We allied with the Athena cabin, along with cabins seven, nine, twelve, eighteen and twenty.
I think we have a pretty good chance at beating Ares. Malcolm Pace, temporary head of Athena, certified genius and what not, came up with a brilliant plan. Of which I paid no attention.
The alarm sounded ''Let the games begin'' Chiron announced.
I was scouting for the flag when I bumped into Nyssa, almost giving away our position. ''What's the plan?'' she asked, pointing to the left.
The flag was in a rose bush guard by Katie Gardner and the head counsellor from cabin ten, Drew Tanaka. I think that's her name. Of course all the Ares kids were probably working on stealing ours.
''Hmm, we need a distraction''
Almost as if on cue we heard a stick break behind us, and immediately looked back to see Travis attempting to climb a tree. We made eye contact and he lost his grip, falling face first into a pile of leaves.
''You like Katie, so go distract her'' I whispered.
''That was supposed to be a secret'' he mumbled, running over to them.
.He had this big goofy grin on his face, and he started to sing. I almost started laughing.
Katie was enjoying the show, Drew not so much. She looked around suspiciously.
''Uh-Uh, let's go to the beach-each, Let's go get a wave, They say what they gonna say'' he sang. Travis even did a little dance to go with it.
Nyssa and I were right behind them now, slowly closing in when, crack... I stepped on a stick.
''SHIT! sorry'' I yelled running towards Drew ''Nyssa get the flag''.
''I knew it was a distraction'' she grumbled, pulling out her sword.
She swung and I dodged. stabbing her toe with my dagger ''gotta do better than that princess'' I said.
Nyssa grabbed the flag and took off running, Drew tried to go after her but I got in the way.
''Move'' she ordered, and I felt compelled to listen, so I moved aside and she took off running.
''How?'' I muttered, taking off after her.
She's not the fastest runner so I caught up pretty quickly. I leaped forward tackling her to the ground and she screeched like a hyena.
''GET OFF! GET OFF!''
This time I fought my urge to listen, I held her down just long enough for Nyssa to reach the border. We heard Chiron's horn in the distance.
''You can get off of me now'' she sneered.
I kiss her cheek and winked '' sure thing princess ''
That made her screech even louder, ''UGHH, wait... your the bitch that knocked me off the bench at camp fire''
She had a look that said I'm gonna make your life hell.
'' That's me, I'm Sam by the way '' I yelled, running out of the forest
Drew was the type of girl I hated, the girl that thinks she's better than everyone. She's a bully and I hate bullies.
Drew reminded me of the girl that almost killed me. I'd be dead if it hadn't been for Phoebe. I immediately pushed that thought away, I will not cry again because what's done,is done.
Phoebe probably didn't love me back anyways.
I caught up with Nyssa and Pollux, '' Great job guys'' I said, slinging my arms around their shoulders. I gave them both high-fives and we headed off to the campfire.
When we got there, the Ares kids and the Hermes kids were fighting, probably about our midnight prank.
''If you guys hadn't tee peed our cabin we would've one'' a big burly kid growled.
Conner got all up in his face '' that was the point of the prank'' he smiled, calmly backing away, but it was too late. This kid was at least twice his size and he swung hard, hitting Conner smack in the nose.
''CONNER!'' I screamed, running to his side.
I was ready to take this kid. and I most likely would have lost. He looked like 30 pounds of pure muscle, and not in an attractive way.
But Pollux put his hand on my shoulder ''He's not worth it''
Nyssa stood on my other side ''Pollux is right Sam, picking a fight won't help Conner''
She was right, I hated it when she was right.
''Okay'' I grumbled, then I looked right at him ''Sleep with one eye open''
Nyssa and I accompanied Conner to the infirmary, he was fine. Just a swollen nose and a mega headache, but the worst part was seeing Drew. She was getting her foot bandaged from where I stabbed her.
"You!" She sneered at me.
''Sorry about stabbing your foot'' I said.
''I'm sure you are'' she mumbled sarcastically.
Nyssa grabbed my arm and looked me in the eyes.
''Really? You stabbed her foot'' she said trying to hold back her laughter.
''She's fine, plus I kissed it better'' I chuckled.
We spent the rest of campfire chatting with Conner in the infirmary. Afterwards, we helped him back to cabin eleven and I said good night to Nyssa.
I had a hard time sleeping and all I could think about was Phoebe. We used to sneak off together at night so I could show my favorite places I'd found scouting early. But soon I drifted to sleep.
I saw Thalia talking to Phoebe, but I wasn't there, it was like watching from someone else's mind. They were in the woods where we'd been camping the day I left, somewhere away from camp.
''WHERE IS SHE'' Phoebe sobbed, frantically pacing around Thalia for an answer. Her eyes were puffy and red, like she'd been crying for hours.
''She- she left the hunt to go to camp half-blood'' Thalia sputtered, holding her head down, she seemed to have developed a sudden interest in the dirt.
Phoebe cried more ''WHY? she didn't even say goodbye to me'' now she sat at the base of a tree and Thalia sat down beside her, hugging her.
''She left me Tals, she promised she'd never leave and she left". More tears streamed down her cheek and onto Thalia's leather jacket.
''I don't know'' Thalia said, lying to her ''come on the others are waiting'' and they took off to go join the other hunters.
Everything shifted, from forested to a dimly lit tent.
Artemis's tent, and Phoebe sat beside her, wrapped in her embrace.
''It's okay my dear, you're our best healer anyway, she could never be as good as you'' Artemis said, holding Phoebe close, like a mother might hold her daughter.
''She was my best friend'' Phoebe wayled, pulling Artemis tighter.
''I know my dear, I know''
I woke suddenly, it was still dark, and I could feel the cool fall air creeping in.
I guessed it was around five am.This time Travis was asleep, so I didn't bother waking him, I got up and sat outside on the steps of cabin eleven glaring at the moon. ''Stupid goddess'' I sobbed,.quietly staring at the moon.
A couple minutes later Travis came outside ''you have a habit of waking up around five too then?'' He asked, sitting down beside me.
''Yeah, I guess''.
He pulled me in close, wrapping his arms around me ''another bad dream?''
''Yeah'' I sniffled, baring myself in his sweatshirt. ''About Phoebe''
He didn't say anything, just sat there holding me together as the sun started to rise.
'' Every storm runs out of rain, every heartache fades away'' he whispered, tucking a flower behind my ear.
''Thanks'' I said rubbing my eyes '' now come on, we both have reputations to uphold''
He laughed and we got up. Going back into cabin eleven as everyone else started to wake up.