Once Friday night had arrived, everybody was excited for capture the flag. Earlier in the day, Jason had spotted Serena and Nico talking under Thalia's pine, but he had to get back to work before he could say hello or ask what they were talking about. Nico had given Serena a box, and Jason felt as if he was forgetting something about the day. He just couldn't pinpoint what it was. Once they had made their offerings to the gods at dinner, Jason scanned the dining pavilion for the two demigods he had seen below his sister's pine tree. After finding Nico in his usual spot at the Hades table, Jason spotted Serena amongst the other campers at the Hermes table. Jason also noticed how she was wearing a new silver hair clip; three silver leaves set together by an aquamarine gemstone, which complemented her eyes beautifully. It was probably what Nico had given her, Jason thought, looking back to earlier in the day.
"Attention campers." Chiron announced after dinner had been eaten. "As you all must remember, tonight is our weekly capture the flag game." Everyone cheered, except for Serena, Jason noticed. Instead, she seemed rather nervous. "You are allowed a brief planning period before the game. No maiming or killing is allowed. All magical items are fair game, and allowed to be used." He spread his arms and the table was suddenly covered in a wide assortment of weapons.
Tonight the red team would be led by the Ares cabin, who had teamed up with Aphrodite, Hephaestus, and Demeter, as well as most of the minor gods and goddesses. The blue team would be led by the Athena cabin, siding with the other cabins that had not sided with the red team. Jason noticed Serena standing out the the side, looking as if she didn't feel welcome.
"What's wrong, Serena?" Jason asked, worried about the younger demigod. "You do know that it won't hurt to join the group, right?"
Serena shrugged. "I know, but I guess you don't remember what today is. Nico did, but I guess I shouldn't complain that you didn't. You seemed a bit busy this week, and I only told you once, and it was at the beginning of this week."
It hit Jason like a bag of bricks. He realized what it was about this Friday that he couldn't remember. "Oh, gods...sorry. I completely spaced, I guess I've been a bit busy. Happy birthday, Serena."
"Thanks. I'm not surprised that you forgot, though. Some of the kids I've met here have that attention span of a goldfish. Some are even less."
"Yeah...heh. I guess you're right."
"Serena." Annabeth interrupted. "You'll be guarding the creek."
Serena stared confusedly at Annabeth for a moment before responding. "Why me? Percy's the one with water powers."
"Because I think it is the best plan. Now, you'll be guarding the creek." Annabeth demanded a little more forcefully.
"No."
Everybody stared wide-eyed at Serena. Only a few people defied Annabeth, and those who did usually regretted it afterwards, once she was done with them.
"Excuse me?" Annabeth crossed her arms.
"You heard me. I'm not guarding the creek." Serena calmly stated. Everybody continued to stare at her incredulously. "I'm doing this my way."
"No, we're supposed to work as a team. It's the only way to win." Annabeth rebounded in a brusque tone. Jason gave her a pleading look, and her glare softened minutely. "Nevermind." She redirected her glare to Jason, silently telling him that he would be explaining later. "Percy, you're guarding the creek."
After the planning time period, and everyone was getting into their armor, Annabeth walked up to Jason.
"Explain." The daughter of Athena demanded. "Why did you want me to ease up on Serena?"
Jason sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "It's her birthday today, and Nico was the only one to remember." Annabeth's stormy grey eyes widened. "I forgot about it until she reminded me. That was right before you told her to guard the creek." Jason took a glance at the son of Hades, who was currently helping Serena fix her armor's straps.
"Oh, gods..." Annabeth muttered. "Wait, why would you and Nico know Serena's birthday?"
"We asked when we were giving her the tour. She was wondering when she would get claimed."
"Well, that makes sense. Do you think she'll get claimed tonight?"
"Maybe. There's a good chance, seeing as she turns 13 today." Everybody began walking towards the forest, where the game would take place.
After they had placed their flag in front of Zeus's fist, Jason watched as Serena disappeared into the trees, practically weaponless. She had refused to take a weapon other than a set of pearl and silver daggers she now had concealed in each of her boots, the daggers probably enchanted. They had some strange carvings on them, but they had been allowed as she had already owned the set. Knowing Nico, the hair clip he had given her probably morphed into some kind of weapon as well, but Jason still was concerned for her. As the younger demigod disappeared into the trees, Jason hoped she would have the sense to stay safe.
Serena didn't want to defend the creek, so she went on her own path. She climbed through the trees above the path, rustling the leaves on purpose. The young girl was aiming on confusing her opponents into thinking that she was in more than one place at once. After Nico had tole her that he hadn't been responsible for the strange earthquake, Serena had been experimenting with the earth. She had managed to take control of some of the rocks around the forest where she practiced, and she had been refining the skill since.
As Serena climbed through the branches, she focused on the ground farther away from her current location, making it seem as though something had fallen out of the trees. One of the flag's guards went to investigate, and Serena positioned herself on a branch directly above the flag. Serena actually had been listening to Annabeth's plan, and she waited for the attackers to come charging down the thin path.
When the ambushers arrived (read: attacked, screamed, and waved weapons around like lunatics), Serena waited for the guards to get some distance away from the flag. As she waited, she recognized the attackers as a few of the campers from the Hermes cabin, as well as Connor and Travis both using some strange sticks that exploded on contact with their brother's. They didn't seem to be trying to make random rocks and sticks explode, but they were succeeding.
After a few seconds, the two guards had walked a good 9 feet away from the flag, Serena jumped. She landed directly next to the flag, and the minute she steadied herself on the ground, she concentrated on the earth surrounding her. The young girl thrust her hands in the air, and a circular wall surrounded her and the flag; blocking anyone who tried to get in. She could feel the guards pounding at the stone. Serena grabbed the flag and swept her hand in front of her. The wall broke into several slabs and flew outwards, clearing the path between Serena and the border.
So when she was given the chance, Serena did what any sane person would do. She ran for it.
Serena sprinted as fast as she could to the creek, and she let her foot touch the water before she leaped across the boundary. The blue team cheered as they seemed to realize what had happened.
"Well, I must admit, that was pretty impressive." Said a voice nearby, but when Serena looked around, nobody was there. Suddenly, the air shimmered, and Annabeth appeared, holding a blue Yankees cap as if she had just taken it off. "How did you manage to pull that off?"
She responded in the best way she could at the moment; Serena collapsed to her knees in exhaustion.
"Serena!" A familiar voice cried out, but it wasn't Annabeth. "Are you okay?"
"Y-yeah," Serena mumbled. "Just...just tired. Never...never tried...that much...before tonight."
Serena felt someone help her to her feet, and splashed some of the creek's water onto her face.
"Hey! What was that for?" Serena demanded. But she was only slightly annoyed. She felt as if the water had given her a boost of energy.
"To wake you up." Nico deadpanned.
"Well, it's cold."
Suddenly, there was a collective gasp, and Serena felt everybody who wasn't already looking at her rest their eyes on her.
"What?" The girl demanded. Then she looked at Nico and noticed something. He wasn't looking at her. He was looking at a point above her head. Serena looked up, and she felt the blood drain from her face. What she saw was a glowing holographic image of a green trident.
"It is determined," Chiron announced.
All around Serena, campers started kneeling, although some didn't look very happy about it (mostly the Ares cabin).
"Poseidon," said Chiron. "Earthshaker, Stormbringer, Father of Horses. Hail, Serena Laguna, Daughter of the Sea God."