Atticus Cohen's Story

Atticus passed out in bed fully knowing what consequences lied before him the next day, so he wasn't surprised when his sister came into his room. He lazily laid there, too in love with his bed sheets to want to move right now but he was feeling a little pleased with himself. He was exhausted from the night before but only because he spent a big part of his day blessing a shield for a camper. This camper was also someone who Kit had his sights on for a while and that was because he had something Kit was after. Instead of attending the party like he should have, he sacrificed this event for a good cause and Eve would find out soon enough.

Speaking of which, she crossed her arms standing at the foot of Atticus's bed. “How’d you sleep?” Atticus turned over, half of the world coming into view as he slowly opened his eyes, adjusting to the light. "like a princess." He lazily grinned. Evelyn had made an effort to step out of her comfort zone by attending the bonfire, but also seize an opportunity to gather more sense of other demigod occupants, while Atticus didn't make an appearance. “I could have used you, you know I have terrible people skills,” she stated and sat on his bed. To some, she might have come off disapproving or angry but Evelyn merely preferred her half-brother there.

Kit couldn't help but feel a little guilty and sat up. With his messy hair perfectly covering his blind eye, Kit raised his arm and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. He was going to apologize but decided to let his sister speak instead, gladly being there to listen whenever. “I spoke with the youngest demigoddess and she must have punched and scorched me in her head at least ten times.” McKenna's dark gaze had burned into Evelyn's skull for most of the night so the image was pretty vivid in her head. Not that it was traumatic, more unpleasant. Atticus, on the other hand, rose an eyebrow at Eve. "Wait, what did you say?" He knew how his sister could come off to others sometimes so he didn't think it'd hurt to ask. Though, he did sound just a tad bit accusing towards Evelyn since he asked what she did instead of what happened.

Evelyn gave a heavy sigh reflecting on the night passed then looked at her brother who had begun to stretch the morning fatigue away. “I'll let you get changed then we can grab breakfast together. Deal?”

With a nod and a yawn, Atticus let his sister exit his room as he got up and dressed for the day. He rubbed the groggy feeling from his eyes and when he opened them again, the whole world came into view regularly. The blindness temporarily gone as he needed.

Atticus walked with Evelyn to the hall. It was already filling with campers as more of them greeted the morning from the night before. Seeing some with hangovers almost made him reviled he didn't attend. The gods only knew how well he'd handle a hangover himself, probably complaining to Eve that his head hurt every ten minutes. Shaking the thought from his head with a slight smile, Atticus escorted his sister to an empty table. Time to begin to make up for last night. He sat across from her but leaned in halfway smiling and his hands folded on the table. "So, what would my dear sister like to eat this morning?"

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At first light Raven stirred in her bed, contemplating the thought of getting up but after hurting her eyes looking at the light coming in through her window, she decided against it, pulling the covers way over her head and getting in another hour of sleep before actually starting her day. Once she was up and dressed, Raven noticed that Dominik had gone off ahead. It wasn't really a surprise as the boy was usually up before her anyway but she'd catch up to him sooner or later. Her head faintly ached but it wasn't a hangover, more like lack of sleep, a feeling she was all too acquainted with.

She gave a rub at her temples then hung her hair in a comfortable ponytail. Not too tight or the ache would turn into a full-on headache and she wasn't down for it today. There were a few stretches, laps and pull-ups involved in her morning warm up but nothing she couldn't handle. After the exercise, Raven headed back to her cabin for a quick warm shower, the soft smell of honey clinging close behind her when she finished. The faint thumping of her temples was soothed a little but not completely. Only a cup of tea would cure it and with that thought in mind, she made her way to the hall.

It didn't take long at all to spot the faces she had seen last night at the bonfire or at least the ones she knew. Tea was on the brain though, sweet, delicious tea. Raven walked over to the coffee machine and had it dispense a cup of hot water instead by not adding any of the grounded coffee beans, to begin with. She reached over and grabbed a packet of oolong tea and dropped it into her cup. The tea bag instantly infused the water with its pleasant aroma and almost orange tint which brought a satisfied smile to her lips as she added the honey. After she had finished her preparations, Raven grabbed a nice juicy peach and turned around. She spotted Dom, her now more than likely destination, giving Harley a wave with a slight grin as she passed by.

When she approached Raven did her best not to seem awkward. Sitting across from him, she took a few sips of her tea before setting it down in front of her. She studied the cover of the book he was reading for a second. "The Iliad, huh? I didn't know you liked such books." She took a bite of her peach, trying to act natural. A bit nervous and a bit eager to talk to him, finally. "I have the Aethiopis, it's another good read if you like that one." Raven let Dom take his time to answer, there was no rush or pressure on her side, just genuine curiosity about the boy who sat across from her.

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In collab with xNocturnax

xxx T R I N I T Y xx W A L L A C E

xxDaughter of Ares | Outfit | #461f4b

Kalani offered a wave and Trinity twiddled her fingers in response. See, exhibit a. She was the perfect delightful little vegemite.

"You go from a deer in headlights at the thought of an official date... To wanting me to prep you to meet my family?"

She cringed at herself. “Was it that obvious?” She waved it off dismissively regardless. Her deer in headlights moment had faded. Hopefully.

"And for the record, my family only consists of Kalani and my father. Ani loves everyone... And my father? Well, he hates me, so he'd probably like you." Wes chuckled softly while Trinity's head cocked to the side curiously but still smiled. That didn't necessarily sound like a good thing since Wes had to live with him. Or certainly endure him in some form or the other.

“And your mum,” she said when there was no add on of Aphrodite. Trinity didn't know what part she played in Wesley's life but it still took two to tango and the Goddess was family.

Trinity awaited his…well…his command in a very real sense. "It doesn't quite work like that. I can't make you do anything. I can only give you a strong sense of love, devotion or obsession... Then anything beyond that is whatever your twisted little psyche decides."

“Learn something new,” Trinity noted, half-impressed and amused with her finger trapped in his hand. But his powers and love and whatnot were very much his domain so she couldn't exactly argue or prompt for it to work in a certain way.

"Plus, if people can't accept you for who you are, then they obviously don't deserve you as a friend. Because I think you're perfect the way you are." Ah, he said the p word. She should have figured he'd go for the just be yourself basis speech and it was hard for her to stop from rolling her eyes even as her head and heart soared. "But, if you really want me to do it... I will. But, you can't be mad at me if you don't like it or do something... Well, undesired."

“Have you tried it?” She quirked up a challenging brow. But she could hear his response to that already. "No, it won't work,"or, "yes, it didn't end well" which she'd then feel bad for. “Fine, fine. I get it. The power of passion is dangerous.” Trinity stalked towards the hall. “How would the primitive daughter to the god of war possibly be able to cope with lust?” she ranted to herself through the kitchen and begrudgingly poured herself some cocoa puffs and milk in a bowl. Though it was for dramatic flare, Trinity couldn't help to infer some layer underneath, that he meant she particularly couldn't handle, love, devotion and obsession. Even when logic argued it applied to everyone.

“But you can point love and desire in a direction?” she said returning to open conversation with Wes. “That's how you made the giant chase those stonemen last year. So what if you...” It took one look at his right stump and she clamped her lips shut. Whatever the case, Wes only had control to an extent otherwise he woudn't have let that happen to his limb. And he preferred not to do it. Trinity sighed out then pressed her tongue to her cheek. Not because of Wes's decision and information but because she was exasperated with herself.

Perfect my ass. One day maybe she'd learn the art of shutting up. Trin then scanned the crowd and who to sit with. Andy was the first that popped out but Ajax would likely swoop in and bring a grin about her face. She felt very out of place with the lovebirds. Theo was there but could be counted as busy. Then there was Elias.

Trinity's body was already sinking slowly into the seat across from Andy, however. “Hey.” She smiled and shuffled over assuring plenty of room for Wes. “Where's company?” Trinity nodded to the vacant space next to Andy, no doubt in reference to golden boy.

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xxxxx H A R L E E N xx T H E O D O S

xxDaughter of Hermes | Outift | #51849C

"A magician never reveals his secrets, but if I might add the peachiness definitely makes it a bit easier". She chuckled. No doubt. Probably too easy. "If you'd like to see it in action however, I'd be more than happy to have you fetch me a glass of water." Her eyes widened and smile broke but before she could open her mouth to retort he laughed. "I'm just kidding, I've had enough fun this morning already".

She shook her head to herself with a grin. “You got me.”

To the feels of the party, he replied, "As much as I could. The damn thing ended before all the real fun would start. I guess I was a little let down, I expected a demigod party to be more exciting than the ones the frat boys throw on back home. Tell me, have you ever seen a nineteen year old boy take ten shots of vodka in a row, recite the Gettysburg address, and then jump through a window? It's more exciting than you think."

Harley laughed again, the picture he painted playing quite vividly in her head. She could imagine its entertainment “No doubt.”

"What about you? Everything you've ever hoped?"

“Oh, it's all a dream come true.” She rolled her eyes like the answer was obvious then gave a smirk of her own. “Well you pretty much said it. I seized what opportunities I could to pep up the night. It died premature. It was good for its drinks and a few snippets of entertainment then....poof. Gone. Party disbanded. But, I'm optimistic and hopeful for round two done right and to top any frat boy party experience.” Then she leaned forward, looking around to check they were in the clear as the next secret words of wisdom departed from her lips, “Also, just generally, if another game of spin the bottle occurs, you might want to be the spokesman to suggest not kissing like its kindergarten.” Harley beamed. Not that she had seen every kiss shared in the circle but from what she saw and due to the lack of commentary and commotion, she guessed it was pretty....G rated. Which was nice and sweet but for entertainment/party purposes it probably needed to offer a little more flare.

“Oh, not a stalker by the way,” she added with a quick throw up of her hands in surrender. “Just observant,” she said, the same time as her fingers touched her shoulders.

Harley took a bite of her toast finally, too caught up in story time to pay her breakfast the attention it deserved. “You heard the latest gossip on camp?” she inquired behind her hand. Harley stretched out a pause in case her company had some different and more juicy gossip to provide. “Capture the flag is happening today.” She waggled her brows. For the likes of Harley, there was nothing more invigorating than a competitive little game. For others it was probably something groan worthy. Particularly after a night of drinking. “I'm sure camp's version of capture the flag will exceed any expectation.”

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xxxxx E V E L Y N xx M A S T E R S

xxDaughter of Nemesis | Outift | #a10b6d

Atticus walked her to the hall and led them to a vacant table. "So, what would my dear sister like to eat this morning?" Atticus offered.

Evelyn smirked figuring this was his version of redemption. “I won’t be forgiving you so easily,” she teased, “but since you're keen to be so kind I'll have porridge with sliced strawberries and banana.” Eve looked around at the others and their variety of meals. “And toast generously buttered, with eggs and bacon cooked to perfection, a little tub of yogurt and...” Eve stuttered as she couldn't even think of something for the extensive list to go on and she laughed. “I really would like some porridge, thanks Atti.”

She sat back and crossed her legs. Eventually they were going to have to talk about his absence at the party, unless the reason was transparent or would reveal itself sooner than later. But Eve figured she had been interrogative enough within 24hours, so instead offered up a confession of her own. In Kit's room he had asked what Evelyn said to get McKenna to mentally beat her though by the end of the night things looked slightly better. “I didn't say or do anything wrong last night,” Evelyn insisted to Atticus softly. “I was just a bit...forward with her. She's young, she's pretty, she has mental fortress walls around her.” Evelyn shrugged. “I was intrigued. I initially wanted her to know she had someone on her side funnily enough.” Funnily enough in this circumstance meaning poorly ironic again, Evelyn mused. Was that the only thing she could find humor in these days?

Her fingers drummed a gentle rhythm on the table. It was quite a thing to be misunderstood but she had long promised herself people could make their own conclusions on her. At least she had Kit who she gave a warm smile to. Luckily he was graced with a little more appropriate social ability even if trend suggested the eldest be gifted in that department instead.

He headed to the hall with a large bag over his shoulder prompting the camp attendees outside to follow him as he passed so he could make the announcement. Other staff patrolled the camp rounding the strays up or those that chose to slumber in their cabins.

Once he was burrowed in towards the back of the hall, he begun. "Excuse me." He cleared his throat. "Excuse me." Having little success to gain their focus that way, he whistled loudly, its sound easily carrying through the hall.
"Great. Now, it has come to my attention that the camp has been making ill on its promises to help harness and flourish your powers and provide exciting activity. So today, we play an extreme capture the flag. And yes it's mandatory that you participate. As elementary as that may sound, you need it. Welcome to camp. The teams will be split up in two.."

He cleared his throat and read from his list. "The Red Spartans: Alexandria, Andromeda, Dominick, McKenna, Ji-hyun, Sloane, Theo, Harleen, Finley, Atticus, Adrianna, Kalani, Elias, Nikoloas, Lise, Mason."

He looked up from his list expecting the groans to roll in but protesting would get them nowhere.

"The Blue Trojans: Ajax, Gwendolyn, Trinity, Wesley, Sylas, Annie, Seung-min, Emery, Dimitri, Duke, Keith, Isobel, Mateo, Areum, Raven and Evelyn."

"You die, you lose. You tap out, you lose. You get your color taken from you, you lose and come back to the hall and watch." He dropped his bag with a grunt on a nearby table with a clatter. "Your colors are at your base. These are your weapons. You do not have to use a weapon, they will not be given to you. You can use your powers." He smirked a little. "Welcome to the Hunger Games." The reference to the gripping YA book probably went over at least half the camp attendants heads. Most didn't give reading the time of day, and those that did read probably didn't concern themselves with something so modernized, their noses either stuck in the air or buried in work of literature and ancient tales instead.
Alaric was mostly referring to the cornucopia aspect. The weapons would be scattered among the woods and there’s for the taking, most of which were right at the center of the woods, gleaming and beckoning to be taken in the crossfire.
The camp attendees could figure out for themselves that the pain they could experience would be no more than a phantom pain via the weapons, traps and beasts that the very gods themselves, and some demigods designed and helped set up.

It would be best to see them treat it as real as possible.

"Do not go for fatal blows on each other," he warned as the final and only rule. A demigod turning on another demigod that way was vicious and cruel, and Alaric as well as other staff had no tolerance for it. It had no place in their camp.
"There are currently some hostile beasts prowling the woods," he assured in case anyone was disheartened by the idea of no-fatality experience. However, their very jaws and beings were enchanted so when they clamped down on a demigod fatally, they'd be warped straight to the hall. "You have two minutes to get to the woods, get your colors on, hide your flag within these perimeters," he pointed to the map's red and blue colored area on opposite ends of each other -AKA their bases, "devise a plan and create a universal safe word if you have to."

"I hope you're all awake, because time starts now."

---

"No offense taken. But with similar respect, the same could be said of a Hades child."
It was refreshing to come across someone so wise and Mason nodded with the statement to show, likewise, no offense was taken. "But, you can rest assured when I give someone my word, I follow through," Sylas added taking another grape from his bowl. "And I don't scare easily. I'm not frightened of a little bit of lightening."
Mason found himself nodding again and shrugging. Many would claim so. Jenn wasn't scared of lightening but the psycho bitch cut her head off. If you weren't scared of lightening and submissive to the spawns of Zeus they were particularly hostile because you didn't spoon-feed their massive egos.

"I think allies would be a more appropriate term. Friends aren't really in my wheel house. And no, I don't expect you to just trust me. Trust and friendship is earned... Not freely given."
"That it is." Giving Sylas another look over Mason guessed they wouldn't evolve to such a stage. Keeping things business or as strictly allies would fit them both best. Worry of each other likely wouldn't come into the picture until after the Valises were gone. But who knew what the future held.

"Well, I mean we could simply just corner one of them... Stab stab. Job's done." Thankfully his lack of enthusiasm demonstrated that was among the most plain ideas and not a real one. "That lacks... Creativity, for lack of a better term. Sure, death is the end goal but we don't want it to be swift and merciful. It's more satisfying destroying someone, breaking them down and ruining them, root and stem."
What did he think Mason was doing? In addition to waiting for the right moment to present itself, he was trying some behind the scenes works.But he liked that Sylas liked the slower route. It was a bit more of a gamble but if it was a job done right, it would be most rewarding.
"I don't know how devious you are... But, I liked the idea of turning everyone they love against them."
Mason actually threw his hands up in the air and gestured to the hall. "Thank you! Finally someone gets it! I know I'm pretty but I haven't been spending my time doing my hair and flossing my teeth and solely thinking of ways to kill them." Mason hadn't exactly been targeting people they love to turn against them either, for the sheer fact that he couldn't even stand to be in radius of a Valis worshiper and they were harder to convert.
Actually, Mason was doing little in truth. He was just being a bit more social and charming and Alex already did the murdering. Mason did have one good asset though, however that was more an ace up the sleeve for him.

After a long moment in thought with his tongue pressed to his cheek, he spoke again. "I wouldn't mind dying to make a point. Providing old Pops brings me back." The camp needed to see the monsters under the surface. That it wasn't a one off thing. Like Sylas he wanted to ruin and bury their reputations and ruin the trust fellow demigods mistakenly placed in them. And sure, just to make it really burn, make their world collapse, turn the people they love against them.

Then, a staff member paced through the hall capturing Mason's attention. As he could have guessed, he was on a mission. Once he gathered everybody's attention, he laid out the task ahead.

It was in moments like so where Mason really had to reflect on his life choices, or certainly the choice of returning to camp and not killing Zeus's kids. Now he was teamed up with the one he despised most of all. At first he was consumed in hatred and distaste but eventually it evolved to a glimpse of opportunity. Extreme capture the flag meant full contact. In this case, it meant letting the demigods run wild like animals. Mason glanced back to Sylas. "Is the boy next door facade still staying on in the heat of competition?" He smirked and got up. Now was the time to see what those twins were made of that so easily slipped under the radar.

His legs carried him there automatically and he was in another head space entirely, even as he wrapped the band around his arm. Except when he had to tune in on the team speech, Mason supposed that might have been important. Important to feign attention in anyway as winning or losing didn't really matter to him. How many rematches could happen down the track, and what did winning really prove? That you had a good team and the right players? That they were lucky? Mason crossed his arms and waited for any outgoing brains to take initiative.

---

Two minutes!? Duke paced off to what was temporarily known as the Blue Trojan's base. He wasn't going to hide the flag, leaving that duty instead to the likes of Ajax or better, Seung-min. He pulled a blue bandanna and wrapped it around his forearm.

Duke pressed his tongue to his cheek on his little over-eager team. The hype was good, but they needed a strategy implemented, especially when the opposing team had the likes of Lise and McKenna. "We need defenders, attackers and maybe a mid-field. We also need to consider our biggest threats. Harleen, she's quick, she's deft, you dont want your band taken off you without knowing you've even been touched. Likewise, Andy, military brat and witch, she'll be more confrontational and physical, keep your wits about you. Kalani can seduce you, stay focused. Adrianna, I've never seen her competitive side but I can guess she has one, and not to underestimate her." He gestured to Mateo because the very same applied to him. Then again who wasn't a threat? He gave up. "Take out the Spartans brains, healers and manipulators first, then deal with the brutes. They probably think we're a confrontational side too, that we're going in with guns blazing, but let's try to be a little more subtle. Travel in pairs if you can. Not attached at the hip though." If there was an ambush, he’d prefer one teammate to go down and not a collective of them.
"Wes, Raven, Dimitri, Isobel cover the middle, please." Together the four made a disarming pair, and a protective one too if they accessed the right emotions and triggers, and powers of course.
"Emery, Seung-min, Sylas and Evelyn, you're our secret weapons. Aim for the Spartan's flag. Avoid the heat of the battle if you can, use evasive or defensive techniques." The four could get creative. Their gifts and applications were always a surprise and they weren't the type that urged an immediate threat. "Ajax, Trinity; they'll be expecting us. Let's not disappoint." They were probably the renowned biggest war-heads. Without them near the front line of battle, the opposition would get suspicious about their presence.
"Daniel -uh, Keith, stay as a line of defense. Gwendolyn, I think you'd make a strong offense but it depends where you want to go, you'd know where you're best kept. Annie, I think we need you to press forward too. Look after our assault team and stun some opponents. If that makes you uncomfortable, stay back with Keith."
Duke looked between the remainder of Areum and Mateo. The demigods whose attitude he most struggled to grasp. Daniel needed some help in defense, but he felt their usefulness could be better spent elsewhere. In the middle as both offensive and defensive forces.

Then he caught himself, swept up in heat of the moment. "That's my suggestion anyway," he said so the more sensitive didn't kick up a fuss about him taking lead on a strategy or 'ordering them around'. After all, he was no child of Athena or son of Zeus. "Anybody else got an idea?"

---

Keith tried not to be so evaluating and calculating of the new state of camp. It seemed to bustle with a few more energetic bodies than last year and definitely a few more brooding faces and vibes. He felt his heart sink in the knowledge that it'd be hard to make friends. There seemed so little room for the socially awkward and everybody else already had established their "clique".

Sometimes the camp could be exceptionally boring and dull, but that was something he simply had to endure like everyone else and hope the next day would be more rewarding. His degree of boredom would just be more though. His lips pressed in a line and he plucked out his earphones and shuffled through his phone for a tune that could ignite his soul. Keith smiled slightly when he found it. Some would argue it was a little too swaggerish for him but part of him really liked it and had a guilty pleasure listening to JT.

The son of Hecate traveled through camp territory for another year of learning and fighting evil, having to suppress the urge to walk in rhythmic bounces and pull some Michael Jackson move. He made his way to hall, typically the central congregation point of people, new and regular. That, plus some staff waved him over to and pointed to it.

Some larger species of male had bumped him. "Daniel," they said casually, but he was bowing to the ground to retrieve his glasses that were knocked down on impact. He carefully placed them back on the bridge of his nose, surprised to see the brute had actually taken to stop and staring. For a round two, he prayed not.
Keith slowly rose and for some time it seemed they just stared at each other. "I'm sorry," Keith said finally and spun on his heel to take an extended detour. It wasn't worth getting his teeth knocked out and he didn't want to cause any trouble. Keith had spent some time in the gym on his holidays and become a bit more solid in build, but it was nothing that girls would second look or enough to engage in a fist-fight confidently. The hall would still be there too. He wasn't missing anything.

When he slid into the hall an announcement was happening, and he shrunk into the wall then nestled into a corner and slowly pulled out his earplugs. An extreme mandatory capture the flag...what could go wrong. Inside, Keith wanted to die there and then or dissolve into a puddle. It was like high school P.E class and the untalented still had to participate even when no one really wanted them on the team, and they didn't really want to participate, and the teachers were the only ones that thought it was a good idea in the entire universe. He sighed out and was the first to exit the hall and make his way to blue base.

Duke started rattling off a plan, and while he was smart and confident and that was semi-contagious when it came to his plan, Keith was super insecure about being the last line of defense by guarding the base especially by his lonesome. That was enough pressure for him to develop a twitch and have a nervous breakdown. But externally, there was no more displayed than light levels of anxiety.

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T H E OXS M I T H
son of artemis

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Team Red Spartans
Mood: Excited
Hex: #0000BF

Just as Theo had turned his flirting with Gwen all the way up, one of the camp directors came through the door and explained how the game of capture the flag would work. He rolled his eyes as Gwen was not among his teammates. As the director finished, Theo's mind immediately started spinning with ideas as he grabbed a map from a table nearby . His eyes widened as he saw which side of camp his squad had. He cracked a slight smile. They had the water at their back over by the Poseidon cabins. As his mind surveyed the landmarks of the camp he had completely memorized, he knew there was a certain rock formation on the shore that a person could hide in. His idea involved hiding the flag in the rock crevice.

He looked around at his group. Surely the newer campers would look to the veterans to formulate a game plan considering their more extensive knowledge of camp and their experience in battle. That left it up to Theo, Mason, Andy, and Alex. Theo decided it would be good time for him to step up. Mason was definitely not the type to tell everyone what to do. Andy would probably go along with anything as long as her talents were properly utilized. Alex was a Zeus child, but Theo knew she trusted him. Theo liked the opportunity to step up, and he didn't doubt that Alex would allow it. She might do her own thing out there regardless of the plan, but Theo knew for sure she could handle herself.

With that Theo stepped into the middle of the awkward circle they had formed as they got out of ear shot of the other team. "Okay, so here is what I am thinking. We have the shore on our side. Finley, you know that rock formation out by the cabin with the crevice surrounded by the taller rocks? I think we could hide the flag there. You could pull the tide out the the formation to make it even more complicated to search around there. After the flag is hidden, we need attackers and defenders. Dominick, I think you should stay back and help Finley defend the flag for sure. You could even hard freeze the water in the crevice with the flag in the very middle of the ice. That would buy us some time even if they manage to get to the flag because they would have to get it out of the ice.

Ji-Hyun, Sloane, Atticus, Adrianna, Kalani, and Nik... you guys should stay back on this side to defend. My best idea would be for you guys to pair off. This way if anyone gets in a sticky situation they always have someone to help them out. The longer we keep as many people in the game as we can, the better off we are. Two more of you should probably stay close by the flag with Dom and Fin, but the others pairs should post up somewhere else on their natural path to the flag. Think of an alert system and communicate with each other back here. As the game closes in on the flag you guys can work your way back. Right now try to defend the territory as a whole and knock a few people out. I can almost guarantee you Ajax, Duke, and Trinity are coming this way. Be ready. I'm not sure who else will be attacking though.

Andy, Alex, McKenna, Harleen, Elias, Mason, Lise, and myself would probably be best as attackers. I think we should probably go in pairs too. Think about who could complement you well. Elias I think I'd like to pair with you. I can go from high place to high place covering your back as you control things in close range on the ground. We should all spread out and canvas the area, looking for the flag, and trying to knock out their defenders. We need a signal too in case someone finds the flag or gets in trouble. Harleen, do your thing. Make their heads spin and if you have a run at the flag then get some cover and go for it. Lise and Mason... the two of you are probably the sneakiest of all of us. Try to pair up with someone aggressive who can cover you. When we find the flag, we need to go all in after the thing while the two of you try to slip in and slip away with the flag. Everyone else, let's put on a show. I think we have the better team here. Be patient. If we can knock several of their players out early, we will be in great shape. Be cautious with who you get into a fight with though. We need everyone out there as long as possible. Have fun. Stay focused. Be smart. Play to your strengths. If you can manipulate their minds, use that. If you can fight it our or shoot it out like me, use those things too. Remember, snatching their band might be easier than winning a fight. I think we can really win this thing. Anyone got any ideas for signals or anything else?"

Theo took a deep breath and looked around at his comrades for the day, satisfied with his plan, trying to judge if everyone else was too. He kept a positive tone, and he tried to make sure he didn't sound like a dictator.