Birdsong echoed through the trees, carrying around the forest in light whistles and chirps, practically mocking you as you could hear yourself gasping for breath. The ferns crumpled beneath your feet as you ran through the woods, listening for the sounds of other campers as they yelled to one another. Pausing behind a tree to figure out your next step, the dirt rocks scraping beneath your shoes. You readied your weapon, waiting until you heard a voice, you rushed forwards in an attempt to stop them.

Capture the flag was no small event at Camp Halfblood. For weeks leading up to the game, cabins would set up deals and bargain with one another to form teams, often trading pegasus stable duty or dessert for a few days in exchange for alliance. Sometimes fights broke out before the game even started, mainly over who already claimed who to be on their side of the field. Typically, cabins matched up based on who they were most compatible with in terms of skill and weaponry.

This meant that the Hephaestus and Ares cabin were often together, with cabin nine supplying the weapons and setting traps, while cabin five focused on offense and fighting the other campers to reach their flag. When the game began, you immediately took your team’s flag, running up a hill that involved a fair amount of climbing up mossy rocks that were easy to slip down if you weren’t careful. Nestling the pole among boulders and thorny shrubs, you were sure no one would get to it easily.

Clarisse had been moving through the woods, fighting off campers from your team who had tried to set up a defensive line along the edge of a creek that ran through the trees. Her spear crackled with energy, sparks flying with every clang that echoed as she slammed into someone’s shield, knocking them off their feet. She played fast and dirty, not really caring how long the game took as long as she won. Your flag was pretty visible, but it would be no simple feat to reach.

You had gotten a few overly eager Ares kids out when they came for your flag, since stealth didn’t seem to be in their vocabulary when it came to battle. They were loud, and they knew it. That was just how some of them were. Clarisse however, could understand the importance of being able to sneak past defense lines. She could do it in a way that was unnerving to say the least, where she could be running between brambles in one moment, and gone the next.

It was like you were being hunted despite being on your own team’s side of the forest, and you had your guard up as you paced back and forth at the base of the hill. The rules stated you were only allowed to get so close to the flag before it was considered cheating, so you made sure to stay a decent distance away. Far enough not to get in trouble, but just close enough to keep an eye on things. Ducked behind a tree, you kept yourself alert with each sound you heard and each movement you felt through the ground.

Now, you sat and waited, not having a clue what was happening on the other side in attempts to capture the other team’s flag. Your weapon was drawn up close to your chest, breath quickening as you heard a branch snap. Darting out in an attempt to catch the intruder with your defenses up, you came face to face with one of the Ares kid. Strong, dark curls pulled back behind a bandana, and a spear that rivaled one of Zeus’s storms. Clarisse.

“Well look who decided to join the party! You wanna skip the trip to the infirmary and just hand over that flag now? Or I can just come get it myself.”

With a shift of her hand, the spear crackles menacingly, a grin tugging at the corner of her mouth as she takes a step forwards, light glinting off her armor. Typical Ares kid, thinking they scared everyone.