Another Son Of Hermes

Chapter 8

Capture the flag. Rory had been at Camp Half-Blood for a month and in this time he had been both dreading and highly anticipating his first game of capture the flag. Arabella had told him the game was held far less frequently than it used to be. After the deaths that had occured as a result of the titan war most people hadn't been in the mood. Rory occasionally felt like he was intruding on their grief. He had arrived several weeks after their deaths and didn't know how to act when their names came up in conversation. To act sad would be an insult, he couldn't pretend he knew how they felt and to be jolly would be disrespectful.
***
The game was to begin in fifteen minutes. Rory and his team mates sate in a clearing whilst Connor and Travis poured over a map of the camp. The rest of them sat, not daring to input, and awaited the plan.
"Josh," Travis said "you'll be standing next to the flag and Sarah, Melanie, you will stand ten yards away on either side of him. Rory frowned and Connor caught his eye.
"Is there a problem, Rory?" He asked. Rory shook his head vigorusly.
"Nothing, it's nothing." He said quickly.
"It's all right." Connor said "If you have an idea, share." Rory sighed.
"Having too many people around the flag will draw attention to it. I say one person hides it and doesn't tell anyone where it is. Tie a blue jumper to a tree and have someone stand there as a decoy, everyone else is then free to attack, you don't have to worry about defence. You're best bet is hiding the flag in nettles. No one will look there." Travis and Connor both grinned.
"That might just work."
***
What with it being his idea, Rory had been given the task of hiding the flag. He checked his watch- there were just two minutes until the game started. Picking up the pace slightly, Rory went to a patch of nettles. Despite the scorching heat, Rory put on his hoodie and pulled the sleeves over his hands in order to protect them from the nettles. He stepped in catiuosly and planted the flag in the centre of the nettle patch.
He ran back just in time and exhanged a nod with Travis. Just as Rory began to cath his breath the game commenced and people started running.
"Lu- I mean Rory, are you fast?" Connor shouted. Rory nodded.
"Run to the top of Half blood hill then come back and tell us if you see anything from high ground"
Having spent his early years living on a farm Rory had a certain knack for tree climbing. He shook his head.
"It'll be quicker if I look from this tree." He pointed at a near by oak. In a matter of seconds Rory was perched on the highest branch. He scanned his surroundings and stopped when he saw  Arabella.  She had jest finished an Iris message and was sitting down, her face in her palms, evidently upset.
He jumped down from the tree and Connor was waiting for him.
"So?" He asked
"I've got to go." Rory said, beginning to walk away.
"What about the game?"
"Annabeth is guarding their flag about 100 metres from here, straight ahead." Then he left in search of his friend.