You’re not Rocky but get started...

You make it to the climbing wall only to realize you were never told how to climb or if you need a spotter or something. You stretch, trying to limber up and draw out the waiting period as long as possible. After a couple of minutes of internal debate and a shrug you get ready to climb and are about to grab a handhold when someone shouts for you to stop. You turn and see Stephanie panting as she skids to stop next to you and catches her breath.

“You okay?” You query, unsure how to help, “You look like you ran all the way here.”

“I did.” She huffs, hands on her hips as she straightens, “Tantalus wasn’t dazed for too long and Melanie scurried back to her table before Tantalus could place her face. Nobody wanted to help him so he just grumbled and tried to eat again.”

“Tried to eat again?”

Stephanie laughs and explains his curse of never being able to eat and drink and how all food evades him. You cackle in delight at his predicament and suppose that in a way, this could be a worse punishment than the half-remembered stories you heard about him. There is nothing more annoying than being hungry and watching other people eat. Not to mention he had to watch — or more likely **** and **** — kids all day, which could go either way for him honestly. Stephanie explained the wall’s ‘features’ and you laughed when she claimed you had to lava spouts and flaming rocks. You had only finished chuckling when lava suddenly sputtered from the top and you stumbled back with a startled yelp.

Stephanie took one at your face and couldn’t help the giggles that spilled out of her mouth.

You grumbled but simply brushed your pants of dirt and stalked towards the wall with determination swelling within you.

You’re going to do this and do it with style!

___________________________________________[Line Break]_______________________________________

You gasp as you lay on the floor, sweat dripping off your face and breath scratching down your half-scorched throat. The wall was quite possibly the most dangerous obstacle course you could have ever encountered. The warnings about lava were understated and you nearly got burned on multiple grabs and rock — some flaming and some not — pelted you with each new burst of lava from the top. If you weren’t a Son of Poseidon with a resistance to heat you definitely would be sporting a few new burn scars on your hands. You barely managed two climbs and you already want today to be over with. Stephanie smirked at you as you struggle into a sitting position.

“Water... please...” You rasp, wincing at the scratchy sound of your voice.

She giggles and hands you a chilled bottle of water. You down half of it down your throat and pour the rest over you as a rush of energy fills your body in a rush. You shake your head and droplets of water dance in the air as with a mental command you make them hover in the air. You can’t feel any strain from that but this isn’t exactly a monster killing move like smashing something with a tidal wave. You make the water coalesce and take the shape of a bird and then a flower. You grin before letting it once agains soak into your clothes and you get to your feet. You let out a breath and smile at Stephanie.

“You mind helping me become better at fighting? I want to see how much better I’ve gotten.”

You also want to see exactly how the gift of two gods gift helped you out in a fight.

___________________________________________[Line Break]_______________________________________

Your sword deflected Stephanie’s spear in a shower of sparks as you sidestepped away from a thrust and follow-up swipe. Instead of letting her spin away from you and reset your stance, you lunged towards her to get in as close as possible. She blinked in shock as she turned only to see you moving in much closer than she would’ve liked. She wanted to use the superior range of the spear to give her breathing room, but you anticipated that her reach would only handicap you if you tried to stay back. In a flash, you reached out and snagged the shaft with your free hand before you twisted while yanking her towards you. You locked the spear against your chest before you swung your sword-hand out in a wide arc. The hilt of your sword smashed against her jaw and she fell with a pained cry as she instinctively let go of her spear to cradle her jaw. You step in a place the tip of your blade at her throat and stand tall.

“I yield.” She panted.

You took a moment to even out your breathing as pride swelled up in your chest, “I won?”

Hermes’ gift made all the moves that you were using instinctual, if you were to give you sword-skill a ranking before, it would definitely be a I-just-picked-up-a-sword-and-am-waving-it-around. But now with Hermes’ and Ares’ gift, you had been using the blade like it had been at your side all your life. The knowledge that had been shoved into your had was now amplifying all your battle attributes. You reflexes were faster, your sword-skills were much sharper and given more variety, and your defensive sword-skills were much much more solid. You were no master of the blade and slicing machine gun fire in half (yet), but you definitely were among the higher tier of sword-fighters that were demigods. All you need to work on was your strength, endurance, and power-manipulations and you were sure that you could tango with any monster stupid enough to try to beat you.

“I don’t know how you got so good in two days but that was seriously impressive!” She took one look at you and let out some pained giggles, “Yes, now can you please give me some nectar and ambrosia?”

“Actually... Let me try something.” You said as you reached for a bottle you had clipped to your belt after practicing with your powers on the way to the sparring arena.

With a mental command, water wrapped around your hand and knelt down next to her. You lightly placed the tips of your fingers against her jaw. You tried to make the water to heal her as it would empower you, and you watched as the water rippled against her jaw, the bruise you caused on it beginning to lighten and minimize. She sighed in contentment at the water’s cool touch soothing away her pain. You cupped her cheek and leaned in, fascinated at the way the bruise was now fading away. Her eyes became half-lidded as she stared into your eyes as you looked at her.

You never really appreciated how beautiful she was, did you?

You mouth went dry at the feeling of Stephanie’s breath ghosting over your face. You both were unconsciously moving closer and you saw Stephanie’s tongue ran over her lips, wetting them slightly. The water slipped off her face and splashes on the floor as you stopped concentrating on it.

The splash startled you both out of the spell and you jerked away from each other.

“I’m sorry!” You said quickly.

“No, it’s fine. It was my bad.” She replied just as fast.

You squeezed your eyes shut, what the hell was wrong with you? You already punched your v-card with a sexy and funny girl just yesterday! Why were you suddenly being pulled to a girl who you barely met and much less talked to? Sure she was sweet and caring but that could simply be chalked up to her being nice to the new camper.

You unwillingly thought of how she was also leaning closer and mentally slapped yourself.

Was Stephanie she feeling the same way towards you?