'A journey in the search of something often ends up being a journey to evolve connections'

After a problematic prank which had happened in the Hermes cabin Estelle ended up in the infirmary along with a few people. She'd waited for them to leave while she munched on a square of ambrosia, welcoming the taste of her mom's café's Pulpo a la Gallega. The texture was of course different but the taste had the same savory hints she'd longed for over the past year. Michael had left her alone in the infirmary as he disappeared off to give the Hermes cabin an earful for messing up his lunch break. Estelle vaguely wondered if he had handed her the ambrosia because it was more convenient than waiting for the symptoms to pass, assuming it was a harmless rat-snake since she hadn't managed to get a proper view of her attacker, or if she had actually been under the influence of a life threatening venom. She only remembered the scream she let out when the snake had latched onto her hand when she was reaching for Jae's copy of the home, or cabin, work. Her gaze flickered to the healed bite and felt only a temporary and fleeting sense of wooziness. Bracing herself Estelle stood up and Jae who'd been resting near the entrance peeked her head in to see a somewhat disoriented Estelle stepping out.

"Are you supposed to be up?"

"If I stay here any longer I think Michael might permanently strap me to the bed because I keep getting hurt. That and I skipped too many of Yu-Mi's classes," Estelle groaned anticipating the somewhat boring analysis into History and potentially Geography

Jae chuckled following Estelle towards the Hermes cabin, "I think it's interesting. Certainly more than hearing Asuka drone about taxes when she's trying to get us to do math"

"You only say that because she taught you about the Pythagoras cup and that Assasin's kettle or something"

"Assasin's teapot," she corrected.

"Whatever you sa-" Estelle jumped back as a camper basically flew through the air and hit his head against a tree.

The two demigods shared a look before rushing towards him, ripping off the flaming helmet quickly.

"You grab the top part and I'll do the legs," Jae told Estelle in a surprisingly calm manner as the two picked the boy up and reversed back to the infirmary. Michael and Orville were directing the rest of the Apollo cabin around as a few campers were running away from the border.

"There's another," Will yelled inside as they moved a few of the mildly burnt patients away. Will only took a look at Sherman, the demigod who had basically gotten catapulted by whatever the border patrol was trying to control, and began treating him for a concussion. With the rush in the cabin Jae and Estelle were naturally pushed towards the entrance where they left in a hurry to survey the situation and potentially help if they could. The arriving scene was one of chaos.

Clarrisse and Heiko were leading the border patrol, or they should have been. The demigods had scattered and a few were much like Sherman with their flaming gear. Those who weren't indisposed were attempting to form a sort of resistance while Heiko was attempting a fairly wild stunt. He'd semi scaled a tree and was aiming towards a point in the bull's neck, trying to decapacitate it in the traditional way. The issue was that it was a metal bull and its gears were churning inside and basically swallowed Heiko's sword when he thrust it toward its neck.

"Scheiße!" he cursed gripping onto the metallic horns as the bull tried to buck him off. Heiko slammed the hilt of his now demolished sword at an angle into the gears whirring inside the metallic creature and it paused in trying to cannonball Heiko off, instead struggling to crush the tungsten enforced hilt. Balancing himself on the bull Heiko tried to rip off the metal plating to jam the rest of the system.

"Assemble!" Clarrise yelled in the midst of this as the second bull circled the camp. The measly six demigods who were in alright condition got into a formation she'd yet to cover with Heiko. Phalanx, Estelle's mind whispered to her again. A clunk of metal followed as Heiko had effectively ripped off the metal plating near the shoulders of the bull and he stood precariously perched on the remaining plating on the bull's back. He used a smaller part of the bull's own plating to jam the gears further. The only thing this achieved were some springs and cogs falling off leaving the bull disoriented and somewhat shaky. The situation had pissed it off far worse than it had been before and it threw it's head back and gave a roar. The bull backed against a stone pillar and Heiko rolled off as it rammed its back into the pillar attempting to crush Heiko.

"Arschloch," and Heiko was alive and mostly unarmed from the fall.

"Stop standing there like and idiot!" a familiar authoritative voice rung out and Estelle moved instinctually to the Hermes cabin, a different kind of worry plaguing her mind.

The last she saw of the situation was Percy slicing the head off the bull Heiko had managed to basically disrobe, cogs and sparks flying as it rammed its head into a column. Heiko grabbed a fallen sword and went to finish it off while Percy.. fell down?

She didn't wait to watch as she stepped into the cabin, the snake filled morning forgotten as she stamped over a few blankets.

"Nakoa! Oh-" she paused as she saw Jae standing near the boy threateningly.

"Oh come on, you too? I told you I didn't use the laptop"

"Then what were you doing alone. In the cabin. During lunch," Jae said accusingly

Estelle eyed him reproachfully, "there's a fricking Colchis Bull outside!"

Nakoa's demeanor turned sagely, "it's alright Estelle, this is a safe space, you can curse"

"You're missing the point," Jae cut in, "where's the laptop?"

"Okay, fine I did use it. But I hid it so that no one else would find it"

"Oh good"

"Not good," Jae lightly smacked Nakoa on the head

Estelle warily looked outside as the shouting ceased signaling the death of the two bulls, "where did you hide it though?"

He had the decency to look guilty, "in the fields"

"The fields!" Jae's voice raised in panic, "you know how those kids are like"

Estelle looked enlightened, "you mean like those baby satyrs and nymphs"

"Yes," Jae agreed vehemently, "they think its fun and games to play lost and found in the fields because of the Stolls"

"If we go now it's probably still there," Nakoa stood up and gestured to the door, "after you"

Grumbling complaints the three left to the strawberry fields. The campers were gathered near Thalia's tree, a daughter of Zeus who'd died but was now immortalized as the pine-tree barrier for the camp, as they examined the remnants of the Colchis Bulls. This gave the trio easy access to the strawberry fields. Safe to say that easy access didn't mean the mischievous creatures hadn't gotten to them yet. That and the fact that the fields stretched on for miles and there wasn't really a clear separation or land mark you could use to find the exact point.

"It was here," Nakoa insisted, "I put it down with the bag right here and bolted to the cabin"

"Well it's not here anymore," Estelle looked around growing more hopeless by the second

Jae looked at the endless stretch of the field, "any satyr we know who could help out?"

They looked at Estelle wordlessly.

She shook her head, "Henry's scouting another demigod somewhere in Asia"

"Free flight," Nakoa grumbled

"One we can't afford to think about," Jae hissed distressed, "that was important to me dude. Why here of all places?"

Nakoa glared at the fields, "I don't get it. Why do you care so much? also, where else, the bathrooms?"

"The climbing wall," Estelle offered faintly from the distance as she walked amongst the plants in search of the device

Jae looked away uncomfortably, "doesn't matter. We'll check as much as we can now and we'll meet again tonight with anyone who'd help. Preferably someone from the Demeter cabin"

Estelle perked up, "we just need someone who can control plants, right?"

Jae shrugged, "yes, if we have an option like that"

Her and Nakoa shared a look, "Pollux," they chorused

By the time it was past 10 almost everyone in the Hermes cabin slept. Any later and they could expect to face the wrath of the Stoll brothers now turned head counselors. Everyone was peacefully asleep save for a certain blonde who was lying awake with her eyes closed in anticipation for the nightly raid. Near midnight Estelle woke up and maneuvered herself over the other campers careful not to step on any limbs before she shook Nakoa awake. For safe measure she covered his mouth to muffle his startled cry as he was awoken from his peaceful slumber. She placed a finger over her lips in a shush motion and the two stumbled across the cabin to the entrance. The hinges of the door to the Hermes cabin were always oiled to perfection to help minimize the noise and aid in whatever mischief they got into. This allowed them to slip outside almost soundlessly.

"Where to?" Nakoa yawned rubbing at his eyes

"Jae said she'd meet us here. As long as she avoids the harpies," she said in a hushed voice staring into the dark of the night. When she squinted hard enough the darkness melted away and she could see the paths clearly. Far in the distance she could see a figure appearing, perhaps Jae seeing that the girl was quite tall.

Nakoa looked around wildly hearing the rustling, "it's so dark I can't even see"

"I think something's coming here," Estelle inched back towards the cabin pulling Nakoa with her as they leaned against the walls of the cabin as a cover. Hidden from sight as best as they could her eyes widened when she realized it was a harpy. Her hand tugged on Nakoa's in urgency, unable to form the words in fear that the Harpy might notice. Nakoa caught on as he scrambled for a rock on the ground. The more time he took the closer the harpy got, her talons poised. A sudden sound happened behind the harpy and she whirled around. Nakoa made a face and in the distance you could hear the voice of someone.

"I think she left. We can go now." The harpy whirled around and rushed at the direction, hoping to catch sight of the demigod so she could announce to the entire camp.

"Oh no she's after us," the voice trailed off towards the end as Estelle stared at Nakoa in wonder

When the harpy was far enough she asked him, "did you do that?"

The demigod nodded, "Ventriloquism and a bit of added Hermes powers. Hopefully she's distracted long enoug- ah-"

Jae covered Nakoa's mouth for the second time that day to mute his scream. "Now", she announced softly, "we get Pollux"

And so the three demigods skirted around the cabins with Estelle surprisingly pointing out the direction in the pitch black darkness. Soon they were at Cabin Twelve, covered with twisting vines. Nakoa places his hands against the door and muttered something under his breath basically breaking into the cabin by disabling the lock. It took a few seconds before the satisfying click was heard. Estelle, the only reliable path finder they had at the moment peeked her head in, surprised at the somewhat adorable grape themed nightlight near Castor's bed. It illuminated the cabin with an eerie purple glow making the stage at the corner of the cabin seem ominous. Shaking her unfounded fears she crept to Pollux's bed, shaking another person out of sleep that night.

"Wha- Estelle?" he asked staring up at the girl with a bewildered look

"Shh.." she gestured to Castor who curled up in his bed with a furrow of his brows at the sudden noise.

She looked at Pollux with a pleading look, "Please, can you help us find something"

"What the fuck?" he frowned, "outside. With them out there?" he hinted to the harpies

"Just for a bit. You only have to sacrifice a little of your sleep"

"Nope," he said preparing to get back to sleep

"Jae's there!" she whisper yelled, "pretty please"

He considered and got out of bed with a sigh, "alright"

She hid a smirk at his compliance at the slightest mention of Jae, something she'd have to tease him later about. When she turned to leave with a willing participant she made eye contact with Castor who had been woken up by their conversation. She wasn't as close to Castor and the only reason she'd managed to befriend Pollux was because he'd been her mentor during her first year in Ancient History and Geography, a passion he'd developed because of his desire to travel or so he said. She gave Castor an awkward smile and Pollux mouthed something to Castor behind her back. With whatever signal his twin had given him in mind Castor turned over to face the wall, presumably faking sleep. With the coast clear, as clear as it could be with winged harpies ready to claw them and act as sirens for the entire camp, the four demigods sneaked off to the strawberry fields. Jae caught Pollux up while Estelle and Nakoa worked on distractions. When they made it to the fields Nakoa could only vaguely point out the position as they all squinted in the dark trying to differentiate one distance sign from the other until Estelle directed them to the sign she assumed was the right one.

"I left it here," Nakoa tapped the ground with his foot

"Alright then," Pollux seemed unconvinced but he knelt down and placed his hands amongst the grass and closed his eyes. Nothing happened. He pressed his palms harder into the ground and a soft vibration rung out through the field for a few yards and stopped as he heaved an exhausted sigh and sat on the grass.

After a few beats of silent expectation he shook his head, "not here"

Estelle looked off into the distance, "only a couple more tries"

Nakoa looked exhausted, probably because his sleep was interrupted. "Can't you make another one?"

"Just because my dad's Hephaestus doesn't mean I immediately know how to make every machine in the world. I like the tech side more, alright?"

No one responded. Finally, Pollux stood up and moved to another section of the strawberry fields. In the distance the harpies could be heard cleaning the plates from the dining pavilion. Rumors said they used pure lava but Estelle refused to believe it because then the plates would be melted.

A groan sounded from the son of Dionysus, "not here as well." Another two attempts later the situation wasn't looking any better. All that they achieved was tiring out Pollux who was taking slightly labored breaths as he bit down the exhaustion from using his power so thoroughly, in a domain that wasn't entirely his.

Nakoa glanced at the tired demigod, "how about I steal you a different one?"

"No!" Jae yelled. She lowered her voice to protect their cover, "what I mean is that it has to be this. You lost it, you know, just... help me find it," she looked away as if trying to hide her expression although they could barely see infront of their faces with the starless sky.

Estelle couldn't help her curiosity, "but why?"

"Yeah why," Nakoa egged her on, "what's so secretive about it bro." He thought of it as teasing to lift the mood but Jae took to the situation differently.

"I got it from Luke," her voice was raised as if she was in frustration, "he.. he helped me fit in with the tech thing. I cant bear to lose it, it's important to me even though its some useless piece of metal to you guys"

Pollux's face darkened but he responded with an even tone, "It's not really a useless piece of metal since it technically has the ability to be a monster satelite." He stood up and trudged closer to Jae without being in extreme close proximity. "I'll find it. So don't stress about it, Windsor"

Jae stomped at the ground as if to relieve her frustration, "I know he's an asshole because of what he did but he's a nice dude, you know. He was kind to the weirder kids and helped around at camp. That's why he-"

"I'll find it," Pollux said in a clipped voice and walked further ahead leaving a confused Jae and two uncomfortable demigods.

"I'll help him search," Nakoa disappeared ahead of them

Jae turned to Estelle almost as if she wanted to vent. Estelle looked at Jae, the arrogant person fidgeting, ready to pour her heart out about the traitor, or main traitor of the camp.

Estelle gave a half-hearted response, "I don't think he's too bad. He probably had a reason to leave"

"No," Jae surprisingly disagreed, "he's not a bad person but he does have bad ambitions. That's why he left. Something he considers is more important than his morals"

"Uh huh," Estelle repeated dumbly

Jae continued, "I don't miss him per say. I guess, I miss the person he was. Teaching a new camper the ropes and helping them adjust. Leading the Hermes cabin without discrimination for the unclaimed or the kids of minor gods. I don't know if I want to be his enemy but he already decided when he left"

"Do you think it'll be like a war?" Estelle asked a familiar sense of foreshadowing creeping on her

The older girl nodded, "Yes, because he won't give up halfway in whatever he's fighting for"

Estelle gave a short laugh, one laced with concern. Before she could say anything Nakoa ran towards them waving his hands.

"Pollux found it!"

Jae rushed towards the electronic device and bumped into the scrawny brunette. She took the laptop from Nakoa and clutched it to her chest tightly. "You are never getting this back," she threatened

Pollux trudged closer his demeanor a bit tired, "you're welcome,"

Jae jolted realizing she'd yet to thank the actual help, "thank you. Very much actually. I'll call it even by helping you out with anything as long as its within my capacity"

"I think I need some help with forging," Pollux's lips quirked into a smile but his tone was flat as ever

"Not my strongest suit"

"I don't mind. Any help would be appreciated"

Jae nodded, the laptop curled in her arms tightly as a satisfied smile formed on her face. "Okay then"

Nakoa and Estelle stayed back while the two headed back to the cabins, a flurry of stars now gracing the night sky.

"Those two," Nakoa started, "aren't they kinda," he gave a suggestive grin

Estelle mirrored his expression, "do we ship?"

"Aye aye, captain"