Hey, ya'll! This is the second part of Capture the Flag. I'm planning for the next chapter to be the final one for Capture the Flag. If you've figured it out, last chapter was called "Ready" and this chapter is called "Set". Any guesses what the next chapter will be called?

(Hmm… Unusually short author's note)

Carter McGone's POV

Kamryn and I had managed to grow a twist and tangle of vines that grew from branches from the tree. Just to be safe Kamryn made a run around the perimeter to grow more vines so our little vegetation shield didn't stand out. We had watched the whole ordeal between Nyx and Alex ("Sparks!" Kamryn had hissed to me about their relationship) and the Hermes kids.

"Bring it on!" Alex challenged. Of course we knew the plan and the Hermes kids were practically hopeless.

The Hermes kids cheered and we heard a signal. A soft, but high-pitched whistle which meant it was time for Kamryn to come out. She poked her head out from around the vine curtain. I peered through the miniscule holes and saw her boyfriend, Will Solace (age 19) gesture for her to come out and gave her a wink. Kamryn smiled slightly, but quickly adopted the serious expression she had earlier. Once she had ducked out of the shelter of our vines I moved to where she used to stand. I watched as she crept behind the trees, blending in easily as Zack Fair fought Alex and Elise against Nyx.

The younger kid, Danny (Daniel from the last chapter) pointed to the treetops and shouted, "Hey! Those Apollo kids are up there!"

The whole lot of them looked up simultaneously and I could see that Apollo's children were as stiff as boards and still as statues. Travis – or was it Connor? - looked up incredulously and said, "Are you sure, buddy? I don't see anything."

"I'm certain they're up there. Or something is." He tells them.

"Probably some squirrel." Travis or Connor says.

Rose squeals, "A squirrel! I wanna see!"

That small group started arguing, while Zack, Alex, Elise, and Nyx fought. Zack had the power to knock Alex senseless if he got the chance. But Alex could dodge him like nobody's business. That was before he tripped on the balsa arrow he'd broken in half. The force of the fall had probably taken his breath away and he seemed to be a little in shock from the pressure. It gave Zack just enough time to thwack him with the flat side of his sword but Nyx had jumped in and blocked the hit.

Then at that moment, an arrow flew from the trees. I saw Annabeth in the trees with Syd by her side. She must've ordered them to shoot.

"So, I guess your covers blown." A voice said behind me.

I nearly jumped 10 feet in the air. "Frick! Don't do that to me!"

Lara shrugged and gave me one of those looks that Aphrodite girls had. "I didn't do anything."

Knowing Lara, she probably didn't do it on purpose. Her mother was Aphrodite. It was just a natural thing for her and so was the beauty.

"Shouldn't you be over there?" I asked. She was from Aphrodite and they allied with Hermes.

She shrugged again. "I guess. But I don't really like them." She glanced at me. "Do you not want me to be here?" She gives me that "look" again. So I turn my attention back towards the brawl.

Arrows rained down from the trees, the Apollo kids still haven't come down from the trees. The few Hermes kids who had arrows shot back, but it really wouldn't have made a difference. Soon the Hermes kids had used all their arrows and slowly backed up into the trees. And for a second I kinda felt sorry for them. Then Kamryn came out from somewhere and grew vines that snaked around the kids' feet.

I took it that it was my time to go into battle. I left Lara there, watching me. I crept around our vines and helped Kamryn. I willed sprouts in the ground to grow faster and told them to circle around someone's foot and stay secure. Soon enough we had about 10 Hermes kids held captive. But we didn't win. Yet. Wonder how the other side is doing.

Emmett Adonis Valentine's POV

They thought they were being sneaky. But I could see them. And it looked like I was the only one because no one else seemed to be yelling out "Intruder!" or "Enemy approaching!". Now, you're probably asking, "Why the hell aren't you screaming that either?"

And that's perfectly understandable. Because I was asking myself the same question. Why wasn't I sounding the alarm? I may be smart- like book-smart, almost Athen-kid smart, but not quite- but I had no idea what to do when it came down to myself, or at least my feelings. All I knew at the moment was that I was standing in my armor with a few Hephaestus and Hecate kids, trying to decide whether or not I should alert them.

Looking back, I probably should have. But at the time, my attention was set on something else. Or someone else.

I don't know why I hadn't noticed her before, but now the way she slipped behind trees and hid in the shadows and angling herself just the right way so my team didn't see her, I saw everything about her. And she was beautiful.

Get a hold of yourself! You're only infatuated. I tried to tell myself. I had the gift of Lovelie, the gift to tell whether it was love or lust, true or just a crush. And I could easily tell that what I had was for real. But I wouldn't let myself believe it. I don't know why, but I wouldn't let myself fall in love. At least not in the middle of a Capture the Flag match. And then Lexa's voice brought me back to reality.

"Hey, what're you looking at?" She snaps. I guess she doesn't like Aphrodite kids that much.

I must've been craning my neck to far to look at her. "N-nothing. Just a squirrel." (squirrels seem to begin to pop up more in my story...)

She snorts incredulously. "Whatever you say, Pretty Boy."

I hated that nickname. I don't know why people called me that.

SNAP!

A branch had broken. I don't know who snapped it. But the five of us guarding the flags whipped our heads around to find her staring straight at me, her big hazel eyes bigger than ever.

"Shit!" She exclaimed.

Lissa Lexington's POV

That's it! She's done it now! Because she stepped on that stupid branch, we're dead!

"Quick! We need a distraction!" Malcolm said hastily. He grabbed my arm and pushed me out into the clearing. Malcolm shoved Aurora out there with me. "Make a distraction! Now!"

"What do we do?" Aurora hissed back.

I glanced at her and whispered. "Come on! Follow my lead."

I walked towards them. More like stormed. I knew what I was doing. And if Aurora would react the way I wanted her to, then everything would work perfectly. "You've always been jealous of me and my mom!" I shouted angrily.

Aurora blinked once and shot back. "And why would I be jealous of a skank like that?"

I scoff. "Uh, because Zeus chose my mom over yours!"

"Yeah, right." She said. She was doing very well. "And why exactly would I be jealous of you?"

"Because guys like me better." I said simply, leading her on.

Aurora crossed her arms. "Like who?"

I smiled evily. "Derrick. Who else? He's in love with me."

Now she looked hurt. "How would you know that?" She said a little less confidently than before.

"I have my sources." I strolled over to Emmett and slung an arm around his neck smiling dreamily at him. I may look like I'm a being a bitch, but it's for a good cause and I'm never usually like this. Just towards Aurora.

"And how could he possibly help? Did you sleep with him so he would use his 'love magic' on Derrick?" She spat.

I pretend to be shocked and offended. "I would never sink that low!"

Emmett awkwardly slipped out of my grip. "Uh, guys if I could say something? Derrick actually do-" He was cut off by me dashing past him for the flag and I would've gotten it too.

If it weren't for that damn Maserarti.

Haha. The end! Fairly good, I would say. Any suggestions/guesses for next chapter? Which couple do you want to see next? Who was the girl that Emmett was talking about? Hmm? Answers to be answered next chapter! Spring break is coming up soon and I may or may not be able to update. I'll be in DC with most of my family and I don't know if I have time to update. Last year, I said that I wouldn't have enough time and turns out I managed to get two new chapters up, but don't get your hopes up, okay? Just saying.

That's all I want to say. And even if I don't update during Spring Break just check my blog daily. Which I'll be adding to everyday with status on upcoming chapters and whatnot.

-Dr. Asian -.-