Ascension - Chapter 2

Campers filed past me in long lines. Each had their armor ready and weapons at their side. I quickly made my way towards the Hermes cabin.

I was unsure how a CTF match here would work. Did each team have their own flag? Or were there just two teams decided? I would have to ask Phineas as soon as I returned.

When I arrive at the cabin most of the Hermes kids were suited up and making their way out. Phineas saw me arriving and quickly greeted me.

“Ah! Where’d you run off to? I was supposed to give you a tour and brief you about the game,” Phineas asked as he picked up a bronze axe.

“Meh, guess it’ll have to wait,” I shuffled past him to my bed and reached into my bad. After searching its contents I pulled out my sword. It had a dark blue hilt and a three foot, Primordial steel blade.

“Eh! Nice blade,” Phineas marveled at its design then shook his head and continued. “Anyway, here’s how it works. There are two teams; all the cabins align themselves on ones of the sides. Since you’re not a Hermes, I’ll let you join whatever team you want, no hard feelings. It’s what we usually do for the non-Hermes kids”

“And what about the rules and stuff?” I inquired.

“Oh, don’t worry about all that. Just swing your sword and get the flag. Pretty simple,” Phineas strapped on chest plate and looked over at me. “Hmm, here take this hoodie. It’s got some celestial bronze chain mail in it. Should stop some weaker blows,”

He reached underneath his bunk, retrieved a black hoodie and handed it to me.

“Alright, we’d be better be off,”

I nodded and the two of us headed out the door. Outside the cabin the Hermes kids waited patiently for their leader. They were all equipped with armor and had their weapons at their sides. Beyond them the rest of the cabins were mobilizing and preparing. You could tell each cabin apart by looking at their weapon choices. The Hermes kids had lighter weapons; the Apollo kids were equipped with bows, while the Ares kids had large war axes and spears.

Phineas led our cabin to the edge of the woods where the other campers gathered. There were at least a hundred kids. In the center stood a centaur who seemed to be giving orders. I couldn’t really hear him so I just looked about the crows trying to find Lionel or Jordan. Then the centaur pointed at me and said some words that I couldn’t hear.

“Seth, he wants to know which team you want to join,” Phineas whispered after kicking my shin. “Red or Blue!”

“Oh!” I said startled. “Umm, I dunno…Red I guess”

The centaur nodded and someone passed me a blue bandanna to wear.

“Mate, You gotta pay attention when Chirion is speaking,” Phineas scolded at me.

<p class="MsoNormal">Before I could respond, Chirion said something and the campers divided themselves. I noticed that the Hermes kids were all wearing blue bandannas. Phineas looked at me apologetically then led his guys over to the blue side of the forest.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Hey, you’re a Lelantos kid right?” A guy from the Red team walked over.

<p class="MsoNormal">I looked over my head and grunted in agreement.

<p class="MsoNormal">He signaled one of his friends and a bow was thrown at me. I caught it and put it over my shoulder.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Well, Blue team got Apollo’s cabin, so we’ll need you to shoot with our boys,” The guy must have been the captain. I wasn’t the only one he was giving orders to. Everyone seemed to be following his instructions.

<p class="MsoNormal">I looked around at the kid hoping to find Jordan or Lionel. I talked to some of the other kids about the teams. Apparently, Demeter’s and Ares’ cabin were on the other team. Our team was made up of Poseidon, Hades, Athena, Dionysus, and an assortment of the minor god cabins.

<p class="MsoNormal">I was assigned to work with a group of archers from various cabins under the command of a Poseidon kid named Piotr. Our orders were to stay behind and cover the demigods up front.

<p class="MsoNormal">We gathered in a large group and anxiously waited for the horn to signal the beginning of the game. I had my new boy drawn with an arrow ready. My sword hung at my side, hopefully I wouldn’t get close enough to use it. Abaddon had given me the sword and told me that it had powerful abilities. I’m not even sure of its full potential.

<p class="MsoNormal">Suddenly the horn sounded and the Red team ran forward. My squad and I hurried behind a line of demigods. We could see the blue team in the distance. My heart raced and I pulled back my bow and let loose an arrow. The arrow bounced harmlessly off a kid shield.

<p class="MsoNormal">The two teams collided and the sound of their weapons clashing was heard across the forest. The excitement of battle kept the other archers from seeing how non-proficient my archery was. The best shot I had was in the shoulder of a Hecate girl.

<p class="MsoNormal">Eventually I had run out of arrows. I turned around to see if I could pick up any other lying on the ground when I looked up and saw another wave of Blue soldiers coming from behind.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Behind us! It’s a trap!” Another of the archers screamed.

<p class="MsoNormal">Within seconds they were upon us. I dodged an arrow aimed at my head and quickly ran, followed closely by my squad of archers. We tried our best to shoot and run. Around us our fellow red team soldiers were being knocked out or taken prisoner.

<p class="MsoNormal">Ahead of us I saw a trench. If we could make it there we could hide and try to find another way to the flag.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Quick guys, to that trench over there,” I screamed at the other.

<p class="MsoNormal">As we ran arrows flew all around us. On our tails were demigods striking down blue soldiers. A volley of arrows took down two kids on my right and nearly hit me.

<p class="MsoNormal">We jumped down into the trench. Only four of us had made it to the safe point. We heard more footsteps approaching. There was a small cave on the side of the trench and we quickly squeezed into it. One of the kids was a son of hades. He manipulated the ground and covered the hole up with only a few breathing holes. Soon the blue team soldiers had jumped down into the trench.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Hey, where the heck did they go?” One of them asked confused.

<p class="MsoNormal">They cursed and ran off back to the main battle. When we knew the coast was clear, the hades kid opened the hole back up and we got out.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Dang, looks like Blue is gonna win this one!” The Hades kid said as he looked back over at the battle.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Pff, it’s all those newbs their getting. They outnumber two to one,” Our squad leader said in response. “Hey, Phelps! Run up ahead and see if you can spot any of our scouts or rogues!”

<p class="MsoNormal">Phelps ran from behind and me and went deeper into the forest.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Should we get back to the battle? Or go defend our flag?” I asked curiously.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Negative on both. Our Hephaestus kids booby trapped the whole area around the flag so that’s not a problem.” The squad leader said as he plucked an arrow out of his armor. “And it looks like were going to lose this battle no matter what. So we gotta focus on getting the flag quickly”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Eddie!” Phelps jumped down into the trench suddenly. “Found one of the scouts. They located the flag. It’s located at the north east end of the forest. Right at the top of some big trees. The scouts planned an attack from all sides in about 20 minutes. We can make it if we hurry.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Good!” Our squad leader, Eddie, got up and made ready for departure. “Garrett, search for more stragglers and get to the flag. Everyone else, lets go!”

<p class="MsoNormal">We took off through the forest. On our back we could still hear the battle. It was dying down, but still remained as fierce as ever. I wondered how Phineas, Jordan, or Lionel were doing. They were probably okay. They can take care of themselves. Plus they’re on the winning team.

<p class="MsoNormal">We jumped over rocks and darted past trees. Eddie had some great stamina. Phelps and I could barely keep up. After we had ran for about ten minutes Eddie slowed down.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Alright, two minute breather,” Phelps and I collapsed on the ground as Eddie scouted around.

<p class="MsoNormal">“So…I didn’t catch your name,” Phelps spoke to me between breaths. “I’m Gunny Phelps, but everyone calls me Phelps”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Heh, name’s Seth,” I replied.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Weapons!” Eddie suddenly yelled.

<p class="MsoNormal">All of a sudden a number of blue soldiers descended upon us. I threw aside my bow and drew my sword. Eddie and Phelps both took out small dagger. The demigods that attacked us were Ares’ kids. There were four of them. Two had spears, one had an axe, and the last held a large broadsword.

<p class="MsoNormal">Within minutes of the fighting, Phelps fell to the ground with blood streaming from his nose. One of the kids with the spears had attacked me. My sword was ready and I parried his blow and hit him with the flat of my blade against his temple. He crumpled to the ground.

<p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile Eddie had darted around with his knives and managed to take out the other guy with the spear. However, the axe kid swung at him and Eddie flew back into a tree. He fell, knocked out cold.

<p class="MsoNormal">The two remaining kids turned at me ready to finish the fight. Suddenly two arrows landed in their chest, blowing them backward. The arrows were apparently poisoned and they lay paralyzed on the ground.

<p class="MsoNormal">I looked up to my rescuer. It was a girl. She stood upon a branch high on one of the trees. She looked to be of Asian descent and  had long brown hair. There was a look of superiority on her face. She jumped down and landed beside me.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Leave them, the nymphs will get them soon,” Her voice was icy and placid. She began to walk off, then turned towards me. “Aren’t you coming?”

<p class="MsoNormal">I quickly regained my senses and nodded. She turned back around and the two of us ran off.

<p class="MsoNormal"> ~Ze Lord of Epic Was Here~ 22:48, June 4, 2013 (UTC)

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