𝑨𝑪𝑻 𝑶𝑵𝑬 ━ 𝑪𝑯𝑨𝑷𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑻𝑾𝑶

𝐈𝐓 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐁𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐀 𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑 𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐒 𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐎𝐓𝐓 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐌𝐄𝐓 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐘 𝐉𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐒𝐎𝐍, and to say that she had a lot to say about that little annoying kelp head was an understatement, she hated him and he hated her — Iris and Percy hated each other, it was a mutual feeling. They would argue over the smallest things and sometimes fights were started and to be honest the campers were getting used to the usual arguing of the pair.

The children of Ares had even started a bet that had gone around the camp and eventually reached Chiron who really didn't do anything about it — he knew that the two would eventually mend things but oh was he wrong.

Iris was always looking for an opportunity to embarrass or be better than the black haired boy and the same went to Percy. He wasn't keen to spend time with the brunette but whatever he would do, he would have to hang out with her since his best friend was also her best friend.

Grover and Annabeth had grown tired of the quarrels but nonetheless they knew that when there was a serious situation at hands the two would put their differences aside for the sack of others.

The ocean breeze flew across the Camp, making the air a pleasant salty smell — it wasn't always the scent that you would smell though, sometimes there would be the breath of strawberries that flooded the air from the fields that layered the hill. Iris would always be seen walking through them, picking strawberries and eating the delicate fruit.

It was the most pleasant smell Iris Elliott ever smelled, she would always say that they smelled like her mother — nobody believed her after all how could she know, the gods weren't supposed to see their children but no one had to know of the exception.

The sun wasn't quite up yet, it was just starting to slowly pull itself up from its slumber while the moon went into theirs. Iris and her father arrived to the Camp Grounds where she was getting dropped off at. Iris had gone to spend a few weeks with her father, it had been amazing to spend more time with him — it was a tradition for Iris and her father to go on vacation to somewhere around the world. It was her favourite one, other than the 'stay in lazy week' — they would just stay in and watch Netflix all day plus getting delivered food.

Last year wasn't the greatest year Iris ever had, meeting the biggest asshole on the earth was a start and then getting a quest (which would have been a great day for Iris and Annabeth) but it was the fact that it's wasn't hers but Percy's who had chosen her to go with him.

He had been accused of stealing the lighting bolt from Zeus ,who is still cheating on Hera by the way, and then Percy had gone down to Hell to retrieve the bolt from Hades — who wasn't as chill as Iris thought he was but still — they had gotten Percy's mom out of there, long story short, it was one hell of an adventure. Not only that but he was the one of the prophecy, the son of one of the big three.

Iris got out of the car and bid her goodbyes to her father who smiled and nodded, signalling for her to go in and she did. Iris was walking towards her cabin to meet her half-siblings but a voice would interrupt her, "Iris! We're here!" yelled Silena who was a bit further down the camping grounds closer to the archery field with the Apollo children. They were doing some early morning training whiles waiting for other campers to wake up.

Iris smiled and ran towards Silena to hug the girl, it hadn't been long but it felt like centuries to Iris. "Silena! I've missed you!" laughed Iris brightly. She hugged a few of her other siblings and a few of her Apollo friends, chatting for a few minutes and then started walking towards the cabin again.

It obviously hadn't changed one bit and Iris liked it, she put away her things and sprinted outside to the Athena cabin. She wanted to see her blonde friend again as the excitement of coming back to camp flooded her body.

Iris walked up to the cabin and knocked on the door, the cabin looked diminished by the lack of sunlight running through its windows — a cozier look if you asked Iris, she heard shuffling until the door opened and in front of her stood a boy she hadn't recognised, he looked the same age or maybe a year older than her, she couldn't tell but the first thing that she noticed was his eyes, they were bright blue.

"Oh hey, I'm Iris," started Iris as she snapped out of her stare. "Are you new here? I haven't seen you around."

The boy smiled and nodded as he leaned against the door frame, "Yeah I am, I'm Theodore Baker but...but you can call me Theo." Iris smiled back at him, "Well Theo, I'm here for Annabeth, do you know where she might be?"

"Oh... yeah I think she went down to the Arena, said she was getting her sword ready, but...but uh yeah," said Theo as he awkwardly scratched his neck. Iris thought he was cute but nonetheless smiled and nodded as thank you. "Well, I better get going then, bye Theo."

"Yeah bye, uh I'll see you around?" said Theo but it sounded more like a question to which Iris laughed and nodded her hand as she started walking backwards and then ran towards the Arena.

As she ran, Iris could smell the oceanic breeze that rested in the air, campers were walking out of their cabins and birds were starting to chirp more as the sun made its way out of its slumber. Iris loved these moments where she would be at peace with the world around her, fauna and flora, campers and all — as she would say it made her feel ethereal (her mother would describe anything with that word).

Iris had arrived at the Arena as Annabeth came into view, around them were multiple other campers getting their early training done or weapons cleaned. Iris nodded at a few as greetings, and walked towards Annabeth whose back was in front of Iris — Iris always had a way to be never noticed while she knew this and always scared a few of her friends but Annabeth had been the only one to differentiate Iris's footstep to others.

Annabeth smirked behind her back knowing the daughter of Aphrodite was going to scare her, and just as she had predicted Iris jumped onto Annabeth's back yelling, "ANNIE!"

Annabeth lost her balance and tumbled onto the ground with Iris as she laughed with the brunette, "Good to see you too, Iris!" As both the daughter of Aphrodite and Athena roll onto their backs, starring up at the sky, smiling and laughing loudly. They had missed each other terribly and they were keen to spend more time together again.

Annabeth got back on her feet as she stared at Iris who then put her hand out for Annabeth to help her back up which the blonde did. "How was your vacation to Italy? Had any fun?" asked Annabeth while the two of them walked towards the Dining Pavilion where breakfast had started.

"Yeah, it was the usual — of course if was fun," exclaimed Iris as she excitedly told Annabeth about everything that she and her father did during those weeks from diving to hiking, it had been a blast.

𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐖𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐒'𝐒 𝐅𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐅𝐑𝐔𝐈𝐓𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐀𝐋𝐒𝐎 her favourite breakfast underneath waffles and french toasts but still the stained red fruit was like a delicacy to her, it tasted like home. Thankfully there was a strawberry field at Camp Half-Blood and that also meant that there would be some type of strawberry food at any time but don't get her wrong but Iris hated jam, any type of jam was too sugary for her even the strawberry ones.

Iris was sat next to Silena as she ate her breakfast with her other siblings, some chatting to others, some just eating in peace. It was a comforting sight since it was always the sight she would see every morning. Silena looked up from her plate that was filled with fruits and asked, "We could go play volleyball after breakfast."

"Of course," replied Iris as she looked up to Silena. "Great! You could even asked Annabeth to play if you want!" said Silena. Iris was quite good at volleyball, Iris looked down at her plate filled with strawberries and nutella layered bread as she picked one of the strawberries and ate it. The sugary taste was tainted with a slight acidic taste which Iris loved.

Iris smiled and nodded as she looked back at Silena but just as she was about to get up from her seat she froze. The ground shook menacingly, it felt as if someone was shaking the world like a bartender would with a drink. The dining pavilion got quite , none of the campers searing to move as another row of earthshaking was being delivered to the ground.

Everyone stood up as they stared at the ground then looked up to try and find out where the force was coming from and Iris's heart sunk as she looked towards Thalia's tree. It couldn't be, the camp boundaries would protect the camp right? They wouldn't be in any danger? Right?

Iris started walking towards Annabeth who met her halfway through as they looked at each other, the same pained look evident in both their eyes, it was coming from Thalia's tree. Iris's heart sunk even further when everyone started shuffling to get their weapons.

The one she was worried most about was that whatever was trying to get through was going to go on a rampage that would probably destroy half of the camp if they didn't stop it. Thalia's tree was one of the only things keeping monster out of the camp grounds. Thalia Grace was the first and only other Half-Blood child of the big three that happened to be born after their stupid pact, but she had gotten into a terrible accident that had led to transform into a pine tree to keep her from dying. Annabeth had told her the story.

Iris and Annabeth ran and grabbed their swords, as they sprinted towards the force and as they came closer to the monster their eyes widened, it was a bull — a huge celestial bronze bull. "Come one Annie!" yelled Iris over the carnage that the bull had done as it got through the strong boundaries.

They ran as fast as they could as Clarisse, daughter of Ares, also a sort of friend of Iris's, yelled, "BORDER PATROL TO ME, COME ON!"

Clarisse was seen as ruthless, rude and sometimes obnoxious but Iris had another story to tell. Clarisse had taken a liking to the Aphrodite daughter the first time they met because Iris had gotten into her team in at game of Capture the flag which they won. Iris had saved Clarisse from getting hit by some Hermes kid. They were sort of friends from there on.

The cabins and the pavilions were shaking, the bull couldn't be this big? How? Iris had too many questions that had gone unanswered from the lack of information as the chaos went on. Campers and satyrs were running as panic started setting into their delicate minds.

Iris and Annabeth had not left each other's side, too afraid to lose the other. They run across the steep ground trying to get a glimpse of Thalia's tree and they did, it was encircled by flames — threatened to die.

One of the Ares children ran around the bulls trying to get its attention away from destroying the entire camp, he waved his arms and started screaming at the top of his lungs. Clarisse wasn't far behind with a spear in hand and armour hanging on her body.

"Iris! I'll go on the right and you go on the left to Clarisse okay!" said Annabeth as she pointed to the bull with her sword. Iris nodded and went on the left where Clarisse was.

Iris ran towards her and just as she was closing the distance between them, she saw a boy was talking with another tall, very very truly tall boy behind him. Iris couldn't tell who it was but she could only hope they were a new camper.

"Jackson?" mumbled Iris under her breath as she ran to Clarisse, Gods why was he here? Iris had completely forgotten about the black haired boy.

Iris nodded towards Clarisse who nodded back as the two charged towards the bull, Clarisse yelled orders to the other campers as they came side to side and tried to form a wall with their shields against the bull.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐃𝐄𝐅𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐓 𝐀 𝐇𝐔𝐆𝐄 𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐙𝐄 𝐁𝐔𝐋𝐋 𝐖𝐀𝐒𝐍'𝐓 very effective. They were desperately trying to defend their camp but nothing was really working. Iris and Clarisse were charging at the bull at full speed, as they both approached the huge monster it appeared ten times bigger closer.

They thought that coming from the side would have been a better attack position, oh they were wrong. Iris tried to stab it with her sword, but the bull was heavier and stronger than she expected and that resulted in the bull turning towards Iris.

Clarisse who stood on the other side, was now at risk of getting pulverised by a huge metal bull on her unprotected side but of course someone stupidly yelled, "Behind you!" It was Percy, of course it was this idiot. "Look out!"

That was a big mistake, the call had startled Clarisse as the same bull crashed into her shield causing it to break. She flew backwards and landed on the ground with a thud. The bull ran past her as it blasted fire through its breath to the other campers whose shields melted off. They dropped their weapons and ran.

Percy lunged forward and grabbed Clarisse by the straps of her armour, he dragged her out of the way just as the Bull freight-trained past them. He tried to give it a swing of his sword, Riptide, and cut a huge gash in its flank, but the monster just creaked — making uncomfortable sounds and kept going.

"Let me go!" Clarisse pummelled his hand. "Percy, curse you!"

He dropped her in a heap next to the pine tree and turned to face the bulls, they were standing far inside the valley of Camp Half-Blood beneath them. The bulls were making their way in the direction of the cabins, the whole camp was at risk. Iris turned and yelled to the other campers to spread out and keep the bulls distracted.

Both bulls started running towards Percy as he stood still, probably trying to come up with another of his stupid plans or something to separate the two bulls. The fourteen year old wouldn't be able to take them both down alone.

Iris knew this and so she shouted, "Get them away from the cabins Annabeth!" she told Annabeth who had run to her side. "We have to get those things away from Camp!" she hurried to help a camper that had fallen over.

She desperately tried helping as many campers as she could . Watching the campers get back towards the Big House was a relief to Iris.

Annabeth nodded at Iris's commands as she quickly made her way towards some of the injured campers. Iris ran towards one of the bulls trying desperately to separate the two which was easier said than done, one of them would either change directions or run the other way.

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❪ ៸ 𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑'𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄 ━━━━━ ! ﹆◞ ❫
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❪ . . . the 2nd chapter for LOVE STORY everyone, I might edit it later ❫
❪ . . . THIS IS 2.7k but the next chapter is going to be longer maybe 3.1K so stay tuned for that ❫
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