Thalia and the other guards followed me to the range. A pair of the hunters shot with their own bows at my flanks, while the other four of my mother's handmaidens took up guard positions around me. I focused all my heart and soul onto the target before me. I used the silver bow my mother had given me and quickly realized just how perfect it felt for me not even a fraction of an ounce was out of balance and the draw was a perfect length and weight for me. I knew this bow was destined for me alone to wield. As the sun started to sink towards the horizon, I heard my mother and the reaming hunters approach with Chiron following behind them.

I did not bother to turn around and acknowledge my mother before I spoke. "Are you leaving now?" I asked in a monotone detached voice. I continued to shoot partially splintering each arrow on the previous one. Artemis came to my side placing a hand on my shoulder forcing me to stop my constant rhythm of firing arrow after arrow. I turned and looked upon my mother with my silver eyes matching her own eyes except for the rim of sea green around the edge of my eyes.

My mother had a soft smile on her face. "Yes I am leaving with most of my hunters. Thalia, Phoebe, and Tabby shall stay here at Camp Half-Blood as your trainers. The rest of the hunters shall accompany me on my hunt. You shall follow the rules your father and I set down for you. Learn much and may your enemies have enough strength for you to enjoy your hunt." Artemis explained to me as I looked into the silver pools of her eyes. I nodded my acceptance at my mother's statement. She gave me a hug before she stepped away and left me with her three hunters who she charged with my training and Chiron.

Chiron slowly stepped forward as Artemis and her hunters' slowly left. "Peter you should know that Ares and Athena hold the laurels for tonight's game of capture the flag. You may want to seek one of those cabins out for an alliance." He explained in a concerned voice. Chiron proceeded to observe my form as I shot arrow after arrow into the center of the target in front of me. I continued to bury the arrows into the target until Chiron left just before the horn sounded for dinner.

As my tutors started towards the pavilion, I let out a sigh and followed them. I kept my distance from the hunters as we made our way towards the eating area. I sat at the far end of the table getting more than a few strange looks from the other cabins. I ate in silence and gave my mother a good piece of veal as a proper tribute. Once I finished eating, I made my way out of the dining pavilion and walked towards the woods but Phoebe stopped me. "You need to go to the cabin or go back to the pavilion and wait for the capture the flag game to start." She told me in a cold calculated voice as she stood towering over me in a rather intimidating manner.

I released a sigh as I looked at her knowing that I was not getting out of going to either of the places she told me. I felt enraged so I started back towards the dining pavilion. Once I arrived back in the area Thalia came up to me. "We have a temporary alliance with Athena and Poseidon cabins." She explained to me as she glanced over her shoulder towards the Athena table. I nodded my consent to her decision.

One of the Athena campers along with Sarah started to walk towards us. I kept my eyes open and observed the Athena camper as she approached. "Hello I am Anna Marie." She said with a smile extending her hand towards me. I merely looked at it as if it was a dead fish and nodded towards her. That earned me a smack into the back of the head from Thalia.

Peter slowly walked over towards the boarder of the woods. "I will wait for the rest of you at the edge to the woods." Peter said as he walked away forming his bow as he prepared to deal out enough damage to drive every enemy into submission. Peter checked his knives and his bow while he walked.

Once both teams assembled at the border to the forest Chiron set out the rules for game. "Remember the rules. The creek is the boundary line. The entire forest is fair game. You can use any magical items. You must display the flag in plain view, and can have no more than two guards. You can disarm prisoners, but you may not bound or gag them. No killing or maiming allowed. No guards can stand within ten yards of the flag. Go to your sides and wait for the signal." He proceeded to dismiss us.

I took off into the woods at high speed utilizing my power as a demigod child of Artemis. The hunters kept up with me if only just. Once at Zeus' fist, I placed our flag on the backside so that it was easily visible but not reached without some difficulty. Then the hunters and I moved into the trees, made my way over to the creek, and prepared to attack.

I had my bow ready when the horn sounded I took off across the border to hunt for the flag. Thalia, Phoebe and Tabby kept up with me as we move through the treetops glancing around for the red flag held by the Ares team. I slowed down from time to time, but I kept to the shadows. The girls had trouble keeping up with me, their mistress's son, as I moved with unnatural speed over the uneven ground. I led the way sensing the call of the hunt drawing me towards my immobile prey. I skirted around the outside of a clearing with a giant anthill in the middle. I noted a giant bronze dragon sitting atop the hill. I decided to avoid it at all cost.

Once we were clear of the dragon on its anthill, we continued towards the prey. I continued on my way not worrying if Thalia and the other hunters were able to keep up with me as I sped up from the anticipation of capturing my prey. I saw the red flag planted in a small clearing ahead of me. According to the rules, none of the Ares guards could be close enough to the flag to stand in the clearing.

I stopped and climbed a tree watching for any movement. Thalia mirrored me on the other side of the tree I happen to have chosen for my observation of the clearing. "Fire smoke into the clearing." I instructed the hunters in a soft growl. Phoebe and Tabby followed the order after Thalia confirmed it with a slight nod of her head. Once the arrows had taken affect coating the clearing and the lower branches of the trees in smoke I jumped down and slipped into the clearing as the hunters silently took out the Ares guards while they were in disarray. It did not take me long to grab the flag and take off towards the borderline.

I did not waste time avoiding campers or monsters. I slammed into a group of Ares campers sending the lead one to the ground before I jumped over them and into the clearing with the anthill. I jumped on the dragon's tail and ran up its back. I jumped off the dragons head using the flag to protect myself from the dragon's flames that he spit out towards me as I leapt through the air. I kept the flag wrapped around me as I ran with the bronze dragon hot on my tail. I continued to run as fast as my feet would carry me. The dragon continued to chase me as I ran full tilt towards the creek a few Ares campers along with the occasional child of Aphrodite stepped into my path. I jumped over or around them as I continued to make my way towards the creek. I looked ahead and saw my aunts and uncles chasing after a lone Hermes camper holding a blue flag.

I jumped across the creek into his path as he jumped we collided and landed in the middle of the water. I rolled away from my fellow camper and made my way onto the side of the creek with my relatives. The Hermes camper was not in the creek for long though. Sarah created a wave sending him flipping over to the shore and landing at my side. I grabbed the flags up from the unconscious thief.

"That was close." I said just before the bronze dragon crashed through the trees on the other side of the creek. "Oh no, I really do not like being the prey in a game of cat and mouse." I screamed as I stood and ran from the dragon. Thalia and the other hunters were not far behind the dragon. I kept in the forest where I was stronger and faster than most of the other campers. The dragon continued to chase me ignoring the hunters as well as the other campers. The campers from the blue team and the hunters formed up in ranks very quickly and started to chase after the dragon and me.

A group of Hephaestus campers set a trap in front of us. As I neared the trap, I recognized it for what it was instantly. I leaped over the covered pit of the trap but the bronze dragon did not recognize it for what it was and fell into it. Once the bronze dragon dropped into the trap, the Hephaestus campers threw a bronze net over the pit. They secured the net around the pit to contain the enraged beast. I quickly ran from the area not wanting to be around the bronze monster any longer than I needed to. Thalia followed me as I quickly made my way out of the forest and into my mother's cabin. I did not stop until I made it to my bed. I flopped down with the flags still in my hands both seem singed and bore my mother's emblem.

I did not bother to look up as Thalia lead Phoebe and Tabby into the cabin. They drew a curtain around my bed and changed into sleepwear I took the time to do the same. Once I was ready for sleep, I succumbed to it quickly. Using my skills and gifts for such an extended period wore me out. I barely had the energy to crawl into bed. Even without any energy, my mind did not allow me to rest.

My sleep brain filled with dreams again. This time the escorts who guided around the clearing happened to be fewer in numbers. Two silver wolves and a bright shining silver eagle walked with me and made sure I did not stray outside the clearing. The eagle circled overhead until it tired enough and landed on my shoulder, but it did not seem at ease when it rested on my shoulder. I tried more than once to leave the clearing but every time I came close, my guards would steer me back towards the center. It seemed like they wanted to keep me out of my natural habitat, the woods.