The first few days at camp went pretty smoothly. I made lots of new friends and learned how to shoot a bow and arrow. I met a few new friends. Brooke and I hang out a little with her energetic friends Rayne, daughter of Iris (Goddess of the rainbow and messenger of the gods), and Angel, daughter of Aphrodite. Rayne has sunshine blonde hair with rainbow highlights that matched her personality, while Angel was Japanese and had thick, smooth violet black hair and pale ivory skin tone, and was sassy and sweet as her appearance.

When it came time for capture the flag on my third day there, I wasn't all that well prepared. We split in to two teams and it was time to play. I was nervous because I haven't had my first  sword fighting lesson yet, but I have had plenty of lessons shooting my bow from Luna and Will. 

"Heroes" Chiron hollered loudly, "You know the rules. The creek is the boundary line. The entire forest is fair game. All magic items are allowed..." At this I snuck a peak at Angel who smiled mischievously at Brooke and Rayne. She had a small white hand fan, with vivid pink cherry blossoms on it. She fanned herself gracefully, as any daughter of Aphrodite would. But in a flash she closed it and when she opened again it was a long celestial sword with a golden hilt bedazzled with glittering  rubies, diamonds, and emeralds.  

(Sorry if the pictures distract you. They help me visualize, so I hoped you'd get the same visuals)

"Hey Kia!" Annabeth called my attention quietly. "Put on your helmet!" She hissed in my ear.

I hastily threw on my bronze helmet, the blue horsehair plume sticking straight up. As I shoved it on my head I accidently elbowed Owen's shield. I cradled my elbow with a pained expression on my face. I had slammed my funny bone into solid metal!

"Dang, that must hurt." Owen snickered quietly. "Wait, where is your weapon and shield?" 

"Shoot! I don't.... I don't have one!" I replied anxiously. 

"Don't worry, I was just pulling your leg. They supply some!"

As if on que Chiron said "Arm yourselves" and spread his arms out and the table where full of weapons, shields, equipment and the necessary things we might need. I rushed the table with the other campers and did as instructed. I hastily grabbed a sword, but it was way to heavy. I had to have Owen place it back on the table for me. What did I need? I looked over at Annabeth who was stuffing a dagger with a black leather hilt in her combat boot. She was armed with bronze armor and her dirty blonde hair was in pony tail. I grabbed some armor that fit and found a smaller bronze sword with a silver hilt. It was slightly awkwardly balanced, but it would have to do.

   "Blue team forward!" Annabeth commanded forcefully from right next to me. We cheered and followed her down the path to the south woods. Percy come up and passed me and stood next to Annabeth engaged in conversation. I tried to eavesdrop but I only caught bits in pieces. 

"Just watch for Clarisse's spear. You don't want that thing to touch you ........ keep the reds away..... Athena always has a plan." She finished and stationed Percy by a creek because he was on border patrol. "Come on!" She urged, grasping my sleeve as the rest of the team dispersed through the dark woods. 

It was warm and humid, I started sweating under all the heavy metal armor. I followed Annabeth and Brooke and we ran toward the North woods, nearly crashing into Luke and a couple other kids from Hermes and Apollo's  cabins. I saw Will and Luna both armed with a bow and arrows. 

"Alright, the flag is Northwest of here. Luke, you and your group seize the flag. Apollo's cabin protect them direct, we'll surround you from a distance. That should keep you safe, and Ares cabin will be busy with Percy. We stand a good chance." Annabeth proclaimed. With a nod of agreement everyone re-split up.

"Kia, kind of circle the area around the flag and protect the people trying to retrieve it once they grab it try to fend of any reds trying to reclaim it from us." Annabeth instructed. I orbited the area and as I attacked the reds trying to advance on my team, I discovered that I really needed to practice my swordsmanship. As I fought the two campers from Dionysus cabin, Pollux and Castor, I was knocked to the ground on several occasions. I was easily defeated, with some battering and bruising (no maiming of course). But I was always ready for the next person, no matter how beat I felt.

    Unexpectedly Angel came out from the woods behind me and kicked me square in the back, causing me to go crashing through some bushes and my sword to go flying far to my left. I scrambled backwards against a large tree. She seemed to be the only child of Aphrodite's cabin that was actually good with a sword. I noticed a macramé necklace with four unique colorful clay beads strung on it, that I had never noticed before. She threw my sword next to me, or at least I think she did, I stopped paying attention when I noticed her necklace. I stood up steadily and picked up my sword, looking down quickly, but when I looked up again she was gone. I searched my surrounds, did she really not bother fighting me and just left? Next thing I know I was dead legged and on my knees.

"Lesson one. First, never take your eyes off your opposing swordsman." Angel directed as I got to my feet again. I swung rather aggressively, but not controlled by any means. "Next, control your maneuvers" 

"Snatched!!! I heard the flag guardian yell "The flag was snatched. Get him!" He roared pointing at Luke who was retreating back south surrounded by our offense and following defense.

"We'll finish this later!" Angel called as she ran off toward Luke.

   I charged after them, and as we reached the boarder I saw Clarisse's spear being snapped in half between Percy's sword and shield. Percy, who was standing in the creek stared at us as we whooped in victory as the flag turned from red to a sterling silver.

"Not bad hero." I heard Annabeth's voice, but were was she? I looked around her and watched her materialize in front of Percy. 

"Owen?! How did Annabeth just appear out of absolutely nowhere?!" I asked in awe of the weird ability my friend had. I heard chuckling next to me, and elbowed Owen in the shoulder. "Always judging me... so typical of you!"

"It's the Yankee cap. When she wears it, it makes her invisible.  Pretty cool right? No idea where she got it but it helps with fighting, and every new camper wants one when they first see it. I'd never wear hers though, eww... girl cooties!" He fake shivered in disgust.

"Good grief! For the last time, girls don't have cooties........... boys do!" I quipped with a sly smirk.

"Oh yeah?!" Owen challenged playfully, grabbing me in a large embrace from behind and held me tightly as to not let me escape. "Take it back!"

"Never!!! Oh No, I have cooties!!!" I played. I heard Luna and Will calling my name so I finally surrendered to him with a playful punch in the arm. "See you later."

I ran over to Luna and Will, who both gasped at the sight of me. I looked down at myself and realized how dreadfully roughed up I looked. My body was covered in enormous bruises, my clothes were slightly tattered, and I had smears of mud painted all over my body from when I would stumble or was beat down. In addition to a long bloody gash from when I grazed against a large fallen oak limb.

"Let's get you cleaned up." Luna suggested pulling me back toward the cabins.