Hello all Storm here with a new chapter! Here we'll be getting a look at when Naruko, Annabeth, Grover, and Luke arrived at Camp Half-Blood, as well as Thalia's sacrifice, along with learning more about Naruko's past with them. So, without further ado.
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"We're almost at the camp, just over that hill!" Grover shouted as he, Naruko, Thalia, Annabeth and Luke were running towards Camp Half-Blood.
While behind them was a massive hoard of monsters, including Hellhounds, Cyclopes and even all three Furies as well. Having been chased by them ever since Hades learned of Thalia's existence, originally only sending a few monsters to deal with her in retaliation of Zeus breaking his oath. But the closer they got to the camp, the more monsters were sent, until the God of the Dead unleashed the most dangerous ones in the Underworld.
"We'll be lucky if we make it to the-back off mutt!" Yelled Luke, only to swing his golf club at a Hellhound that nearly bit Annabeth, the seven-year-old yelping at feeling the Hellhound try grabbing her.
"I can help! Uh…" Naruko said as she quickly pulled out her spellbook, flipping through the pages to try and find something useful.
"Okay, this should stop them! Amplus Mica!" Said Naruko, aiming her hand at the monsters, a blue surrounding it as she released a magical powder.
Though rather than doing any damage to the monsters, the ones that were touched by the powder suddenly transformed into piles of flowers, much to the demigods' and satyr's surprise.
"…That works! And uh…this should do something! Atherfo!" Naruko said waving her hand, causing dozens of the flowers to rise into the air before spinning around at high speed, before launching themselves at the monsters, slicing through several of them.
"Now that's what I call flower power." Stated Luke with a smirk at seeing the monsters get killed by a bunch of flowers.
"Way to go, Naruko!" Said Annabeth, smiling at seeing her while managing to take out some of the monsters, with the whiskered demigod smiling as well..
"I have a few more that should he-" Said Naruko, only for Thalia to close her book.
"You don't need to tire yourself out, just keep running!" Thalia said, urging Naruko forward, while knowing she'd only leave herself exhausted if she used too much magic.
"She probably just bought us eno-LOOK OUT!" Grover screamed, making them all stop just as a tree came flying through the air, crashing down right in front of them.
Looking back, the group's eyes widened in shock and fear at seeing that there seemed to be even more monsters than there already were. Before they were forced to move out of the way, when a Cyclops threw a massive boulder at them.
With Naruko's eyes widening in fear when one of the Furies dived down towards, pulling out her book again to try and find a spell.
"U-u-uh-uh…Emocha Objectia!" Said Naruko, firing a blast of magic at the Fury, only to scream and fell on her back when it was stopped by her whip, with it striking the ground where she'd been standing.
"No more tricks from you, Honey!" The Fury taunted, launching her whip again to strike Naruko, only to be stopped when Thalia jumped in front of her with her spear out.
"Good thing I have a few of my own! Aegis!" Thalia said, holding her arm up, tapping her bracelet causing it to transform into her shield, making the Fury screech in fear and freeze at the sight of Medusa's head.
Before being silenced when Thalia swung her spear, releasing an arc of lightning that reduced the Fury to dust.
"You will pay for that, Daughter of Zeus!" Screamed the remaining two Furies as they and the remaining monsters, rushed towards Thalia and Naruko.
"Keep moving!" Thalia said, pushing Naruko forward towards Annabeth, Grover and Luke, all of them running up the hill away from the monsters.
Though looking back at the hoard of monsters and to her friends, Thalia knew they wouldn't be able to make it to the camp in time. And even if they did, the monsters wouldn't go away, they wouldn't stop until they had her.
"Whatever you do, don't stop!" Said Thalia to her friends, before turning to face the monsters, much to their shock.
"What?! No, we aren't leaving you!" Annabeth said while shaking her head, refusing to leave Thalia, with the others nodding in agreement.
"Well I'm telling you all to keep going and get to the camp! I'll hold them off!" Thalia retorted, holding her shield up to stall the monsters from getting any closer.
"But we're supposed to stick together! You said we have to look out for each other!" Argued Naruko, looking at her fearfully at the idea of leaving Thalia to face the monsters alone.
"And we have, now it's my turn to look after you all. Don't worry, everything will be fine." Said Thalia while smiling reassuringly at the Uzumaki, only for Naruko to stubbornly shake her head.
"No! I can still fight! I can help!" Naruko said, drawing her dagger, with Annabeth nodding in agreement and drawing her knife.
The sight making Thalia smile, before looking at Luke and Grover, nodding at the boys.
"Get them out of here, now." Thalia said, making the two boys nod sadly and reluctantly, before they quickly grabbed Naruko and Annabeth before they could try anything.
"What?! No Luke, let me go!" Annabeth shouted, struggling against Luke's hold as the Son of Hermes lifted her up and began running towards the camp.
"Stop! Stop it! I can help!" Yelled Naruko, struggling and kicking as Grover held her tightly, dragging her towards the camp.
Seeing they were getting away, Thalia turned back towards the monster hoard, narrowing her eyes at them and lowered her shield.
"Well?! You want me, I'm right here!" Thalia said, holding her arms out and walked right at the monsters, who all immediately charged the Daughter of Zeus once Medusa's head was out of sight.
The moment a Hellhound leapt at her, Thalia smashed her shield into it, knocking the monster to the ground before stabbing her spear through its head. Before swinging her spear around, releasing a wave of lightning that vaporized three more Hellhounds behind her. Only to grunt when one of the Hellhounds managed to bit down on her arm, before she slammed her shield into its head.
"Really liked this jacket you damn mutt!" Said Thalia, slamming the edge of her shield down on the Hellhounds neck, hard enough to decapitate it.
The demigod then rolled out of the way when a Cyclops tried grabbing her, stabbing her spear into its ankle, making the Cyclops cry out and fall to the one knee, giving her the chance to stab it in the eye. Thalia then raised her spear up, catching one of the remaining Furies whips around it, giving a shout as she yanked the Fury out of the air by her whip, slamming the monster into the ground.
"You can't fight us all, girl!" Said the Fury, glaring at Thalia, who merely shrugged.
"Maybe, maybe not, you won't be around to see it though." Thalia stated before releasing a stream of lightning through her spear and the whip, electrocuting the Fury who screeched in pain before exploding into dust.
Looking around to see she was now being surrounded by monsters, Thalia took a deep breath before shouting as she slammed the end of her spear into the ground. Causing a bolt of lightning to come crashing down right on top of her, vaporizing all the monsters close to her. While the Daughter of Zeus remained unharmed before aiming her spear forward, unleashing a blast of lightning, wiping out dozens of monsters in front of her.
"Well who's next?!" Demanded Thalia while looking around at the remaining monsters, before raising her shield as the last of the Furies dived down at her.
While up at the hill, Naruko and Annabeth were still struggling against Luke and Grover, with both boys starting to find it difficult to hold them back.
"Annabeth! Naruko! Stop, Thalia will be fine! Look at her, she's fighting all the monsters on her own!" Said Luke, trying to get them to see Thalia will be fine.
"She can't fight all of them, she needs help! Please Luke, we can help her!" Annabeth begged, knowing Thalia couldn't fight them all on her own.
"Th-Thalia said i-it-it'll be fine, j-ju-just trust he-blaah!" Bleated Grover when Naruko suddenly threw her head back at him, making the satyr lose his grip on her.
"Naruko don't even-ah!" Luke said, moving to grab Naruko from doing anything reckless, only for the whiskered girl to duck under his hand and kick him hard in the leg, making him let go of Annabeth.
"Come on! We have to get her!" Naruko said, grabbing Annabeth, with the two girls about to run out and help Thalia fight the monsters, only to be tackled by Luke and Grover.
"I said no! Thalia said to get you two out of here, and we're not going to let you get yourselves killed!" Shouted Luke as he and Grover were forced to drag Naruko and Annabeth by their arms.
"NO! No, no, no, no, NO! Thalia!" Screamed Naruko, unable to do anything but watch Thalia keep fighting off the monsters, with them closing in around her more and more, attacking, biting, clawing, and striking the Daughter of Zeus.
Until a Cyclops managed to get behind her, smashing its large fist into her, sending Thalia flying through the air where she crashed into the ground, much to their shock and horror.
"THALIA!" Naruko screamed as the group could only watch as their friends body soon began transforming into a massive pine tree.
*Real World*
Naruko gasped as she woke up, looking around wildly before relaxing at seeing where she was, letting out sigh as she leaned back against Thalia's Pine Tree.
"I'm sorry I didn't try harder." Muttered Naruko, hating herself for not trying harder to help Thalia, for doing more to stop the monsters, believing she could have done something.
Standing up, Naruko stretched to work out the kinks in her body, before looking up at the tree.
"One day, I promise you'll be free. And I'll be the one looking out for you this time." Naruko said before heading back down into the camp to get ready for todays' training.
*With Andromeda*
Meanwhile, Andromeda had woken up, along with everyone else for breakfast and was immediately taken to the amphitheater by Annabeth for her morning lessons on learning Latin and more about the gods. Having found that Annabeth had been right about her dyslexia, Ancient Greek wasn't that hard for her to read. At least it was no harder to read than English was.
Though as the lesson continued, Andromeda noticed how Annabeth only talked about the Olympians, none of the Minor Gods and Goddesses. Making her remember Naruko's words about how the Minor Deities were viewed.
"What about the Minor Gods and Goddesses?" Andromeda suddenly asked, with Annabeth looking at her in annoyance at the interruption.
"We'll get to them another time, right now it's important to get you caught up on your Latin, Ancient Greek, and the Olympians themselves." Said Annabeth, only for the ravenette to frown.
"But shouldn't they at least be mentioned and when are we'll go over them? Since aren't they pretty important to know about?" Questioned Andromeda, making Annabeth roll her eyes.
"Yes, they're important, but it's more important that you know about the Olympians. What their domains are, their personalities, and ensuring if you ever encounter one of them, you don't do anything to upset them. Minor Gods and Goddesses don't really interact with demigods and if they do, it's their own children." Annabeth explained, looking at Andromeda with narrowed eyes.
"Well why would any of the Olympians want to meet me? I'm unclaimed and it doesn't really seem like any of the male Olympians could be my dad. Maybe my dad is a Minor God with control over water." Said Andromeda, while the Daughter of Athena looked at her suspiciously.
"That'd be impossible, you wouldn't have been able to attract the Minotaur and a Kindly One if you were the child of a Minor God. Besides, a god doesn't need to have complete control over a domain to affect it, just something related to it, and I'm sure a couple Olympians have some form of control over water." Said Annabeth while she began putting pieces together in her head at where these sudden questions came from.
"Given what I did yesterday, I don't really think I could have gotten that much power over water from any god, unless it was one of their domains. And so far, the only Olympians with that kind of control is Poseidon, who isn't supposed to have any demigod children, so I can't be his daughter." Andromeda stated, making Annabeth's eyes widen that she knew about the Oath of the Big Three, only to scowl in annoyance.
"You met Naruko, didn't you." Annabeth said, knowing Naruko never hid her dislike for the Olympians and the way Minor Gods and Goddesses, including her mother, were treated, as well as telling Andromeda about the Oath of the Big Three.
"Yeah I did, and she actually gave me answers, instead of talking in circles or expecting me to already know things. She even tried helping me figure out who my dad could be." Said Andromeda, only for the blonde to shake her head.
"You'd be better off ignoring anything she says, Naruko says and does a lot of things that'll only get her and anyone who listens to her in trouble." Annabeth said dismissively, making the ravenette frown at her words.
"Yes listen to the all-knowing Wise Girl, Andromeda. After all, who could possibly argue with a child of Athena, the "wisest" goddess of all." Naruko said sarcastically, appearing in a swirl of dark blue mist, much to Andromeda's surprise while Annabeth scowled.
"How long were you there?!" Annabeth demanded.
"Long enough to know how the Minor Gods and Goddesses are less "important" to learn about than the Olympians." Naruko stated with a frown.
"Then clearly you weren't listening, like you always do. Otherwise you'd have heard me say we would get to them later." Retorted Annabeth, with the Uzumaki rolling her eyes and began walking around the Daughter of Athena.
"Yes, yes of course. Getting to them much, much later, when they're basically insignificant to hear about." Said Naruko, making Annabeth growl and narrow her eyes at her.
"Would you for once stop acting like a child!" Annabeth said, getting annoyed at her attitude.
"Last I checked, I'm a year older than you, Annie. And I'm just having a perfectly normal conversation, you're the only one getting upset. Maybe you need to go lie down, I'd be happy to take over Andromeda's lessons." Naruko replied with a smirk, causing the grey-eyed demigod to scoff.
"You've obviously been hiding yourself with the Mist too long, if you think I'd let you try filling her head with any ideas." Annabeth said, refusing to let Naruko try and corrupt Andromeda with her beliefs.
"Oh, you mean like telling her to go talk to the Oracle, so YOU can go on a quest." Naruko retorted, narrowing her eyes at Annabeth.
"So I can figure out what's going on! Not that you seem to care about a potential war between the gods!" Said Annabeth, with both girls now glaring at each other.
"Of course I care, but I'm not going to risk someone's life to find out! But I suppose that's to be expected from mommy, throwing lives away to get what you want!" Said Naruko, making Annabeth's glare intensify.
"At least my mom doesn't create new monsters that hunt demigods!" Annabeth yelled.
"No, she just goes around, turning people into monsters that target her own children! Real Mother of the Year, right there!" Naruko shouted.
"After they wronged her first!" Retorted Annabeth.
"Yeah a victim, who was her own priestess and an innocent girl who only had one thing in her life!" Said Naruko with her eyes glowing green, while Annabeth's became a more intense grey color.
"A priestess that helped insult and desecrate her temple, and a girl that thought she was better than a goddess!" Annabeth said.
"You just love making excuses, don't you?! How about throwing a flute down on Earth, cursing whoever picked up! What's the excuse for cursing a completely random and innocent person?!" Demanded Naruko, the two looking like they were about to attack each other.
Before they were suddenly pushed away from each other by Andromeda, both girls stumbling slightly at the unexpected strength.
"Would you both stop it! Seriously, you're blowing this whole thing out of proportion and making it way too personal." Andromeda said, not believing she's actually the one playing the mediator, with Naruko and Annabeth crossing their arms and turning away from each other.
"She started it." Naruko stated, making Annabeth look at her in annoyance.
"Go stick your head in a cauldron." Retorted Annabeth, with the Uzumaki pulling her eyelid down and sticking her tongue out at the Daughter of Athena.
"As soon as you go kiss a spider, there's one!" Said Naruko, pointing at Annabeth's shoulder, causing the Daughter of Athena to screaming and quickly wiping her hands across her body.
Only to glare at Naruko, when the Daughter of Hecate laughed at her.
"You really are a witch!" Annabeth said.
"Better than a know-it-all that always has to be right!" Naruko retorted.
"Only because I am always right!" Said Annabeth.
"Only because you refuse to believe anything else!" Said Naruko.
"Only because you're too stubborn to listen to anyone, but yourself!" Annabeth retorted.
"Funny coming from you!" Naruko said as they both glared at each other again, to the point where you could see electricity sparking between their eyes due to the intensity.
"Can we go back to the lesson, please?" Andromeda asked pleadingly, feeling like she just stepped into a parallel universe, if she's the one playing the mediator and actually wants to get back to a lesson.
"No!" Naruko and Annabeth said, looking at the ravenette before glaring at each other again, making Andromeda sigh before mentally crying in relief when Grover soon arrived.
"Hey! Annabeth, I was just looking for you, uh…Chiron wanted to…talk to you about something, like right now!" Said Grover, looking between the two nervously, having seen them shouting at each other and quickly went to break them up before things escalated.
Glaring at each other for a few moments, Naruko and Annabeth looked away with a huff before they began going in opposite directions.
"He was lying by the way!" Naruko said, wanting to get the last word in.
"I know!" Annabeth retorted in annoyance.
Once both girls were out of sight, Andromeda let out a sigh and sat down, with Grover sitting down beside her.
"Thanks Grover, I really wasn't sure I'd be able to stop them attacking each other." Andromeda said, with the satyr nodding in response.
"I'm just glad I arrived when I did, whenever they get like that, their Hecate and Athena sides usually come out. With Naruko shooting magic everywhere, while Annabeth turns anything she gets her hands on into a weapon, they can get pretty scary when they're mad." Said Grover.
"Why do they seem to hate each other, anyway? Did something happen between them?" Questioned Andromeda, wondering why Naruko and Annabeth seemed to hate each other.
"Oh, they don't hate each other, at least not really. In fact, they used to be really close, closer than they are with their half-siblings. But…I'm guessing you know about Naruko's views and resentment of the Olympians, and with Annabeth being a daughter of Athena. Well, it lead them to having a…falling out a while back. One thing you need to know, a good number of demigods tend to look up to and respect their godly parents, with some even idolizing them. The children of Athena are no different, but…Annabeth's pedestal for her mom seems to be much higher than the norm, refusing to believe she could do anything wrong." Grover explained, with Andromeda frowning at this.
"So…they're not friends anymore because they have different views." Stated Andromeda, with Grover nodding in response.
"Yep. Though before I left for Yancy Academy to become your protector, I did see them a few times, looking at each other and not glaring. Even looking like they wanted to talk, but didn't. So, they do still care about each other, but they're also really prideful and that what keeps them from making up with each other." Said Grover, making the ravenette look in the directions where Naruko and Annabeth walked off in.
*Later*
Naruko sat on the end of the dock, looking down at her spellbook, before she heard footsteps coming towards her and saw Andromeda sitting down next to her.
"Is that a spellbook?" Andromeda asked, seeing the book Naruko had been reading in Cabin Eleven.
"Yeah, it was a gift from my mom, along with my daggers." Replied Naruko, making the ravenette look at her in confusion.
"Daggers?" Said Andromeda, only seeing one dagger strapped to her leg, only for the Uzumaki to reach into her boot, revealing that the object inside was another dagger.
"It's good to have a hidden weapon if you lose the one everyone sees, making them think you're helpless." Naruko said, surprising Andromeda before she nodded since it did seem like a good idea.
"I'm guessing you didn't come here to discuss weapons or magic, though." Stated Naruko, with Andromeda nodding again.
"Uh…yeah. I actually…was hoping to ask you about how you know Annabeth. Grover said you two used to be close, closer than you both are to your half-siblings, but that changed. But he didn't tell me how you two knew each other." Said Andromeda, making Naruko sigh and close her book, before putting it away.
"Because before we came to camp, we were as close as sisters, me, Annabeth, Grover, Luke, and…and Thalia." Naruko said, looking down at the mention of her friend.
"You all knew each other? But who's Thalia?" Andromeda asked, having guessed that Annabeth must've known Luke with how she reacted to him yesterday, but didn't think it went back to before they came to camp.
"Thalia's the Daughter of Zeus, she was turned into a tree by her father after she held off a hoard of monsters, creating the barrier that keeps monsters out." Revealed Naruko, surprising Andromeda.
"How did you all meet?" Asked Andromeda, wanting to know how they all met each other.
"We had all run away from home, though Thalia, Annabeth and Luke all chose to run away, I didn't really have a choice. My dad and my step-mom were killed by monsters, so I had to run away or end up being killed as well. I was seven at the time, when it happened." Naruko said, making the ravenette wince in sympathy.
"I'm sorry to hear that." Andromeda said, understanding the feeling of losing a parent, with Naruko nodding in thanks.
"After I ran away, I was on my own for a while, not trusting anyone or anything I saw, doing anything I could to survive. Stealing anything I'd need, and simply trying to find a safe place. I knew the camp existed, but I never learned where it was located, so I simply kept moving. Until I met Thalia." Said Naruko, smiling at remembering when she first met the Daughter of Zeus.
"She'd just run away from her own mom a year ago, from what she did tell us, she wasn't the best parent. The funny thing is when we first met, I tried pickpocketing her, not knowing she was a demigod as well. But she stopped me. Given I don't know her and how she was able to catch me, I got scared and kicked her hard enough to let me go before running away, only for her to start chasing me all the way to an alley. I tried hiding, but she still managed to find me, so I tried attacking her with my dagger. Only for her to simply snatch it and my other one, when I tried pulling it. I was disarmed, helpless, and against a clearly stronger opponent, but…she only smiled at me, even after I tried stealing from her and attacking her, she still smiled at me. Then she gave me my daggers back and revealed that she was a demigod, like me, and gave me the chance to go with her to somewhere safe. I didn't even need to think, before accepting." Said Naruko, her smile growing while bringing a hand up to her necklace.
"We travelled together for a year, making our way across the country, fighting monsters whenever they showed up. Even with all the trouble and hardships, it was still one of the best years of my life. No matter how hard things got, Thalia always cheered me up, saying that I look out for her and that she looks out for me. Promising that nothing bad would happen as long as we were together. She even got this for me as a present, we're running for our lives yet she takes the time just to get a necklace for me, I honestly thought she was crazy doing that." Naruko said while looking at her necklace.
"It was a year later that we encountered Amaltheia, the surrogate who nursed Zeus and was sacrificed to create Aegis. She lead us to a dragons cave where we met Luke, who joined us. We became each other's new family, we were able to bond with each other, especially since Thalia and Luke weren't the biggest fans of the gods and goddesses either. Thalia since she had to deal with the consequences of her father breaking his oath and Luke…he was never really on good terms with his dad, either." Said Naruko, knowing Thalia and Luke didn't have the best opinions of their fathers nor the rest of the gods.
"It was also thanks Amaltheia that we found a replica of Aegis that Thalia was meant to find, with it not being long after that we met Annabeth and then Grover. And…it was really great, I had friends and a new family, we all stuck by each other's side and looked out for each other. Annabeth and I were practically sisters and stuck close together whenever monsters showed up, while Luke and Grover were the older brothers that looked after us, and Thalia…Thalia was the older sister, who looked after all of us and made sure we were safe." Naruko said with her smile become strained at the end, making Andromeda look at her.
"You…really looked up to Thalia a lot." Andromeda commented, the whiskered demigod merely nodding.
"Yeah, I did, and I still do. She…She was a light, when all I saw was darkness." Said Naruko, with Andromeda still looking at her.
"…You love her, don't you." Stated Andromeda, seeing how much Naruko cared about Thalia and the way she talked about her, seeing that she saw Thalia as more than just a friend or sister.
With Naruko only able to nod as she looked down sadly.
"Yeah, the more time I spent with Thalia, the more I began developing a crush on her. But…it never would have worked. To Thalia, I was just like Annabeth, her cute little sister that didn't want to leave her side. And…her and Luke had been seeing each other, before she sacrificed herself." Naruko said, making the ravenette wince.
"O-oh…s-so-sorry for bringing it up and…making you relive that." Andromeda said, seeing that it really hurt Naruko that she couldn't have her feelings returned.
"It's fine, you had no way of knowing. And I at least know Thalia cared about me, even if it wasn't the way I cared about her." Replied Naruko before looking at Andromeda seriously.
"But you really should watch what you say, since in the world we live in, saying the wrong thing to the wrong person at the wrong time can, and will, get you killed or make you wish you were dead." Naruko warned, which made Andromeda nod before she stood up.
"Thanks for the advice and telling me all that. But I need to get going, since I have sword practice with Luke." Said Andromeda, with Naruko nodding at this.
"No problem. Though one last piece of advice, be careful around Luke." Said Naruko, making the ravenette look at her in confusion.
"Why would I need to be careful around him? Why are you even telling me to be careful around him?" Andromeda asked, given she just told her how Luke was basically her older brother, now she's saying to be careful around him.
"It's just…it happened ever since Luke returned from his failed quest, two years ago, to the Garden of Hesperides, it's where he got his scar from Ladon. But since he returned, I've noticed that he's…changed, I don't know what, but it sets me on edge. Annabeth hasn't noticed, or chooses to ignore it, due to her own attachment and crush on him. And I did just tell you Luke and Thalia weren't the biggest fans of the gods to either. Whatever happened, it seems to have only made that dislike worse, turning it into hatred. And it didn't change him for the better, I've seen the mask he's now wearing slip a few times. So…just be careful and watch yourself, and keep a close eye on him, maybe you'll see what I'm talking about." Naruko explained, not knowing what's changed in her friend, only that he's not the same boy she once knew.
With her words only concerning Andromeda further, as despite just meeting Naruko the other day, she also didn't have any reason not to take her at her word, with how much she's done for her already. Leading the ravenette to simply nod in response before heading to the arena for her sword lesson.
*Timeskip-Three Days*
Andromeda had soon fallen into a routine the past few days since arriving at Camp Half-Blood, starting out by having lessons about the gods and goddesses, talking about them in the present tense. As well as improving her Ancient Greek and Latin, with the ravenette now being able to read a few lines of Homer without getting a headache.
The rest of the day, she rotated through activities and lessons to find something she was good at. Getting archery lessons from Chiron, but found out pretty quickly she wasn't any good with a bow. With Andromeda being thankful that Chiron wasn't angry when she shot his tail, even when he had to desnag it.
Foot racing wasn't any good either as the wood nymph instructor always left her in the dust, explaining they had centuries of experience running from lovesick gods. Something Andromeda found humiliating, to be slower than a tree.
Andromeda had also started avoiding wrestling, given how Clarisse simply used it as the perfect excuse to knock her down again and again…and again…
The only thing the ravenette found she excelled at was canoeing, something that wasn't really a heroic skill or something people expected from the kid who beat the Minotaur.
Though Andromeda did find a talent in using a sword, at least when she poured water on herself, having managed to perfectly execute a disarming technique Luke taught her after pouring water over her head.
She'd also begun training with Naruko in improving her Hydrokinesis, learning to consciously manipulate water rather than doing it instinctively. Managing to get the basics of water manipulation down, but nothing too big unless she got angry or upset. The ravenette had also asked to start learning to manipulate the Mist, believing it'd be a really useful skill to learn. With Naruko agreeing, but said she'd start teaching once she got more settled, which Andromeda reluctantly agreed to.
Andromeda also knew the senior campers and counselors were watching her, trying to decide who her father was, but they weren't having an easy time of it. She wasn't as strong as the Ares kids, or as good at archery as the Apollo kids. She didn't have Hephaestus's skill with metalwork or, gods forbid, Dionysus's way with vine plants. Luke had said she might be a child of Hermes, a kind of jack-of-all-trades, master of none. Though Andromeda got the feeling he was just trying to make me feel better. He really didn't know what to make of her either.
It made Andromeda think that Naruko was probably right about Triton being her father, since she had noticed that the campers had similar features to each other and she didn't really look like any of them. And with her Hydrokinesis, it seemed more and more likely that's who her father is. Though she didn't say anything about it, hoping that she'll be claimed soon for absolute proof.
Outside of her training and activities, Andromeda had also become closer friends to Naruko, Annabeth and Luke, with the Daughter of Athena beginning to open a little more around her. While Naruko and Luke continued to mentor her in swordsmanship and her abilities, despite things being tense between them.
Andromeda had also taken Naruko's advice to heart and kept an eye on Luke during training, watching for any slip of his mask and see what he was hiding. Getting a chance to see his mask slip during their sword lesson, where she managed to perform the disarming technique. Having seen the way he looked at her in an entirely new interest. Momentarily seeing a glint in his eyes, as if he was now contemplating how useful it she could be to him. Getting a better look during another lesson, when she'd found a chance to bring up his father and asked if he learned to use a sword from him. Something Luke definitely didn't like, before he was quick to cover it up and change the subject.
Which did show Andromeda that Naruko had been right about Luke hiding something and while she didn't know what, the ravenette did know it wasn't anything good.
Now though, it was Friday night, meaning the Capture the Flag game was taking place, with everyone standing up the moment the plates were cleared and the conch horn was blown.
"Those are the flags?" Andromeda asked while looking at Naruko as Annabeth, Clarisse and two of their siblings came running onto the pavilion with large silk banners.
Each of them being ten feet long, with one being a glistening gray color, and had a painting of a barn owl above an olive tree. While the second was a gaudy red, painted with a bloody spear and a boar's head.
"Yeah." Replied Naruko as they watched the flag bearers.
"And do Ares and Athena always lead the teams?" Questioned Andromeda.
"Not all the time, but often. Given how the Children of Athena usually make the strategies for their team. As for the Children of Ares…well you've seen Clarisse, you think anyone would tell her no." Naruko said, glancing at the ravenette, making her nod in understanding.
"So, if another cabin captures one, what do you do, repaint the flag?" Andromeda said, making Naruko smile mischievously.
"I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise, but first we'd have to get a flag." Naruko said.
"Okay. And whose side are we on?" Said Andromeda.
"Athenas made an alliance with Hermes and Apollo, the two biggest cabins, for tonight. Privileges have been traded, shower times, chore schedules, the best slots for activities in order to win support. While Ares has allied with Dionysus, Demeter, Aphrodite and Hephaestus. Mr. D's sons are pretty athletic, while Demeter's kids are good with nature and outdoor skills, but aren't really aggressive. You don't have to worry about Aphrodite's kids, they'll just sit on the sidelines like they always do, with the only one you really have to worry about being Silena since she seems to be the only Child of Aphrodite that actually goes out of her way to train, and isn't afraid to get her hands dirty. As for the Hephaestus kids, while there are only four of them, they're also among the strongest campers. And finally Are's kids, despite their attitudes, they're natural born fighters, think of them as the Greek-equivalent to the Saiyans with their affinity for battle. Only without the hax Zenkai Boosts and Transformations." Explained Naruko, with Andromeda nodding slowly at all the information, before everyone's attention turned towards Chiron stomping his hooves.
"Heroes! You know the rules. The creek is the boundary line. The entire forest is fair game. All magic items are allowed. The banner must be prominently displayed, and have no more than two guards. Prisoners may be disarmed, but may not be bound or gagged. No killing or maiming is allowed. I will serve as referee and battlefield medic. Arm yourselves!" Chiron said before spreading his hands out, with the tables suddenly being covered in helmets, bronze swords, spears, and ox-hide shields coated in metal.
"Whoa. We're really supposed to use these?" Andromeda asked in disbelief, since training to use a sword felt completely different to actually using one.
"Unless you want to get skewered by your friends in Cabin Five." Said Luke, walking up and handing Andromeda a large shield with a big caduceus painted on it, along with some armor.
"Here, Chiron thought these would fit. You'll be on border patrol." Luke said before nodding at Naruko which she returned, though the Uzumaki narrowed her eyes at the fact Andromeda is on border patrol.
Given this was her first game of Capture the Flag, she should have been put in a safer position, and the fact that Luke basically just announced where she'd be…
"Blue team, forward!" Annabeth yelled, with the blue team cheering as they moved into the forest, with Andromeda catching up to the Daughter of Athena.
"Hey. So what's the plan? Got any magic items you can loan me?" Andromeda asked, wondering if she'd be able to borrow some magic item, while noticing Annabeth's hand drift to her back pocket as if she thought she stole something.
"Just watch for Clarisse's spear, you don't want that thing touching you. Otherwise, don't worry. We'll take the banner from Ares. Has Luke given you your job?" Annabeth asked, confusing Andromeda at her wording.
"Border patrol, whatever that means." Said Andromeda, not sure what she was supposed to do.
"It's easy. Stand by the creek, keep the reds away. Leave the rest to me. Athena always has a plan." Stated Annabeth before walking ahead, leaving the ravenette behind.
"Okay. Glad you wanted me on your team." Andromeda muttered as they headed into the forest.
'Annabeth, I swear…' Thought Naruko, narrowing her eyes at the other blonde demigod, getting an idea of what Annabeth's "plan" was.
*Later*
'I feel ridiculous.' Andromeda thought in annoyance while standing by the creek with her helmet, big shield, and sword, which still seemed off-balance like every other sword she's tried.
The girl beginning to realize why she'd been put on border patrol alone and why Annabeth had specifically mentioned Clarisse and her spear. Though she didn't have time to think on it further as she heard the conch horn in the distance signaling the start of the game, an Apollo kid racing past her into enemy territory.
'I'll miss all the fun, as usual.' Andromeda thought sighing, while knowing there wasn't anything she could do about it.
Before she suddenly tensed at hearing a low canine growl coming from somewhere close by, making Andromeda look around warily. Raising her shield instinctively, getting the feeling that something was stalking her, something that wasn't a camper. Only for the growling to suddenly stop, feeling the presence was retreating, making Andromeda sigh.
'Get a hold of yourself, Andie.' Andromeda thought, shaking her head, before suddenly on the other side of the creek the underbrush exploded and six Ares kids, including Clarisse, came charging out.
"Cream the punk!" Clarisse screamed glaring at Andromeda through her helmet and holding a five-foot long spear with a barbed metal tip that flickered with red light.
"Camouflat Vaporis!"
Though suddenly a large amount of steam appeared surrounding the Ares kids, making Clarisse scowl at the sight.
"It's Uzumaki! You five deal with her, Jackson is mine!" Ordered Clarisse, knowing that Naruko was behind the steam before charging at Andromeda again.
While in the fog, Naruko jumped appeared in the middle of the five Ares kids, holding her twin daggers while runes began glowing green on them. The whiskered demigod blocking a strike from one of the Ares kids swords before slicing him across the arm with her other dagger, making him cry out before she slammed the dagger's hilt into his head, knocking him out.
Before another demigod to strike her across the back, only for Naruko to turn into a cloud of smoke that quickly entered the demigods mouth and nose, making him cough and gag. With the Ares kid soon finding himself growing sleepy before falling to the ground unconscious.
"Where is she?!" Shouted one of the remaining Ares kids, freaking out a little.
"Get a hold of yourself! She's just trying to get in your head!" Said the second demigod, smacking his brother on the head, making him nod as they looked around only to spot Naruko in the steam.
"There she is!" Said the first, charging forward and slashing his sword at Naruko, grinning when he sliced her across the arm.
"I got her, we can-GAH!" The son of Ares said, only to suddenly be punched in the face, feeling his nose break under the punch.
"What the Tartarus, you asshole?!" Yelled the third remaining Ares demigod, glaring at his brother while holding his wounded arm.
"Me?! You're the one who just punched me!" Retorted the first demigod, returning the glare.
"And I'll do it again if you slice me again!" The third shouted.
"Would you two idiots shut up! She's using her damn magic to make you see things!" Said the second Ares kid.
"I could make it so you don't see things." Naruko said with a smirk as she stepped out of the steam, causing the trio to shout and charge at her, only for Naruko to turn into a cloud of smoke again.
"Vitalis Eruptum!" Said Naruko, causing plants to rapidly grow from the ground and wrap around the Ares kids until they were trapped in vines.
"I fucking hate magic." One of the demigods muttered as they fell to the ground.
"Galeas Disruptus." Said Naruko, creating a current of wind that blew away the mist, making Clarisse stop and turn around, scowling in annoyance and anger at seeing how quickly Naruko took out her brothers.
"After I'm done with this punk, you're next!" Shouted Clarisse before charging Andromeda, intent to take out some anger on her.
'Naruko, any day now!' Thought Andromeda in worry, not wanting to fight Clarisse alone, especially since the Uzumaki's already taken out five of her siblings.
Only to see Naruko not move an inch and simply nod at her, the Daughter of Hecate wanting to let Andromeda handle Clarisse herself.
With Andromeda quickly sidestepping a jab from Clarisse's spear, only to be forced to raise her shield when the older girl immediately swung it at her. Grunting as the spear hit her shield, feeling her arm rattle from the blow, only to suddenly feel a pain tingle course through her body. Before Andromeda felt her shield arm go completely numb and the air burning.
'Electricity, of course it has electricity.' Andromeda thought as her shield arm fell to her side, before she quickly backed away when Clarisse tried stabbing her again.
Raising her sword when the Daughter of Ares tried smashing her shield in the ravenette's face, managing to deflect the strike. Only to grunt in pain when Clarisse immediately struck her in the ribs with her spear, making Andromeda thankful for the armor. Feeling the electricity course through her body, Andromeda gagged when Clarisse slammed her foot into her chest sending her crashing to the ground.
'Naruko…seriously…help would be appreciated!' Andromeda thought looking at the whiskered demigod, who still hadn't moved from her spot, while Clarisse laughed at her.
"What's the matter punk?! Where's all your bravado now?!" Clarisse taunted, while Andromeda struggled to get back up to her feet.
"I'm surprised you know what bravado means. Or did you look it up in a dictionary, if you know that is either." Said Andromeda, knowing that probably wasn't smart to say, grunting when Clarisse jabbed her leg, causing it to go numb.
Though she still tried to stay standing and lift her sword up, only for Clarisse to slam it aside with her spear, causing Andromeda's other arm to go numb.
"Oh, wow. I'm scared of the little girl. Really scared." Clarisse said mockingly, slamming her foot into Andromeda's chest again, knocking her back to the ground.
"At least I look like a girl rather than a talking pig." Andromeda stated, mentally wishing she knew how to filter what she said, grunting in pain when Clarisse slashed her across the arm.
"You really don't know when to shut up, do ya punk?!" Clarisse growled before kicking Andromeda into the creek.
"Here, since you enjoy splashing around so much! Stay there while I deal with Uzumaki and try not to drown, until I'm done with you!" Said Clarisse before turning her attention to Naruko.
Only to stop when she saw Andromeda standing up, looking completely fine and refreshed, the ravenette feeling the water waking up her senses, feeling like she could do anything at the moment.
"What the fu-" Clarisse said in disbelief before raising her shield when Andromeda swung her sword at her, grunting in disbelief at the sudden strength she had.
Before the Daughter of Ares felt her shield come loose when Andromeda slammed her own shield down on top of it, knocking it off of Clarisse's arm. The sight making her scowl in anger before grabbing her spear with both hands, thrusting it forward at the ravenette. Though the moment she thrust her spear forward, Andromeda caught the shaft between the edge of her shield and sword. With her then snapping the spear in half like a twig, much to Clarisse's anger.
"Ah! You idiot! You corpse-breath worm!" Clarisse screamed in anger at her spear being broken.
Before she was silenced as Andromeda slammed the flat of her sword into her helmet, sending the helmet flying off her head. Followed by smashing the hilt of her sword in between Clarisse's eyes, sending the Daughter of Ares stumbling out of the creek and onto the ground.
"Way to go Andie." Said Naruko, smiling at seeing that Andromeda was able to beat Clarisse, while the ravenette looked at her in annoyance.
"I could have used some help." Retorted Andromeda, only for Naruko to shrug.
"You aren't always going to have someone to fight for you, there'll be times where you'll need to fight your own battles. This seemed like a good chance to learn that, in a semi-safe environment." Naruko said, making the ravenette frown but also couldn't fault that logic.
Before they suddenly heard yelling, elated screams, both girls seeing Luke racing toward the boundary line with the red team's banner lifted high. Being flanked by a couple of his half-siblings covering his retreat, and a few Apollos behind them, fighting off the Hephaestus kids. With Naruko releasing the Ares kids she's restrained, who all got up while Clarisse muttered several curses.
"A trick! It was a trick!" Clarisse shouted, angered at seeing she'd been tricked into going after Andromeda.
They tried going after Luke to stop him, only it was too late as Luke ran across the creek into friendly territory, with blue team cheering loudly at seeing they'd won the game. The red banner shimmered and turned to silver. The boar and spear were replaced with a huge caduceus, the symbol of Cabin Eleven. The blue team lifted Luke up into the air, while Chiron emerged from the woods.
"Looks like we won." Naruko stated, with Andromeda nodding in agreement.
"Not bad, hero." Said Annabeth, making the ravenette look around quickly, but didn't see the Daughter of Athena anywhere.
Only to be surprised, when Naruko reached out and yanked a Yankees baseball cap off of Annabeth's head, revealing she'd been in invisible. Though Andromeda was feeling too angry to care that she had an invisible hat.
"You set me up. You put me here, because you knew Clarisse would come after me, while you sent Luke around the flank. You had it all figured out." Said Andromeda, angry at being set up and used as bait.
"I told you. Athena always, always has a plan." Annabeth stated with a shrug, only for Naruko to scoff.
"Oh yes, Athena always has a plan, not caring if that plan gets someone hurt or killed. But hey, as long as she wins, who cares about a few "necessary" casualties." Said Naruko, making the Daughter of Athena narrow her eyes at her.
"That isn't what happened, I came here as quickly as I could to help, but clearly you already had that covered." Retorted Annabeth.
"Yeah, sucks when you don't have all the information does it, Annie. And what would have happened if I didn't show up, would you have been fine letting Andromeda be beaten or worse?" Naruko demanded, narrowing her eyes at Annabeth.
"Well that didn't happen and from what I saw, she could have handled them all on her own." Annabeth said, having seen Andromeda handle Clarisse.
"Oh, so you were here long enough to see Andromeda getting the advantage, but not long enough to jump in and help, how convenient!" Naruko said sarcastically, making Annabeth growl.
"Look who's talking?! You just stood there and watched the entire time while she was fighting Clarisse!" Retorted Annabeth.
"Better one-on-one than six-on-one, like what you would have let happened if I didn't take care of the other ones!" Naruko shouted, both girls glared at each other before Annabeth let out a huff, snatching her hat back from the Uzumaki and turned to Andromeda.
"How did you do that?" Questioned Annabeth, looking the ravenette over.
"A spear in my arm. What do you think?" Said Andromeda, assuming she's looking at her injured arm.
"It was a spear wound, now look at it." Annabeth said, motioning to her arm, making Andromeda look only for her eyes to widen.
Seeing the blood was gone, where the huge cut had been, there was a long white scratch, and even that was fading. The ravenette watching in disbelief as even that began fading, until there wasn't any sign of an injury, aside from her cut sleeve.
"I-I don't get it." Andromeda muttered, not believing her wound healed in seconds.
"Step out of the water, Andie." Said Annabeth, looking like she was thinking hard, while Naruko had gone completely still.
Looking at them in confusion, Andromeda did so and immediately felt her energy leave her, feeling her arms go numb again, and would have fallen over if Annabeth hadn't caught her.
"Oh, Styx. This is not good. I didn't want…I assumed it would be Zeus…" Said Annabeth, now looking scared.
"No! No, she is not related to either of them! Sh-sh-she…she could be Triton's daughter or-or-or Oceanus, he's a powerful sea deity! Maybe even Pontos!" Naruko said, shaking her head in refusal at realizing what Annabeth was suggesting.
"Wh-what're you both-" Andromeda said looking at them in confusion, only to freeze when she heard the growl again, only it was much closer, followed by a loud howl echoing through the forest.
The sudden sound causing the campers' cheers to instantly stop, with Chiron shouting something in Ancient Greek. While Annabeth drew her sword and Naruko her daggers with the runes now being icy blue.
While on the rocks above us was a massive black hound, the size of a rhino, with red eyes that burned like lava and fangs as sharp as daggers. With Andromeda being terrified to see it looking right at her.
"Andromeda, run!" Annabeth shouted, moving to step in front of her, only for the hound to move faster, leaping right over her at the ravenette with its claws out.
The Hellhound tackling Andromeda to the ground and tearing through her armor.
"Appendaga Regoria!" Naruko said, causing the Hellhound to suddenly freeze in place, with a cluster of arrows soon embedding themselves in the monsters neck.
"Di Immortales! That's a Hellhound from the Fields of Punishment. They don't…they're not supposed to…" Annabeth said, not believing a Hellhound was here.
"Someone summoned it, someone inside the camp." Said Chiron gravely, looking around for anyone who could have potentially summoned the Hellhound.
"It's all Andromeda's fault! Andromeda summoned it!" Clarisse accused, pointing at the ravenette.
"Oh give it a damn rest, Clarisse! If Andromeda summoned it, why would it attack her?! Not only that, a few days ago, she didn't even know the Supernatural World existed, so I don't think she'd have the resources or knowledge to summon one! Maybe instead of making pointless accusations, you should get your siblings to call the wambulance for you, if you're so butt-hurt!" Naruko said, looking at Clarisse in annoyance.
"Nobody call the damn wambulance!" Yelled Clarisse, glaring at everyone.
"Hello wambulance, my sister's butt is hurting." Said an Son of Ares after pulling out a cellphone, making Clarisse glare at them murderously.
"Mark, hang up the damn phone!" Clarisse shouted, making Mark look at her in confusion.
"But Clarisse, your butt-" Mark said.
"Hang it up!" Demanded Clarisse, with her half-brother slowly putting the phone away.
"Andromeda, get in the water." Annabeth said, grabbing Andromeda's arm.
"I'm okay." Said Andromeda, strangely not feeling the pain from having her chest ripped open, but guessed that may be the blood loss affecting her.
"No, you're not. Chiron, watch this." Said Annabeth, pulling Andromeda towards the creek.
"No! There's nothing to watch, Annie's just going on with crazy theories again!" Naruko said, shaking her head in denial.
"You saw it! It's true and you know it!" Annabeth retorted before pulling Andromeda into the creek, with everyone watching in shock and fear as her wounds slowly sealed themselves shut until not even scars were left.
"Look, I-I don't know why. I'm sorry…" Said Andromeda in worry and nervousness at how everyone was looking at her.
But now they weren't looking at her non-existent wounds anymore, now they were looking above her head at something, with Naruko looking like she was ready to faint.
"Andromeda…uh…" Said Annabeth, motioning to above her head, making the ravenette look.
Seeing that floating above her head was a holographic green symbol, one depicting an object, a three pointed spear, a trident.
"No…no, no, no, no, no…no, not again, please not again…" Naruko muttered, backing away at the sight of the trident.
"It doesn't matter what happens. You look out for me and I look out for you. Nothing bad will happen as long as we're together."
"You promise?"
"I promise."
"Don't worry, everything will be fine."
"Your father. This is really not good." Annabeth muttered before looking at Naruko in concern, seeing that she was shaking and kept muttering to herself.
"It is determined." Chiron announced, as all around them the campers began kneeling to Andromeda, even the Ares kids who didn't look happy about it.
"My father?" Said Andromeda in confusion.
"Poseidon. Earthshaker, Stormbringer, Father of Horses. Hail, Andromeda Jackson, Daughter of the Sea God." Declared Chiron, much to Andromeda's shock as she looked up at the trident symbol.
"Poseidon." Andromeda muttered in worry and concern, knowing what that meant.
While Naruko continued shaking at the realization that Andromeda was the Daughter of Poseidon, that the Oath of the Big Three was broken again. That she may be forced to witness what happened to Thalia, happen again.
'No, not again, I refuse anything like that to ever happen again!' Naruko thought, swearing that she won't let Andromeda suffer a similar fate to Thalia's, even if she has to give up her own life to do so.
So, what did you think, good. Yep we see Narukos dreaming of when Thalia sacrificed herself before waking up as we then go to Andromeda having her lessons with Annabeth before asking about the Minor Gods and Goddesses, something that leads Annabeth to realizing she spoke with Naruko, who seen reveals herself leading her and Annabeth getting into an argument, with Andromeda trying to break them up before Grover arrives and manages to get them to stop, with Andromeda then learning more about their history and why they're no longer friends. Next we see Andromeda finding Naruko and asking her about her friendship with Annabeth, leading her to learn they came to camp together along with Luke, learning about how Naruko met each of them and Thalia, the first one she met and how much Naruko cares about her, leading to Andromeda realizing she loves Thalia, which Naruko admits. Naruko then warns Andromeda about Luke, having felt something change in him after his failed quest and knows whatever has changed made him dangerous. Then we get a small timeskip showing Andromeda's routine since arriving at Camp Half-Blood, with the new addition of getting training from Naruko to control her abilities, before we go to the Capture the Flag game with Naruko sticking close to Andromeda after realizing what Annabeth's plan for her is, leading her to take care of the Ares kids while leaving Clarisse for Andromeda, who's at first overwhelmed before getting in the water and beats the Daughter of Ares. Finally we see the game come to an end with Luke getting the flag while Naruko and Annabeth get into another argument only to start realizing who Andromeda's father is, much to Naruko's denial, until a Hellhound arrives and attacks her, leading to Annabeth getting Andromeda back in the creek where she's claimed as the Daughter of Poseidon, with everyone knowing what this meant, especially Naruko. So, for those that like the story, thanks for your support. For those that don't or at least don't like the direction taken, you're more than welcomed to drop the story. But thanks for giving the story a chance anyway.
Storm out