Wow, only ten chapters and over 50 reviews, thanks!

Chris' pov

After a very long shower, and a very long lecture from Chiron about how 'cheating is wrong, and we should know better than that blah blah blah' the contestants were ready to hear about the next task. We all filed into the auditorium and sat around for a bit waiting for our immortal parents.

By the time they arrived I was engrossed in polishing my sword (innuendo not intended) for the 3rd time, while Leo had progressed to his 5th automaton, the last four of which had been smashed by my boot in various fits of anger. The gods filed in, Hermes and Apollo looking like naughty children, who were cowering in fear from their angry Daddy, for which nobody really blamed them as he was brandishing his lightning bolt. Demeter walked towards the podium, the wheat stalks that had been artfully braided into her hair blowing in the wind.

Her soporific voice cut gently through the arena as she began to speak; "Hello campers. Well, its my turn for a task, so, even though none of my children have made it this far, I have decided to give you quite an educational task. I would like each pair to take one plant and care for it for one day, the ten happiest plants will make it through to the next round. You are not allowed to steal each other's plant." Well, that sounded pretty easy, but what the hell is a happy plant?

"Soooo, this is boring." said the cheerful son of Hephaestus who sat opposite me, his swinging feet occasionally hitting my shins.

"No shit Sherlock." I replied, kicking him back as I continued staring moodily at the flowering shrub which sat innocently between us. "Do you think we should water it?"

"Probably." he said grinning, as he jumped to his feet and sprinted over to the tap in the corner of the room. Really, I should have known better than to trust him with anything.

He came sprinting back with a huge bucket, slopping water all over his trousers. Before I could scream 'are you a &!#*ing retard?' he dumped the whole bucket on top of the delicate flowering plant. Several of the branches snapped , and a few of the leaves fluttered off, but thankfully the main stem didn't snap as it was held together by the intricate network of vines that wrapped their way around it.

I was too shocked to even hit him, I merely stood there staring at him in bewilderment for a few moments before saying "Did you train to be this stupid, or were you just born that way?"

"Uhhhh…" Leo replied. Isn't he articulate?

I continued, rubbing my temples "If you touch the plant again, I swear on all that is holy I will rip your heart out of your chest, and shove it still beating down your throat. Got it?" He nodded dumbly as I went on "Now, stay here, do not touch the plant, I am going to go steal some invisi-tape from the Hermes cabin."

Half an hour later I returned to Leo's room, fully equipped with invisi-tape, superglue, and a life-time's supply of rubber chickens (really, just don't ask). The plant was in its original, damaged state, the table was still soaked in water, in short the only strange thing about this picture was the fact that Leo was curled up in the corner, holding a huge hammer in his shaking hands. Needless to say, I was both perplexed and worried.

I dropped the paraphernalia on the ground, drew my slingshot in readiness and settled into my battle stance, eyes flicking cautiously around the room. "What is it?" I whispered towards the son of Hephaestus.

He licked his lips slowly and then said "The plant attacked me. It was scary."

My slingshot clattered to the floor as my palm slapped my face. In my mind I was conducting a mini-monologue to help control my temper; 'face, meet palm. He is going to be your new best friend for the next week!'

My anger ebbing to about mild fury I turned towards Leo and said calmly "Plants do not attack people Leo, get that into your thick, thick skull right now"

Before I could say anything else Leo flattened himself against the wall and pointed behind me. Honestly, the man-wait, scratch that-pathetic, immature boy, could take on Cyclops, giants, gods, Gaia herself, and yet was quivering in fear in the face of a potted plant, had my half-brother gotten to him or something?

My train of thought was cut off however when a green tentacle started wrapping itself around my neck. I turned around in utter shock to see that the vines on the shrubs trunk had detached themselves and were currently attacking my face. I squeaked in fear, but all I could think was, 'well this is going to look good on my tombstone isn't it? The great Christie Matthews, daughter of Ares, slayer of Cyclops, laestrygogians, and hellhounds; foiled by shrubbery.'

I tried in vain to rip them off, but they simply attacked my hands. Thankfully, help came from unexpected quarters. With a squeaky (yet manly) battle cry, Leo leapt forwards, his hands aflame and ripped the surprisingly strong tendrils from around my neck, giving me a few first degree burns in the process I might add.

Spurred on by his victory, he aimed a white-hot flame at the plant-from-hell, and with a squeal (since when did plants squeal?), the shrub burnt into a green mess on the table.

I swear on the Styx that I will update before Saturday.

Wise words for the day:
There is no awkward moment like that awkward moment between when you were born and when you die.