A head on a pedestal speared in front of them.

"I'll take all weapons." He said. So she should just hand herself in.

"Does a shield count?" Astrid asked.

"Well no. That one isn't made for combat. Probably fall apart." He said. She curled her fingers around the strap. Frank, Hazel, and Reyna handed theirs over. Natasha and Andrea didn't carry any since Astrid always had a few. They walked through the cobblestone streets. It looked a little like New Orleans from the pictures. Except more Roman. A stench of history surrounded them. People sat outside cafes and seemed happy. Astrid could see why Percy wanted to move here with Annabeth. They could be safe. They walked on.

"Do you know who your parents are?" Hazel asked nicely as they passed Neptune's temple.

"Mars, Venus,-" Astrid started.

"And Apollo." Andrea said.

"Cool. That will help. For most of you. And your lucky! Tonight we have a game!" Hazel said. Astrid looked up to Hazel because she was so young, so brave, and so powerful. It's hard being young and powerful. They walked into a temple. Annabeth stood there with a clipboard in one hand and a pencil in the other pointing to the roof. Percy stood beside her watching. His arm was wrapped gently around her waist. His eyebrows were frowned. When she would glanced at him he would lighten up and nod. Trying to make it look like he understood anything she was saying. Astrid snorted.

"Won't the wings look great on the ceiling? And we finish the great prophecies on the floor. We carve the gods. And line them up behind the stone seats." Annabeth sounded really excited. Percy nodded and glanced thier way with a look saying "help me!"

"Lily." Andrea held her hand out seeing Percy's distress.

"Percy Jackson." Percy shook her hand.

"Abigail." Natasha introduced.

"The names Ivy." Astrid said. All of them using fake names. Percy's sea green eyes searched. She looked down quickly.

The eyes were windows to the soul.

"Well, Welcome to Camp Jupiter." Annabeth said. "My name is Annabeth Chase." Astrid waved. It weird acting like she didn't know them. An elephant trumpeted outside.

"Time for the games. Lily and Abigail will join me and Frank's team. Ivy, you're on Hazels." Reyna said."Let's get you guys some weapons."

------------

Astrid turned the imperial gold sword over in her hand. It was badly balanced. She looked up at the castle she had to penetrate and retrace the flag. She badly wanted to bust out her normal weapons and wings, kick everyone's butts and win.

But she was a newbie.

Everyone was beginning to get ready to fight. Astrid pulled earbuds out of her pocket and put them in. Quickly she put her hair into a ponytail and rolled up her sleeves. The horn blared. Everyone went to run forward. Astrid pressed play.

"All the leaves are brown and the sky is grey." It started out a little slow. She had Sia's version. She started running. Her shield strong at her side.

"I've been for a walk on a winters day." Still slow. Two defenders men came at her. She smacked them in the head. Maybe a little competitive.

"I'd be safe and warm if I was in L.A." Well she was in L.A. And she was anything but safe. She finished off the second guard and ran again.

"California Dreaming on such a winters day." It was speeding up a little.

"All the leaves are brown and the sky is gray!" Astrid jumped off a fallen chariot. Arrows rained down and she covered herself with the shield.

"I've been for a walk on such a winters day." She slipped along the wall. Hazel following closely. Astrid's side prickled like she had cut of blood flow from her foot and now the blood was rushing back.

"I'd be safe and warm if I was in L.A. California dreaming on such a winters day." Astrid pushed the door open and went in crouching behind her shield. She was whispering the words to herself.

"I stopped in a church i passed along the way." Astrid stabbed a girl in the leg to stop her from fighting g back. While she did that a guy slashed his dagger along her arm. Blood trickled out. She hissed and knocked him out. It stung.

"Well I got down on my knees and pretended to pray." Astrid got to a staircase. Hazel watched her back.

"You know the preacher likes the cold, he knows I'm gonna stay." Astrid grunted as a guy jumped down at her and imbedded a sword in her shield.

"California dreaming on such a winters day." Astrid dragged her shield down the stairs. And failed. The guy was too strong.

"Id be safe and warm. I'd be safe and warm." Astrid kicked his shin. He pulled his sword out and grabbed his shin. She grabbed his belt and pulled. He tumbled down. And she went up.

"I'd be safe and warm. I'd be safe and warm." Astrid stopped. Andy, son of Apollo stood there smirking.

"All the leaves are brown and the sky is grey." The song was almost done. Astrid couldn't help but hate him. He threw her bloody fight with Lycaon in her face as soon as he saw her.

"I'm gonna take that." He said and pulled at her shield she pulled back.

"I've been for a walk on such a winters day." Astrid's strength was fading faster now that she wasn't hosting the goddess Ma'at. Andy gave one final tug and pulled the shield lose.

"Oh, if I didn't go, I could leave today." Astrid growled. He won this round. But she would need to kick his sorry butt later. She had a flag to get to.

"Treat her well." Astrid said and ran past him.

"California dreaming on such a winters day." Astrid was almost there. She grabbed the flag. Now to get out of the building. But not the way she came.

"Oh, on such a winters day." She ran to the window ledge. She dropped her sword so she wouldn't stab herself. Tyed the flag around her arm. She stood in the window. Wind gusted from behind.

"Oh, on such a winters day." The song ended and Astrid jumped into the wagon full of hay. She sneezed as its earthy and dusty smell hit her nostrils. She stood up. Held up the flag. Her legion cheered. She could see Andrea grimace and face palm.

Oops. She showed off a little. But she was meant to be a daughter of Mars.

------/

Please vote and comment!!!