Expect the Unexpected [Essie]

The rising sun, birds chirping their song, and the cabin courtyard piling with half-bloods: just a regular morning at Camp Half-Blood.

Melina's morning was going just fine. First, she went for a walk in the forest, and then later headed over to the arena for her daily swordplay training. After that, she joined a few of her siblings in the arts and crafts class, and then followed that with an hour of ancient Greek. This was her free time, and she spent it sitting on the steps of cabin six; her facial expression clearly showing sadness as her bright, gray eyes read the note in her hands.

Melina,

It is with great sorrow that that I must inform you that dad is back in the hospital again. It seems that after you and you're boyfriend, Kai, came a few months ago and stirred up a few monsters, you left some sort of scent that kept them coming. Apparently, it was Medusa's head, so we thought it'd be best if we sent that down a river, since she'll come back anyway.

Dad is doing okay, though. He should be getting out soon, but he'll be on cutches for a while. There's no need for you to come back and check on him, everything's under control here. Sadie and Harper have been helping out a bit, and Aaron and I have been doing our part.

Good luck at camp, sis. Hopefully we'll be able to see you sometime during Christmas.

You're half-brother,

Nathan

The teenager couldn't stop reading the note over and over again. Why did everything bad choose to happen to her now? Why didn't it happen years ago? Heck, why wasn't she killed when she was a toddler? She knew she would never find out until she was dead. Only the fates know her destiny.

If Melina were to have kept moping about how horrible her life was, she probably wouldn't have seen Essie approach her. Her already darkened face looked up at her friend, her gray eyes almost telling her whole life story. The sad, the good; everything mixed into one little sparkle of the eye.

"Hey Essie," she greeted, trying to force a smile. "Lina? That an interesting nickname. I've never been called that before." She managed a slight laugh before looking down at the note once more.

"My father-he's in the hospital." Her tone of voice was quiet and steady, holding back any tears that could find their way through. "Man, if only I hadn't left Medusa's head there. How could I have forgotten about that?"

"I'm sorry, but I do things like that for a reason." Melina tried to calm herself down from the depression, gathering her energy and thoughts together. "I don't like feeling like another burden to bear. My emotions--I feel horrible for letting them out of me. Me being an Athena child, I know that's not the right thing to do, nor is it healthy, but I can't have other people feel bad for me."

Melina had been through it all at such a young age. Her two best friends, Victoria and Alex, were killed in a battle. Her older, full-blooded sister, Stella, also died. Then there was the suffering she bared herself. The time Hades tried to destroy her for her relations with his son, Kai. The quests she's been on that put her life in danger. So many risks and losses she has putten herself through, and yet she is the one that comes out alive. Why wasn't it anyone else that remained safe?

"Forgive me. I just don't like expressing my feelings." Melina returned the side hug that Essie offered, and observed the note once more. Dad, what have I gotten you into?

Melina nodded her head at Essie's respone. Yes, the trusting flaw. How could any introvert forget that? It's the one thing that keeps you from being extroverted. Though, why should people trust everyone they see? They don't know if they're going to backstab you or anything. It's like weakening yourself and letting the enemy get you.

Then again, that could explain why some people fear people that don't easily trust. That person to others is like someone with a cold personality and a dark scowl, but in reality are actually one of the kindest human beings on the face of the earth. Introverts aren't freaks, they're just misunderstood.

"Okay, enough about me," she said, putting away the note in her skinny jean's pockets and shaking her hands dismissively. "How have you been?"

"Yeah. I heard that Kronus is invading the camp sometime soon. The cabin leaders are trying to get everyone ready."

Melina remembered her first battle she fought in. It was probably one of the most--if not the most--grusome thing she'd ever seen. All the blood, tears, sweat, and sacrifice put into one event. It's funny to think how so many lives can be lost, and the countless numbers saved.

"Is your cabin getting ready?" she asked, combing her fingers through her curly, blonde hair. "Mine's going crazy." The teenager pointed to the inside of her cabin, where her siblings could be found preparing battle strategies. Another group of Athena's children were also heading off to the arena, where their cabin leader, Faye, could be found ready to train them.

Melina didn't like fighting either. She was a pacifist, but only up to a certain point. Pacifists disbelieved in violence and war all together. She, however, knew that some battles had to be fought through violence. It seemed that war was the only way people understood now.

"I'm getting a little tired of it myself," she replied simply, staring off into the distance. "I've been on alot of quests lately, which is extremely exhausting. The whole battle thing might not work out for me."

"War is the only answer men are capable of comprehending at this day and age," she explained, her knowledge and wisdom going on auto-pilot. Our ancestors, the ancient Greeks, raged war on others for more than just protecting their country. They did it for land, money; almost anything you could possibly think of. That's the art that has been passed down generation after generation, and why it still thrives to this day."

Melina thought what she had studied. The wars in ancient Egype, Rome, and Greece. The current wars, and wars that took place only a decade ago. The only thing she knew was Kronus wasn't making it any better. The fact that the titan lord would wage war against the gods for the world--land--was just like everything that has repeated throughout history. That quote was true after all.

"It's foolish, but like the quote states, history repeats itself. It's a never ending cycle, and there is probably no way to stop it from reoccuring again and again."

Melina shook her head. "I've survived the last six years I've been here at camp." Then, she remembered all of the lives of her friends that had died. She couldn't protect them, so what was she saying? "But then again, a little training couldn't hurt."

For once, she turned to face Essie. She could understand the determination in her friend's voice, how much they cared for the camp; how much they'd train to defend. Though, at every battle, no matter how hard she tried to act brave, there was always a little fear that crept inside of Melina. What if she never made it back this time? That was always the question.

"Why? Is there something on your mind?"

Melina could only smile at Essie, understand that they had a mission to do. They were going to protect the lives of their fellow half-bloods. They were going to save the reign of the gods. They were going to save the camp and defeat Kronus, one monster at a time.

"Sure, why not," she said, taking out her yellow retractable highlighter and fingering her owl shaped bracelet, which were her battle essentials--a celestial bronze sword and a shield--in their mortal form. "I'll warn you, though. I'm pretty skilled with my sword. You know, as in, advanced."

The daughter of Athena nodded with excitement. It had been what seemed forever since she went one on one with another demigod or demigoddess. "And maybe once we're done taking down Kronus, we can get back to piano, eh?" She gave her friend a quick wink before speaking again. The teenager had returned to her bright spirits again, her smile growing wider. "What do you say?"

"It's a deal."

Melina looked out into the direction of the arena, watching her siblings enter after recieving the message from their cabin leader. She didn't need help, just a buddy to spar with. Shew knew exactly what she was doing; everything she knew about swordfighting she taught herself.

It takes experience, she thought, to master your weapon.

Shaking away her thoughts, Melina returned her gray-eyed gaze to Essie. "Shall we?"

Upon arriving at the arena, Melina could see dozens of half-bloods already starting their training with their cabin leaders, each cabin having a different side.

"Things are getting tense, aren't they?" She was sure that it would be okay to miss out on the Athena training session, as she attended the others on time, and what she was doing now was technically still training. Faye wouldn't mind, she was sure. Melina trusted her, and Faye trusted Melina.

"I usually don't use my armor as much, unless I really need it," she explained. "I'll just rely on my speed and agility for out fight."

"Yeah, probably," she giggled, standing in her own battle stance. One foot in front of the other, heels aligned, and weapon and shield aligned with feet. Her stance would've sort of looked like a triangle, balancing her weight on both sides of her body.

Melina decided to wait for Essie to make the first move, and play an offensive battle for awhile. When she was ready, she would go in for the strike.

"Okay, Essie. Show me what you've got."

Being a daughter of Athena, Melina wasn't the one to be easily fooled. With her combined knowledge of swordplay and science, she kept her balance even, refusing to let herself loose control.

As Essie advanced forward, the teenager gripped her shield tightly, allowing a loud clang to be heard throughout the arena. Knowing that it would be unwise to move the shield to her feet, Melina quickly moved backward, still maintaining balance. With both her shield and sword still at hand, she waited for Essie to strike again.

"What do you think?" she teased.