LoSP Side Stories Ch.2: The Camp Games (Patreon)

The story of Thalia’s first Capture the Flag after she was revived by the Golden Fleece. Set only a few days after Thalia’s return

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THALIA POV

The deep sound of the conch horn that pierced through the chatter of the campers had me jumping. My heart pounded in her chest and the taste of the mashed potatoes felt like ash in my mouth.

The campers all around yelled and cheered while Annabeth’s siblings ran into the pavilion carrying a silk banner. It was about ten feet long, glistening gray, with a painting of a barn owl above an olive tree.

On the opposite side, Clarisse— a daughter of Ares ran in with her siblings, carrying a gaudy red banner with the head of a boar.

‘The flags for today,’ I smothered my nervousness. ‘I have to steal the red one.’

Chiron hammered his hoof on the marble and the pavilion fell silent.

“HEROES!” Chiron’s voice rang loud and clear. “You know the rules. The creek is the boundary line. The entire forest is fair game. All magic items are allowed.”

My hand drifted to the canister of mace in my pocket, the spear my father had gifted me alongside my trusty Aegis.

The only thing he had really done for me.

“The banner must be prominently displayed and must have no more than two guards,” Chiron continued. “Prisoners may be disarmed, but may not be bound or gagged. No killing or maiming is allowed. I will serve as referee and battlefield medic. Arm yourselves!"

He spread his hands, and the tables were suddenly covered with equipment: helmets, bronze swords, spears, oxhide shields coated in metal.

“Whoa,” I muttered, glancing at Annabeth who was at the Athena table.

She seemed to be busy with her cousins, her mouth moving as her hands waved in the air.

‘She is probably explaining a plan of hers,’ a smile tugged at my lips. ‘I can’t believe she got so big.’

With a look at the weapons on the table, she stepped back.

‘I have my own weapons to fight with.’

“Thalia!” Annabeth’s voice rang and I turned.

“Hey,” I said, watching her run up to me dressed in full Greek armor.

“You feeling ready, Thals?” She asked, looking me right in the eyes.

Gods, it felt weird to see her so tall. Last I had known, she barely came up to my chest.

“Well, it is just a game,” I shrugged. “I am capturing the flag from the other team, right?”

“Yeah, you’re on the offense.” Annabeth bobbed her head. “Watch out for Percy. He’ll whoop your ass in a few seconds if you aren’t careful.”

‘I know.’

The guy had sparred with me in the arena and I had gotten my ass handed to me faster than I had blinked.

And he hadn’t even used his powers once.

My reaction to losing hadn’t probably been the best after the third spar with him. But losing three spars in a row, within a span of less than five minutes would piss anyone off. Right?

“And don’t let Clarisse’s spear touch you,” Annabeth frowned. “Well, maybe you should. The stupid thing’s electric. Though, you should wear some armor. A chest plate or something.”

“I’m fine without it,” I murmured. “I’ve never fought with armor on.”

Annabeth looked at me, her gray eyes analyzing me.

“If you’re sure,” Annabeth turned away, clapping her hands. “You have to wear the helmet though. It symbolizes your team.”

Annabeth picked up a war helmet with a blue plume on it and handed it to me.

I placed it on my head, locking it in place. “Happy, gray eyes?”

“Yep,” a smile lit up Annabeth’s face before she clapped her hands. “Blue team, forward!”

I followed them all as they ran toward the forest, their footsteps thundering against the pavilion floor.

My eyes drifted toward the red team where Clarisse led the charge, Percy following behind her.

“What’s the game plan?” I asked loudly.

“Well, we do not know where Percy is going to be.” Annabeth kept marching forward. “Either he will be attacking or defending the flag. Clarisse will do the other. We need to keep Percy busy for long enough to steal their flag if he attacks.”

“What if he defends though?” I frowned.

“You keep him busy. We have the Stolls lined up with you.” Annabeth bit her lip. “They’re great at stealing stuff. We will weather anything Clarisse throws at us.”

“So either keep Jackson busy or steal their flag fast enough?” I asked. “Sounds like a plan.”

“Athena always has a plan.” Annabeth ran ahead, leaving me in the dust.

“Wonderful talking to you too,” I rolled my eyes, taking my position near the creak.

People ran past me, wearing full Greek armor and lugging huge shields, the size of car doors.

I tapped my bracelet and the Aegis spiraled out, strapped onto my arm. A camper beside me gasped, backing away from it. I ignored him and flicked my canister of mace open, which turned into a full-length spear.

‘Let’s get this show started.’ I spun my spear and flexed my shoulders preparing for the fight. ‘Why are they not sounding the stupid horn?’

A loud gong rang through the forest.

I frowned. ‘Annabeth said nothing about the gong.’

I turned to the camper who was standing beside me, a sword clutched in his hand.

“Hey, what does the gong mean?”

“Um, that we have a minute to get ready before the game starts.” He gave me a smile.

“Thanks,” I turned back to squint at the other side of the creek.

The creek itself was several feet wide, separating both sides. Wide enough that I couldn’t just step to the other side and would’ve to jump.

And jump really well at that.

I took several steps back from the water and took a deep breath. The call of the conch horn rang through the forest and I sprinted, launching myself off the edge of the creek.

I vaulted across the creek, my feet splashed into the edge of the other side as I landed.

“Shit.” I felt water soak up through my sneakers within moments before I stepped out. My boots squelched on the ground, mud sticking to its soles. “Gross.”

I heard whoops and yells in the woods, the clanking of metal, kids fighting. The camper that had been standing beside me raced, his blue plume disappearing into the wood.

I kicked my legs, shaking the water out. Cursing under my breath, I ran forward, into the treeline.

A bronze blur flew past my ear, embedding itself into the tree behind me. I raised my shield, and an arrow bounced off it.

‘Damned archers.’

Keeping my shield up, I charged forward.

A sword-wielding camper appeared out of nowhere but I ran into him with my shield, sending her sprawling to the ground.

“Sorry,” I told him, continuing forward.

I had to get to the flag and return before Percy could— or fight him to take it.

A camper charged toward me from my right but stopped upon seeing the Aegis. I swung the butt of my spear, hitting him in the chest with it.

The camper toppled, falling under the weight of his bulky armor.

‘And that’s why I don’t wear armor.’

I saw movement from the corner of my eye and raised my shield, another arrow bouncing off the Medusa head. Up ahead, I could see the blood-red flag fluttering in the wind.

A camper blocked my path, jabbing his spear almost clumsily at me.

I parried the strike and hit him in the jaw with the rim of my shield.

“Sorry!” I pushed him to the ground. Hard.

Running forward, I was about to leap to get the flag when Clarisse, their team leader appeared in front of me.

My spear clanged against hers as I stopped it, dangerously close to my face. Her spear moved away just as fast as it had come, sweeping for my legs.

I jumped back and pushed another strike away with the shaft of my spear.

‘Fuck, she’s good,’ I took a step back, parrying another lightning-fast strike from the girl.

For someone as big as she was, she moved fast even with the heavy armor she wore.

The tip of her spear cackled with electricity as she jabbed it toward my face. I twisted out of the way, slashing my spear at her, which she swatted away. Clarisse spun her spear, thrusting it forward only for its tip to bounce off the Aegis.

I felt a tingle run up my arm and suddenly, my senses opened. I could see her legs move. I could see her muscles clench as she attacked.

I ducked under her spear, keeping it away with my shield as I planted my fist in her chest. An arc of electricity ran down my arm and she was sent flying back.

“Ha!” I sprinted forward and leaped high, snatching the red flag away.

Two more of my allies appeared, both looking as similar as the other.

“Go, we will protect you!” One shouted and without thinking, I sprinted toward the creek.

Arrows flew at me but I raised my shield, barreling through anything that came for me.

Within a minute, I could see the creek in the distance. On the opposite side, I caught a glimpse of the gray banner nearing toward us.

And it was Percy on the other side.

But I was nearer to the creek than he was.

‘I can do this,’ I poured speed into my legs, running as fast as I could toward the water.

On the other side, Percy too seemed to be doing the same but he was too far.

I was going to make it.

As I prepared to leap, the water in the creek moved. I realized too late what was happening as the water slammed into me, sending me sprawling into the mud.

The flag rolled out of my hand.

Blood roared in my ears as I lifted my head to see Percy leaping off my other side. I felt a tug in my gut and electricity cracked down my arm, arcing toward him.

Percy’s eyes widened as he brought his sword, a Greek, Celestial bronze xiphos to intercept the lightning.

The electricity cracked up the length of the sword and up Jackson’s arm.

He fell into the water at the edge of our side, missing his landing completely.

I was about to get up when the water spat Percy out. He rolled in the dirt, completely dry, and planted the flag firmly in the ground.

Immediately, the gray banner with the owl turned a brilliant sea green with a trident in its center. Cheers rose all around, drowning out the groans from the blue team.

Jackson rose to his feet, using his Xiphos as a crutch. He dusted his clothes and came toward me.

“Sorry for the water,” he grasped my arm, helping me up.

The wetness evaporated away and I felt warmth envelop me.

“Thanks,” I said. “Sorry for the lightning.”

He waved me off and turned away as his teammates swarmed in.

I watched as Percy was lifted in the air and the team celebrated, the sea-green flag being raised high.

Annabeth appeared next to me and laid a hand on my shoulder.

“It’s okay,” she said. “You tried your best.”

My jaw twitched.

“Yeah,” I said. “It is just a game, isn’t it?”

I turned around and walked out of the woods, back toward my cabin.

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AND… DONE! Hope you liked the chapter.

This chapter has been betaed by Mughil, Anax and Nanu.