I decided that I am not going to write an author's note for this chapter- wait I'm writing one right now. – I know- lame, isn't it- but you won't believe how much that actually happens to me. Okay how 'bout I stop babbling and you just read. Sound good? Okay and….. Go

Chapter 5- It is Determined

It was capture the flag that night- Athena vs. Apollo. Dinner was tense, it would be the 1st capture the flag since last summer that would have enough campers playing to actually be fun. Allied with my cabin was Hades, Hecate, Nike, Hephaestus, Iris, Ares, Hermes, and Poseidon- hey, I had thought that it would be a good idea at the time.

Rachel was sitting next to me (the oracle doesn't have to sit at any particular table.) She was still trying to comfort me- though it definitely wasn't working. I kept pondering over her theory of what had happened to Percy. Could he really be under a spell? I pushed it out of my mind- Rachel had said that she wasn't absolutely sure, and I didn't want to get my hopes up. I had waaaaaaaaaaay to much experience in that category of boy trouble.

We were about to start. All the people on my team had their helmets decked out with blue horse-hair plumes (Apollo would be red.) I went over the strategy one more time. Group one would sneak around the right flank and attack from the back. Group two would attack at the front (Hendie: I don't know the "battle term" for front) as a distraction. When the other team was nice and distracted, group 3. AKA me and Percy (once again, I had thought that it would be a good idea at the time) would sneak around the left flank, grab the flag, and run back to friendly territory, Attacking anyone who got in our way.

"Has anyone seen Percy?" I asked, not that I wanted to see that jerk, but we needed him for the game. No one had. I glanced around; that stupid kelp head wasn't there.

"Okay" I announced, "change of plans. Since Jackson decided not to show up, Group three will now be me and Clarisse." Everyone nodded.

The conch shell blew, Chiron did the whole, no maiming, creek is the boundary line, yada, yada. Then he finished "Blue, move out!" I ordered, I had forgotten how much I liked being in charge.

We moved into our side of the forest. I saw Josie prowling behind She wasn't wearing any armor, so I couldn't tell whose team she was on.

"Which team are you on?" I asked her.

"Yours" she told me.

"What cabin are you in?"

"Hermes." She stated quite plainly.

I was confused.

"Undetermined." She said. That made sense.

"How old are you?" I asked further.

"I turn 13 tomorrow. I have to be claimed tonight." And so she did, or the pact would be broken. Bad things happen when pacts are broken.

"Well, gotta go. Defense." Josie then turned into a leopard and leapt into the trees.

I found Clarisse waiting for me. She was wearing Blood-red battle armor, and had her 3rd electric spear, (this one called piercer) on her back.

"Kay, princess." She said, "We can get the flag back for Ares. And, you walk away from this with only minor injuries."

I rolled my eyes and started ahead. Clarisse followed noiselessly behind me.

We walked along for a few minutes. My plan was working perfectly. No heavily armed Reds jumped out at us, at least. Everything was quiet; except for the clash of weapons ringing through the forest from the distance.

There was a rustling next to me. A flash of purple darted by. A bout of happy laughter followed. At least Morgan was enjoying herself.

Finally, we reached the clearing where Apollo had hidden the flag. It was hanging in a tree where one, young archer was guarding.

Too easy. I was just about to grab the flag when something strange happened.

I heard a scream from the distance. I coughed, and white mist came out of my mouth, and kept coming. It came out of my nose and my ears. It gushed out to form one flowing cloud and started blowing away.

I stopped, my hand suspended, still reaching for the flag. The young guard was still staring after the mist. Clarisse growled, grabbed the flag, and ran off. That snapped me back to attention.

The Apollo camper woke up too. He fumbled with his bow, but I grabbed it, snapped it in half, and threw it behind me. All while running like a mad man towards the freaky scream.

Another scream split through the air. I was getting closer now, I could hear it better. It sounded like a lot of cries mixed together; howling wolves, screeching monkeys, calling elephants, roaring tigers, and a lot of other animal noises.

I followed Clarisse, who seemed to be going in the general direction of the white cloud, judging by the remains of mist moving along.

There were more screams, but most were covered by Clarisse's battle cry. The closer she got to victory, the more restless she became.

In one final leap, we were out of the trees, and only a few meters away from the boundary line, the creek.

Clarisse stopped dead in front of me. I gave her a little push and she stumbled across the creek.

Without Clarisse blocking my way, I could see what made her stop. The cause of the screaming, Josie Anderson.

It looked like she was having a seizure or something. She was on the ground, lying in an awkward position. She was wriggling and clawing at the ground. She kept transforming.

The mist was collecting over her head. It was coming from all different directions. I ran over to her and tried to hold her still. People were gathering around us, gasping at her.

She had one last transformation. I was left holding a tiny, lion cub that was fast asleep. People were gasping and pointing over us. I looked up just in time to see the last of the mist disappearing over Josie's head.

Chiron clopped over and took Josie out of my arms and lifted her over his head.

Wow, Lion King déjà vu.

"It is determined. Her father is Pan, Lord of the Wild Places. Hail, Josephine Anderson, daughter of Pan.

Hooray! I updated! I know- it's been a while. I've been working on some other stories. Be sure to check out Michael Who? And Percy Jackson Songs.

Hendie out.