Chapter 2: Just another day at CHB

Another day another chapter. Two things 1) yes I do know it has been quite a while since chapter 1 and no I'm not sorry it took this long (I'd rather write it right) and 2) this symbol /`Ω´\will signal a setting transition and will take us to a different area or time... MAYBE EVEN BOTH! Anyways sit back, relax, shut up and enjoy!

JIM

As far as bad days go this was pretty low on the list. Once Clairsse caused some pretty serious electrical burns with a toaster.

Ozzie was still beside Jim nagging him "how does that even happen? How do you even overload a land mine?" She asked as she ran her hand through her pixie cut.

"Hephaestus kids can do just about anything as long as it doesn't include them talking to people" Jim replied holding his nose.

Ozzie sighed "Just stop setting your cabin on fire" she scolded.

Jim growled "I'M NOT PERCY OZ! I'M A SON OF ARES!" He yelled.

"PERCY USES WATER!" She yelled.

"AND I FIRE BULLETS! GET WITH THE PROGRAM FLOWER CHILD!"

"Don't blame Leo either" She muttered.

"WHO THE HADES IS LEO?! IS HE ONE OF THE NEW GUYS WHO JUST GOT BACK FROM THE QUEST?" Jim asked.

Ozzie looked dumbfounded "… maybe" she stated.

"WAIT! IS HE A HEPHAESTUS KID?!" Jim yelled the question.

"Its not like he LIKES his power!" She yelled back.

"WHATEVER SHUT UP AND LET ME SLEEP!" Jim yelled "MY NOSE HURTS!"

"Just drink some nectar, you'll be fine in a few minutes" stated Ozzie in a matter of fact tone.

Jim looked pale when Ozzie mentioned it "That stuff tastes like angry Greek yogurt. I won't drink it" he protested.

"It tastes like chicken wings, Jim"

"Chicken wings that hate you!"

"Ambrosia then" Ozzie suggested.

Jim looked worse when she mentioned that "… fine I'll drink the nectar"

"Whats wrong with ambrosia? It tastes like Ribs!"

"Too much will kill me! That's what Mark said." Jim yelled before looking down "He lied didn't he?"

"Well no, but you'd have to eat a crazy amount, one square wont hurt you" the back and fourth continued.

"Fine" he stated taking a square and scarfing it down "hmm… it tastes like… chicken?"

/`Ω´\

Jim always felt better with his Kopis on his side. The familiar weight was comforting. He wasn't allowed to use his gun during sparring but that was never really a problem.

"Don't shy away from a challenge. If you're not willing to fight, you're not willing to survive" The trainer drilled them the same way she has for years "Jim you will spar with your brother Ellis…" she gave out everyone's partners but Ellis and Jim locked eyes ready to tear each other apart. They had a long standing grudge since the first day. Ellis swapped Jim's pillow with a pillow case full of barbed wire while he was in the shower.

Ozzie poked Jim with her elbow "go easy on him" she joked.

"No promises Oz" Jim stated as he drew his curved blade.

If Ellis could have made the fight anymore difficult he should have. He was carful striking fast when it was opportune and dodging very nimbly. He nicked Jim good a few times slashing through the light leather chest plate and the new shirt and drawing blood, he even got Jim in the left shoulder and right leg. Though this was one of the easiest matches Jim had, had in a while, perhaps Ellis was going easy because of the fire. However in a fit of rage Jim slashed harder than most could at that speed. He nicked Ellis in the arm with the edge of the blade causing a shallow wound and followed up with striking him in the head with the pommel of his sword. As Ellis crumbled to the ground Jim backed up and checked on Ozzie's fight.

She was holding her own. Lunging and slashing at her opponent, a lanky blond kid about 5'6, with her dagger. She had a bit of blood in her brown pixie cut and taking a few to blows to minor areas. Legs, arms Et cetera . Being as small as she is, roughly 4'7, it's difficult to keep her on lock down. She dodged between the legs of her partner. After that it was all over. After she rolled between his legs Ozzie gave a powerful upward slash all the way up his back and he crumpled to the ground.

Jim jogged over to her and gave her a friendly slap on the back "well Oz you've beaten your previous best! You know what that means!" Jim stated a little overexcited.

Ozzie's eyes widened in shock "JIM NO!" She yelled.

"JIM YES!" He yelled as he picked her up and ran to the canoe lake with Ozzie screaming and squirming the whole way.

"HELLER IF YOU DON'T PUT ME DOWN YOU'LL REGRET IT!" She yelled only too late realizing her poor choice of words "I-I mean-"

"Ha ha! Too late!" Jim yelled and threw her into the lake which started sprouting a bundle of Lotuses as soon as she made contact. Jim ran like the wind.

/`Ω´\

After the fire that night Jim was pumped up and had a fresh red mark on his face. Ozzie was still a little mad at him for the lake fiasco.

It was capture the flag. Jim's favourite part of the week. Buuuuut there was a huge challenge tonight. On the other team were the three who recently got back from the quest Leo Valdez, whom Ozzie told Jim about, Jason Grace who was from a Roman camp apparently and finally Piper McLean. Jim made a mental note to stay away from those three.

"Okay so how are we gonna do this?" Jim asked.

"I can do some scouting and find the flag" one guy whispered.

"We'll run a distraction" Clairsse stated grabbing Ellis by the wrist "and um… Jim! You take Ozzie and get the flag while they're distracted. You got out of your beatings this is punishment"

"What do you mean? You broke my nose!" Jim yelled at his sister "whatever I'll get it done"

For once the plan went off with no major hitches. The heavy hitters were too busy funnelling people through choke points to notice the small party moving to the flag. Ellis had his pants set on fire (serves him right) during the distraction and Ozzie and Jim carted the flag back to the capture zone. By the time anyone noticed they were too far gone.

"The Red team is victorious" Chiron yelled.

Jim was out of breath and Ozzie slapped him on the back "we won Jim! You wanna now what happens now?" She asked.

"A nap?" Jim guessed though something told him it was wrong.

"Nope" she said in a high pitched voice "PAY BACK! Grab him Clairsse!" She yelled as he was carted off to the lake.