Krystal109
Guest
|
 |
« on: February 23, 2010, 01:22:59 AM » |
|
Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Chapter 8: We Capture a Flag
Written by Chris
Edited by Krystal
After a few days Percy had settled into a routine. In the mornings he’d take Ancient Greek with Annabeth and the rest of the day he spent trying his hand at different skilled activities, like foot racing, archery, wrestling and canoeing. Naturally, everything he tried, he was terrible at, except for canoeing which wasn’t very heroic. Luke suggested that he may be a kid of Hermes, but Percy got the idea that he was just trying to make him feel better. Despite everything, he liked camp.
Three days after he’d arrived at Camp Half-Blood, Percy had his first sword-fighting lesson. He thought he did okay, but he just couldn’t find a blade that felt right. The class paired off for dueling and Percy is paired with Luke, the best swordsman in the last three hundred years. With every swipe Percy got more battered and bruised until Luke called a break. After a quick dunk of water, Percy was used as an example for a difficult disarming maneuver.
The first time Luke demonstrates in slow motion and Percy looses hold on his sword. When Luke takes it to real time speed though, Percy reacts instinctively and counters Luke’s jabs and steps disarming Luke. Percy apologizes to a stunned Luke, who wants to go at it again. This time Percy’s energy has left him and he loses his swords.
Friday afternoon, Percy and Grover sit on the pier by the lake, watching the Naiads basket-weaving. Percy questioned Grover about his conversation with Mr. D. and learns that Grover’s judgment would be suspended until Percy got a quest, their fates are still intertwined. Percy decides that this is as good as any time to ask about the four empty cabins. One belonged to Artemis, the eternal maiden, one was Hera’s, goddess of marriage who’d never cheat with a mortal, and the other two belonged to two of the Big Three.
Turns out, after World War II the Big Three agreed not to sire anymore demigods because they were too powerful and swore an oath on the River Styx. But seventeen years ago Zeus fell off the wagon. The girl, Thalia, was punished by Hades for Zeus’ broken vow. On her way to Camp Half-Blood, the monsters surrounded her and she sacrificed herself for the others. Zeus took pity on Thalia, and transformed her into the pine tree that now protects the boarder of the camp, on the hill.
Tonight was the night of capture the flag and Annabeth and Clarisse carried the flags through the pavilion. Luke informs that Ares and Athena usually lead the teams and Hermes cabin had allied with Athena. Chiron announced the rules and Percy is placed on boarder patrol, with overly large armor and warnings about Clarisse’s spear.
Percy stood alone by the water’s edge as the teams fought in the distance. A low canine growl warned Percy of a presence nearby, but it dissipated to Clarisse’s voice. After one strike Percy discovered that Clarisse’s special spear was electric and very deadly. Percy finds himself cut and in the riverbed with the Ares gang coming after him. When they try to overtake him Percy’s senses awakened and he knows exactly how to defend himself. He begins to take on the guys one by one, disarming all of them and breaking Clarisse’s spear.
A sound of screaming and cheers announced Luke’s appearance with the Ares flag; they’d won. Annabeth appears at Percy side and he angrily remarks about her ploy to get him beat up as a diversion for the Ares gang. Suddenly, Annabeth notices that the wound on Percy’s arm has magically healed. An epiphany hits and she tells him to get out of the water…resulting in the return of the low growl.
Chiron shouted for his bow as a huge rhino with red eyes appeared, his intended path set for Percy. The creature attacked, ripping through his armor as the archers shot tons of arrows killing the beast. The beast was a hellhound from the Fields of Punishment and it had been summoned by someone inside the camp. With Chiron watching and Percy wounded Annabeth sent Percy back into the water, testing her theory. The entire camp stared as a misty green three-tipped object, a trident, faded from over his head. It had been determined. Percy was the son of Poseidon.
Characters Involved
Percy Jackson
Annabeth Chase
Mr. Brunner/Chiron
Clarisse La Rue
Luke Castellan
Grover Underwood
Castor
Pollux
Hellhound
Characters Mentioned
Mr. D/Dionysus
Minotaur
Hephaestus
Hermes
Artemis
Hera
Kronos
Zeus
Poseidon
Hades
Thalia Grace
Mrs. Dodds/Alecto
Megaera
Tisiphone
Minotaur
Orpheus
Hercules
Houdini
Nemesis
Places Visited
Camp Half Blood
Camp Half Blood: Sword-fighting Arena
Camp Half Blood: Canoeing Lake
Camp Half Blood: Mess Hall Pavilion
Camp Half Blood: Woods
Memorable Quotes
Percy: The next few days I settled into a routine that felt almost normal, if you don’t count the fact that I was getting lessons from satyrs, nymphs, and a centaur. (Page 107)
Percy: Despite all that, I liked camp. I got used to the morning fog over the beach, the smell of hot strawberry fields in the afternoon, even the weird noises of monsters in the woods at night. (Page 108)
Camper: “Good luck,” one of the campers told me. “Luke’s the best swordsman in the last three hundred tears.”
Percy: “Maybe he’ll go easy on me,” I said. (Page 109)
Percy: For a moment, Luke was too stunned to speak.
Luke: “Sorry?” His scarred face broke into a grin. “By the gods, Percy, why are you sorry? Show me that again!” (Page 111)
Chiron: “It is determined,” Chiron announced. (Page 126)
Chiron: “Poseidon,” said Chiron. “Earthshaker, Stormbringer, Father of Horses. Hail, Perseus Jackson, Son of the Sea God.” (Page 126)
Questions for consideration:
From what Grover told Percy about the Big Three, what do you make of it?
How do you feel about the way their offspring are treated, like Thalia?
Did you figure out that Percy was son of the Sea God before the chapter’s end?
What do you think will happen now, knowing the fate of the last child of ‘The Big Three’?
|
Author