[Iris Message; A bit after Kate's Message]

[promachos]

For those of you who don't know me, I'm Annabeth, Head of Cabin 6. For you new campers, that's Athena's Cabin.

Most of you should know that whenever the Hunters of Artemis are at camp, we hold Capture the Flag. Sadly, we've lost the last few times they've been here. I'd like to change that. While I'm great at battle strategy, I'd like anyone who has any other ideas on how we can win to come offer suggestions. At this point, I'd love them.

Also, should any of you be having problems with your crafts for the festival, my mom's the goddess of crafts. Cabin 6 will have no problems helping out.

Comments

[wokethedragon]

I have something to contribute. It's not much, but...

[Annabeth is one of the head campers, and one of the most rational. She's someone Dany can trust.]

I think it will catch our dear Hunters by surprise.

[promachos]

Oh? What is it? [Color Annabeth intrigued. She always likes hearing new ideas.]

[wokethedragon]

I'd...

[She stops herself short. As much as she trusts Annabeth, she'd hate for someone to intercept her Iris-Message.]

I'd like to talk to you somewhere more private, if it's possible for you.

[promachos]

Of course, it's no problem at all. Where would you like to meet?

[wokethedragon]

I'd ask you to come to the Hephaestus cabin. There's no one here but me.

[promachos]

[She hasn't been to the Hephaestus cabin in some time, so she nods.] I'll head over there right now.

[wokethedragon]

[When she gets there, Dany's going to be waiting inside, sitting on her bed with a small pile of books next to her, as usual. She's reading one, but if someone enters she'll be happy to close it and talk to them - particularly if it's Annabeth.]

[promachos]

[It's a quick walk over to Cabin 9, and when she gets there, Annabeth knocks before peeking her head in.] Hello?

[wokethedragon]

[She calls to the door first.]

Come in!

[Then, she realizes, no, that's absolutely not polite. If her brother found out, he'd be ashamed. She was not acting like a proper lady, let alone a daughter of Hephaestus.

Sometimes, Dany wondered if her brother knew what being a son of Hephaestus even entailed. Still, she got up from the bed, closing her book and answered the door for Annabeth.]

Please, come in.

[promachos]

[Annabeth steps in, giving Dany a smile. There was a brief look around, mainly for curiosity's sake. She could count on one hand how many times she had been inside the Hephaestus cabin, present time included.]

You wanted to talk in private?

[wokethedragon]

Yes, there's a...matter, one that I thought you might understand.

[There's a brief pause and a silence, though it's not awkward. It's one that Annabeth should be familiar with from the younger girl - she has a tendency to carefully word her sentences, especially when she fears that her brother could come in at any minute.]

I've been given a...certain gift that isn't typical of my parentage, but isn't unheard of, either. I believe it could help us to win.

[promachos]

[Annabeth nods briefly. She's heard of plenty of people getting gifts from their godly parents that are different than others, something more powerful or something that wasn't seen before. The gods were fickle, and their gifts were as well.]

Oh? I'd love to hear about it.

[wokethedragon]

I am...

[How does she even put it? Hephaestus' blessing is such a matter of controversy amongst her siblings that there are very, very few who know about her special talent.

What was worse was the prospect of her brother finding out, and worse still, the prospect that she might 'wake the dragon'.

But perhaps the children of Athena were more understanding of what one could bring to the table.]

I have been granted the blessing of my father, Hephaestus.

[promachos]

[Annabeth was definitely more understanding about things like this.]

Really? That's amazing! Why haven't you mentioned it before?

[wokethedragon]

[It was always difficult deciding how to explain it lightly to outsiders, especially ones who thought it was such a valuable talent. Dany would be inclined to agree with them, of course, but due to the beliefs of her brothers and sisters about those with the gift, as well as the common cry of madness from her mother's side of the family...sometimes it was hard to see it that way.]

There are those in my cabin who think it is more of a curse than a gift.

[promachos]

If you don't mind me asking, why?

[wokethedragon]

Well, you see...

[It was a long story, honestly, and Daenerys didn't really want to trouble Annabeth with all the details. The girl had been at camp for so long, she was surprised she hadn't heard of it before.]

The child who was blessed before me caused great destruction with their powers. He started the Great Fire of London, though...we're not sure if it was accidental or on purpose.

[promachos]

We all have our problems. A Hades kid started World War II. Things happen, Dany.

[She says it like things happen every day, and frankly, they do.] It's how you use your gifts. You're a good person, and I know you'd use your gifts for good.

[wokethedragon]

I'm well aware of that.

[She nods to the elder girl, looking down at the floor.]

I think I may be able to use my flame offensively, but not in a way that will get out of hand. I've been practicing.

[And as an example, she holds out her hand, concentrates, and creates a small flame, almost like candlelight, in the middle of her palm.]

[goodworkboots]

[Chell doesn't have a plan, exactly. She's just... got herself. She hopes that's going to be a good enough contribution.

It's gonna have to be.

As for the crafts, though, it's... actually something that Chell's been wondering about. The coming holiday is exciting--she's never actually seen a festival, let alone participated in one.

But--she doesn't really want to bake if she can help it, and she most definitely can't sing.

She wants to do something, but...

Approaching Annabeth after the message, she touches the other girl on the shoulder to get her attention.]

[promachos]

[Annabeth quickly turns, offering a smile.]

Oh! Hey, Chell.

[goodworkboots]

[Chell raises a hand to say hi before fishing a small notepad and pen out of her back pocket.

Using her teeth to take the cap off the pen, she writes:]

I want to do something for the festival.

[Then she turns it around to show Annabeth, pen cap still in her mouth.]

[promachos]

[Thankfully, Annabeth's a quick reader.]

Great! What did you have in mind?

[goodworkboots]

[Chell hesitates--something about the situation prompts her to make a last-ditch attempt to come up with something on the spot--but then surrenders to her fate and shrugs with pointed helplessness.

If she knew the answer to that, Annabeth, she'd not be talking about it--she'd be doing it.]

[promachos]

[Annabeth nods.] Same with a bunch of people, but that's okay.

I know a bunch of us were going to try and whip out a bunch of crafts really quick later tonight. You can help us with that?

[followthemyths]

[Natasha can take a good guess at what Capture The Flag entails but she doesn't have any idea of the rules and, as such, feels the need to ask] What does this entail exactly?

[promachos]

Capture the Flag? It's like... war games. The camp is split into two teams, with flags placed at either end of the area. The goal is to capture the other team's flag. Full contact and magical weapons are allowed, of course.

[followthemyths]

This could be very interesting. I'll gladly help.

[promachos]

Excellent. We're trying to come up with plans that could possibly beat the Hunters, so anything you can think of will be put to consideration.

[followthemyths]

Do they have any set pattens or strategies that should be noted?

[promachos]

They're proficient hunters by themselves, but they like to form groups.

[followthemyths]

If you can, assign different people to different groups. Break them down and start piking them off.

[notactuallynorse]

I am more than willing to work with you in this endeavor.

[promachos]

Excellent. We're going to need all the help we can get. Thalia and Kate are excellent tacticians, and combined with them being with the other hunters, we're going to need an exceptional plan of attack.

[notactuallynorse]

I believe with your mother's traits and my cunning we can best them this year.

[promachos]

Then I think we've come to an agreement. We'll meet up later to plot a plan of attack?

[notactuallynorse]

Sounds good. Where would you like to meet?

[promachos]

The arena? Nice open place.