Step One
War Journal, June 28, 1999
It seems my new siblings have seen fit to give me a new nickname. Soldier Boy, odd, but fitting all things considered. The head honcho of this camp is about as fit to run it as George McClellan was to lead the Union Army. At least the one who's training us is as competent a being as could be found in the entire Greek pantheon. Learning to fight with one eye was tough But I swear I will find that whore that took my eye and when I do, I will scatter her just as Zeus did to his father and his father before him. I've also managed to pick up a few new tricks, these will serve me well in the future.
On a personal note, I seemed to have made a few friends in the refugees I protected, Luke Castellan, Thalia Grace and Annabeth Chase. Never thought I'd be doing that, but it does help to have people that I can trust. Though I have a rivalry in Ms. Chase, due to an ancient feud between our cabins. Today will be my first capture the flag, so I'll be able to see what the other recruits can do. I confess I'm excited.
People talk about the runner's high, that euphoric feeling when exercising. Evidently Ares Cabin often got something similar, but this was known as the fighter's high. Where they lost themselves in the fight and became so weary that they ceased to think and simply acted on pure instinct. This is what coursed through George as he slew another monster. George had barely scratched its surface during his stand with Thalia, but now it seemed to come more frequently. Dueling in the arena was fun but here in the forest, with no audience, no restrictions, ending one creature after another. The thrill was akin to reaching nirvana on a roller coaster.
He was not alone, a few yards away Luke, was wielding a sword and shield, cutting down monsters albeit at a slower and more cautious pace than his companion. A roar was heard, and two Cyclopes emerged.
George grinned, "oooohhhh, Big Hoss." The Cyclops charged, George gave his kopis a throw which embedded itself into the Cyclops eye, the Cyclops screamed in pain as it removed the blade and tossed it away. George reached out his right hand and the fallen blade jiggled slightly before flying back into his waiting hand. The boy chuckled to himself, "using the force." He turned to his blinded adversary, "over here No-Eye!" He called out causing the cyclops to charge in his direction, George ducked out of the way as the Cyclops stumbled past and sliced the tendons on its legs. The blinded giant fell flat on his face as George hopped up on his back and drove his swords into its neck killing it.
Turning around he saw that Luke had managed to kill his own Cyclops but had ended up on his back in the process. Walking over to him, George sheathed his blade and helped Luke up with a laugh. "Well done Luke," he said as they grabbed a couple of towels and wiped the sweat from their faces. "At this rate you'll be able to best even my siblings.
Luke sighed, "I still have a long way to go." He frowned, but it's not enough. I need to get better, stronger."
"For Thalia?" George guessed knowingly.
Luke nodded, "I'm not letting Hades' minions hurt her again."
George shook his head, "if only my sibling would show as much dedication to honing their martial abilities," he replied sadly.
"You don't like them?" Luke wondered.
George shook his head, "they're excellent fighters, but they seemed to have all the discipline of a pack of rapid wolverines high on angel dust. They had so much potential to be better, but it was being wasted in favour of a mentality that usually involved ramming one's head through a brick wall." This was especially in regard to tactics and strategy, a flaw that was often exploited by their rivals in the Athena cabin. Not him, he would have no arachnophobic know it alls getting the best of him. Granted they knew their stuff, such that it was, but gods were they insufferable.
Then there were their extracurricular activities. Instead of honing their skills they choose to waste time pushing around the smaller campers. What's more they tended to avoid a fight when confronted by some of the head counselors. George perceived this as an act of cowardice. One of the few demigods that took their martial training seriously was Luke Castellan. As a result he and George became regular sparing partners, with Luke starting to show exceptional promise. But as they fought George sensed there was more to Luke's training than simply improving his skills. A determination mixed with...anger. When George wasn't available Luke could be found sparring with either Thalia who always beat him and Matthew.
The Head counselor of Hermes Cabin was the perfect skirmisher, deadly in a distance, but more vulnerable on closer distances. A stark contrast to his own Head Counselor, the Peltast to Brock's Hoplite. While he still wore a cuirass, and greaves, he favoured the Illyrian styled helmet over the Corinthian one so he could get maximum visibility and forgoes vambraces, so his arms got proper flexibility. He used a bronze crescent shield and carried three javelins, two short ones with fletching for throwing and a single long one for close combat. According to Chiron, Matthew could run circles around Achilles, who was known to outrun horses. So, Brock would counter Matthew's speed with strength and heavier armour. Luke seemed to lean towards the latter, preferring the sword to the spear
"Wanna spar after this," George offered.
Luke shook his head, "maybe later, I'm going to see how Thalia's training is progressing."
Ever since she woke up, her half-brother started devoting much of his time to training his sister, particularly in magical abilities. "From what I saw David was teaching her how to project an electrical barrier," George replied as he followed, he older boy to the section of the arena where the children of Zeus were. Thalia was standing with her hands out electricity cackling along her fingers as David gave her instructions. Her shield slung on her back and her spear set on the ground.
"Let the currents interlock and flow through your fingers," they heard David say. "Then focus the energy to a single point."
Thalia obeyed and now her hands touched at the fingertips with a concentrated part building up between her palms.
"Think of it like those Hoberman sphere toys," David said calmly. "Spread your hands pout and imaging you're pulling one apart."
Thalia tried but once her hands were a certain distance the connection between them severed.
"Because it's a protection ability it helps to think of someone you would wish to protect." David suggested.
Thalia thought for a moment and that's when her eyes met Luke's. He gave her a reassuring smile and Thalia reciprocated. Thaila turned back to her hands and concentrated this time when she spread out her hands a weak circle of electricity formed and the wider she spread her hands the bigger the circle got."
"YES!" David raised his fists to the air.
"You did it," Luke cried out.
"I did it," Thalia repeated giddily.
"Well done sis," David said with a grin. "Now let's see how it can hold up." As he said this a Laestrygonian popped out. Luke almost rushed forward to help her, but George held him back. Turning to George angrily, and the younger shook his head "this is Thalia's fight."
Thalia and the giant locked eyes as the monster started launching fireballs at her. Thalia projected her shield and was able to block three before her barrier gave out. She then dodged a fourth before pulling out her shield and blocking the fifth. With her shield up Thalia, grabbed her spear and another technique her brother taught her. She charged electricity through her spear and fired a bolt of lightning at the Laestrygonian, the first one missed but the second found it's mark striking the creature in the abdomen and sending him to the ground, with a shrill war cry, The plunged the spear into the Laestrygonian's chest killing it.
Luke breathed a sigh of relief before charging up to David and socked him in the face, David staggered back but kept his footing, David turned to Luke more amused than angry. "You Bastard," Luke roared, "you could have killed her!"
David put a finger to his now bloody lip and examined the drop of crimson on his nail.
"Can you at least warn me when you're going to do that," Thalia asked walking over to them.
"Surprises will happen Thalia," David countered, "besides you did well."
"But my barrier failed," she grumbled.
"The fact that you manage to block more than one on your first try is nothing to scoff at." He assured her, "give it time and with practice your barrier will get stronger."
Later Luke and George went to the opposite end of the arena. As they sparred Luke spoke up. "Thalia always bested me when we sparred, so I always knew that the children of the Big Three were more powerful than the rest of us. But seeing David has made me realize how far the gap truly is. I mean, control over lightning, wind and can even create sonic shockwaves by clapping his hands. He has strength that rivals if not surpasses Henry's and can fly, FLY." He shook his head "At thig rate he could easily enforce his will upon us just as his father does in Olympus, and we would be powerless to stop him."
George patted Luke's back, "if it's any consolation, he seems to resent his own father as much as you resent yours."
Luke nodded in agreement, "from what I've heard those outer cabins didn't exist until David petitioned for it. His father had been against it, so I wonder if he did it out of kindness or spite."
George shrugged, "either way it's good for the campers."
Luke frowned, "the fact that it took one of his sons for changes to be made doesn't put the Olympians in a good light. Still the cabins and tables are a good start."
"Then perhaps we should what we can to make more changes and make this Camp even better." George offered.
"What do you have in mind?" Luke asked.
George rubbed his chin, "well the method of training leaves something to be desired. I mean whacking at a dummy is hardly training since Dummies don't hit back." He shook his head, "but if I want to do that, I'll need to become head counselor. Brock doesn't intend to stay for much longer and when that happens there will be a choosing. The most likely candidates are Mario or Greggory, something I'm not looking forward to, which means I'll have to rise the ranks." He frowned, "that feat will require two things from me. The first is to become the best fighter in my cabin, the second is a successful quest."
Luke cocked an eyebrow, "a quest? I think you're a bit young for that."
George nodded, "All the more reason to train as much as I can so if may father is willing, and he gives me a quest then I'm ready as I'll ever be."
Speaking of the Head Counselors, George observed his fellow campers and took note of all the alpha fighters as well as those who showed exceptional promise, figuring out who would be useful should he ever get a quest. So far, the only ones who stuck out were the head counselors, David, Brock, Matthew, Pamela, Cindy Henry, Merida and Helena were all formidable in their own right. But skill alone wasn't enough he also wanted to do this with people that he trusted, and the only ones he knew aside from his siblings were Luke, Thalia and Annabeth. Thalia was out of the question due to the danger and Annabeth was too young. Which was a shame since Thalia's skill would be useful as well as Annabeth's strategic mind. This left Luke as his by far best and so far, only option.
"So, are you ready for capture the flag tonight?" He asked.
Luke shrugged, "I suppose, though I don't relish the idea of fighting you."
The teams had been decided before the day arrived. Red Team was led By Zeus' Cabin Under David Roosevelt. This meant that Blue Team would be led By Hestia Cabin under Eve Stellaris. Teams were often a mixed affair with cabins switching between teams, but the one consistency was that the cabins of Ares and Athena were on opposite sides every single time. Other common consistencies were thanks to certain relationships between the head counselors. Henry Smith of Hephaestus Cabin is Cindy's boyfriend and Alice Darling of Aphrodite Cabin had Brock wrapped around her finger. That was the way of Aphrodite's cabin, they usually got the boys to do the fighting for them.
Thalia's relationship with Luke and Annabeth meant that Athena Cabin and Hermes Cabin fought for the red team, but this meant that they would be fighting against George Grant. Though various means the other cabins chose their sides and soon the battle lines for this week were drawn.
Blue Team
1. Hestia
2. Ares
3. Apollo
4. Aphrodite
5. Demeter
6. Eris
7. Nemesis
8. Thanatos
9. Hecate
10. Hypnos
Red Team
1. Zeus
2. Athena
3. Hermes
4. Hephaestus
5. Dionysus
6. Nike
7. Iris
8. Hebe
9. Dike
10. Tyche
As among the youngest, George was assigned by Brock to patrol, the creek for anyone that managed to get past them. He and a few others stood at intervals looking for any splashes. His swords were in his hands, and his shield strapped to his back. This was by design, along with a solid handle and leather arm strap, his shield had a third strap, so it could be slung over his shoulder with the strap running diagonally across his chest. This would give his back extra protection so he could focus more on attacks from the front.
A splash was heard, and this drew most heads to the sound including George. As they moved towards it, George took a quick look around and out of the corner of his eye noticed a consistent ripple in the water as he was turning. So, he sheathed his kopis and knelt down grabbing a handful of dirt. Then he threw it behind him with most falling into the water and some catching a clearly short figure. With a gasp it rushed away and dived into the creek with a splash.
George laughed and grabbed another handful of dirt, "you can't hide from me" he declared. Tossing it into the water and watching the current carrying the dirt down river as George watched closely. The dirt then stopped at an invisible barrier and George grinned. He reached in and grabbed something that felt like hair. and lifted her up. She cried out in pain and as she tried to free her hair, her hands dislodged the cap she was wearing that made her invisible.
George laughed when he saw who it was and released her hair only to grab her arm. "Well, well, Annabeth." Others who had heard the commotion gather to her and chuckled. George handed her over to two of his younger siblings, "sent little miss disappear to jail." They nodded with a grin as Annabeth struggled to break free. George knelt down and picked up her invisibility cap, "you won't be needing this," he said tucking it in his belt. As they were leaving Luke and Thalia burst out of the tree line charging, determined to free their friend.
"What took you so long?" Annabeth scowled in her struggling.
"Helena and the Hexs had us running in circles," Luke replied.
"I swear if I have to hear those girls sing one more time," Thalia growled under her breath before glaring at George. "Now let her go, soldier boy." Thalia demanded.
George shook his head and drew his kopis and turned to his siblings, "deal with the prisoner, I'll deal with the lovebirds." He turned back to Luke and Thalia his blades pointed at their heads. "You ain't going anywhere but back. I was ordered to hold this position, so that's what I'm gonna do."
Luke and Thalia exchanged a look, "we know he won't give up," he told her.
Thalia nodded, "and neither will we," she replied as her spear began to cackle with electricity.
The exchange that followed was a fierce thing, exchanging blows with spear, sword, shield and even kicks. Individually, George could beat them, but together, he was sorely outmatched receiving two blows for every one he dealt. George grunted with each blow as he fought through the pain. But George preferred it this way, the greater the odds were against him, the better the practice. Like mother said, life's not supposed to be fair.
At first, he kept his attention on Thalia, she was by far the greater threat. Every now and then she would find an opening and send a bolt of electricity through her spear. half the time George was able to move out of the way in time and the other half found a painful tingling course through his body. Thalia thrusted with her spear; George would cross block it before directing it to the ground then raise the upper blade to strike Thalia with the butte of the hilt. Luke slashed with his sword, George parried with one blade and striking at his legs with the other forcing Luke to lower his shield to protest his unarmoured thigh allowing George to kick him in the head. This kept up for ten minutes, by now all three were wounded to some degree.
As George landed another kick to Luke's chest Thalia bashed him over the helm with her shield slightly dazing him. Luke then managed to knock the kopis out of George's hand and planted his foot on it preventing George from recalling it. George backed away quickly and unslung his shield and strapped it on his now free hand in one fluid movement. Changing tactics, George now focused all his attention on Luke, seeking to overwhelm him before Thalia got him. Because their shield and sword were both on the same side George locked Luke's shield with his own while slashing at Luke's sword arm. A well-placed cut caused Luke to drop his sword and he stumbled back splashing into the creek.
Thalia came charging with her spear. George blocked it with his shield only for Luke to bash George's right leg with the edge of his own shield causing it to buckle and George dropped to one knee. Luke then tackled him and now George was flat on his back.
The hand holding the xiphos was trapped ground by Luke's foot, as he pinned the rest of him to the ground. George struggled fiercely, trying to throw the boy off him as Thalia pointed her spear at the gap in George's helmet. "Yield," she demanded.
George frowned and his mind racked with any way to get out of this. with no other option he released his xiphos. Thalia and Luke helped him up to take him prisoner. Thalia took Annabeth's cap from off of George's belt but as they did the conch horn blew. signaling the end of the match. Luke and Thalia looked up to see a member of Hestia cabin holding their banner on the blue side of the creek. It was over, the Blue Team had won.
George chuckled, Thalia sighed in frustration, and Luke shrugged, "oh well," he thought. "We'll get you next time."
He offered his hand and George shook it he did the same with Thalia and grinned, "I look forward to it." He had lost the fight but succeeded in keeping the daughter of Zeus and the rising star in Hermes cabin from rescuing the friend. As well as contributing to their side any further. It wasn't much but it was a start, and hopefully the first step in proving himself and achieving his goal. Little did George know that his next step would come sooner than expected.