The Court Going to Camp Half-Blood

Chapter Four

Percy Jackson saw what that girl did. He also saw how most of the camp was quickly in love with her. And that Asterin girl. And Marion too. But when any of them tried to get close, Gavriel, Gavin, and Vaughan glared at them, and Gavriel and Vaughan snarled at them. It was not one-way though. Marion seemed too nice to glare, but she did look at them and raise eyebrows as if to say "Really? Move along now." But Celaena and Asterin snarled and glared with no regrets.

All these snarls were reasons why Percy and Annabeth were reluctant to go up to Celaena and Gavriel. But they needed to run something by them.

Percy sidled up next to Gavriel, Annabeth moving next to Celaena, and turned to look at them. They both looked at Percy and Annabeth, then at each other, then at Percy and Annabeth again.

"What do you want," Celaena said. Not a question - an order. 

"We saw you fight."

"So did the rest of you weird camper people."

"Okay. But we have this thing, and we want to go against you."

"Good for you."

"It's called capture the flag."

"Why would I want a flag?"

"It's a game."

"I don't like games. Not with people who I don't know."

"It has sword fights and magic and dagger battles. With strategy."

She looked up from sharpening a fancy dagger. "Like war?"

"I guess."

"I've had enough war."

"It's fun war."

"War isn't fun."

"I know that. But here, no one dies. You just want to get the other team's flag."

"And you want to try and beat us."

"Well, just put ourselves next to you."

"So beat us."

"We'll try."

"Just for that overconfident male superiority, fine."

Mission accomplished. Percy knew exactly how to get under her skin. And he did it. Well, Annabeth told him how, but he did it nevertheless.

"Wonderful. See you on the battle field." And he and Annabeth spun off to tell everyone.

* * *

It was simple, Annabeth knew. It was obvious these people were faster, stronger, more powerful, and maybe even smarter than Camp Half-Blood. But they had never met the joined forces of the Ares and Athena cabins. War gods of both brains and brawn, joined up against a handful of people. People with pointed teeth and elongated canines, the center of stories Annabeth still couldn't remember the main idea of, but people nonetheless. Territorial people. Harm one, and they will all come running in retribution. Harm one, and get them distracted enough to take their flag and win.

The only question was who to hurt.

Obviously not Celaena, or Gavriel, or Connall. They all had the pointed ears and elongated canines. Vaughan and Kyllian were huge and fast, so no. Asterin moved like a warrior, so probably fought like one too. Also no. The only ones left were Marion, Ress, Josefin, and Gavin. Marion was small, but seemed really smart. Gavin seemed like he knew what he was doing, and he had some magical tricks up his sleeve. Ress moved like a warrior too. Josefin looked untrained for battle fields. But you never know.

Still, someone who looked best suited for being a nurse would probably not get out of a fight with ten people unscratched. So Josefin it was. It was hard, though. She looked like she had a really good idea of what to do and expect. But all of them did, so. Annabeth read her and knew she was not looking forward to this, least out of all of them. An unenthusiastic warrior made a sloppy warrior.