Chapter 9: Zoë Nightshade Plays Capture the Flag

The rest of the day at Camp Half-Blood was pretty easy. I made fast friends with Silena Jackson and her friends, Torri-Lynn Grace and Thaliana-Marie Chase. At free time I talked to Luke and he said that he didn't have a good time and he wanted to leave. I protested and he said that we could stay for two weeks tops. I guess I was willing to go with anything considering I didn't want to lose Luke for real this time.

My first week at Camp Half-Blood went by quickly. Silena Jackson and I were great friends. She told me stories about when she was a baby and monsters attacked her and about her little brother Perseus – later I learned that Silena didn't like to call her brother Percy because Perseus was her favorite hero – and then I told her about my adventures with Luke. Silena, Luke, and I did just about everything together.

On the last day Luke and I were staying at Camp Half-Blood we played Capture the Flag – although Luke, Silena, and I were the only people that actually knew we were leaving. The red team was Me, Silena, Luke, the twin boys Luke was talking to – who later I learned were Travis and Connor Stoll – Candi-May Carter and Thaliana-Marie Chase. The blue team was Maria Skye, Donny Sullivan, Clarisse La Rue, Kerri Hill, and Torri-Lynn DeRace. Kara James and James White were hanging out together in the Ares cabin instead of playing Capture the Flag. We were just about to hide our flags when we were rudely interrupted by Artemis coming in and talking to Chiron.

"Blue Team, take off your blue helmets and go join the read team," Chiron ordered. When the blue team refused to do so he added, "That is an order."

"Who are we going against?" Ronnie Sullivan complained. As soon as he said it Zoë Nightshade appeared and put on a blue helmet.

"Thalia Grace, what are you doing here, with him?" As soon as Zoë Nightshade looked around she automatically seen Luke and I. "And what are you doing with Silena Jackson?"

"Zoë, I see you've learned some real words for a change." Before Zoë could say anything I quickly looked towards Selena, ignoring Zoë's first comment. "You two know each other?"

"My father, Poseidon said that if I didn't want to come to Camp Half-Blood I could go with Zoë and the Huntresses. He had them meet me and I stayed with them for a few days then I realized I'd never get to see my brother, Perseus again. So, I decided to come here and wait for my brother to come here when he turns twelve," Silena explained.

"How sweet of you to do for your brother, Silena." I knew Silena was really nice but I had no idea how incredible the sacrifices she made for her family were.

"Who wants anything to do with male heroes anyway?" Zoë asked sarcastically.

"You know what, Zoë?" I got all up in her face and shocked her. Zoë immediately recoiled.

Chiron came up and said, "Thalia, Zoë. You two mustn't fight. For it is a waste of time."

"Okay, Chiron," Zoë and I said at the same time.

"Okay every! It's time to go –" Chiron was cut off.

"CAPTURE!" called the former blue team.

"THE!" called the original red team

"FLAG!" screamed the Huntresses. With that we all stood in our groups planning.

"Okay, I'm team captain," Ronnie Sullivan said.

I looked over at Silena. "How long has he been here?" I asked.

"About as long as me," she replied.

"Okay, Ronnie tells us what to do." I said to everyone.

"Thalia, Silena, and Luke go over and protect our flag. Torri-Lynn, Kerri, and Thaliana-Marie go block a fake path to psyche them out. Travis, Connor, and Candi you three go and find the Huntresses flag. Clarisse go and try to find the flag too. When one the group tells me you've found the flag Maria and I will go and grab it from behind the Huntresses."

"Sounds like a plan, Ronnie," Luke said. We all ran off the do what we were told. Luke, Silena, and I all ran to the flag which Maria and Ronnie put in the smack dab in the middle of the woods behind the Zeus cabin.

Silena, Luke, and I all sat in front of the tall red flag. We talked about camp and how Luke and I were going to bust out of this Zeus forsaken camp as Luke would call it. Suddenly we heard leaves crunching and twigs snapping quietly in the distance.

"What was that?" I asked.

"I don't know." Silena replied. We both pulled out our weapons. I pulled out my spear and Silena held up a bronze pen.

"Silena ……" I started. "Where did you get that pen?"

"You mean Riptide? I got it from my father, Poseidon. Originally, it was for my little brother, Perseus but I needed to fight monsters, not him so naturally it ended up in my hands." Silena said.

The crunching and snapping continued until Maria and Ronnie were in front of us holding the Huntresses blue flag. "W-w-we g-g-got it," Ronnie said between breaths.

"Yes! You got the Flag!" I exclaimed.

After I spoke Zoë Nightshade swiftly jumped out from behind a giant tree. "RONNIE SULLIVAN YOU GIVE ME BACK THAT FLAG RIGHT NOW OR I'LL STAB YOU WITH THIS ARROW!" Zoë yelled with a poisoned silver arrow in her hand. Ronnie waited to long to move. Zoë stabbed him right above his knee.

"Zoë! Why did you do that to him?" I asked her.

"All shall be fair in this stupid Camp Half-Blood!" Zoë replied. With that said she ran off back to her base.