Camp Half-Blood: Into the Storm - Closed!

[OutFoxed]

Poppy ️✿ Rye
✾ 16, She/Her
✾ Demeter
✾ Dining Pavilion
✾ @Ophelia & Mira /Open
"Man it's cold out! I mean, obviously you guys know! But like seriously, so glad I had this," The upbeat teenager plucked at the beige cable knit.
"Oh my gosh - we like totally match!" She gleefully called out as she noted Mira's furry accessories.
"What are y'all talking about?" Her innocent hazel eyes warmed by the nearest brazier and being with friends.
An oblivious child, happy-go-lucky in most situations - and true to nature, give her ten minutes and the gloom will recede.

Ben Asher
⚒ 18, He/Him
⚒ Hephaestus
⚒ Forge
⚒ @Hank (Izzy)
As usual, eyes glazed when Ben talked about metal working. He was used to it, and typically kept his mouth shut. He was pleased to hear the puppers was doing well even with the recent weather spike. His mind immediately started to whirl in gear as he mentioned his real intention of stopping by. Of course, Izzy's armor. Mentally he started tracking it - from its deposit from Hank, to simple repair work and conditioning, and then...and then. Oh no! Ben thought, his gaze far away, completely missing the awkward interaction between Laurel and the Apoll camper. He knew that he meant to put it on the Out-Going work station (a designated work bench that was laden with random gear to be picked up [some might have been forgotten]). But then he'd been sidetracked with a trip to Bunker 9, and the whole Polar Bear debacle. Come on, Ben berated his mental capabilities.
Rewinding his steps - he remembered being in the forge late the night before. Anxiety of new campers and returning faces had kept him working and staying creative. Finally - a vision clicked in place and he headed towards a back work station that had a few odds and ends stacked up. Some how lost items found their way to it - whether placed by a absentminded camper, or Hephaestus worked his magic. Laid on top was the hard leather platebody - perfect for one beloved English Pointer.
Bringing it back to the main open space - the son of Hephaestus presented the armor to Izzy for her inspection. "What do you think girl? "

[sammy,]

╔xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx╗
𝚝𝚎𝚒𝚕𝚘 𝚐𝚛𝚒𝚏𝚏𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚜
the canoe lake
thanatos - unclaimed
mentioned: aiden
╚xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx╝

when aiden reeled away, teilo almost felt bad for his excursion. it wasn't that he wanted to be perceived as abrasive, nor that he wanted to be seen as unapproachable, but rather that there was a level of protection in the lock and key he kept his being under - if nobody knew him, then nobody could be disappointed by him. it seemed that this had hindered him somewhat more than helping him, if the current interaction was evidence of anything.
he continued on about audra, and teilo looked up at the sky - as though the right thing to say was hanging in the air above them, waiting to be grasped at and spewed at high velocities. there was nothing to say. it was a tragedy. he knew tragedy, he knew the feeling, and had learned the hard way that there are often no words to lessen the impact it has on someone. especially on someone who was young, malleable when it happened. "it hits closer to home," he nodded. "because you were there, you feel as though you should have been able to stop it, but you couldn't. people die all the time." there was something revealing about what he was saying, but he was saying it anyway, the words no longer trapped behind a dam in his throat.

further on the concept of being a demigod. a strange concept, certainly, and not one that he had quite wrapped his head around yet. there would come a point that his father, some great and immortal being, would come out of the woodwork - reveal himself for all that he was, and teilo feared the worst. despite being around so many people that were in the same boat as him, it felt as though his was the only part of the raft that was sinking. the thought of guiding voices gave him pause, a bitter smile coming to the surface. "i think i'll be taking medication for that. i'm not much a fan of mental voices." it was a joke. it wasn't a very funny joke, but a joke nonetheless.

the commentary on the dreams was light until it wasn't. each time he pored over the images that flashed through his fading memory, teilo felt as though a grip on his throat was growing tighter - something, perhaps, that was trying to silence him, to stop him in his tracks. it was too late. the words were dancing in the air, and the look on aiden's face told him that he probably should have stuck with the kafka-esque comedian. he wished he could take them back, but they had forced themselves out.
aiden's voice dropped to a whisper, and dread blossomed. how he despised other peoples' secrets. a prophecy? he had heard stranger things. and then -
"a quest," he said, dumbfounded. "outside of the camp? out there?" his voice trembled. he put it to the cold. "you've just told me that people get killed by monsters when they're on quests, and now you're telling me that i'm supposed to go on one? i'm not even claimed. i don't know what i'd do. i'm not of - of any use to anyone. i just had a weird dream about pen y fan. that was it. i'm not - i can't -" outside, the world was heaving, teeming with the things he had come here to escape from. "i can't leave. i don't want to. you're going to have to find another camper. i can't." stress brought his accent to new heights, syllables singing in the air. "are you going? have you had the dream? what if it's not even that, what if there's a different dream. if every dream's so bloody prophetic, then what does that say about the spider? oh -" he stomped his foot against the ice. it cracked underneath his foot.

[WitchHazel]

|Mirabelle Everhart|17|She/Her|Aphrodite|Head Counselor|Location: Dining Pavilion|Tags: Ophelia, Poppy|

Mirabelle couldn't help but chuckle when Poppy pointed out their matching accessories. Even just being in the presence of someone so positive and upbeat was starting to make her own typical chipper attitude return. Though she didn't usually handle the cold well, she had to admit that the snow was rather beautiful. Maybe I'll sketch out some winter fashion ideas later, if there's time. Her smile faltered ever so slightly as Poppy asked about their previous conversation. "Nothing really important, just lunch," she replied, attempting to keep her demeanor light. She shot an apologetic glance at Ophelia again, hoping she hadn't come off as rude or sulky earlier. The last thing she wanted was to tear a rift between them, or cause her cabinmate undue worry.


|Juliet Pratten|16|She/Her|Hermes|Location: Canoe Lake|Tags: Aiden & Tielo (Both Mentioned)|

As Juliet neared the lake, she could make out two figures standing near the newly frozen surface. She'd been banking on getting some alone time, but it wasn't a big deal - the lake was large, after all. She could just walk around to the other side. Shrugging she continued on her way, giving the body of water a wider berth than necessary.
A loud crack cut through the air - a sound she knew only too well. As she whipped around to face the two figures on the ice, her heart dropped.
Oh no.


|Chuck Oakes|He/Him|Satyr|Location: Forest|Tags: Jamie|

"Huh?" Chuck blinked, following where Jamie's finger was pointing. He tried looking up, but the action tilted his head and the wren fluttered down to land on one of his arms with an irritated chirp. "Oh, like, hey." He was not prepared for what happened next. The bird let loose a barrage of rather... unrepeatable language, yelling about the snow and migration patterns, and the animals getting all confused at the shift in weather. Chuck's eyes grew gradually wider as she angrily demanded an explanation. To anyone who didn't speak bird, it simply sounded like loud tweeting. "Okay okay! Like, geez, slow down, man!"
The wren tweeted angrily at him once more, fluffing up its feathers against the cold.
"Oh - like - sorry. Ma'am." Chuck scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, turning to Jamie. "So uh - apparently the weather is like, totally messing with the animals," he informed him. "Like, hibernation, migration, you name it. It's all being like, totally messed up."


|Vivienne Isole|18|She/Her|Khione|Location: Peak of Mount Marcy|Tags: Khione, Mysterious Stranger|

"Understood." Khione nodded sharply. Audible footsteps sounded down the hall, growing closer by the second until a figure rounded the corner. Vivienne returned holding a platter of cucumber sandwiches and a few drinks (with ice, of course). The only indication of her slight annoyance at being evidently left out of the planning was a small layer of frost that had formed on the underside of the metal. [i'Well, I suppose they are both deities, whereas I am probably 'just a demigod' in the eyes of this... stranger. Likely best to leave the bargaining to mother in this situation,[/i] she rationalised. Setting the refreshments down on a coffee table, she took a seat next to her mother once more.
"Pleasant news - our friend here will be aiding us in our endeavor," Khione stated, turning to her daughter. Vivienne simply nodded, though her insides squirmed ever so slightly. Something about this stranger made her... uncomfortable. She couldn't quite place a finger on it. Nonetheless, it was good to have allies, even someone so... dark and foreboding. It made her mission seem more achievable, that was for sure. Speaking of...
"Is everything ready for tonight?"
Khione simply nodded, though Vivienne didn't miss the glance she cast at the stranger.
"Exemplary."

[takara]

Agatha "Aggy" Clemson|She/her|Unknown (Ares)|Location: wandering by Armoury|tags: Auggie

"Of course!" Aggy exclaimed. She was excited to get back into the ring, and this time it didn't even take some prodding to have someone agree to it. Maybe I don't need to instigate here?
Nah, that's preposterous, she thought, before plowing on.

She met the other girl's eyes, practically tripping over her words in excitement. "I'm still working on a nickname for it, some pirate dude in th 1800's called her Bloodripper, and a Spanish privateer called her Muerte-something, but I personally think Flora suits her. What's your take? " She asked, tugging her blade out to show how it glowed after the good grind. She flicked it through the air in a manner that would seem expert, had it not been so choppy. She was almost mesmerized by it, and seemed to forget the other girl was there.

Ophelia Rogers|She/her|Aphrodite|Location: Dining Pavilion|tags: Mira, Poppy

Ophelia was happy to see her counselors sunshine return. She flashed her a wide smile, then went to the table to eat her lunch. Today would be a tough game, and she wanted to be ready for it.

Henry "Hank" Walker|He/him|Apollo|Location: Forge|tags: Ben, Izzy

Hank looked genuinely suprised to see her armour there. It had been missing since the last game of capture the flag, but he'd thought he'd left it around the cabin.
"Ah, thanks man, it looks great!" He said, lifting the armour and carefully placing it on Izzy to check the fit. As always, it was expertly crafted, and the repairs in preparation for tonight were spectacular craftsmanship.
Although she didn't technically need armour, Hank liked to be extra careful after the events of his first game of capture the flag.

Alex Burns|17|He/him| Aphrodite| Location: Cabin 10| Tags: Niji

"Of course!" He said, looking concerned that the other camper didn't think so. He was confused as to why Niji was frowned upon for speaking their own language in their own community, but he didn't let on about it. Instesd, he walked over to his bed and knelt down to tug out the storage draw, tugging harder when it put up a fight, and falling backwards when it suddenly released.
"Oof, well there should be some colorful stuff in here, feel free to borrow something if you want to mix it up," He said, gesturing at the place where he kept all his loudest clothes. He had learned years ago that it was best to leave the experimenting to his time at camp, so he left those pieces under his bed in the off season too.

[KestrelTheFirecat]

Laurel tags hank, Izzy, and Ben

Laurel smiles and says “hello.. uh sorry I forgot your name” she smiles and holds her head out in greeting

[FerretMonarch]

Niji Sakura Budōnoki • 17 • (he/they) • Homosexual • Dionysus • Location: aphrodite cabin• Tags: Alex Burns

Niji caught Alex's concerned look, but didn't say anything. How would he explain something so painfully obvious to Alex and not have it come out... odd?

Instead Niji walked over to the drawer. "Thank you." Niji said hesitant to look through it.
He didn't want to pry or be rude even though Alex said he could. Niji tugged on his dufflebag a bit more looking around nervously.

"Could I borrow a coat?" Niji said.
He guessed that the stables were the best place to pray and he didn't want the cold to be on his mind instead of his prayers.

[takara]

Alex Burns|17|He/him| Aphrodite| Location: Cabin 10| Tags: Niji

Niji seemed very concerned about whatever was in the duffle bag, but he didn't seem the type to be hiding anything that would interest Alex. He let theit nervous look slide.
"Take whatever you need, Alex said, gesturing from his stash to the communal closets in the back. For himself, he dug through the contents, pulling out pieces and laying them on his bed to sort. Those that had gone out of fashion or he'd outgrown would be kindly donated to the common closet for someone else to work with later.

[Kveykva]

──── Ａｉｄｅｎ Ｓｅａｖｅｒ
【✦】| Athena Head Counselor | 15 | Male | Canoe Lake | Tags: Teilo Griffiths, Juliet Pratten
❝𝚐𝚒𝚟𝚎, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚐𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚕 𝚒𝚝 𝚑𝚞𝚛𝚝𝚜❞

Aiden found the words of the other camper surprisingly comforting especially given his prior bluntness. Something told him Teilo spoke from experience. Still, comfort only went so far; Aiden was only ten at the time when the accident happened. "Finding out you're a demigod is a lot to take in." He admitted. For most people, it was. "But when you're claimed, it'll all finally start to make sense.. Where your powers and preferences come from." Aiden was like a carbon copy of his mother Athena; right down to the irrational fear of spiders. The benefit of being a demigod meant you were guaranteed to meet other kids like you. You had half-siblings that, at the very least, shared your core preferences. The younger camper chuckled at Teilo's joke. "Not too sure any human medicine can tune of the voice of mommy or daddy." He cracked his own joke, equally twisted to match the weather. "It's not as bad as it sounds, I promise." Aiden assured him.

Aiden's response was even less well received. Honestly, this time he didn't expect a different reaction. He gave Teilo a moment to soak it all in. Understandably, he was afraid. "Out there," he repeated. Aiden felt glad Teilo was chosen for the quest rather than himself. If it sounded selfish, that's because it was. "You're right. People do die on quests, and it is pretty dumb for demigods to lay down our lives for gods that may or may not even care for our safety." He stated. "But this isn't just any quest. This is a quest given following a prophecy. That means you aren't going on the gods' behalf, you're going on the world's." Aiden understood Teilo's hesitation and aversion all too well. "I know you don't want to go. I'm not going because I wasn't chosen; they need me here more." He lied. "I can't... I can't make you go, and I won't. But you have to at least consider it. Who knows? This might prompt your claiming; they'll look down from Olympus and claim you to demonstrate that they support you, and maybe that would give you the strength you need." He tried his best to console the other camper, reaching out to rest his hand on the teen's shoulder before stopping. It was remarkably more difficult to comfort someone when they didn't like being touched. "Not every dream is prophetic, but---gah!!!" He moved back a pace when the ice cracked, unknowingly stepping in just the right spot to fall in. The icy surface caved under his feet and the dark water swallowed him whole. The shock of the cold emptied his lungs, and his arms and legs were too heavy to move.

A stranger approaches ! ! | Tags: Vivienne Isole, Khione
To give the goddess some credit, Khione knew how to stay on his good side. You couldn't go wrong with food and respect. Vivienne, on the other hand, appeared bothered by his presence. That was apparently before, but she seemed especially ruffled after returning with the requested refreshments. Once again, Khione referred to him as friend rather than his name. Odd. She queried the goddess if "everything" was ready for tonight, and he did not miss the look Khione cast his way. "Do you girls already have something for me? Or is it a surprise?" He chuckled. "But where are my manners? I've yet to even introduce myself!" His voice flared to life, filling with youth. "Khione may already know my name, but it's proper you did as well." The stranger stood and dipped into a bow before the pair, an arm crossing his chest and a wing following with it. The wing was large, even when half folded, and the icy lights above illuminated blood vessels creeping near the spine, golden blood coursing through them. "Nicholas Storm, the pleasure is all mine."

[FerretMonarch]

"Thank you." Niji said grateful.
Being from Sadi Arabia Niji didn't need a coat and was very ill prepared, but then again he hadn't been in America long. Niji looked around in the communical closet before finding a dark brown bomber jacket lined with sheepskin.

Niji held it up to Alex.
"Would this be alright to take?" He asked.

[sammy,]

╔xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx╗
𝚝𝚎𝚒𝚕𝚘 𝚐𝚛𝚒𝚏𝚏𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚜
the canoe lake
thanatos - unclaimed
mentioned: aiden
╚xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx╝

the conversation appeared to have moved on from that of tragedy, and that was something that teilo was thankful for. he did not like to dwell in the midst of other people. he didn't find consolement very worth it, if he was honest - all of the things that had happened had happened. there was no taking them back, no pretending that it hadn't happened. it was foolish, as a matter of fact, to believe that it never could happen. the world was kind until it was not, and then it was nothing but cruelty, the landscape burned, the sky on fire. to be a demigod was responsibility that he did not know whether he could handle. it was all so alien to him, a little boy from the country who had grown up going to church finding out that he had been praying for forgiveness from the wrong deities for all of that time. it sent a chill down him. that might have been the weather. "will it?" he raised his eyebrows at the thought. "so i find out who my dad is. i find out why i can do what i can do, why i can see -" he stopped himself. skipped over that part. "- and it's a shining revelation? it doesn't change anything. i'll just be angry at him for being so bloody absent. could've used some godly intervention in my time. i think i'll bosh his head in. is that blasphemous?" he cracked an awkward smile. "i hear my mother's voice in my head all the time, but it's mostly telling me to make my bed. never do it. just to spite her. she's not controlling me from across the atlantic - not a chance." a pause. "oh well."

it wasn't so much the concept of dying in battle, even though he had poised the fear as such - just the concept of being outside of those unmarked boundaries. he had been safe. now, some strange god, some cataclysmic event required his attendance, and that meant putting himself back into the realms of a world that had broken him down to cinder and ash. "is the world worth it?" he asked. "do you believe that it is? all those people out there, they'll never thank you. they'll never even know." cynical, yes. "oh, that sounds like a brilliant plan. here's your dad, teilo. go and fight a war for him. he's never spoken to you, never visited, never even taught you how to shave, but he'd really appreciate it. thanks in advance. sounds like a business email." absently, he rubbed the side of his face. it didn't sound like a great deal.

aiden had been saying something, and then he had interrupted himself to shout. of course, that was not the immediate interruption - rather the shatter of the ice underneath him, plunging him into freezing waters. this was certainly not a good situation to be in, and after a shining, frozen moment, everything kicked into action.
it started with a flurry of curses that spilt from teilo's mouth, scrambling for something to do to help. and then, he was throwing himself forward, anchoring his foot on the bank of the lake, digging his shoe into the frosty grass for some form of an anchor, shooting out his hand to grasp onto limbs that were obscured by the dark water. "help!" he shouted, the loudest he had been since he had arrived, all the while scrabbling for the fabric of aiden's shirt, pulling it, and grabbing a hold of his arm. this wasn't going to work from this vantage.
after a pause for thought, he plunged his top half into the water. freezing cold. he knew cold shock - assemblies in his primary school had taught about the dangers of swimming in the littered lakes in the forest they lived by, warned against various intrinsic, automatic responses.

he relaxed his chest for starters, opened his eyes against the stinging liquid to look for the body in the inky darkness, and grasped at what looked like a stilling limb. he wasn't flailing, which was good, and with all of the strength he could muster, teilo grasped onto his arm and pulled them up to the surface with the momentum of his lower body. it all happened very quickly, yet in slow motion at the same time.

"aiden!" he sputtered, the cool air snapping at his skin as he rose. "come on, mate. come on." now both up, he shifted his grasp, hooked his arms around the other demigod's chest and tugged to pull him onto solid ground. "aiden." teilo gasped. "oh god, jesus -" he swore again - loudly - as he attempted to gauge the state of his being. he didn't feel dead. he wasn't sure why he knew that he wasn't, but it felt instinctual. perhaps a part of evolution, he gathered. something that was automatically sensed. "help!" he shouted again.