halfbloodhill | ANNOUNCEMENT & IM

[ You'll find yourself looking at a grave centaur first thing this morning, just before the Romans start their training. ] Campers, I've an important announcement to make. Now, you know very well that we have protective borders around Camp Half-Blood. After last summer's incident, we've taken great care to ensure that we have several lines of defense with both force and Mist.

Followers of Lycaon - wolves - have been spotted just outside of camp. It is believed that they continue to align themselves with Gaea.

There have been no attacks, but I trust that all of you will keep your eyes and ears open for any signs of trouble. No campers will be leaving. [ Have a pointed look for some of you. ] However, we must keep our wits about us. Prepare accordingly. The Athena cabin has necessary information on the followers should you choose to educate yourselves on the matter. I hope you will.

[ The feed ends. ]

( mod note | Open to discussion. Plan your patrol groups, change up your training tactics. Welcome to the first plot of 2014! )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

A. For Chiron

[Lydia approaches the centaur when there's a quiet moment, wanting to speak with him privately. She is hesitant, troubled, confused.]

Sir? I want to talk to you about the wolves. About a particular wolf, actually.

B. For Everyone
[Lydia has stepped up her game in training. She's becoming better with her whiplash every day. She can also be found aiding in research.

However, on her own she's been following a trail in the woods, and it's always the same one. She seems to be searching for something, or perhaps someone.

[ He looks at her with mild alarm on his face in between Iris Messages to various contacts. ]

Yes? You are familiar with a specific wolf out there, Lydia?

I am. [She presses her lips together anxiously.] It was a few months ago, when I ended up sleepwalking because my grandmother send me a dream.

The thing of it was, the wolf that found me, aside from being the size of a small house and clearly able to understand me? It didn't hurt me. It protected me, and helped me find my way back to the cabins.

Is it possible there are werewolves who aren't our enemies?

It certainly wouldn't be out of the question, no. There are wolves - or werewolves - who refuse to follow Lycaon, or whose families have broken away from the pack. I am glad you're safe after that.

[ He looks pauses thoughtfully, considering his words carefully. ] They tend to live in hiding, afraid of persecution, considering the dark history associated with their kind.

If this one helped me, maybe he's not on Lycaon's side. I want to try and find him. Or her. There might be others willing to help us.

[She looks at Chiron hopefully.]

Lydia, this is not safe for you to go by yourself, regardless of how capable you may be.

Then I won't go alone. Isn't it worth investigating if it means we'd have allies?

Of course it is. Take at least two people with you.

I will also speak to Lupa about this. Perhaps she can gather her own pack.

Yes, sir. Thank you.

[ Though there are plenty of people on patrol, Derek still feels the need to do it himself. Lupa and her pack are out there, just as on edge as he must be, and there are so many campers that are getting it in their heads to wander out into the woods for whatever reason.

The fact he catches Lydia's scent, a fresh trail, shouldn't surprise him. He knows that she's been in and out of the area that they first encountered one another in, but it doesn't change the fact that it's a dangerous move. ]

What're you doing out here? [ This time, though, he doesn't come to her as a wolf. ]

[Lydia turns in surprise to find Derek. She's come out here many times, hoping to find the large black wolf who helped her, but has had no success.]

Looking for a friend. [She doesn't bat an eye.]

What are you doing out here?

Looking for Lupa. [ Not a lie, at least. ] She and werewolves aren't exactly on the best of terms.

[ Although, Derek has experienced that there are exceptions even to Lupa. But he looks at Lydia with a frown curling across his expression. ]

Having any luck?

[Lydia's lips press together in frustration.]

No, not really.

[She doesn't know Derek all that well so she's hesitant to confide in him about the encounter she had. At least not in specifics.]

I saw a wolf out here once. It was huge. It was smart, and I don't think it was one of Lycaon's. If that's true, I want to make sure it doesn't get hurt because people make assumptions.

[ So she has been looking for him. ]

There's a chance it was one of Lupa's pack. They don't attack unless given reason to, although they've been keeping to themselves since the pack arrived here.

[She doesn't know it yet, though.]

Maybe. But I still don't want it getting hurt. The camp's all riled up and wants action. I don't think they're going to stop to ask about allegiances if they saw a wolf. And I don't see how they can stay neutral for much longer.

[Reluctantly, she pulls something out of her pocket: a length of red ribbon.]

I had this stupid idea.

No, a lot of them wouldn't. [ Derek can't even argue that. He's experienced prejudice and fear against werewolves for the better part of his life; he knows exactly what could happen. ] It won't be much longer before the tension causes someone to snap.

[ And probably attack him. The full moon is Wednesday, and he honestly hopes they can hold off long enough. ]

What's that?

[She opens her hand. There's a red ribbon resting there.]

I thought maybe if we had a way to identify the wolves that weren't Lycaon's, we could keep an accident from happening.

[ Considering it for a moment, he brings a hand up and rubs at the side of his neck. Does he--? ]

Full moon's Wednesday. If it really is a werewolf, and you're willing to take the risk of going out with Lycaon's pack apparently lurking around camp, who knows.

[Her eyes widen a little bit as she tries to remember if the moon was full that night.]

I guess as long as I stay within the boundaries it should be safe. Right?

[Of course, that leads her to wonder how the wolf got past the boundaries.]

[ Hesitating, he regards her, then the ribbon again. Then he drops his hand, reaching it out to pluck the length of bright red from her fingers as if to examine it. ]

If you stay in the boundaries, and Lycaon's wolves don't break through the barrier, then you should be fine. I just wouldn't recommend it.

[ Alone or with others. Derek doesn't want to have to corral them back to camp. ]

None of us are safe as long as they're out there. I owe that wolf. [Her fingers curl into a clench when the ribbon slides out of her hand. It's not a threatening gesture, just a determined one.]

There's a few of us looking into weapon designs and if we've got friends amongst the wolves, I definitely don't want them subject to friendly fire. Besides, if there's one wolf that isn't siding with Lycaon, there may be more. But I've got to make sure that he [She seems to have instinctively decided it's a he] is okay.

[Stubborn, loyal Lydia.]

ANNOUNCEMENT & IM

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