Order and Chaos: Chapter 19

Allen slung his bow over his shoulder. He bit on one of the strings that held his bracer together so that he could tighten it with the other hand.

“Hey Allen.”

Allen turned around to see Lionel at the doorway of the Apollo Cabin.

“Hey.” Allen replied bitterly.

“Jeez, grumpy pants what got your panties in a bunch?”

Allen rolled his eyes. Lionel honestly was the last person he wanted to see after last night.

“You’re going on your mission?” Lionel attempted to get his friend to talk.

“Yup.” Allen tied the knot to hold his bracer in place.

<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“What about Trip?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">Allen slid the arrows into his quiver, locking the cover so that the arrows wouldn’t fall out. “She has friends. You especially are on make-sure-Trip-doesn’t-get-killed duty.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Gotcha.” Lionel nodded, stepping out of the way to let Allen pass.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">They were up before the sun, Allen particularly felt weak. One of the perks being a Children of Apollo.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lionel followed Allen to half-blood hill; the group gathered was a mixture of adults and teenagers.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“You take care okay?” Lionel requested.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Yeah.” They high-fived, despite everything they were still partners and friends.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Allen! Hurry up, we gotta go.” One of the adults called for him.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“I’ll see you soon Lionel.” Allen jogged and took a seat in the truck that was filled with alien faces. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;border-style:none;padding:0cm;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">Allen leaned back and sighed. He took one last look at Camp; it was the last look he was going to have in a while. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Hey wake up!” Tiffany shook Trip awake.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“5 more minutes.” Trip shooed her away.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tiffany pulled her off the bed.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Ow!” Trip frowned at her.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Get up.” Tiffany ordered.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Fine.” Trip got to her feet.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tiffany pointed to the bags at the corner of the room. “Nolan and Ryan got your bags for you, so freshen up and change your clothes. Also-” Tiffany picked up a t-shirt laid out on her bed. “Here’s your first Camp Half-Blood t-shirt! Gratz, you officially belong.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">Trip took the shirt and held it against herself; it would fit her despite her small frame.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Go freshen up. The toilet’s in the corner.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Alrighty.” Trip searched through her bags, gathering a fresh pair of jeans and undergarments.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">Trip stripped down and stepped into the shower.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“By the way, the heater’s broken!” Tiffany announced just as Trip turned on the shower. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;border-style:none;padding:0cm;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Damn it Tiffany!” <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“What? I’m sorry.” Tiffany apologised.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">Trip still frowned at her. She tied her red hair into a ponytail.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">Timbactu had already gathered outside the dorm. The teenagers were chatting with each other, waiting.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Hey we’re here.” Tiffany announced.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Finally, you girls know how to be fashionably late.” Nolan smiled.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ryan put an arm around Trip. “You’re looking good. Nice t-shirt.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Thanks.” Trip gently pushed his hand away.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Brrr.”  He feigned shivering. “Jeez, cold shoulder much?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Sorry.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“It’s cool.” He chuckled at his own joke. “You’re taken anyway. I’m not the kind of guy who touches other people’s girlfriends.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“I’m not-”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Alright guys!” Nolan interrupted her. “Today we’re heading to the arena after breakfast. Combat training first, then you guys have the choice of Archery, Canoeing or Javelin throwing.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Canoeing doesn’t seem to belong in that list.” Trip noted. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;border-style:none;padding:0cm;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tiffany smiled, pushing up her glasses. “Come on let’s head out.” <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">After breakfast, they continued on with their plan. Trip sat with Table 3, as far away from Bianca, fake-blond.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Hey Trip, you don’t have a weapon do you?” Amanda, the oldest sister of Timbactu asked.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">Trip shook her head.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Well then, let’s get you geared.” Amanda flicked her pink hair. “Tiffany, go join the group. I think Nolan and Reed are demonstrating something.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“I’ll see you later.” Tiffany jogged off.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Come on.” Amanda urged Trip to follow her.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">Amanda led Trip to a wooden hut nearby the arena. Inside, it was full of wooden closets. When Amanda opened on of them, they weren’t full of clothes.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">Trip whistled. “Whoa.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Take your pick.” Amanda stepped aside to let Trip step forward.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">Trip looked through the racks of weapons. “Can I ask a question?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Sure.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“I mean, it’s the year 2080. Why are we still using medieval weapons?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">Amanda frowned at her, but then looked puzzled as if she was really thinking about the question. “Well I guess it comes down to being old-fashioned. The gods are old, they change in certain aspects but in the end they end making the same old mistakes so really they’re just the same as they always been. I guess that just makes us more comfortable with using old weapons.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;"> “But why get up close with a sword or something when you can just shoot monsters from far away?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Despite the fact that the mist and the god’s influence one this world is fading, technology and ichor still don’t mix every well. A gun can get jammed or suddenly stop working for frequently for us than for humans.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Lionel uses guns.” Trip muttered absent-mindedly.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Well the guns he uses don’t fire bullets. They fire solidified light that he is able to create, you know because he’s a Child of the Titan of Light and all. Also despite his weapons of choice, Lionel is still proficient with a sword.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“You seem to know a lot about him.” Trip narrowed her eyes at her.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“I may have shown him a trick or too.” Amanda gave her a sly smile. “Have you picked out your weapon yet?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“No. Nothing feels right.” Trip lied. Honestly, she was hoping that Amanda would take her to a closet with guns in it. She was still adamant about the whole guns-being-better thing.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">Amanda frowned at her. Gently pushing Trip aside, she put her head into the closet and started looking around.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“You seem to be a fast kind of critter.” Amanda started. “A fast weapon would do you good.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Amanda-”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“There we go.” She took her head out of the closet, holding a small weapon in her hands.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“That’s too small.” Trip complained.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Nonsense, a weapon is still a weapon. Here try it out.” She passed the dagger towards Trip.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">Trip frowned at her but unsheathed the dagger.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">The blade was long and slim and was made with some kind of bronze. The hilt was covered with red rubber and its cross-grip was shaped like a ‘W’.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“It’s beautiful.” Trip couldn’t help but say.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“It’s a dirk. Long and sharp, good for getting chinks in the armour.” Amanda took the dirk and sheathed it. She handed it over to her. “Now remember, a blade will never betray you. So pay them a little more respect okay?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Where did you learn that?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">Amanda took a leather strap from one of the closets. “Thigh sheath or hip?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Hip.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">Amanda began strapping the strap around Trip’s waist and attaching the sheath onto it.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">“And about that quote, my grandfather taught it to me, child of Hephaestus.” Amanda smiled. “At least we have one thing in common huh? Come on, I think the boys are sparring right now. If we hurry up we can watch them get at it."

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;text-align:center;">Order and Chaos Main Page

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt0cm;line-height:16.5pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Can you give me my heart back?  I want to be able to love again  16:14, March 7, 2014 (UTC)

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