Travis surveyed the woods, watching for any sign of the enemy. He sighed. He hated being on defense. He would much rather be sneaking around on enemy territory, ambushing the unsuspecting defenders, engaging in intense combat, snatching up the flag, dodging arrows as he ran with it, hearing the cheers of his teammates as he sprinted across the boundary line-

Oof. His daydream was interrupted when an arrow shot out of the trees and a silvery cord raced around his ankles, knocking him to the ground.

"Men. So weak." a female voice scoffed. A girl about sixteen knelt and flicked his ear tauntingly. He tried to get up, but she kicked him hard in the side with her combat boot and he fell back into the dirt.

"Oh no you don't," She proceeded to tie up his hands and then turned to her companions. "Well, this one won't be causing anymore trouble. C'mon girls."

Travis cursed as the four hunters zipped past him and plucked the flag from its perch. He yelled for Beckendorf, but it was too late. The hunters leaped across the boundary line, whooping and cheering. The game was over.

And the hunters had won. Again.

Travis sulked through the rest of the night. He couldn't help but blame himself for their loss in capture the flag. If he had just been paying closer attention...

The rest of the camp was in a gloomy mood too. The hunters didn't visit very often, and the campers had been sure that this time they would finally be victorious.

Everyone gathered around the campfire to warm up and sing a few songs. They sang half-heartedly, still grim from their loss. The halfbloods' unenthusiasum affected the flame so that it glowed a sickly yellow. The bag of marshmallows meant for s'mores lay untouched.

Eventually, Chiron dismissed the downcast group of campers to their cabins to get some sleep. As Travis trudged through the fall leaves, a tiny hand slipped into his. He looked down into the huge, saphire-blue eyes of his five-year-old sister, Sophie.

"Travis, why are you sad?" she asked innocently.

He smiled. "Sad? What are you talking about? I'm not sad."

"Yes you are."

He knelt and zipped up her jacket. "You're gonna get sick." he said, changing the subject.

Sophie sighed and crossed her arms across her chest. "Don't you get all sad on me." Travis scolded. A small smile played on her lips, but she quickly masked it with a scowl.

"Alright then. I guess I'm gonna have to tickle you." He scooped her up, careful not to drop her as she squirmed and squealed happily.

"Tra-Travis!" she gasped between giggles. "Stop! Travis!"

"What was that? I didn't hear you." he mocked. Sophie laughed.

"Oh! You want me to stop tickling you?" Travis stopped and shifted her weight so that he could carry her more comfortably. She sighed and buried her face in his shoulder.

"I love you, Travis." she whispered.

"I love you too, Soph."

Katie Gardner and her sister had been watching a few feet away, and Travis was sure he had seen her smile.

He carried Sophie the rest of the way to the Hermes cabin and plopped her down on her bed. She could barely stay awake while he dressed her in her tiny Tinkerbell pajamas.

"Goodnight, Sophie." Travis began to climb the ladder of the bunk he shared with Connor.

"Travis..." Sophie yawned.

"Yeah?"

"Can you tell me a bedtime story?"

Travis sighed, climbed back down the ladder and sat next to her on the bed.

"So," he began. "There once was this girl named Little Red Riding Hood-"

"Travis, you told me that one last night." Sophie complained.

"Mmm...have I told you about Hansel and Gretel?" Sophie nodded.

"Pinocchio?"

"Yes Travis!"

Travis frowned and tried to think of a story he hadn't told her yet. "Rapunzel?"

Sophie's eyes widened and she grinned. "Yeah! Tell me about Rapunzel!"

"So there was this girl with really long hair."

"Longer than mine?"

"Yes, longer than yours. This girl's name was Rapunzel. And Rapunzel's evil...aunt? Stepmother?" he shook his head. "This evil lady had Rapunzel locked up in this tower. And the only way in and out of the tower was to climb Rapunzel's hair."

"It was that long?" Sophie marveled. Travis nodded.

"Anyways, Rapunzel hated living in the tower. She wanted to go outside and explore. But the evil lady wouldn't let her, because she wanted Rapunzel for herself."

"What did the lady need Rapunzel for?"

"Well, Rapunzel's hair was magical. It kept the evil lady young forever." he smiled as Sophie's eyelids fluttered.

"But one day a handsome young prince found the tower, and Rapunzel let him climb up her hair, and..." Travis stopped. Sophie was passed out at the foot of the bed. Travis hauled her up to her pillow and tucked her in.

"Alright, light's out." Travis announced to his siblings. They obediently climbed under their covers, and he flipped off the switch.

Travis collasped heavily on his bed, which earned him an angry moan from Connor below. Travis bounced on the mattress for good measure, and eventually fell asleep.