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For the second day in a row, Rory woke up in the sword fighting arena. Though this time, she was awoken by the rays of sun shining into the open air arena and right into her eyes.
Glancing at the watch on her wrist, Rory saw that it was already nine-thirty. She had missed dinner last night and now breakfast — her stomach growled lightly.
She had been in the arena since her... spat with Percy. For most of the night she had just been training, working on her magic. She ended up pushing herself too much, especially given that she never rested after the bullfight, and she knocked herself out around nine o'clock last night.
Still quite groggy, Rory pushed herself up and got herself out of the arena before anyone came in to train.
Out on the lawn, Camp Half-Blood was bustling. Kids were out and about, trying to go about their usual camp day, but it didn't look like they knew what to do. How could you just play a game of volleyball or go out on the canoe lake when the camp was in a constant state of danger? When dryads were stocking weapons in the woods and their activities director was a spirit from the Fields of Punishment.
Across the camp, Rory could spot a certain blonde at the climbing wall. She sighed. She knew she couldn't avoid Annabeth forever. And she would rather talk to her alone first, before, inevitably, she could no longer ignore Percy, too.
As she crossed the lawn, she passed by the dining pavilion and a voice caught her attention.
"Ah! There she is!"
Rory stopped in her tracks, rolling her eyes as Tantalus approached her.
"Aurora Leigh, you missed dinner last night. Some pretty important announcements were made," he said, a sinister smile on his face as he stood strangely close to her. Blocking her path to Annabeth.
"Good thing I was just about to go talk to my friend, she can fill me in." She gave him a very fake smile. She tried to sidestep around him but he just slid over, anticipating her move.
"Yes, well, it doesn't matter. Camp rules — all half-blood must attend all camp activities. You've missed two meals already and last night's campfire!" he told her, bending down to bring his face closer to hers.
Rory frowned. "I've been here thirteen years, I've never heard of that rule."
"Yes, well, Chiron was far too lax with the rules. He let you, in particular, get away with too much. That's going to change. As this camp's new activities director, you are hereby suspended from all camp activities until further notice." Tantalus was very excited, Rory could hear it in his voice. "No campfire, no capture the flag, no chariot races!"
Rory's eyes widened. "This is bullshit!"
"Watch your language, young lady," he warned her, his face darkening. "We wouldn't want any further punishments, would we?"
