It was time for Capture the flag.
After dining at the diner pavilion, all the camp-half blood residents stood at the tables and waited for Chiron's instructions. They were all geared up – Cressida had her bow and arrows ready, other kids stood with their swords, spears and celestial bronze shields. It was blue and red teams – Cressida was on the red side. Everyone put on their helmets. Sarah stood beside Cressida as the kids yelled and cheered. They were all excited.
Cressida was nervous. But luckily, Sarah was there to soothe her. "It's going to be fine, don't worry." She said, smiling reassuringly. "Wait till Artemis and her huntresses arrive, and then you'll feel even more nervous." Her face paled. Thanks for the soothing, then.
Just then as Chiron announced the teams – Hermes cabin was paired with – Nemesis, Hypnos, Nike, Ares, Demeter, Hephaestus and Dionysus cabins. The opposing team consisted of – Athena, Artemis and her huntresses, Apollo, Tyche, Hebe, and Iris cabins. Cressida's side got the advantage of more cabins, but only because Artemis was playing against them.
Then, it all went eerily quiet. Sarah tensed and gasped simultaneously beside her, and Chiron stood tall with his hoof. Footsteps of crunching snow greeted them nearby the pavilion, and teens faced a certain someone who has just arrived. Cressida followed their gaze at a pack of girls. The silver colour blinded her eyes.
A twelve year old girl leaded the pack of girls – which were about ten all in all. Cressida was shocked by her striking beauty. The girl had long, lush auburn hair and eyes as silvery yellow as the moon. Like her fellow maidens – she wore silver cloaks and pants with a bow and quiver behind her back. Cressida knew without a doubt it was a goddess. The goddess Artemis.
Everyone – and I mean everyone, bowed before her. Cressida stood frozen, staring awe eyed at Artemis. Sarah grabbed and dragged Cressida's arm down to bow, but she could not tear her eyes off the goddess. The goddess smiled and gestured for everyone to stand up. Next to Artemis, stood a girl around fourteen, with short black hair and eyes as blue lightning – she seemed to be the only girl of the pack who wasn't scowling at the boys. Right, Artemis' huntresses have pledged themselves and vowed the company of men.
The flags were put in order. Two flags – the opposing team was a banner of pure silver, with a crescent moon and a bow and arrow – Artemis' symbol. Cressida's team flag was gaudy red, painted with a bloody spear and a boar's head – Ares symbol.
"Are they always the leading teams?" Cressida asked Sarah as they marched into the woods by the streaming, glittering lake.
"Not always – usually it's Athena and Ares who lead the teams, but since Artemis and her huntresses are here – yeah." She explained.
Night began to settle in. Stars scattered all over the dark wispy sky. Cressida was ready. She felt strength grow into her bones, the power filling every muscle and building up her strength. She felt like she could run and fly.
Then, the conch horn blew. Whoops and yells filled every centimetre of the forest field. Sarah ran off leaving Cressida behind into enemy territory. Great, Cressida thought. Nice friend. Cressida stood alone between branches of trees with a big red feathered helmet on her head, which now seemed more stupid than ever.
Cressida trudged through the woods, holding her bow and arrow ready for a fight. The dark sky loomed over her, as if telling her what to do. "You know, maybe this time I'll need your guidance." She muttered, talking to the night sky. It seemed to be laughing at her, like, now you need my help? Remember what I told you, 'the only way to control the darkness is when you learn to accept it.' Who knew the personification of night could be so cryptic.
Sounds of swords clashing nearby halted Cressida into her tracks. Standing before her was one of Artemis' huntresses. She had dark braided hair and eyes like coals. She had her bow and arrow pointed at Cressida.
"Going somewhere?" the girl smirked, raising her bow even higher. Cressida wasn't fazed; she raised her bow and grabbed an arrow from her quiver. The girl raised her eyebrows, "Hun, I've been using a bow and arrow for as long as I can remember. Don't waste your energy on me."
Behind the girl, stood the silvery flag – The opposing team's flag. If Cressida could grab it, and fight her way through – her team could win. But, first she had to make her way past the huntress. If only she had some sort of power she could use to distract the girl.
Cressida's bow hand erupted into shadow. The girl lunged at her, but she did not succeed. Because Cressida's body was encased into black shadow, and she felt the power surge her. She skidded past the huntress, earning wide eyes from the girl.
The girl gasped, "What – what?"
Cressida raised her wispy black bow and arrow and pointed it at the girl; she wasn't going to shoot – only slow her down so that Cressida could get the flag. She shot at the girls bow and arrow and it skidded on the dirty ground.
Then Cressida ran before she could see the girls' reaction. She was like a dark warrior. Teens from the opposing team blocked her way, but Cressida used some good tactics she didn't even knew she possessed. She shot her arrows, knocked them out cold – they didn't die, of course. She used her shadowy power to blind them temporarily.
When she made it to the silvery flag, she was greeted by Sarah fighting some huntresses. The huntresses stood immobilized by the sight of Cressida. She wasn't encased into shadow this time, but she had a dark aura around her, and her eyes were constellations. Sarah dropped her sword.
"It's happening again," She gasped, her eyes glassy and in awe. The huntresses shared a long and dropped their bow in awe.
Cressida knew what she was seeing. But she didn't care.
The boulder which stood the flag on top glimmered in the moonlight. Cressida mounted the huge rock, and the huntresses who were defending it did nothing to prevent it. They were all wonder-stricken and open mouthed.
Cressida took the flag and held it up just as kids from both teams ran up to the boulder, sword in hands and bronze shields raised. Clip clop sounds neared and Chiron emerged, and Artemis behind, all staring at Cressida. She won, her team won. Her team erupted into yells and cheers as Cressida came to ground, clasping her on the back and then held her up by their shoulders as they cheered. "Ares!" The Ares children roared.
Once they put her down, the huntresses were angry at their loss. After that, all the kids, and Artemis, Chiron and the huntresses stood in the clearing. Night was still young, and everyone seemed to notice Cressida's eyes. They all gasped, even Artemis.
Chiron trotted over to Cressida. "Child, your eyes – it's a sign from your godly parent. But who may that be?"
Cressida was paralysed from head to toe. A sign? All the kids stared in amazement. The huntress's mouth was agape. Artemis walked over to Cressida, her silvery eyes shining.
"You're the child the gods are suspicious about." Artemis murmured, nodding in concern. Chiron and she shared a look.
"You're unclaimed?" The girl with black hair and blue eyes emerged from the crowd and stood by Artemis.
"Yes, Thalia. This is her," Chiron said, his eyes wary.
Thalia shook her head, eyebrows lowered in concentration. "She should've been claimed at thirteen…"
"Yes, dear," Artemis nodded. "That is why our father is suspicious. No one at Olympus, the gods –even the minor gods have confirmed they were her offspring. They were pretty stern about it…"
Silence. Cressida hated silence. She hated this attention. Then, all at once… the most astonishing thing happened. Artemis gave a wide berth, as did Thalia. Chiron stumbled on his hooves. The kids at camp half-blood stepped back. Cressida eyes glowed a furious star-light shade. Jack – who was in the crowd covered his mouth with his palm.
A black, wispy, shadowy haze covered the whole camp. Even in the night, this darkness was so powerful – so uniquely shadowy that the darkness left no sign of light. Everything was dark but Cressida. She stood there, confused. Her eyes as constellations as everyone stared in the dark, at her. Then, stars of the nebula, all kinds of constellations were everywhere. They weren't above, they were all surrounding Cressida. She was encased in a starry-shadowy wrap of constellations.
Both on Cressida's side, sprouted black leathery wings that were so beautiful, Artemis gasped in stunned astonishment. "I knew…" Artemis whispered.
"It cannot be." Chiron murmured. "It has been confirmed…"
"What has?" Cressida asked, and her voice didn't sound like hers. It sounded rich, and maturely beautiful. She was so stunned.
"Impossible," Artemis whispered.
All at once, the starry shroud was gone. The wings were gone, the constellations were gone. But Cressida's eyes were still starry.
Cressida stumbled, and then caught herself. Jack stepped out of the crowd and faced everyone. "It is true," He confirmed. "She is a daughter of the Night. She's been suspecting it for quite a while." Everyone stared at Cressida.
"Yes," Cressida croaked, and finally found her voice. "It's true."
Chiron swallowed, and Artemis glanced at the night sky. "It is determined," Chiron announced his face aghast and eyes in terrifying horror. "Mother of all terrors, Primordial Deity of Night, and first born from Chaos. Hail, Cressida, daughter of the Night."
All at once, everyone bowed. Even Artemis. Cressida was shaking; shaking so bad her eyes glowed even more. Everyone looked so horrified, Cressida couldn't take it anymore. She was breathing convulsively, driven by this strength inside her.
"No," Cressida whispered as everyone bowed. "I will not be looked upon with fear any longer." Chiron gave Cressida a questioning look then he went wide-eyed. Cressida's body transformed into a humanoid shadow.
Artemis stood her palms up. "Don't do anything rash, Child. There is no need for shadow travel. You are welcome here." Shadow travel? Cressida wanted to leave more than anything.
"No, I am not." Cressida whispered, her eyes began to burn.
Chiron stood on his four-hooves. "Child, you are welcome here. Please, stop that."
Cressida wanted to leave, now. She didn't care what they had to say. Her shadow was darker now, and then, as she chose where to go – she zoomed so fast out of camp half-blood. She was gone, now – leaving everyone staring at the sky.
AN -
probably my last chapter... if there is hope that people will actually read, then, if im lucky, i will write another chapter. i have tons of ideas... but, sadly, no one will be there to read them.
so goodbye my friends, for now, shall i write a whole new story - not fanfiction - it is in progress, and i have written ideas and plots. so, stay tuned! and remember, "The only way to control the darkness, is when you learn to accept it." Im so proud of myself bc i wrote that quote heheheh brilliant