Without even waiting for the rest Sam pushed Eirene aside and rushed into the crowd. Eirene suddenly remembered the Kobalos, and how it must've escaped by now. Failed mission, it seemed. But what was it that the creature believed one of her mates took from him? It seemed desperate to get it back.

The crowd parted to reveal Connor and Travis carrying him out on a gurney, back towards the camp. Everyone was looking after him, a worried expression plastered on their faces. Eirene wondered if this was the first time anyone had ever gotten hurt during this game just when Clarisse came out with her sunglasses perched on her head. She looked terribly annoyed and Eirene did her best to try and be invisible.

"Alright, alright! Quiet down."

The cacophony died down. Clarisse cleared her throat and began once again.

"We aren't sure whether he was wounded by an animal or a camper, and if a camper, whether it was accidental or on purpose. But we will be looking deeper into this and when we find the culprit, if there is one, they will severely punish." Murmurs spread the crowd and Eirene was reminded of her days in the orphanage, when children were mysteriously hurt and the eyes would always be on her.

"Any former activities in this forest will be cancelled until further notice."

That statement caused another uproar of complaints, which quiet down when they saw the glare in Clarisse's eyes. She dismissed the campers to their cabins and everyone was sentenced to moping around until bonfire before Chiron interfered and allowed them to join the other campers in their activities. Eirene was relieved she wouldn't be trapped in a cabin with all those accusing eyes, she was sure they would sense it was her. She had had an earlier banter with Matthew; they'd think she still held a grudge. Or maybe my ADHD mind is just too paranoid; maybe they'll be too worried about him to think about me.

It seemed like Sam always knew where Eirene was, because she found her along the walk out of the woods. The little girl bounced a bit when she walked; something, Eirene noticed, she'd never done until now; a sure sign that she was nervous.

"Don't worry; he'll be fine. You need not to worry so much…" Eirene suspected she was trying to convince herself as much as she was Sam. Sam looked up at her, her brown eyes filled with hope.

"A little bit of Ambrosia will fix him up, I know." She sighed. "But I can't help worrying, I like him so much."

Eirene was reminded of Damien whisking her away with tales of Matthew. "Speaking of which, what did Damien say?"

Sam expression hardened and she flushed. "He told me that Matt thought I was cute, but that I was too young for him."

"How old is he?"

"Seventeen; that isn't too old, is it?"

Eirene shrugged, she wasn't an expert on relationships: She'd never been in one. She didn't really know what qualified as an 'acceptable age' in a relationship.

"I don't think so," She finally answered. Sam smiled sadly and nodded her head as she glanced at the floor, which led to Eirene thinking something else was wrong.

"Do you…think its wrong?"

Eirene stopped walking. "What is?"

"To wear your heart on your sleeve; I have a habit of doing that with my crushes." Samantha fumbled with her camp shirt and fiddled with her beads, thinning her lips. Eirene didn't know how to respond to that, it seemed like a rhetorical question, and Samantha seemed deep in thought. They ended up walking in different directions without even saying goodbye to each other.

Eirene wandered over to Battle Stations, where the Athena, Hephaestus, and Poseidon kids were residing. Annabeth seemed to be the activities instructor, as she was welcoming in all the late campers. Eirene was somewhat comforted by her presence, she had the aura of a wise older sister who always protected you. As Eirene waited in line to get her battle instructions, she scanned the crowd to see what they were doing. Standing in formation, and attacking the offending team in order. And the way they moved, it was so synchronized it seemed like dance. Eirene noticed that Heather seemed to be leader of the formation and looked fiercest when she fought. She admired her a bit too.

But Eirene noticed someone else she didn't recognize, but he managed to catch her eye. He was in formation too, standing by the trees like some other people were. He was tall, at least 6'3 with a lean and muscular body. His hair was a dark dirty blonde, and was highlighted by the sun reflecting off its shiny glow. He wasn't wearing the camp clothes; instead for the orange t-shirt and khaki shorts he was wearing a snug khaki sweater shirt and loose jeans. His camp beads were fastened around his wrist instead of his neck, and he had a sword in one had while the other held a small book.

Eirene observed as he read, and every few pages he would snap his head up to catch someone trying to infiltrate. He would then proceed to lazily put the book away and swing the sword towards them in a lazy fashion. This always seemed to annoy the opposing player, and they charged at him. Expected him to crumble, Eirene was pleasantly surprised when his reflexes and moves were as sharp and swift as the person he was fighting. He always blocked an attack, and when he'd aim to strike he'd hit his opponent. He was surprisingly good at fighting, and it seemed to come effortlessly to him. It was how effortlessly he did it that intrigued Eirene—and the way he fought, Elegant and beautifully, precise and calculated.

"Eirene?"

Snapped out of her reverie, Eirene turned her head to the call of her voice. It was Annabeth, looking at her with a puzzled expression. Eirene quickly scooted up to stand directly in front of Annabeth, who then began to give her the battle instructions.

"Are you alright?" Annabeth asked when she dismissed her. Eirene nodded, walking off to her station, which to her surprise was right across from the alleged boy. Gingerly stepping into formation, she gazed at him as he read. She noticed that he had this casual-cool expression to him all the time, even when he sometimes fought. Eirene considered herself lucky that she was placed in a spot so far away from the actual battle, only few people actually came this way.

After thirty minutes or so of no attacks, Eirene sank down to the floor and sat down, wrapping her arms around her knees.

"Get up."

Her head shot up and she stared forward. Was it him that had spoken?

His gaze upon her confirmed it. "What are you doing? Stand up!"

The authority in his voice made her shoot up immediately. She straightened her back and fumbled with her hands at her side. His voice was…low and husky. It also had a hint of an English accent to it. He pressed his lips into a thin line.

"Where's your weapon?"

Eirene nervously pointed at her ring. "This thing, it turns into a sword."

"And when do you plan to chuck it out? When the enemy's got a blade scraping against your neck?" He sounded sarcastic and almost angry, and Eirene averted her eyes in shame. She didn't feel like there was a need for a weapon, no one was coming. No one had comes in what seemed like hours. But nevertheless, she pulled off her ring and threw it in the air, catching it with silent grace as it fell into her hands. She swung at her side and cocked her head in a comedic manner, quietly asking for his approval. He barely registered the weapon at her side and returned his attention back to his book. This irritated Eirene for some reason, she saw that other campers were conversing among themselves and being friendly with each other, but it seemed like this man had no interest in common courtesy.

And not for the first time, Eirene took a leap of faith.

"What's your name?"

He didn't look up. "Irrelevant."

"My name's Eirene."

This time he did look up. "Also Irrelevant," And then returned to his book. Eirene furrowed her eyes, irritated. Why was he being so distant?

"What book are you…"

Just then, they heard the steady stampede of footsteps coming from the path behind them. The boy dropped his book and picked up his sword, assuming the ready stance. Eirene mirrored him, but knew that from an observer's eyes she'd look like she was having a fit. She felt strangely nervous, and felt herself shaking from head to toe. A feeling of cold dread overcame her, and she dropped her sword. Cold, cold cold cold why is it so cold?

Eirene felt her throat started to close up and she grabbed at it helplessly, trying to figure out what was wrong with her.

"Hey! What are you doing? Eirene!" The man ran to her side and was able to catch her before she fell, grasping her body even tightly as she shook uncontrollably in his arms. She found that she could not control her body; that she could not even speak. She didn't know what was happening to her, but it did not feel like a divine interference.

"Camper down! Send help! Camper down!"

She felt like fainting, but she was trying so hard not to. She just felt fear and panic and she felt so cold. Eirene heard more footsteps coming, ones that were getting closer.

"What is it? What's going on?"

Her vision was getting blurry, but she could see a female figure crouching down and a fury of blonde hair—Annabeth.

"I don't know, she just started shaking; she's not having a seizure because—"

"Her mouth isn't foaming and her eyes are staring straight ahead." Annabeth spoke calmly, and brushed Eirene's hair from her face as she stared directly into her eyes. "She's having a panic attack. Or more accurately, delayed shock. She'll pass out in a few seconds; just carry her back to the infirmary."

And within those few words, Eirene felt herself lose consciousness.

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