As soon as the conch sounded, Hunter took off through the woods. Last time he had won by jumping through the trees. He shrugged and climbed a tree. Finding his footing he leapt to the next tree. He leapt from tree to tree and finally found himself above the creek which acted as a boundary during the game. He glanced around and took a deep breath. “Okay. If I were a flag…” He muttered quietly. He found himself sitting on a tree branch with his legs dangling. That’s when he heard a familiar snap. He immediately dropped out of the tree just in time for an arrow to lodge itself in the tree. He stood up and looked over to see Alex notching another arrow. “Crapcrapcrapcrapcrap.” He said as he took off running through the woods.
“Wuss!” Alex cried after him, firing arrow after arrow. “You’re not going to come after me? Finally admitting that I’m the better archer? Okay!” She shouted at him. Hunter was running, doing his best to avoid arrows and traps. He had just hurdled over a group of bushes when he saw it. The blue flag. He pushed himself toward it and slid into it. He grabbed it with one hand and drew his bow. He immediately turned around and fired. The arrow flew just to the left of her. “I’ll be taking that flag, now.” She said with a grin.
“Umm…probably not.” He said with a shrug before taking off. He slipped the flag into his back pocket and continued to run. He could hear Alex following behind. “Living in Olympus has made you soft, Alex!” He shouted back right before hearing a familiar snap of a bow being fired. He changed direction just as an arrow zoomed past him. “You can do better than that!” He shouted before changing course again. After a few more course changes he scaled a tree and found himself right above where Alex was standing. He silently straddled a branch and loaded an arrow. He aimed, took a deep breath, and fired. She dodged it by an inch and looked up at him with a smile.
“Hunter. Tsk tsk tsk.” She said as she reached into her pocket. Hunter loaded another arrow, but watched carefully as she flicked her wrist. She didn’t seem to be holding anything so Hunter looked at her confused. That’s when he made the connection.
“Oh, cr-“ He said right before falling backward out of the tree. He landed on some bushes and shielded his eyes just before hearing a loud pop. Bright light poured in through his fingers. He waited for it to subside before picking himself up and running off. He could hear arrows whizzing by him. He did a quick check to see if he still had the flag, but his pocket was empty. He turned around to see Alex reach down and pick up the flag from where he had landed after falling out of the tree. He drew his bow and fired an arrow straight at her, but she ducked at the last minute. He cursed under his breath and took off after her. She ducked and dodged around his arrows, but Hunter knew these woods. He was getting closer and closer. She finally tripped and fell on a loose branch. He smiled and pushed himself faster so he would get there before she could stand up. He fired an arrow into the flag, pinning it to the ground. She stood up and drew her sword just as Hunter got there. She pointed it at his neck.
“Let’s negotiate, shall we?” She said with a smile. “I pick up this flag, and I don’t knock you out. Your thoughts?”
“And the other option?”
“Well, we fight. I beat you. Then I pick up the flag.” She said keeping the sword trained on his neck. Hunter looked at her and blinked a few times.
“I’ll take the second option, I think.” Hunter said with a nod. Alex shrugged and swung her sword. Hunter dodged it, barely. Before he could grab his knife Alex thrust her sword at him. He caught her arm in his bow and took a step forward. He twisted his bow and disarmed her. He threw his shoulder into her, knocking her to the ground. He picked up the flag and quickly took off toward the creek. Alex gave chase, but wasn’t fast enough. Hunter stepped across the stream and horn sounded.
“RED TEAM WINS!” Chiron shouted, his voice carrying throughout the woods. People diverged onto Hunter’s location. Hunter just smiled at Alex and shrugged.
“Looks like I win this one.” He said with a chuckle before a few Ares kids lifted him up on their shoulders and walked back toward the camp. They brought him back to the mess hall and gathered around him as they ate and drank and talked about the game. “Her sword stood no chance against my-“ He said before Arabella pushed through the crowd and hugged him.
“Why didn’t you tell me I was going to be talking to my mom?!” She said before slapping him in the arm again. “Come. We’re going for a walk.” He said before grabbing his wrist and pulling him out of the mess hall.
“Arabella, I was-“
“Oh, hush.”