Expect the Unexpected [Essie]

"How about you try something like this," she said, releasing her sword from Essie's grasp. As an example, Melina flicked her sword with her wrist at Essie's neck, but didn't follow through with the assult, as she didn't want to harm her friend. To keep herself protected, the daughter of Athena placed her shield in the most vulnerable of spots--mostly her shoulders and chest--while proceeding with the strike. Her body was kept evenly balanced and protected with this manuever, while her enemy would either stagger back a little, or recieve damage from the sword's edge.

"Get it?" Melina returned to her usual stance, watching her friend intentively. "Fighting is all about balance, speed, agility, and y'know, the usual. You have to keep your body even with itself, that way when you're attacking, you don't leave yourself wide open, but you're still delivering a solid attack."

"Yes, exactly. Just remember to stay on guard. Don't hesitate; follow through with whatever comes to mind. In battle, as you know, you don't have time to think anyway. Just maintain balance and you should be fine."

Melina felt an odd closeness to Essie; a closeness that hasn't been felt since Victoria, the teenager's old best friend that died only a few months ago. She couldn't replace Victoria with anyone, she just couldn't. Wouldn't that be betrayal? Then again, the daughter of Athena had a feeling that Victoria didn't mind, even underneath that stubborn personality. With the time spent with Essie, Melina got the feeling that Victoria was already replaced.

So be it.

She gave her friend a warm, comofrting smile, and said, "Can I see what you can do with those arrows?"

Everything-- it seemed so familier. Melina knew that wasn't how to hold a bow and arrow, and the way it was held was completely out of the ordinary.

She's almost exactly like her, she thought.

The way Essie bent the rules-- it was oddly familier to the things Victoria had done. Essie seemed to have a little restraint, though, to Melina's knowledge. She didn't know everything about the daughter of Apollo just yet. The memories of her old friend flashed in her mind, and it all happened because of a simple arrow.

Shaking away her thoughts, Melina went ahead and charged. She crouched to the ground, keeping her shield above her head and feet, so that it sort of looked like she was completely hidden by a giant disk. The teenager swung her sword and Essie's legs, and then returned to her original stance on the other side of the Apollo child.

Melina smiled weakly. "Interesting return," she concluded. "However, you're going to have to do much better than that."

Melina quickly sprung to her feet, removing Essie's hands from her shield. She wasn't going to loose. Her six years of training was on her side.

"Your move this time."

"Just for future reference," she said in a soft tone of voice, "the position you're in can leave your body completely off balance."

As if to prove a point, Melina sweeped at Essie's legs, hopefully cauing her to fall on her rear. "Balance," she reminded her.

"Good," she complimented. "Remember to keep your body guarded, though."

Melina swung her sword at Essie's stomach, keeping her body protected with her shield. Her footwork was fast and even, quickly shifting her legs back and forth when necessary.

"You're not as bad as you think, you know."

Melina hastily put her sword and shield on the ground and ran towards her friend.

"Essie, forgive me. That was my fault entirely."

She couldn't bare to see her friend like this. She couldn't watch anyone in pain for that matter. Luckily, she always kept a pack of ambrosia in her pockets just in case of emergencies. At the moment, she was determined to help Essie.

"Here. Have some."

Melina took a banage from her pocket and wrapped it around Essie's waist. If only she had been more careful, this wouldn't have happened.

"That should help a little.

She reached for her own waist, the part where her abdomen was located. She remembered how she obtained that huge scar, and quickly shook away the memories from her head. She didn't like talking about it, especially since a close friend of her's died in that battle.

"Well, your not the only one with a scar on your waist," she said, lifting her shirt only far enough for Essie to see the scar on her abdomen.

Melina hesitated, not knowing what to say. If she mentioned how she got the wound, she herself might just break down into tears. She never had it easy, ever.

"I was on a quest," she explained carefully, slowly. "My friends and I were trapped in the underworld, and Hades wanted to kill me for interfering with his, uh, son."

That son was Kai Crosshawk. He wasn't just a child of Hades, but Melina's boyfriend as well. Hades was protective of his kids, but the god really did handle situations rationally.

"His scythe pierced my abdomen. My mother, Athena, came to save me shortly afterwards."

Melina looked down at the ground, her hands in her pockets. If she could, and she was alone, she would've cried. She couldn't now; she had to be strong for Essie.

"That's how I got that scar."

Melina returned the hug, forcing a small smile. She could only manage a half-hearted laugh to hide her emotions.

"It's okay. That kind of stuff usually happens to me all the time now."

The teenager emphasized the word 'now.' It never used to be this difficult before when she traveled the world with her dad, switching from school to school in each continent and state. Now that she knew she was a demigoddess, situations became a lot harder for her. Pain and death.

"I'll be fine." She tried to make her voice sound reassuring, but even the tiniest bit of sadness seeped through.

"Don't worry about me. I'm fine."

Melina tried to shake away her thoughts, but it was as if the memories wanted to remain in her head. She thought too much, which always reminded her of a memory she didn't want to remember, but also did.

"Enough about me. Is there anything you would like to share?"

Melina listened intentively to her friend, nodding her head as Essie spoke. Even after all her years of traveling with her father, she never did visit Brooklyn. Though, judging from Essie's perspective, the part of the city where she dwelled from wasn't exactly safe. Melina was from Manhatten, and moved back there after years of traveling. That was the year she realized her true identity and came to camp.

"Yeah, I could eat. It's almost lunch, isn't it?"