Cp 16

"So, why'd Chiron pick you guys to help us?" I ask Ace. We'd already passed the volleyball court and arts and crafts. We met a few satyrs and some nymphs. One of them was Emery, she was a nymph, an evergreen tree. She told me she'd help me if I needed anything. It was all so fun, it almost made me forget about my hunger.

Almost.

My stomach growled every 5 minutes and I was very close to punching myself in the guts and telling it to shut up. I didn't want to scare anyone away though.

"Well, we kind of volunteered. Chiron said it would count as our chores. Plus, I thought, why not?" He glanced at me. "I didn't know I was going to be stuck with a half starving, sassy, mama bear." I scoffed at his comment. "Please, at least I'm not the one who looks like he eats raw eggs everyday poking his arms.

"Hey, I told you. I'm a Hephaestus kid. I work in the forges all day. I build weapons and armory. And—stop poking me." He swatted my arm away.

"If you worked in the forges all day, when do you have time for food? And chores?" I ask sarcastically. I gasp. "Is this your first time in daylight?"

Ace shoved me. "Ha-ha, very funny mama bear." I shove him back. "I'm not wrong, you should've phrased it more correctly, moron. And don't call me mama bear!" Ace stuck his tongue out at me. "I'll call you whatever I want, mama bear."

"Careful, this bear has claws. Very sharp ones." I warn. He snorted. "You're so difficult. I wonder how your parents even took care of you." I kick a few rocks as I continue walking to the lake. "I burned part of my kitchen once; Mom was not happy. How'd your parents handle you?" I tell him, the memory of my mother shouting at me to be more careful.

He stopped walking at sat on a nearby log. "They…didn't have to. My mom left me a few months after I was born.

"Apparently, she 'couldn't handle the responsibility.' I was in an orphanage most of my life. Then a family found me, they took me in and I wanted to leave at first. They were really nice. You see, when I found out about being a demigod and all that, I didn't want to tell them." I sat next to him.

"When I finally told them, they were surprisingly cool about it. I chose to stay here as much as possible so I don't end up putting them in danger."

"That's really brave. You must really miss them." I gave him a small side hug. "Come on, no more negative energy. Let's channel our 'chi'. Apparently, people use it to meditate I think."

I pulled up to his feet and skipped towards the lake. He jogged to catch up with a sideways smile.

The morning sun made the lake look even more beautiful. Its small waves reflected off the sunlight making it shimmer. There was a small dock leading out into the lake. Parked aside it were a couple canoes and paddles. "It's amazing." I whisper, taking it all in.

And then my stomach growled and ruined everything. "Ugh! I will rip you out and make sure you never growl again." I seethe at my belly. A throat cleared behind me. "Chill, mama bear. I have a granola bar." Ace offered.

My glower turned to him. "So, you're telling me…you had food all this time?" I take a step towards him. He steps back. "I-I wasn't sure it wasn't enough, I'm sorry!" Ace stumbles back. He pulls out a granola bar the size of my hand.

It was enough.

"Give it here," I reach out my hand. I did not want to go on a food frenzy.

The last time, with Tiffany, I had taken scissors, and chopped off half of her hair. Sadly, my friends stopped me before I could do any worse. I knew how much Tiffany adored her long hair. I didn't want to end hurting this idiot, even if he had food hidden with him. Okay, maybe not hidden, but still.

Ace tossed the bar in the air. Before I could catch it, an arrow pierced the bar's middle and stuck itself to a nearby tree.

"What the Hades?" Ace said. I look to where the arrow came from. I moved to Ace's side, ready to pummel whoever killed my food. A few bushes rustled and out popped a guy in armor. "Well, well, well. If it—" He began. I didn't have time for this. "What the heck, dude! That was mine!" I pointed at the energy snack stuck on the tree with an arrow.

I could've gotten it, but this guy put it up there, he's going to get it down.

"What do you want, yang?" Ace asked the mystery guy. Oh…

Sherman Yang, current head counselor of the Ares cabin. "Shut it, Moreno. I'm not talking to you. I'm talking to shorty over here." He looks at me and pouts. "Aw, do you need help getting your little snacky?"

He had his bow and quiver slung on his back.

I don't blink. "Feed your ego later." I step towards him. He leans down and smirks. "And what are you going to do about it?" I remain still. I can't. Not again. I promised my parents I'd never pull of something like that ever again. Tiffany was the first time and the last time. "That's what I thought."

Ace stands beside me. "Hey man, leave her alone. She's new here." Sherman rolls his eyes and punches Ace in the gut. Ace doubles over, clutching his stomach, coughing. I rush to his side.

"Why don't you scramble away like your mom did?" Yang snorted.

That did it.

I raise my hand and punch him in the jaw. Right hook. With the right amount of force, I'd be able to knock him out. Unfortunately, he recovered faster than I wanted. "You can't beat me, weakling." A bitter scoff escaped my mouth.

"I've been called worse, by better." I channel all my rage. But the trick isn't to focus in one spot, its to spread the energy out, and then force it out when contact is made. I raise my hand again and curl them into fists.

My knuckles started throbbing. I glanced at Ace. His eyes portrayed a mix of anger, shock, and pain. So much pain. A recent memory resurfaced itself onto my mind.

"Apparently, she 'couldn't handle the responsibility.' I was in an orphanage most of my life.

I ignore the stomach growls, the pain on my knuckles and punch Sherman again. Sherman stumbles back grabbing his injured jaw. Then he collapsed. I hadn't punched him because I was hungry or on a food frenzy, but because of a friend who needed my help. And that's exactly what I plan on doing.