Stepping into the midst of a fallen war as blood trickled on the ground, marking the territory that was scorned to the enemies land. Each soft sole adorned boot danced across the dirt, dust fluttered down the thundering ground. Caroline couldn't control the intensity of the blade in her hand. Everything became a smooth cacophony of blurs, as milky white clouded her eyes. Spots speckled her vision, but there was no point in stopping, not this far in.

As the iron and brass collided, everyone held their breaths. Air stood on edge and there wasn't a single eye that wasn't wary of the feuding battle before them. Pulling back, Caroline side stepped her opponent. Faking a right before sliding under the unset arms of Spiros.

Sweat gleamed on both their temples, unwilling to part with their host. Her breathing hardened, each laboring inhale came thicker, harder, and deadlier than the next. His obsidian hair became ruffled as her own platinum feathered around the edges of her cheeks. Their rosy color flushing her cheeks until they became a burning flame. Warriors don't back down.

The wicked grin that Spiros flashed her was enough to set a spark inside, the ignition only seconds from starting. There was nothing but will from holding her back from plunging the sword straight through his beating heart. The way they rhythmic pumps filled her rushing ears as she skipped around him with a mighty thrust to the left, merely missing Spiros' rib.

It was a simple spar between the two friends, but something inside Caroline felt different. He had always been one step in front of her, if not by brute force, than manipulated schemes. She despised the glimmer in his eyes whenever he won and she'd been forced to plead mercy. They're strong, famished with a lust for success. Caroline pulled back and slipped the blade through the air, cracking like a whip, it soared beneath of winds. Becoming apart of lethal item, melded under the same forge.

Although they'd both became loyalists to the idea of a fair, unmarred fight that was clean of abilities, Caroline couldn't contain the musing pressure. The pleasure of having the wind at her fingertips was enough. A gust of wind broke free and was sent plundering directly towards Spiros. Although it wasn't enough to damage or injure him, the audible gasping became noted as her eyes closed. With limps arms to comfort her, she dropped the sword as it fell with a clad. It was all signs of a win worth wild but it came too soon. Within seconds, Caroline was sent crashing to the ground as vine wove themselves under her arms and concealed everything but her head. Caroline couldn't stop the instinct to struggle which only caused more an embarrassment on her part.

Spiros fifteen. Caroline zero. She grumbled before throwing her head back, the exhaustion finally wearing down on her to the point that her legs began to sting. She could already envision the taunting tone he'd have, both out of spite, and for thinking the preposterous idea she'd ever beat him. She was the daughter of Zeus for all sake!

Peering through enraged eyes, she heard the footsteps near before a face leered over her still entrapped figure. Squirming under the watching eyes, Caroline bit out a snipped response only to the sound of soft chuckles. The crowd seemed to loose interests and dissolved quickly into pockets of groups. Even after living her for time on end, she couldn't help but think about how she knew little of the faces. Most came as a disorganized cloud of parents, and names were a rare luxury for her to know.

"Guess we can't all be losers," he spoke with a rich voice. Offering a hand, the vines dispersed at her feet allowing her freedom.

Caroline wanted all to throw a tantrum, cry until she got her way but that was nothing but foolish. Huffing a breath, she had no idea what to think, "I'd love so much for you to stuff a sock in your face."

"Work on your comebacks, it's sad really."

The only thing she managed was to nudge him lightly before they both split off, going their separate ways and conversing with the others of their cabin. Since Caroline was one of two daughters that currently inhabited the Zeus' coveted land. Her half-sister, Leda, was the complete opposite of herself. Although she still held true to the status of confident, and held all the traits that someone birthed from the Big Three would, she also had insecurities. There was a reason that after being her for two years it took their father so long to claim her. While Caroline followed their father, Leda was another sort with her darker complexion.

It was just another thing that set her off from the crowd.

Everyone stood around, galling along with their fellow companions when the dinner bell charmed. There wasn't a signal soul in the entire camp that wasn't starved to death like badgers after a long winter snow. Caroline had been rubbing the grime of the hilt of her dagger when the rambunctious crowd leaped to their feet, anxious to move forward. Putting aside the weapon, she stood with long strides and headed for the door that was constantly open. Without the significant feeling of comfort from being claustrophobic, Caroline was forced to leave the door cracked at all times. It was a sign of weakness, and she hated herself for it but there was no other way she could go about it. Without the winds, the dry area damped her mood and made her lungs feel constricted.

After finally settling down from her adrenaline infused spar, Caroline was aching with exhaustion. Every muscle felt tight, taut and rippling underneath her flesh and sent soreness at every trigger point. The most she could do was pulling on some sweats before adjusting the over-sized orange traffic cone t-shirt. To be honest, it wasn't very stylish. If anything, the obnoxious color was practically a warning, and could easily tell the enemy exactly were they in the middle of combat.

There wasn't a sound in the room spare the crunching chews of the hungry mouths dousing themselves in an assortment of food and drinks. The slurping of the cups as they clattered together and chimed through the joking smiles. Caroline contributed to none of that as she lowered herself onto one of the many old and rustic benches. It groaned beneath her, signaling it's end was coming soon, she just hoped it didn't happen while she was in the middle of eating.

Calling under her breath, the girl rummaged around on her plate until a colossal mound of mashed potatoes appeared along with a side dish of green beans. It was one of her guilty pleasures, and food wasn't an objection to that. Anything that even involved the word potato caught her attention, making her ears perk at the sound or smell.

Just as she was about to take the first bite of the delicious meal, everyone hushed while a few lone campers hustled into any available chairs. Those who happened to be unlucky stood awkwardly in the back, waiting for anyone to get up and get a glass of water so they could take the seat from them. No one did, always too anxious to do more than whisper in each other's ears when Chiron was about to speak. Or anyone else for that matter. Especially when it came down to this time of the year. After last Autumn when they had a close call with an ogre who broke into the weakest side of the boundary--some kids can be so idiotic, summoning monsters--there hadn't been anymore interruptions in the close ranged world.

Four years Caroline Depths has been at Camp Half-Blood. She was the daughter of Zeus and still had yet to find her calling. No one dared accept her offers of tagging along of missions. Even if it was the simplest task, everyone fears she'd give them a run for their money. Caroline would, that what she did best, or so, liked to think of it that way. Besides Spiros, and Leda, not many others talked to the girl in wonderment. Although she'd hate to make a scene of it, she couldn't help but feel a sense of isolation as the people nearest to her tilted as far as they could in the opposite direction. Huddling closer together, she wrapped her arms around herself, food long forgotten.

Chiron stood, showing his true appearance with a blade strapped behind his back and two leather cuffs dangling from his wrists. With the ends of his hair lightly curled, they fell back into a wave, enhancing the rich color of his swirling eyes. The thump of his hooves on the ground soon turned into the melodious track. There wasn't a soul who didn't know what this meant. Anytime dinner was interrupted, especially on the eve of Capture the Flag, it meant something bigger than great.

"It had come to our attention that the Oracle has pronounced another prophecy in the name, and honor of our gods and goddesses," as he spoke with a jutted jaw and crystal clear words, the Hermes borne children chided. "She has announced to something grave and ferocious. It's a treacherous journey that only the weak could dream of, and the brave will seek. There is only one other time in our history this has been brought forth, but nothing with stakes like these ones hold." No one dared to move, mystified and apprehensive.

"Years have past without pain,

the gods looked to have endless reign,

but now a new threat looms from the tops.

An evil that even the gods are powerless to stop.

Twenty-four half-bloods can make the change,

and maybe all will survive the exchange."

After hearing the eerie words, and trying to unravel the cryptic meaning behind every sentence, there became no doubt that this would end in death. "Due to such high risks," Chiron started, "We'll only be taking volunteers."

Caroline's heart stopped beating, and for once she finally felt free. Everything she's been training for, the amount of effort placed on each and everyone was enough pressure to send a building to the ground, and their she sat, waiting in the rubble, searching for a way out. There was no way in all earth's history she could pass this up. The chance to show others that she wasn't a nothing, something they could pass by and only speak to when the time due right.

No, the daughter of Zeus was so much more. The potential and unduly strength that struggled to show finally breaking through the barriers, and cracking her apart. She knew this was dangerous. The chance of dying was something Carolina always had an urge to fondle, in fact, she leaned towards it's grasps on more than one occasion. The menacing tone that Chiron had spoke in when speaking the the prophecy made her shudder. Goosebumps crossed the thresholds of her arms and sent sparks of excitement coursing through her veins.

Caroline Depths was the first to stand up.