expression.
"Nico. Last night I too, had a nightmare." She explained to me the dream and I covered my mouth, a small trail of tears making their way down my cheeks.
"Lady Artemis needs our help! We need to go to her!" Sara shouted. Zoe sadly shook her head.
"Chiron instructed us to stay here. I am afraid that there is no way for us to help." That couldn't be. I glared at the ground.
"Well I don't care what some stupid centaur thinks! I won't stand by while my lady is in danger! I'm going whether he likes it or not!" Zoe put her hand on my shoulder and looked me deeply in the eyes.
"Do not do anything rash, brother. While I agree, we must think about this carefully." I sighed but nodded, not happily though. What was Chiron's problem?
Dinner was over and it was time for capture the flag. None of us were in the spirit completely though. We were all stilled worried over Lady Artemis. I strapped a bronze breast plate on myself. We stood around Chiron as he started announcing everything.
"The creek is the boundary line! The blue team- Camp Half-Blood- shall take the west woods. The red team- The Hunters- shall take the east woods. I will serve as battle medic and referee. No intentional maiming please! All magic items are allowed. Take your positions!" We moved to the east woods and huddled around Zoe.
"Alright! Nico! You stay here to defend the flag! Put it on that tree over there! Now, they'll probably send in a distraction, so Sara, Celyn, and Phoebe, you take care of that. Everyone else, spread out all around the flag area. Try to grab the flag if you see it! Move out Hunters!"