HOME | DD

Description
Frank:

Frank had been eavesdropping on Leo's conversations two times now, and he wasn't proud of it. When he had first seen Leo burst into the armoury with Hazel swiftly following him he felt  alarmed. What if Hazel got nervous and the cursed gems appeared again? He had to be there and support her. So Frank had crept up to the wall and listened. He'd been preparing to enter in the next few minutes but there was no need. The rest of the group had already arrived. The second time Frank was listening because he was sure Leo would be talking to his friends about what a weirdo Hazel was, and was eager to defend her. Surprisingly Leo didn't say anything about HAZEL, but he had a few words to say about the pretty Greek girl who came with him. The two were bickering like kids. Suddenly the girl, Piper, snapped and drew her knife. Frank stepped forward.
"Hey" he interrupted, "we're supposed to be on the same team, save that for slime like Octavian!"
Piper nodded and looked ashamed. She glanced at Frank as if she expected to see judgement in his eyes. But there was none. Not even a hint. The only person he had ever judged was Leo Valdez, and he was wrong about him. If anybody should be ashamed it was Frank. Piper turned away from the son of Mars to Leo. She opened her mouth to say something but Leo cut her off.
"It's my fault. I was annoyed about something else and I took it out on you" he said. Both of the Greeks glanced at the ground and an awkward silence consumed the trio.
"Actually Leo... I'm sorry too. I haven't been very fair too you. And it's not your fault. I'm not usually like this, I promise" he blurted out.
Shock washed over Leo. His expression was priceless.
"Well now that's all over we'd better get ready" Piper said brusquely.
Frank nodded.
"Yeah, you're right" he agreed and searched for a bow.
After a while he found one. It was made of a sleek, shiny wood that Frank recognised as mahogany. Intricate patterns decorated the weapon which surprised him. Romans didn't usually have time for detail when battle was concerned.
"That looks... Nice" came Piper's voice behind him.
Frank smiled.
"It does, doesn't it" he agreed.
Soon he'd found a sheath full of golden arrows, a silver breastplate, a small sword and a shield. Just as he was doing up the straps, Reyna entered, her face full of anticipation.
"It's time" she announced.

Hazel:

Hazel smiled too herself as she saw Frank and Leo walk towards the battlefield, chatting and laughing like friends. It gave her hope that her fate could involve Frank AND Leo, a prospect that had seemed a while away when Frank was acting territorial... Why WAS he being so protective? It so wasn't like him...
"You ready Hazel" demanded a voice and Hazel turned to face Percy.
She flashed him a grin.
"Yeah" she replied in an excited tone.
Percy smiled back at her.
"Good. This will be fun, you'll see".
Hazel nodded.
"I know" she said.
Soon the group had arrived at the Field of Mars, the place where the warship had docked that morning. The vessel had since been moved to prevent it creating an obstacle in the games. Hazel wondered where it's new home would be. Maybe near the river or in the city... Suddenly she giggled. Just the thought of Terminus' face as the warship was dragged over the border made her want to roar with laughter!
"What's so funny?" asked Percy.
Hazel smiled.
"I was just thinking about what happened to the ship" she explained.
Percy's face turned confused.
"Oh ok" he replied in an uncertain tone.
Hazel was about to continue to speaking, but then she let it go, it was a lame joke anyway.
"Good weather for a fight" Percy said awkwardly, obviously trying to change the subject. Hazel looked up at the evening sun and nodded.
"It is quite a beautiful sky, best I've seen in a while" she admitted.
After that the pair walked in silence.  The atmosphere was not unpleasant though, they simply didn't feel the need to talk. A few metres later Percy ran off to talk to Annabeth and Hazel walked alone. Suddenly Hazel felt tired. Her pace slowed to a very slow walk and her eyelids shut. That was when it happened, that was when the vision began. Hazel was standing in the middle of a wasteland. She was surrounded by piles of broken objects and litter. A strong rotten smell hung in the air.
"I will stop you Gaea" growled a weak voice behind her.
Shocked, Hazel whirled around to see a terrifying site. Her brother, the one who had disappeared, was chained to a rock behind her. He looked a mess. His body was covered in  purple splotches, his eyes had huge shadows underneath them and his head hung limp. Hazel wanted to sprint over to him but for some reason she couldn't he did the only thing she could, she screamed.

Annabeth:

Annabeth felt very smug. Her strategy was absolutely flawless and it was sure to guarantee success. She smiled as she imagined Reyna's gobsmacked face. She would enjoy that part, especially after the leader had got one over her earlier...
"Help!" somebody yelled, taking Annabeth by surprise.
She looked over her shoulder and saw that little Hazel had fallen to the floor. Her dark hair was spread across the grass and her golden eyes were tightly shut. Kneeling beside her was Frank, his face full of anguish and worry. Immediately Annabeth dashed towards them.
"What's wrong, what happened!?!" demanded Annabeth, searching her pockets for a pouch of ambrosia.
Frank shook his baby-like head.
"I don't know!" he cried in a desperate voice.
Annabeth shook some chunks of ambrosia into her hand and shoved it down Hazel's throat. She crossed her fingers, willing the medicine to work. It didn't. In fact it seemed to have the opposite effect. Hazel shuddered violently and then screamed. More and more people gathered around the horrific scene, including Piper, the daughter of Aphrodite. She pushed through the crowd with yells of "get out of my way" and "I know what I'm doing!". Piper eventually forced her way to the front and knelt by Hazel.
"What are you going to do?" demanded Leo who was standing by the small girl.
Piper glared at him.
"What do you think I'm going to do, give her a makeover?" she snapped.
Leo suddenly looked hopeful and Annabeth realised Piper's plan. It was just might work...!
"Listen Hazel" Piper began in a sweet and forceful voice, "wherever you are, whatever she's showing you, you have to let it go".
Frank gasped.
"She! You mean this is Gaea's fault?!?" he interrupted.
Piper nodded impatiently and Frank began to tremble. He looked pretty mad. Annabeth gently placed her hand on his broad shoulder.
"Piper will see her off" she reassured him.
Piper started to talk to slumbering Hazel again and soon enough the girl's eyes began to flutter like golden butterflies. Frank immediately pulled her into a bone crushing hug.
"Are you ok. Did she hurt you!" he demanded.
Hazel looked dazed. Slowly, she shook her head. Then, to Annabeth's surprise, she turned to the blond.
"It's you" she whispered.
Annabeth was perplexed.
"What's me?" she asked.
"You're the one who must go and save Nico. Alone".