Percy Jackson and the Armies of Chaos ~ Complete

Capture The Flag

Alkaios's POV

"It's very simple," I said, clasping my hands together. "You have a flag, we have a flag, you try to take our flag, and we take yours. Weapons are allowed, magic is not."

Jason raised his hand. "What do you mean, you and we? What are the teams?"

I smiled. "I thought it would be obvious," I drawled, deliberately acting arrogant and lazy. "All of the campers... versus us five."

"But- that's suicide," protested Thalia. "You are all very powerful, yes, but five of you against all of us? You have a snowball's chance in Hades of beating us."

"Tell us that when you win," Era said, picking at her nails with a knife. "We'll see if you're still so arrogant at the end of the game."

Later

"Do magic weapons count as magic?"

"No."

"Are there specific jobs that we have?"

"Yes."

"Do we-"

"It's simple! Just get the flag and bring it home." I was at my wits end. "Just stop asking questions, Aiyla!"

"The day I stop asking questions is the day I die." Aiyla replied, matter-of-factly.

"Unfortunately," Era said, strapping on her light armor. "I think that's true."

"Do we have a strategy?" Hale asked, staring through the trees. "I hate to admit it, but that Jason kid is right. We're strong, but can we go against five hundred trained campers?"

"Yes, we can." I replied. "Because one of us is a strong as a hundred of them, maybe even more. Here's what we're going to do... Aiyla stays back and guards the flag, the rest of us go for the sides and squeeze them in. They can't fight us."

"But-" Aiyla started protesting.

"No arguments!"

A small sigh, and then, "Fine."

We took up our positions, and I grinned like a wild cat. This would be fun.

Annabeth's POV

I pushed thoughts of Percy, of Era, of hate and love and emotions to the side. "They are stronger than us, but we have numbers. We have to use that to our advantage, span the forest and catch out anyone you see. Knock them out one by one, and then swoop in for the flag. We can't take them all together- got it?"

A sea of nods, and then the conch sounded.

"Time to play!"

Alkaios's POV

I sped through the forest that I knew so well, leaping over branches and ducking under vines like they were mere hurdles in my path.

"They should be close," I whispered to Era. "Annabeth is no idiot, she knows the numbers. The campers will be spread out."

Era didn't say anything, but I knew that she heard. Because she suddenly picked up the pace until she was a blur of black and gold, launching herself through the trees at a pace that a human could never hope to achieve.

By the time she came back, there was a clear path for us, straight towards the flag.

"Easy," I muttered. "Too easy. Something's up."

"Doesn't matter, just get the flag. We can take whoever shows up."

"Alright," I said, and I ran for the flag, Era melting into the trees, watching my back.

I had just wrapped my hand around the metal pole when someone appeared before me, as if they were invisible. And with her case, it was true.

Annabeth.

Her dagger was at my throat, and I immediately tensed. "Get the flag." I choked out to Era, and she eyed me before seizing it.

The dagger that Annabeth held to my neck flew towards Era's hand, probably to make her let go of the flag and dodge the knife, but she didn't move.

Somehow, I was in front of Era before I knew it, blocking the knife with my sword.

When did I even get out of Annabeth's reach?

"You touch her," I said, breathing harshly. "You never see daylight again."

Then Era and I sprinted for our base.

We made it there, only to find an army of campers assembled.

I smiled a small, cruel grin and dove right into the middle of them, lashing out with my sword.

Metal clanged against metal, and I watched as limbs were broken and people were knocked unconscious. But I made sure not to kill them, because though I hated them, we still needed them for the army.

Era raced through the path I cleared, and stuck the flag on the hill where we made camp. Aiyla had protected it well.

The flag rippled and changed to the Chaos symbol. All five of us turned and grinned at the small army below us.

"We win," said Era, who was picking at her nails again. "That was pretty simple. You have a lot to learn."