"Alright. So since this is your first time here, watch the first couple of sessions and then we'll put you to the test just to see what weapon might work best for you."

Maddie nodded her head anxiously and clutched her hands into fists, letting her nails dig into her palms. It had been two days since she had arrived at camp and she was slowly starting to get used to it. Chiron had let her do some less intense training the past days, such as learning how to ride a pegasus (which was so cool!) and how to properly treat wounds. He had seemed hesitant to let her actually start fighting and Maddie had a bad feeling that he somehow knew. Yet, Aaron and Kelly hadn't stopped pestering him until he gave in, allowing for Marcus' band of friends to be the ones who personally trained her.

Things were still...weird. The stares from other campers were getting more and more noticable. Even Marcus had commented on it, saying that they were probably just curious since it had been awhile since they had gotten a new camper, especially one so young. It didn't calm Maddie's nerves at all. She still desperately wanted to make as many friends as possible. Jimmy and some of the other kids from the Hermes cabin were really sweet, and then there was Ivan from the Hephaestus cabin who made funny jokes, and also some others from cabins here and there. No one had shown her any hatred or anger yet. But still...something felt off about how some campers interacted with her. She couldn't place her finger on it and no one else seemed to notice.

"I've never interacted with so many people before. I'm still just getting used to it…" That's what she told herself. She was just nervous and scared like she always is. She was thinking too hard about it.

Maddie switched her attention back to the giant battlefield in front of her. Hunter had grabbed a large battle ax and was smirking playfully at Kelly, who held nothing but a large wooden stick.

"You're seriously gonna use some of that petty fairy magic against me?"

"Don't insult the power of the rainbow be-atch!" Kelly's confidence was amazing to Maddie but she didn't understand why she was using a stick against a weapon purposefully made for cutting sticks.

"What is he talking about?" Maddie looked curiously over at Marcus.

He glanced at her but sent his attention back to the two as he spoke, "you know how Kelly is a daughter of Iris, right? Well some of the gods are able to grant their kids magic. Well, at least that's the easy explanation of it. Powers? Abilities? Doesn't really matter. Certain kids can do certain things. Some are born with these powers, others who please the gods are then in turn granted abilities, kind of just depends. I have a few abilities myself, courtesy of my father. Who knows, you may have some too."

Maddie felt her chest tighten. Abilities? Is that what this was? She looked down at her hands and began recalling all the moments before. Her mother's constant nagging about being careful. Her mother making sure that there were no knives available throughout the day. Her mother being hesitant to give her cutting shears. She couldn't really remember anything that happened in between those moments, only her mother's harsh words and scared look afterwards. It definitely wasn't an "ability" or "magic". Her stomach twisted into knots. Would she be able to control it today? She better.

Maddie leaned forward in her seat anxiously as she waited to see what was going to happen. The two waited a few moments, analyzing the other's movements. Then, Hunter charged forward without a second thought. He wound up his ax, ready to strike. It reached out towards Kelly and Maddie immediately put her hands over her eyes, afraid of what might happen if it collided. When no screams were heard she peaked through her hand to see Kelly blocking the ax with her stick. She was grinning from ear to ear and Hunter was straining to gain any sort of push on her.

Kelly put all her weight in one hand and extended out her other hand. She murmured words that were too quiet for Maddie to hear but all of a sudden Hunter was stumbling back clutching his arm where Kelly had attacked. Beneath his arm was skin that was now black and red and sizzling. Maddie gasped in horror.

"He's fine. Kelly's Inflict Wounds is powerful and hurts like hell but it won't kill him. Hunter's stronger than that." Marcus didn't even look at Maddie but could somehow know exactly what she was thinking.

"What were you saying about my magic?" Kelly taunted.

"You little-!" Hunter ran and striked again but Kelly dodged flawlessly, laughing as she did.

"You realize that you get slower in your movements when you're riled up, right? Better calm down or else!"

The fight continued in rapid succession afterwards. The movements were so fast that Maddie could barely follow what was happening most of it, but yet, it all seemed so natural to her. It was like she had watched battles her entire life and knew exactly what was going to happen next. She had never seen either of them fight before or what they were capable of, but the moment before every swing she could tell exactly if the swing was going to be an uppercut or a side sweep. She could tell when one was going to be caught off balance before they even stepped down. It was fascinating and wonderful.

She was also itchy. Ticking. She couldn't sit still. The muscles in her body twitching, aching to move. She had studied dead animals as often as her mom let her out of the house but now she was fascinated by what the human body would look like lying on the ground, unmoving, not breathing, with blood pooling out around it, and...

"Maddie?"

Maddie jumped so much she ended up standing up from her seat. She blinked a few times to regain her surroundings and saw Kelly and Hunter a little ways away staring at her, as well as Marcus standing right beside her with his arms crossed and his brow furrowed.

"You good?"

"Y-yes!" Maddie shoved the thoughts she had into the deepest corners of her mind, not allowing herself to accept that she had allowed those thoughts to even exist.

"Okaaaay...anyways. You ready to try some stuff out? Aaron just got back with some possible weapons that might suit you." He beckoned her with his hand and she followed nervously after him, gently slapping herself to snap out of it. Whatever "it" was.

Off to the side of the field Aaron was polishing some weapons while being surrounded by others at his feet. Everything from swords, to maces, to nunchucks sat around him. Maddie's hands started shaking.

"You can control it. You can control it. Just like mom taught you. It's not a weapon. It's just an ordinary object. No harm can be done with it. Don't imagine the giant pointy part of it, only the handle."

Marcus and Aaron had apparently been saying something and Maddie just absentmindedly nodded along. They handed her a large sword, one that was so heavy that she hunched over as soon as she grabbed ahold of it.

"Definitely not." Marcus took it back immediately and handed her a hammer that was relatively light compared to that of a normal one.

"Seriously? She's small enough as it is. A hammer is not going to do anything." Aaron took it back.

This went on for awhile, them handing Maddie different weapons and immediately commenting on whether or not it would work for her. She felt like her brain was split in two and it was more painful then she could bare. Every time a weapon was given to her she wanted to just...kill...but then it was taken away in an instant and she felt normal again. Two sides battling. She wanted to rip her brain out.

Marcus handed her a bow and arrow next with a small smile.

"Since I know you like the idea of her."

Maddie stared blankly into his eyes, trying to comprehend what he meant while trying to control her mind at the same time. She added a weak nod and a smile when she understood it was because of Artemis. She tried to line up in position for it but her hands were shaking so badly she could barely keep the arrow straight.

"I-I'm sorry...can I take a break…?" Maddie choked back tears as the pain started becoming so unbearable. The thoughts were pushing her from every single side of her mind. She wanted to scream.

"We haven't even started fighting yet. Are you sure you're not sick or something?" Marcus raised an eyebrow at her.

"N-no...I just...bathroom…" She dropped the bow and arrow and ran off as quickly as she could. She made it to the girl's bathroom with her legs shaking so badly she was afraid she was going to pass out. She had to clutch onto the sink to keep herself steady. Her breathing was harsh and ragged, hyperventilating as she tried desperately to control herself. Her whole body shook with pain and energy all at the same time. "I can't do this." She promptly vomited into a toilet and tried to recover by splashing her face with cold water.

"I have to. I can do this. I need to show I'm strong. I need to show I'm worthy of being here. If I don't...they might send me back home. I don't want that. I don't want to go back there...at least not yet."

Maddie gave herself a few seconds to recover and then, with legs shaking, made it back to the group.

"Hey there! I was just about to come check on you. Are you okay? You look pale." Kelly inspected Maddie's face with worry, hovering over her like a concerned mother.

"I-I'm fine. I was just overheating a little." Maddie gave a small smile to prove she was okay.

"If you say so…." Kelly looked at Maddie's eyes as in hunting for a lie but said nothing. "Here! We think we found the perfect weapon for you!" Kelly reached out and handed Maddie a long spear with a large beautifully engraved metal point.

Maddie could feel the sensations rushing back but she forced herself to push them down as best as she could.

"Can I try it?"

"Duh! That's the point! Hey Marcus! Go easy on her, okay?"

Maddie followed Marcus to the center of the field, her entire body twitching with energy. She could feel herself blacking out. "No. Stay focused. Watch his steps. You can focus on that, right?" She glanced back at their other friends and noticed that Chiron had now appeared, his eyes watching her every move. She felt like she needed to throw up again.

They reached the center of the field and Maddie gulped. "W-what's your weapon…?" She asked curiously, trying to distract her racing mind.

"I haven't shown you?" He took out his metal pocket watch that he always had swinging by his side. "When swung from the watch a blade, and when swung from the chain, a whip. Best part? It even tells time!" He smiled proudly.

Maddie let out a laugh at his statement. It was so simple but yet he said it so confidently that it was almost goofy. It was a nice distraction for a couple of seconds from her mind.

"Glad someone finally laughed at that." Marcus said triumphantly. "Alright. I'll go easy on you, so just show me what you think you can do. We just want to see if you can handle that kind of weapon."

Maddie looked down at the weapon in her hands. She fully took in the fact that she was holding a large object that was meant for one purpose and one purpose only. The flood was too much. And it burst the dam she had tried to build.

Maddie didn't really remember much of what happened afterwards. She knew she had attacked first, swinging with the might of a warrior. She remembered Marcus' face went from cool and collected to genuinely surprised and even scared. He managed to block her first attack but somehow she had knocked him to the ground, swiping at his feet perhaps? She went to stab him right in the gut before he quickly rolled away and used his whip to wrap around her weapon. But she had yanked him towards her instead and immediately went for another strike. This time, he blocked the rod of the spear with his arm. Maddie remembered hearing him cry out and pain and tell her to stop. Her mind kept screaming at her to stop attacking but her body wouldn't acknowledge it. She kept pushing harder and harder, bending his arm back at an impossible angle. Then right as it was about to snap like the little twig it was, her feet gave out from underneath her as Marcus' whip entangled her them. She had fallen and the spear was knocked out of her hands. Then, it was done. Just like that..

.

Maddie sat on the ground, staring blankly ahead of her. She could hear Marcus' heavy breathing near her and the sound of footsteps running towards them.

"Are you guys okay?" She saw the others run past her to inspect Marcus but didn't process any of it. What had happened? What did she do?

"Maddison."

Chiron's voice snapped her out of it and she looked up at him. He was glaring at her but it quickly melted into a more patient and fatherly look.

"Maddison, are you alright?" He reached out a hand to help her up and she cautiously took it.

"I...I…"

"Well, looks like the little kid's got some fight in her after all." Marcus' voice came from right beside her. She felt a hand land on her head and messed up her hair. It was such a comforting gesture that immediately Maddie felt like herself again, not some lifeless. Killing. Monster. The moment his hand retracted Maddie craved the comfort again.

"Good job. I think we found the weapon for you. Though I do have to say, did you really have to try and break my arm only after knowing each other for three days?"

Maddie blinked wordlessly at him. He was smiling, though it was pained, and he was holding onto his arm gently. She quickly gave him a hug.

"I'm so so so sorry." Her words were rushed and afraid. Did he hate her now? Was he gonna stop being her friend? Mother warned her about this. It was why she was never allowed to meet other kids. She would only hurt them and then they would hate her.

"Woah kid, it's fine. Calm down. Most demigods know how to fight, it's like part of our DNA. We're just natural fighters. You have nothing to apologize for. Though I will say, I had never seen someone so comfortable with a weapon like you were before."

"You're not mad at me?"

"What? Pfft, no. Demigods hurt and attack each other all the time, it's part of how we stay in shape for battle. No hard feelings." He gently released himself from her grip and smiled at her, "You should be proud of yourself for being so battle ready already."

Maddie let herself smile back. The others started congratulating her as well, talking about how they could alter the weapon to make it better suited for her with just tiny adjustments. However, Maddie's eyes wandered over to Chiron who was looking more concerned then approving.