halfbloodhill_logs | (no subject)

Who: The entire camp + special guests.
What: Wolves have broken through the camp barriers!
When: Late Wednesday January 29 into early morning on January 30
Where: Various camp locations.
Why: Some canines think they can show Camp Half-Blood who's boss.

It starts with a scream.

The evening harpies, better known as camp's alert system for kids who are out past curfew, have some news for everyone, flying through the camp and shrieking through cabin doors to wake everyone up if they're asleep. (Unless, of course, you're untrained and too young or incapable of fighting tonight. Demeter cabin will be your place of refuge.) After the first call to duty, campers have risen to the occasion with their various plans and promises, patrolling the border and building weapons specifically for their new enemies. The Full Moon passed with only a few howls, much to the surprise of many.

No, these wolves have other plans for the New Moon. Aligned with Gaea and followers of Lycaron, they're a group of six renegades looking for a show and perhaps a tasty snack. One of them just so happens to be in the business of fussing with the Mist, undoing someone's hard work to let in her comrades.

They've got bared teeth, blood on their nails, and a penchant for chaos. Camp, it's time to wake up.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"What are you doing up here?" Because Lydia knows on some instinct that whatever it is, it isn't good.

"There are mortals all over the camp. They're going after the wolves...but there's at least one out there that's helping is and I don't think they know the difference. I saw a few of them go for campers too."

Her lips press together tightly. "What's going on?"

"I bought the mortals in," is all Allison says, pulling an arrow out of her quiver and spinning it between her fingers.

She lifts her chin, aligns the arrow properly between her index and middle finger. Her hands don't sweat under her gloves like they did when she was younger. Her aim is perfect.

So when she fires at the wolf previously attacking Rhys, why does she only get her in the shoulder?

Oh shit, is what Lydia thinks, but as she watches Allison, as she steps closer, her voice stays calm.

"Why would you do that?" she asks. "We were all prepared for this fight. And those mortals...most of them aren't distinguishing between campers and werewolves. You can't want that."

"That -" she falters, "that wasn't supposed to happen. They were supposed to keep the rest of you out of the way so we had a clear path to all the wolves."

Crap. Crap crap crap, this isn't how it was supposed to go. They weren't supposed to make the others bleed. Allison watches as the wolf limps off, trying to pull the arrow from her own shoulder, ready to give in. It's strangely satisfying, seeing her stuffer. The thought itself freaks her out.

"Why are you doing this?" Lydia asks. "We all want to stop the werewolves but this...for you to bring in mortals, for things to go this far..."

For things to go this far, it has to be personal.

Allison finally lifts her gaze, looking to Lydia instead, just turning her head over her shoulder.

"My mom," she says finally, after a pregnant pause.

Lydia nods. "I'm sorry." she says, daring to step closer.

"I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like. And I could see how this would make sense." Lydia looks out over the camp and swallows.

"But you understand what's happening? They're not just going after the wolves. They're hurting people who've come here to be safe. Your friends are out there." There's a pause. "There's a boy out there who really likes you, Allison. And he's in the thick of it. What if they hurt him too?"

"It's a means to an end. Give the campers ambrosia or necatar."

She sounds like her mother. She sounds like the Skadi she dreams about. She doesn't sound like herself. The real Allison is kind and concerned and cares about people. The mention of Scott, however, catches her attention and she looks at Lydia sharply, pulling another arrow from her quiver, this one laced with just a touch of wolfsbane to injure the wolf.

"This is for my mom and the family I have left."

"And what about the people where who welcomed you here?" Rather than getting strident about it, Lydia keeps her tone gentle. Gods, she wishes right now more than anything that she actually had charmspeak. "The ones who gave you an apple, who helped you find out who you are? Of course you want to avenge your mother...would she want you to hurt all of these people in order to do it?"

Carefully, Lydia reaches out and touches Allison's shoulder. "This isn't you. I mean, I've only known you a little while, and even I know this isn't you."

Allison flinches, acting as if she's touched her with something very cold. She doesn't pull away because the touch -- it's actually comforting. It almost feels as if she hasn't really been hugged in quite some time.

Allison's face briefly softens until she clenches her jaw and shakes her head.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt anyone in camp, I really didn't. This is my life," she explains, her voice too soft, "this is how I'm supposed to be." Allison begins to back away, towards the edge of the roof. "I'm sorry, Lydia."

"It doesn't have to be your life." Lydia says firmly. She steps forward even as Allison steps back. "And who you are isn't defined by the touch of divinity inside you, whether it's demigod or magician or soul shard. If I believed I was defined by what people think of Aphrodite, I'd be a vain, manipulative, fickle person and that is definitely not something I want to be."

"Is this who you want to be?"

"I'm a hunter, not a Hunter of Artemis, but that's my family's line of work, what we've been doing for ages. 'Nous chassons ceux qui nous chassent.'" We hunt those who hunt us. She knows she doesn't need to translate this for Lydia.

"It's my duty to my family," Allison finishes firmly, with renewed sense of purpose, or a semblance of purpose. Camp, she keeps telling herself, is not her family. It does not make them disposable but - but -

How to finish that thought? No one here is disposable.

Even so, Allison looks over at Lydia apologetically and starts to climb down the side of the Big House.

Lydia goes to the edge, looking down at Allison as she makes her way down.

"You always struck me as someone who'd care more about protecting others." she says. "I'm sorry too, Allison." She steps back. If she can't convince Allison to re-think this, then there's someone she needs to go make sure is safe.