WE CAPTURE A FLAG

The greek demigods cheered. It was the best game in camp. They all loved playing.

The next few …hard for me to read.

"Is for me." Jason mutters.

"Yes, you're hardwired for Latin." Piper says. "Dork."

"Shut up." Jason chuckled.

At least, no harder … out of his tail.

"Might I mention that he was in front of Chiron." Will says.

Everyone looked to Percy.

"How?" Hazel asks looking at him.

"It's because of me." Poseidon admits.

Foot racing... slower than a tree.

"I've never thought of it that way." Travis says. "That makes me sad."

"It does." Apollo pouts.

And wrestling? Forget it. Every time I got on the mat; Clarisse would pulverize me.

Clarisse smirked at Percy. "You're damn right punk."

"There's more … beaten the Minotaur.

"Looking back. We really should have known who your dad was." Annabeth says.

"It is kind of obvious isn't it." Grover says.

"Hindsight is twenty-twenty." Athena tells them.

I knew the … strong as the Ares kids,

"Yet." Percy smirks.

or as good at archery … make of me either.

"No one did." Katie said. "You had us all stumped."

"I live to confuse." Percy smiles

"You really do."

Despite all that, …to bring her back...

"I still can't believe you had that planned so early." Annabeth shakes her head.

"I can't believe my dad didn't kill you." Nico says.

"Oh, he tried." Percy tell him.

"Oh, so he's done it more than once." Nico says.

Percy nods as Hades hides from Poseidon's glare.

I started to understand … make a phone appear?

"I'm so glad you didn't go with him." Annabeth says.

"It would have been the end of us." Clarisse says.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Zeus asks looking at the children.

"Very quick version." Travis starts.

"There was someone who didn't like you guys-" Connor continued.

"-And started a war- "

"-And we almost lost-"

"-And if Percy would have gone with them-"

"None of us would be here." Katie finishes.

Jason, Hazel, Frank, Piper, and Leo looked at their friends shocked. No one really talked about the Titan War that they all had fought in.

The gods were shocked as well. What could this one boy do to have that kind of power.

After a moment Jason kept reading.

Thursday afternoon, three days …and my reflexes were good.

"Even better now." Frank says remembering how his friend had fought.

The problem was, … seemed to work for me.

"That's because only Riptide will balance for you." Poseidon tells him. "You can use others of course but only your sword will fit perfectly."

We moved on to … last three hundred years."

"Not anymore!" Travis yells.

Percy blushed slightly. "Shut up."

"Maybe he'll go easy on me," …battered and bruised.

Percy groaned, feeling the bruises coming back. He bent over slightly hugging his chest. He hoped these bruises didn't stay or he was in for a long book, maybe books.

"I think, considering the contents of this chapter, I should probably more." Will says.

The other's who knew what was going to happen nodded and scooted down. Will sat between Clarisse and Percy, checking over his newest injuries.

"Just bruised."

"Keep your guard up…"Now, back!" Whap!

Annabeth ran a comforting up and down her boyfriend's arm. His ribs were sure to be bruised and that didn't feel good at all.

Apollo quietly walked over as Jason kept reading, handing the boy some ice. Percy nodded gratefully, holding the ice to his ribs. Will nodded and kept making sure that nothing more serious happened to Percy's ribs, like cracking.

Apollo sat by the demigods, deciding that with the hints about the capture the flag game that they would need him along with his son.

By the time he called a break, I was soaked in sweat.

"Ugh." Percy groaned pulling away from Annabeth. "Hate this."

"It'll be alright seaweed brain." Annabeth says.

"Don't forget we're here!" Leo tells him.

Percy smiles at all his friends.

Everybody swarmed the … feel so awkward.

"Oh thank the gods." Percy sighed gratefully. His chest felt a little better, even if he was kind of soaked now.

"Okay, …but to drop his weapon.

"You won't do it." Clarisse taunts.

"Bet." Percy smirks.

"There's no way. It took me months to get that move down." Jason says.

Percy just smiles at him.

"This is difficult… out of my hand.

"This'll be interesting." Frank says.

"Oh yes." Travis smirks.

"Now in real time," …me with more force.

"He was testing you." Thalia says darkly.

"Yeah probably."

The sword grew …Clang.

"No way." Jason says in awe.

"It was the water. You got lucky." Clarisse tells him.

"Still did it." Percy shrugged.

Ares looked at the boy. Even with the water helping, it still took talent to pull that move off. The fight with this kid would be interesting.

Luke's sword … "Um, sorry."

"Why do you keep apologizing?" Aphrodite asks.

Percy rubs the back of his head. "Growing up I learned that when something went wrong it was my fault, so I apologize a lot." He didn't look at anyone.

"I'll kill that man." Poseidon mutters to himself.

For a moment, … But Luke insisted.

Percy sat back on the couch and huffed, some of the soreness coming back. Luckily the water had healed most of the bruises.

This time, there was no … "Beginner's luck?"

"That was me." Connor admits.

"I don't blame you." Percy said. "I'd probably think the same thing."

Luke wiped the sweat …with a balanced sword... ."

"Dudes a demon with a sword." Frank says.

"Facts." Nico says, remembering that fight after they went to the Styx.

"Best fighter we have." Clarisse says.

Friday afternoon, I was …singed off my forearms.

Percy shook his arms as they started smoking slightly. "Oh, that's weird. Doesn't hurt but weird." He looked at his arms, that were now missing some hairs.

We sat on the pier… shade of yellow.

"Was it really that bad?" Piper asked.

"No, I was just really nervous." Grover says. "It's gotten a lot better."

"Fine," he said. … want a searcher's license?"

"It's not likely you'll get one." Dionysus says.

Grover smirks. "Of course."

"Well... no." I had no … why would you want me along?"

"I said it before, and I'll say it again." Percy says. "Of course, I'd want you along."

"Thanks." Grover smiles.

"I'm still coming to the fact that the satyrs actually do things." Jason says. "Fauns are almost useless."

"Of course I'd … a useful skill."

"You have many useful skills." Thalia says. "I'll fight you."

"Please don't." Grover asks.

I tried to reassure him … have one, she'd be mad."

Artemis nodded. "My hunters need a place to sleep when they come."

"It's a very beautiful cabin m'lady." Thalia nods.

"Yeah, okay. But the … the sons of Kronos."

The demigods shivered at the name. They all hated thinking about the War. But these books were going to make that impossible. It wasn't going to be fun.

"Zeus, Poseidon, Hades." … Hades the Underworld."

"How did that work exactly?" Hazel asked.

"Like this." Hades said, producing three cards. Each card had a picture of each realm.

They raised in the air, turned blank and shuffled themselves. Then the three brothers picked their card, which then revealed their realms.

"That easily?"

"Indeed." Poseidon says.

"Wow." Frank says. "I thought there would have been some kind of battle or something."

"Uh-huh."

"But Hades doesn't have a cabin here."

"Yet." Nico smiles.

"No. He doesn't have … their cabins empty?"

"Used to be empty." Hera huffed glaring at the big three children. "Should be empty."

Grover shifted his hooves … swore on the River Styx."

"Turns out that oath was useless." Zeus grumbles.

Poseidon smiled. "It was just a show. We all knew it wouldn't work it was only a matter of time."

Zeus repeated the sentence mockingly. "Shut up."

"You can really tell their brothers." Leo states.

Everyone else nodded.

Thunder boomed. … kept their word-no kids?"

Hera snorted.

"I did!" Hades exclaimed.

Grover's face darkened. … terrible fate on his daughter."

Everyone turned to Thalia, who waved at them all.

"Yes that's me."

"But that isn't fair…. way to the top of that hill."

Everyone was silent as the story was told, not wanting to interrupt

He pointed across the valley… was wounded and tired,

Jason was watching his sister, not being able to imagine her in that situation. Not wanting to imagine that situation.

Thalia looked to him and gave him a smile. She was fine. He nodded, relaxing some.

and she didn't want … is called Half-Blood Hill."

"You're incredibly brave." Frank says. "I don't think I could have done that."

"You could have." Thalia says determinedly. "I don't recommend it but you could have."

I stared at the pine in the distance.

The story made me feel hollow, and guilty too.

Percy sighed. All of these tiny descriptions were getting tiring. His mood going up and down was also annoying, even if he couldn't feel annoyed because of the book.

A girl my age … I have saved my mother?

"That thought process isn't a good one." Artemis tells him.

Percy just shrugged.

Everyone looked to him. Maybe there was more to their friend than he let on. And maybe it wasn't all good.

"Grover," I said, "have heroes really gone on quests to the Underworld?"

"Sometimes," he said. "Orpheus. Hercules. Houdini."

"Houdini is a demigod?!" Hazel asks shocked.

"Hecate." Athena says.

"That makes so much sense."

"And have they … to guard a demigod?"

"I knew you were lying but I wanted to hope." Grover says.

"I keep forgetting you can read emotions." Percy tells him.

"Most people do." Dionysus says causally.

Grover studied me warily… could cause really huge problems."

"Big problems like big prophecies." Percy mutters.

"Really hate prophecies." Everyone agrees.

"Nothing but problems." Will adds.

"And you found me… reassuring himself more than me.

"Probably."

That night …for capture the flag.

Percy's nerves shot up. He did not want to relive this. Annabeth grabbed his hand and started rubbing circles on it.

"It'll be okay." She whispered.

Apollo heard and was slightly concerned for what was about to come.

When the plates were cleared … bloody spear and a boar's head.

"This sounds much more fun than war games." Frank says.

"It is." Percy tells him, the only one to have done both.

I turned to … "But often."

"Not anymore." Clarisse grumbles.

"Sorry not sorry." Percy smiles.

"So, if another …have to get one."

"Finally, something good going on." Ares grins.

"Whose side are we on?" … you are going to help."

"That's so ominous." Hades comments.

"I don't like it." Poseidon mutters.

The teams were announced…-in order to win support.

"That's a good team." Athena said approvingly. "Power in numbers."

"We'll totally win." Apollo said, air hi-fiving Hermes from his spot with the demigods.

Ares had allied … actually good athletes,

"Of course, they are." Dionysus says, looking up from his magazine.

"I didn't know you were paying attention." Ares sneers.

No one noticed the sad looks on a few of the demigods at the mention of Dionysus' sons. Castor had been a great fighter.

but there were … in the metal shop all day.

Leo let out a cheer for his cabin, causing his dad to give a small smile.

They might be a problem… else on the planet.

Clarisse smirked. "You go that right."

Chiron hammered his …Arm yourselves!"

"This sounds like a lot of fun." Jason says, also jealous. War games never changed up but it seemed that his game did. He wished that the roman camp would get new ideas sometimes. He'd have to propose this one.

He spread his hands… supposed to use these?"

"Duh Jackson." Ares sneers.

Luke looked at me … allies had red plumes.

"You looked ridiculous." Annabeth chuckled.

"Not as bad a death breath over there." Percy teased.

"Hey!" Nico exclaimed.

"We all look ridiculous when we first get there." Will says.

"Too true." Katie nods.

Annabeth yelled, "Blue team… off toward the north.

"This is going to be good." Ares says happily.

"I have a bad feeling." Artemis mutters, looking at the children. They acted excited but she could see that some of them were nervous. She didn't like what that was entailing.

She wasn't the only god to notice either. The others were watching their kids carefully. Apollo not moving from his spot.

I managed to catch … afraid I'd stolen something.

"I'm offended wise girl." Percy says, putting a hand to his heart.

"Oh, shush you." Annabeth laughs holding his hand. She could feel the nervousness radiating off him.

"Just watch Clarisse's spear… wanted me on your team."

"Sorry." She whispered.

"You're alright."

It was a warm, sticky night…hand like a bowling ball.

"Sorry, ahead of time Prissy." Clarisse says looking at him.

"Me too."

"I don't like that." Poseidon says looking at the two.

There was no way …, somewhere close by.

Travis, Connor, Katie, Clarisse, Will, and Annabeth's heads turned to Percy.

"It was there that early?!" Annabeth yelled.

"I guess so." Percy said quietly.

"What was there?" Dionysus says, looking up.

No one said anything, anxious to finish this chapter.

I raised my … Clarisse screamed.

"Yeah! That's my girl!" Ares yells.

Clarisse smiles at her dad.

Her ugly pig eyes …against half the Ares cabin.

"Stay you coward." Ares sneers.

"I didn't really have a choice." Percy tells him.

I managed to … and the air burned.

Percy stiffened up as the shock went through him again. Was he crazy or did it feel worse than he remembered? "Can't feel my arm." He gets out through gritted teeth.

Apollo moved to sit next to him, looking him over. He nodded to Jason to keep reading. He had this handled. Will was on Percy's other side, monitoring.

Poseidon watched anxiously.

Electricity. … and I hit the dirt.

Percy took a gasping breath as he felt the hit in his chest. He guessed the bruises from earlier did not fade as he thought they had as they ached as well.

Apollo put a healing hand on the boy's back, trying to relieve some of the pain.

"Nothings cracked or broken yet." Will mutters.

They could've … both my arms felt numb.

Percy groaned. "This sucks."

"You're alright Percy." Annabeth said comfortingly.

Clarisse grimaced as she watched Percy feel these attacks again. She felt a little guilty.

Percy's friends watched worriedly. They wanted to help but they couldn't really do anything.

"Oh, wow," Clarisse said…didn't come out that way.

"Don't give away the position!" Ares shouts not registering the atmosphere of the room.

Aphrodite smacked the back of his head. He glared at her, but she just pointed at Percy, who was bent at the waist, Apollo's hand on his back, Will making sure he didn't get worse. He looked over and remembered the conversation from earlier. He shut his mouth. Now wasn't the time.

"Yeah," one of her … leaving a good-size cut.

Percy gasped again as his chest was hit and as the cut on his arm opened again. Apollo was muttering to himself, summoning some gauze to hold to Percy's arm.

Seeing my own blood made me dizzy-warm and cold at the same time.

Percy swayed slightly, threatening to fall off the couch.

Apollo looked to Will. "Help me get him down, so he doesn't fall."

Will nodded and slowly they lowered Percy to the floor where he squeezed his eyes shut breathing deeply.

"We've got you Percy. Don't worry." Apollo said soothingly.

Percy nodded carefully.

"These books are going to be hell." Athena mutters. The other gods who heard her nodding along. This was hard enough to watch, they didn't even want to think about would happen later.

"No maiming," …double-espresso jelly beans.

Percy took a deep breath. The pain started ebbing away. Apollo kept him down after a look and shake of the head from Will. Not that Percy was trying to get up anyway, knowing what was going to happen in a few minutes.

Poseidon watched his son, feeling better now that he was in the water.

Clarisse and her … he crumpled into the water.

Everyone was silently cheering for Percy, not wanting to break the tension in the room. It was still serious. Poseidon gave a small smile as he listened..

Ugly Number Two and … You corpse-breath worm!"

Thalia decided to break the silence. "That's Nico kelp for brains."

That did it. Everyone broke out laughing. It lasted for a good five minutes. Percy wincing a bit, but still laughing.

Jason continued in a better mood. Nothing worse could happen right?

She probably would've … "It was a trick."

"Well duh that's how you play." Hades says.

"We should play." Hermes suggests. "Godly capture the flag."

The gods all looked to each other. Maybe. If they were all in a good mood.

They staggered after Luke…We'd won.

There were cheers around the room. The last of the tension leaving. Percy stayed on the floor though, head in Annabeth's lap, who'd moved down after he fell into the creek. She was stroking his hair. Them and the others there that night were still tense.

I was about to … myself getting angry.

Percy tensed and took a deep breath. Now was not the time to let his emotions get away from him. He concentrated on Annabeth's hand.

I wasn't even fazed … always, always has a plan."

"That was a good plan daughter." Athena says.

"Thank you, mother." Annabeth smiles.

"A plan to get me pulverized… small scar, and disappeared.

The same cut on Percy's arm closed as well. Apollo removed the gauze and made them disappear. "There we go!"

Annabeth looked to him and minutely shook her head. Apollo looked at her confused but got the feeling he shouldn't leave.

Artemis looked to her brother confused. Why wasn't he getting up?

"I-I don't get it," …Annabeth steadied me.

Percy's eyes started closing slightly. "This isn't going to be fun."

"No, it's not seaweed brain." Annabeth says. "But Apollo is here this time. And Will knows a lot more now."

Percy nods.

"Oh, Styx," she cursed. "This is not good. I didn't want ... I assumed it would be Zeus... ."

Zeus scoffed. "As if."

Before I could ask … howl ripped through the forest.

"What is that?" Poseidon demands. "What's happening."

Artemis looked to her brother. "I've got this." He says. Artemis nods, still ready to go if he ended up needing her anyway.

Everyone watched concerned. Some scared for their friend.

The campers' cheering …looking straight at me.

"No." Poseidon whispered, face pale.

Hermes walked over to him and put a hand on his shoulder. "It's alright uncle P. He's right there, Apollo and Will are with him. He's gonna be okay."

Poseidon nodded.

Nobody …ripping through my armor,

Percy took a wheezing breath, red starting to soak through his shirt.

"Shit." Apollo muttered, pulling it up, staring at the large cuts. He and Will tried to help with the bleeding. It may not end until it does in the book, but they could slow it and make it easier.

Will pressed his hands against the wounds, trying not to wince as Percy groaned. Apollo muttered a pain relieving blessing hoping it would actually help. This is a new kind of situation.

there was a cascade of … hundred pounds of delicatessen meat.

Percy stared at the ceiling, feeling the same kind of numbness he had then. It still hurt but it was muted.

"Keep your eyes on me seaweed brain." Annabeth mutters.

Percy smiled weakly up at her.

Apollo muttered a healing spell and watched as the injuries tried to heal but refused to close.

"Continue Jason." Poseidon demanded in the calmest voice he could produce, watching what was happening.

Chiron trotted up …"Someone inside the camp."

The demigods glowered, knowing it was Luke.

Luke came over, … "I'm okay."

"No, you're not." Poseidon says with a small laugh. Percy gave him a small grin before wincing.

The demigods watched slightly jealous as Percy got the attention from his dad, but quickly shook it off. If anyone deserved it, it was Percy.

"No, you're not," …Some of the campers gasped.

Percy took a deep breath, the lacerations finally closing. Will and Apollo sat back with relief. Apollo took some clothes and wiped up the blood from Percy's chest. He handed some to Will who wiped his hands clean.

Percy opened his eyes fully and thanked the two that helped him.

"No problem cuz." Apollo says.

"Try not to do it again." Will says.

"No promises."

"Look, I-I don't know … three-tipped spear: a trident.

"See I did claim you." Poseidon said, trying to lighten the mood.

"Your father," …Hail, Perseus Jackson, Son of the Sea God."

The demigods gasped and looked at each other.

"Storm or fire." Hazel says.

"Oh my gods."

"Time for bet!" Hera claps her hands, not paying attention.