Horizon's Point: The Rise of the Lyre (Jason Grace)

Chapter 2: Capture-the-Flag

"Ok, ok. Quiet please everyone." Chiron called while everyone was talking in their groups, Jason, Percy and I silently joined the cluster of people just as they started to fall silent. Tree shadows loomed over us; I knew the dryads wouldn't give me away if I were to hide among them, but I still didn't trust them. I'm constantly worried that they are eaves dropping on me, getting ready to spill all of my thoughts and feelings over everyone here.

"Ok, here are your teams." Chiron informed us "Red team is: Zeus, Poseidon, Demeter, Athena, Hermes, Hypnos, Nemesis, Nike and Hecate. Blue team is: Ares, Apollo, Hephaestus, Aphrodite, Dionysus, Hades, Iris, Hebe and Tyche. Please collect your helmets, take your positions and wait for the signal so you can begin."

Percy, Jason and I beamed at each other. We were on the same team! Annabeth ran over, grinning, and playfully punched Percy's arm, called him Seaweed brain then we all went over to grab our helmets with red plumes of feathers coming out of the top.

Percy and Annabeth organised us, they make an incredible team, reading each other's thoughts, finishing one another's sentences. Whenever they did this, Jason would glance over at me. Is he thinking about how we can do that too? Probably. When they announced that the Hermes and Nemesis cabins would be travelling around the North of the forest while the Zeus and Demeter cabins will be going South, he let out a groan of annoyance, leaning his head onto my shoulder. I laughed softly as not to distract anyone from the plan Annabeth and Percy were telling us.

"Nooo." He complained to me quietly as I messed up his hair "why did they do that? I can't survive without you."

"At least we're on the same team." I replied trying to sound positive, but I too didn't find it fair. Why would they do that? They know that we're best friends, and there is only Jason in the Zeus Cabin. Not fair. "But no, I don't think I could survive a second without you either."

This made him smile widely at me, as he stood up straight, the horn sounded signalling the start of Capture-The-Flag. As instructed, we all went to our allocated jobs, the Athena, Poseidon and Hecate cabins stayed back to defend our flag while the Nike and Hypnos cabins charge straight forwards, creating -hopefully- an effective distraction.

"COME ON ABIGAIL!" Connor yelled at me as he grabbed my arm, aggressively yanking me away from a thoroughly annoyed Jason. But I wasn't about to let him drag me through the woods, no! Wriggling my arm out of his grip, I sprinted North along with the others. The wind whipped back my wavy, sand covered hair as I carelessly shoved my helmet on, I silently thanked Boreas for the gentle breeze, it was going to help keep me cool down if I have to fight. The trees offered great coverage, if we made sure to keep our heads down, they could never spot us until it would be too late.

Julia and Alice, two daughters of Hermes, ran up beside me. We were fairly close friends, they're cool. "Hey," Alice cheerfully waved at me, "We've got an idea." She informed me enthusiastically "Yeah," Julia piped in "So, you know that there is this stream close by."

"Yes?" I replied, I didn't want to get into any trouble, but I did want to beat Drew, if this is a good plan, I may do it. "Go on."

"So, here's the idea. We think that the other team would have gone through the water, coz who wants to have to wade through water to get to a flag? That's probably what they want us to think, that they won't do that." Alice explained through heavy panting, I nodded my head, asking for her to explain further. "Ok, if you want to come with us, we have to stop here."

The river was close, softly gurgling its crystal-clear water. It looked great, the plan was making sense so far, I wanted to go...

"Ok, I'm in." I whispered; they beamed then Julia gestured for us to peel out to the side. Once we had snuck away -and the rest of the team was out of sight- I started to realise that if we didn't do something good for the team it would lead to a great deal of trouble. In a way its enjoyable: disobeying direct orders. Oh, no, are the Hermes kids rubbing off on me? 'Who else could I break the rules with?' I wondered, definitely not Jason, he would never break one, ever. Leo? Probably, maybe. That really depends on what sort of day he's having and which mood he is in.