Hunter picked up a spear off the ground and spun it a few times in preparation. Kyle looked at him and let his scythe hang at his side. “You’re not even going to use your knife? I’ve practiced a lot while you were in Olympus. I’m pretty sure I could take you, now.”
“Really?” Hunter said giving him a look of disbelief. “You remember that I took on a god, right? That I managed to get the upper hand on a god?” Hunter said with a smirk.
“You’ve gotten soft in Olympus, man. I’ll take you apart, now.” Kyle said goading him into a challenge.
“Kyle. Honey. Uhh…” Marina said looking at him with worried eyes. “Maybe you should think about this.” Kyle sighed and looked at her.
“Really? You, too? Marina, come on.” Kyle said with a shrug. “Fine. I’ll beat you against a spear and then I’ll take you with your knife.” He said as he prepared and twirled his scythe once. Hunter chuckled and readied his spear. Kyle took a deep breath and charged at Hunter. Hunter blocked a swing and spun, hitting Kyle in the back lightly. Kyle turned around and shook his head. He twirled his scythe and brought it down hard. Hunter lifted the spear and the scythe split it in two.
“Wow, okay.” Hunter said before throwing the spear pieces at Kyle. He knocked them away with one twirl of his scythe and charge at Hunter. Hunter went for his knife, but Kyle caught his hand with the scythe and pulled it away. With another swing he hooked the pendant and pulled it over Hunter’s head.
“I told you. I’ve gotten better.” He said grabbing the pendant off of his weapon. He tossed it back to Hunter and readied again. “Come on.” He said as Hunter placed it back around his neck. He pulled his knife and readied again. Kyle sighed and charged again. Hunter dodged and parried what he could before getting knocked off his feet by Kyle’s scythe. He landed hard on his back,
“Wow. I’m impressed.” Hunter said with a chuckle. He stood back up and grabbed his knife again. “I won’t underestimate you this time.” He said with a smile before going on the offensive. He swung with precision and dodged a horizontal swing from Kyle. He took a step under and shoved him to the ground, his scythe skidding on the ground. Hunter casually walked over and picked it up. It immediately disappeared and reappeared in Kyle’s hand.
“DUDE. That was totally Star Wars: Episode 1. I’m like Obi-wan.” He said before twirling his scythe a few times and making lightsaber noises. “Alright so it’s 2-1. You’re behind.”
“What? No it’s tied.” Hunter said looking at him with narrowed eyes. “You’re not counting the first match. No! That doesn’t count.”
“Marina. A ruling, please?” Kyle said with a sigh. Kyle looked from her boyfriend to her best friend and then back again.
“Uhh…I guess he did disarm you, Hunter. Sorry.” She said with a frown. Kyle laughed and looked at Hunter in defiance.
“Fine. You know what? Fine. How about this? First one to 4, I give you a free win.” He said, getting into a fighting stance. Kyle looked at him and blinked.
“That’s no fun. You think I can’t take you down once? Whatever. No. The score is 2-1.”
“Fine. If you don’t think you can take me down just once.” Hunter said, knowing that it would goad Kyle into attacking. He watched Kyle fume for a second before charging and swinging at him. Hunter took a step forward and put the blade behind him. He wrapped his arm around the handle of the scythe and spun, disarming Kyle. Hunter grinned and tossed Kyle his scythe. “3-2.” He said with a chuckle. Hunter had known Kyle long enough and knew that if he got him hotheaded he would be easy to take out. It had helped him plenty of times when they were on opposing teams in Capture the Flag.
“Alright. Fine. We’ll do it your way. 3-2.” Kyle said twirling his scythe again. Hunter spun his knife once and tightened his grip. Kyle twirled his scythe and went for a vertical upswipe. Hunter sidestepped and swung with his knife. Kyle blocked Hunter’s attack and pushed him away with a kick. Hunter stumbled back and caught his balance again just in time to dodge a downward strike from Kyle and put his foot on the handle near his hands causing it to drop from his hands. For effect, Hunter put his knife to Kyle’s throat before backing off again.
“3-3.” Hunter said passing his knife from hand to hand. This time, Hunter went on the initial offensive. He swung downward at Kyle who blocked it and hit Hunter in the stomach with the handle of his weapon. Hunter stumbled backwards and turned his knife so that the blade was pointing toward his elbow. He bounced lightly on his toes before lunging at Kyle. They exchanged blows and blocked each other’s attacks almost in perfect rhythm.
“Save some energy for Capture the Flag, will you?” Marina shouted, quietly biting her nails. “One of you is going to get hurt.” Hunter grinned.
“Yeah. Probably.” He said before catching the handle of Kyle’s scythe in his hand. He wrapped his arm around it and pulled in close. Placing a leg behind Kyle’s Hunter pushed forward and pulled back at the last moment. Kyle tripped over Hunter’s leg and toppled to the ground. “I win.” Hunter said with a chuckle. “Marina. A ruling?” He said in a mock Kyle voice. She rushed over and knelt down next to him. Immediately his mind flashed to Philippa. He shook his head and cleared his thoughts. “Okay. Who’s ready for Capture the Flag?” He said with a smile. Kyle, Marina, and Hunter gathered up their things and found their way to their side of the woods. “Anyone have a plan? Like anyone have any sort of-“
“Let Capture the Flag begin!” Said Chiron before the sounding the conch.
“Crap.”