"I still don't understand why I'm stuck in defence," Vivienne grumbled, her tone laced with frustration, as she tugged at the loose strand of armour on her shoulder. The ill-fitting armour seemed like a mismatched puzzle piece, leaving her feeling more like a walking scrapyard than a formidable warrior. A nearby camper chuckled at her plight, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
"Hey, don't feel too bad. We've all been there. It's like a rite of passage for the newbies,," he said. "Besides, trust me, you don't want to go on offence. You'll get eaten alive." She gave a half-hearted nod. All around her, campers were getting geared up with armour way tougher than hers, and weapons she didn't even have names for. Some of them were already engaging in some light sparring, while others were carrying the flag around, looking for the perfect spot to place it. In the centre of all the commotion, a group of campers huddled together, their faces etched with a mixture of determination and seriousness. Vivienne recognized Leo among them, his brows furrowed as he fervently drew diagrams on the ground with a sharp stick. The others she didn't know, but they all had grave expressions.
"Is it always this tense?" she frowned, asking a random camper beside her. The air was full of intensity, as if every camper had chugged a dozen cans of caffeinated ambrosia.
"Oh yeah, we take Capture the Flag very seriously," the campers nodded. "And if we're against the hunt… oh boy the competition is even higher."
"I see…" Vivienne said quietly. The camper next to her, another girl, though she was much older, seemed to smile slightly.
"It's a tradition dating back centuries," she explained.
"Something from Percy Jackson?" Vivienne asked. The camper shrugged.
"I've only been here thirteen or so years, but that's what I've heard. Apparently, he got into a big argument with the Lieutenant of the Hunt." Vivienne frowned.
"Thalia?" Vivienne asked, eyes widened with curiosity. The camper nodded, a grin tugging at their lips.
"Yep! Annabeth once said that Percy made the entire creek rise up… gallons upon gallons of water, and nearly flung it at poor Thalia."
"Annabeth? Who's Annabeth?" The camper looked around uneasily, as if making sure they weren't being eavesdropped on, before lowering her voice and saying, "She was Percy's first girlfriend, back during the second Titan and Giant wars."
"Oh," was all Vivienne managed to say. Percy Jackson was surprising her more and more by the minute. "What happened to her? I thought Percy liked Lady Arte-"
"Shhh!" the camper hissed. "I'm sorry, but names have meanings. Don't just use them so casually. You'll get into big trouble one of these days." Vivienne wanted to say something, but unfortunately that was the time Leo, the perpetual spark of murmur and mischief, began bounding over, an infectious grin plastered on his face.
"Hello Vivienne!" he said cheerily. "How are you this fine morning?" Vivienne managed a small smile, her mind still adjusting to the peculiar dynamics of camp, such as how a conversation can go from nostalgic to amusing in a matter of seconds.
"I'm okay," she replied.
"I see they've put you on defence! Don't worry, most new campers start here as well."
"Did you start here as well?" she asked. The crazy boy shook his head, his smile widening with pride.
"Nope!" he exclaimed. "But I was a special case!"
"How so?" Vivienne frowned. She still knew nothing about her 'brother,' the same way she knew nothing about this camp. Chiron said there was an orientation film for her to watch, but some others had told her that Capture the Flag was more important (they basically forced her to participate to 'increase the odds').
"You see, I kind of spawned straight into a war," Leo said. "It was all chaos and mayhem, and being the super, most awesome person at the camp, they were practically begging me to lead them into battle. Naturally, I obliged." Vivienne's eyebrows shot up in surprise.
"You led them into war? Just like that?" Leo nodded, his expression a mix of pride and playfulness.
"Oh yeah! And after the war, I was seen as an even more awesome person, so I never got dumped on defence. It's like they knew I was destined for greater things." All of a sudden, Leo frowned. "Come to think of it, I never got put on offence either, although I still don't know why…"
"It's because the last time Leo was on offence, Percy had about five different mental breakdowns in the span of ten minutes!" a deathly pale boy yelled from half way down the creek. Leo shrugged nonchalantly, as if to say, 'well he's not wrong.'
Vivienne fidgeted with her armour strap, tugging it back up her shoulder.
"Here, let me give you a hand with that," Leo said, turning her around and tightening the straps for her."
"Thanks," she mumbled when he was finished. He waved it off.
"As much as I'd love to stay around and help you crush the hunt, I'm not allowed to take part in Capture the Flag anymore." He sighed wistfully.
"How come?" she asked. "You seem like you'd be a pretty good player." Although she could see the camp at their fullest strength, preparing for the game, Vivienne knew they were just no match for the hunt. The hunters of Lady Artemis, although separate people, acted as one body, with reason and with unity. She already knew they were going to win, and no Leo meant one less person on their side.
"I'm a god," he chuckled with a twinkle in his eyes. "If I decide to participate, Artemis will take that as a sign to join in, and believe me the stakes are bad enough as it is."
"Aren't you stronger than Lady Artemis?" she asked politely. The words barely left her mouth when someone next to her erupted in outburst.
"WHAT!" they yelled. "Leo stronger than Artemis!? You must really be clueless in the world of Greek Mythology to think that!" Vivienne was taken aback by the camper's reaction, but Leo remained surprisingly calm. He simply nodded, a wry smile forming.
"Me against Artemis is like you against Jason," he explained. "It's just not happening."
"But you're also a god!" Vivienne interjected, still incredulous. Leo let out a chuckle, shaking his head.
"Being a god doesn't mean I'm automatically on the same levels as the Olympians. Artemis is much older and wiser than me, and her domains are far more powerful. Honestly, I feel like when the Fates gave us our domains, they gave power to the one person who didn't want it. The rest of us got lame abilities, but at least Percy and Jason had something half decent to brag about."
"What were his domains?" Vivienne asked, leaning closer towards her brother. Leo simply shook his head.
"I've said too much already," he said, almost apologetically. "Good luck to you and the rest of the camp. Maybe this time we can finally end the hunt's winning streak. Then again, I said the same thing last time… and the time before that… and the time before that…" Vivienne couldn't help but laugh at Leo's self-deprecating humour. It was clear that the odds weren't looking in favour of them, but what's wrong with a little bit of optimism?
As soon as the piercing sound of the horn reverberated through the air, an eerie silence settled over the creek. The rustling leaves seemed to hold their breath, anticipating the battle that was about to commence. Immediately, the offencive team began stealthily creeping into the dense forest. Vivienne's heart pounded in her chest as she watched the trees swallow them whole, obscuring her view and leaving her in a state of suspense. After a long debate, the campers had decided to hide their flag at the far edge of the creek. It was in the view of anyone who came, but it would be pretty easy to defend, especially due to the natural water barrier. Situated right in front of the flag were seven big, tough looking guys and girls. Their weapons glinted in the dappled sunlight, poised to strike down any adversary who dared to approach. Flanking them were several other campers, smaller in size, but still carrying a burning intensity in their eyes. Finally, at the forefront of the defenceline, a row of campers stood with their weapons out, eyeing the treeline nervously. Vivienne was amongst them, clutching her heavy sword tightly. She'd heard some of the campers next to her whispering about how they were always called the 'disposables.' Vivienne didn't know what that meant, but she doubted it could be anything good.
"Don't worry," one of the campers next to her said, as if she could sense her uneasiness. "You've been with the hunt for a few days, they should probably take it easy on you." The girl next to her snorted.
"Easy? In Capture the Flag? You must be dreaming! Mercy isn't a thing. I know for a fact that Thalia wouldn't hesitate to throw you to the floor if it meant victory." Vivienne nodded, panic slowly beginning to creep into her.
"I'm Hannah by the way," the first camper introduced herself, sticking her hand out.
"And I'm Ellie," the second one chimed in.
"Vivienne," she said, hastily shaking both their hands.
"We know," the duo said in union. "It's kind of hard to forget the person who dropped in last night, and also happens to be the first person I've seen that was nineteen and stuff unclaimed. By the way, you're holding your sword wrong." Hannah stepped closer, guiding Vivienne's hands to adjust her grip and demonstrating the correct stance.
"Thanks," Vivienne muttered, feeling a sense of embarrassment. Hannah waved it off dismissively.
"Don't mention it," she replied. Vivienne watched as Hannah reached into her pocket, pulling out a small vial, no more than 300ml. Opening it, she offered it to Vivienne, who was immediately taken aback. She'd only just met these girls and they were already offering her strange substances from a vial.
"Take a sip," Hannah insisted, practically shoving the vial into Vivienne's face. "A little bit of liquid courage never hurts!"
"It tastes euphoric," Ellie said… well euphorically.
"I'm good thanks…" Vivienne said, trying for a polite smile.
"You're turning down nectar?" Hannah exclaimed, her disbelief evident. She shrugged, then proceeded to gulp down the remaining contents of the vial in a single audacious swig. "More for me, I guess," she muttered under her breath. "It's only the food of the gods, no big deal…" Vivienne may have been tempted, but she was no fool, and accepting random substances from someone she barely knew definitely sounded like a foolish thing to do. She preferred playing it safe. It was what her mum had always told her to do, and it was what she had learned to do.
All of a sudden, the atmosphere at the creek changed. Vivienne wasn't the only one who noticed it, as a lot of the campers began tensing up as well, standing in a more defensive stance.
"Here they come!" Hannah's whispered words carried an undercurrent of both excitement and trepidation. Vivienne tried to steady her racing pulse, taking in the weight of Hannah's warning. "Just remember Vivienne, anything goes. The only rule is don't kill, and don't get killed." All of a sudden, the playful atmosphere of the camp had dissipated, replaced by a nerve-wracking situation.
"Wait, we can die doing this?" the daughter of Hephaestus asked in alarm, but it was too late. As the words left her mouth, the entire tree front exploded as hunters of all sizes charged towards them, weapons raised high. Just then, for the first time that day, Vivienne felt true fear. The sight before her was overwhelming: a swarm of skilled and ruthless hunters charging with unwavering determination. The realisation dawned on her that she was facing a formidable opponent, one that demanded every ounce of her strength and wits.
As the first line of defence crumbled under the hunters' onslaught, Vivienne felt a surge of helplessness. Hannah and Ellie valiantly held their ground against two adversaries, their weapons clashing with swift precision, but behind them, chaos reigned supreme. Campers and hunters clashed in a frenzied melee, their bodies a whirlwind of movement and desperation. The cacophony of clashing weapons, grunts of exertion, and shouts of defiance filled the air. Vivienne watched in awe as the combatants exhibited remarkable skill, each move calculated and executed with deadly precision. Her heart raced with a mix of admiration and terror. It was a symphony of chaos, a dance of blades and brawn. The battlefield was a patchwork of triumphs and setbacks, as campers fought tooth and nail to defend their flag against the relentless tide of hunters.
Finally, amidst the knives and arrows, one hunter managed to grab their flag. Letting out a shriek of delight, she turned around on her heel and began sprinting back towards the other side. With extreme stealth and agility, she weaved between campers, occasionally taking her time to knock a few to the floor. For a moment, Vivienne thought it was all over and that this was how they were going to lose. Her heart sank as she watched Phoebe, a beacon of triumph, swiftly closing in on victory. She felt a surge of frustration and helplessness, fearing that all their efforts would be in vain. The spectre of defeat loomed large, threatening to crush their spirits. However, just as doubt creeped into her mind, the deathly pale boy from before emerged out of the shadows like a ghostly apparition. Literally. One moment he wasn't there, and the next he just appeared. The hunter hadn't seen him either, her eyes widening in shock as the pale boy stuck his leg out.
"Not this time, Phoebe," he smirked, hitting the hunter lightly on the head. Picking the flag up, the pale boy ambled towards her, giving it back to her.
"Do a better job at guarding it, will ya?" he quipped, his tone a mixture of amusement and challenge, before sprinting into the forest, cackling gleefully as he did.
When Vivienne returned back to the flagpole, she was surprised to only see one other person.
"Oh yes!" he said in relief as he noticed the flag. "For a second I thought we lost. It would've been the fastest loss in the history of Capture the Flag against the hunters, which would've been pretty embarrassing."
"Where's everyone else?" Vivienne frowned, earning a shrug.
"I don't know," the boy admitted. "Most of them ran off with the hunters. I haven't seen them since."
"Most?" she asked with a raised eyebrow, her curiosity piqued by the cryptic response. The boy sighed.
"Well," he hesitated, his voice betraying a hint of hesitation, "the hunt can be... aggressive, to say the least. Let's just say that three of our fellow campers are currently seeking medical attention." Vivienne's throat tightened, a knot of anxiety forming within her. The gravity of the situation weighed heavily upon her as she absorbed the news of the casualties. Nevertheless, she steeled herself, refusing to succumb to fear. Taking her place at the base of the flagpole, Vivienne adopted a vigilant stance, her eyes scanning the treeline with unwavering determination.
"Fun day, isn't it?" the boy chuckled. "I'm sure that when you came to this camp, this wasn't how you were expecting day one to do." She cracked a small smile.
"I must admit, the hunters made this place sound worse than Tartarus. So from what they've said, it's not actually that bad. Besides, Capture the Flag is kind of cool."
"Until you get sent to the medical room," the boy added.
"Yeah, until that," Vivienne grinned, and the two sat in a comfortable silence for a bit, waiting for some sort of action.
"You know, I never asked," the boy began. "But why did you say no to the hunters? Nowadays, we barely get any females from the hunt who actually want to stay at the camp. Most of them get rapped in by the idea of partial immortality. What made you want to come and stay at camp?" Vivienne shrugged.
"I don't know," she said honestly. "I suppose, my whole life, it's always been just me and my mother. We've faced everything together, relying on each other's strength. The idea of suddenly being a part of a family as vast as the hunt felt overwhelming. I wanted something different." Her gaze turned inward, a faint shadow of longing in her eyes.
"And then there's love," she continued, her voice tinged with a mixture of hope and anticipation. "It's something I've been searching for, but it has eluded me thus far. Going with the hunt would be making that dream really hard for me to achieve."
The boy wanted to say something, but all of a sudden, another lone hunter ran towards them. In a seamless display of instinct, the boy lunged forward without hesitation, his body moving with the fluidity of a seasoned warrior. Vivienne watched in awe as he engaged the oncoming hunter, their blades clashing in a dazzling display of skill and precision. The clash of steel echoed through the clearing, the clash of wills reverberating amidst the chaos. Vivienne held her breath, her eyes locked on the intense duel that unfolded before her. Her palms grew clammy with nervous anticipation, her muscles coiled, ready to act if the need arose. The boy did get the hunter in her arm, but she grazed his leg. Eventually, as the duel intensified, the hunter's defences began to falter under the relentless assault. The boy seized the advantage, his strikes growing more forceful, each blow inching him closer to victory. Sensing the tides turning against her, the hunter made a split-second decision. With a burst of speed, she turned on her heels and dashed out of there, causing the bow to chase her behind. Soon, both her and the boy were out of sight, leaving Vivienne alone at the flag, her eyes full of fear and nervousness.
When she heard the rustling of leaves, Vivienne did the only rational thing she could think of Swiftly and silently, she slipped into the cover of a nearby bush, her heart pounding in her chest like a war drum. She peered through the foliage and saw Thalia emerge from the rustling leaves. Thalia scanned the area, her eyes widening as she noticed no one guarding the flag. Of course, Vivienne thought bitterly. This had all just been an elaborate plan to separate everyone from the flag. This is what she'd meant by saying the hunt was more likely to win. They were always five steps ahead.
Caution mingled with determination in Thalia's expression. She had been taught better than to assume it was a stroke of luck to find a flag unguarded.
"Who's there?" she yelled, her voice cutting through the tension like a knife. "Show yourself!" Vivienne's fear intensified, as she remembered what the boy had said about other campers getting sent to the medical room already. She didn't want to look like a coward by surrendering, nor did she want to stay hidden here, and nor did she want to face Thalia by herself. Somehow, she needed to devise a plan good enough to deceive Thalia and buy her some time.
"Show yourself, or I'll make you!" Thalia declared. Notching an arrow in her bow, she aimed it at a random bush, letting the arrow fly. Vivienne gulped. Time was ticking, and she only knew one small, probably foolish idea.
Remembering something she'd seen in a magic show ages ago, Vivienne slowly emerged from the bushes, her movements deliberate and calculated. Still concealed enough that Thalia wouldn't immediately know where she was, she used her hands to create a shadow on a nearby tree, mimicking her own silhouette. It was an old trick, but to this day, it still worked well in fooling people. The illusion would make it seem like she was standing there, while she remained hidden in the bushes.
Sure enough, as Vivienne had hoped, Thalia's attention shifted towards the shadow, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. She was a hunter, so she knew to take this kind of stuff with a pinch of salt, but Thalia also knew that soon enough, other campers would start coming back to the flag post. Hurriedly, she approached the tree, her guard still up. Every fibre of Vivienne's being was attuned to this critical moment, her breath held in anxious anticipation. If not, their team was screwed. Just as Thalia reached the spot, she quickly turned to face where it looked like the shadow was coming from, only to be disappointed that no one was there. Without missing a beat, Vivienne burst out from the bushes, her heart pounding in her ears. Changing forwards with a burst of adrenaline, without properly thinking about what she was doing, Vivienne jabbed her sword into a surprised Thalia's arm, before pushing her down. Thalia's pained groan echoed through the clearing as she stumbled backward, her body hitting the ground with a resounding thud. Vivienne, her breath ragged, stood over her fallen opponent, her gaze locked with Thalia's.
"I have to give you credit, that was a good tactic," she mumbled. "But did you really have to hit my arm like that?" All of a sudden, Vivienne realised the severity of her actions. At the time, it had seemed like a good idea, but now that she could actually see the red spot of blood, she started to panic.
"Thalia, I'm so sorry!" she said breathlessly. "I really didn't mean for it to happen. It was just all-"
"-In the heat of the moment?" Thalia interjected, her tone laced with a hint of understanding. She knew all too well the chaos and pressure that came with high-stakes battles. "Yeah, I know what you mean. Just get someone here will ya? And don't leave me like this alone." Nodding vigorously, Vivienne's mind raced with thoughts of how to get help without leaving Thalia. She couldn't bear the thought of leaving her defenceless, even for a moment. Suddenly, a glimmer of an idea sparked in her mind. She remembered the small mirror she always kept in her back pocket. It was a memento from her late grandmother, who had told her stories about using mirrors to signal for help in dire situations. This was the perfect opportunity to put that knowledge into practice. Vivienne quickly retrieved the mirror, holding it up to catch the sunlight. She angled it carefully, sending intermittent flashes towards the direction of the camp. The light reflected off the mirror, forming a series of coded signals in Morse code, silently pleading for assistance. Surely, at least someone there would understand Morse code, and even if they didn't they'd definitely want to know why a flashing light was coming from the end of the creek. After all, it was a very bright light.
As Vivienne anxiously scanned the surroundings, hoping someone would notice her distress signals, her heart skipped a beat. In the distance, she saw a figure emerging from the treeline, running towards them. It was another hunter , alerted by her desperate call for help. Relief flooded Vivienne's body, and she let out a shaky breath. Help was on its way. She glanced back at Thalia, gently reassuring her.
"Hang in there, Thalia. Someone's coming." Thalia mustered a weak smile, gratitude and trust shining in her eyes. Together, they waited for the approaching hunter, their bond strengthening in the face of adversity. Vivienne's heart swelled with a mix of fear and determination, knowing that they would overcome this challenge together. The hunter ran straight towards them… and ran past them?
Not even looking at her bleeding friend, the hunter ran to the flag and yanked it down. With a sinking feeling, Vivienne watched in disbelief as the hunter swiftly raced back towards the enemy lines. The weight of failure settled heavily upon her shoulders, mingling with frustration and a burning desire for redemption. Thalia's triumphant grin only served to rub salt in the wound.
"Your plan might've been good, but mine was better," Thalia grinned. "How did you even signal to the hunter to come here? I wasn't paying attention, you know, for the acting…"
"Morse code," Vivienne muttered through gritted teeth, her voice laced with bitterness. The realisation hit her like a punch to the gut. She had unwittingly fallen into Thalia's trap, playing a pawn in a cruel, but smart game of deception. She tried chasing after the hunter, but it was just too late. As she jumped into the other side, cheers erupted from the hunters who all picked her up and put her on their backs.
"Congratulations," Artemis said with a smirk, while Jason, Chiron and Piper only had faces of boredom. "And the hunters win again, although your campers are getting there, Jason. Perhaps a few more centuries and you might actually win." Jason rolled his eyes, clearly unamused.
"Yeah, yeah," he muttered. "I need a drink."
"Wait!" a voice suddenly yelled. Vivienne whipped around, only to see Thalia running towards Artemis while simultaneously bandaging her arm. So much for acting skills.
"Thalia, what happened to your arm?" Jason frowned, but she waved it off, grabbing Artemis and pointing at Vivienne.
"It's her!" she hissed. "I'm telling you it is!" Artemis raised an eyebrow.
"Thalia, you said that last time as well," the goddess muttered, but Thalia shook her head.
"No, you don't get it. I saw all of it!" Frowning, Artemis Pulled her inwards, and the two engaged in a heated, whisper discussion.
"What's going on?" Vivienne asked in a slightly scared voice. "I said I was sorry for your arm Thalia, I really just wasn't paying attention to what I was doing." Thalia sighed, turning to face the girl.
"It's not that. It's… see, we think you're the girl from one of Apollo's prophecies," she explained. Vivienne only furrowed her eyebrows.
"What, me? Don't be ridiculous."
"At first I said that as well," Artemis said, "but now it's becoming more and more apparent."
"What even is the prophecy?" Vivienne cried out. "I didn't even know you guys had prophecies." Thalia took a deep breath before reciting.
"For now, he is lost in his own solitude, but one day from nothing, will come The Seeker. Born from the flames of rejection, The Seeker speaks with light ,and fights with darkness. Only then will there be any possibility of finding his solitude."
No one spoke. As much as she didn't want it, Vivienne could see how it was her. She spoke with light, using Morse code, and then she fought with darkness, using shadows to manipulate her opponent.
"This-this can't be right." Vivienne said. "I mean, I'm just nineteen and got here last night." However, no one else was holding the same opinion as her.
"I think," Thalia said grimly, "it's time for you to consult with the Oracle."
So please do review and let me know what you think of this! Took some time but I think it's pretty good. We should be seeing Percy in the next few chapters as well