Dorian Underwood
Location(s): Underworld; Camp Half-Blood, Obstacle Tower. Interacting with: Dear old Dad; Fellow Challengers
Dorian and his cloaked father stood far off in a corner of the Judgment Pavillion. He had recently started to spend quite sometime with Thanatos whenever he wasn't busy with school or any other normal teenage activities. Admittedly he didn't do much of anything normal. But school was over and now he no longer had an excuse to get away from the normal world. He had to return to camp. Which he was honestly happy about. Camp was the only place he truly felt like he was at home even if he felt like a bit of an outcast at first. That changed once he started making friends and letting some people in especially his favorite daughter of the Underworld, Erin. It had been a while since he's seen her and he was wondering how she was doing.
In his train of thought he missed his father speaking to him.
"Huh?""I said I feel like I will be busy this summer so I can't have you doing random pop ups. I want you to continue working hard at making friends and putting yourself out there. Fight and compete with the other godlings more. Nothing brings you all closer together than the thrill and passion of a healthy challenge."
"It's not much of a challenge for the others when you're up against the frailest of the demigods. I'm quite literally skin and bones." Dorian lifts his right arm revealing his ungloved skeletal hand. Down here he had no reason to keep it hidden. No one in the Underworld freaked out when they saw bones, because almost everyone there was dead in the first place.
Thanatos's laugh echoed through his robes. "Your physical strength isn't all that makes you or anyone else strong. You'll see what I mean in time. But for now, enjoy your summer my son."
Before Dorian could respond his father's hand was placed on his chest and he was swallowed up in the darkness of shadows. That jerk. He was sure that he sent him away just so he couldn't get the chance to call him a fortune cookie. He found himself appearing smack dab in the middle of the chaotic pit of the Obstacle Tower. Did his dad send him to this exact spot on purpose? He quickly placed his skeletal hand in his pocket as he looked around at the scene in front of him. The crowd was as loud as always and he saw a few faces he recognized. He looked up at the tower and saw that the competition was already well under way. But that wasn't all. He glanced down back at the ground and noticed the trio of Ares kids. Two of them were attempting to calm down one that he was sure was named Talon. He didn't really know much about him, but his anger was infamous at camp. Dorian immediately knew that wasn't a problem he wanted. Maybe he could walk away before he's noticed. Before he could make his first step back he hears the sound of thunder approaching overhead.
Zeru Troy Williams
Location(s): Dreamscape; Camp Half-Blood, Obstacle Tower. Interacting with: Everyone
Zeru arrived at camp late the day before. He didn't want to risk being late on the first official day of camp. He also wanted to get a good night's rest before all the chaos and excitement of the summer would've prevented it. Unfortunately his rest would be anything but good. His subconscious drifted to his past painting an all too familiar picture. An eleven year old Zeru and an adult Satyr ran up the hill leading into camp. They were so close to the border, but their pursuer was even closer behind them. They had been traveling for days trying to escape the giant hound, but no matter what they did or how far they went it was close on their trail. Zeru had been told that it had something to do with his scent as a demigod. He knew he smelt good, but to monsters he smelt like a six-course meal slathered in bacon grease.
"Pantelis, we're not going to reach the camp before he reaches us. We have to make a stand.""Are you crazy? He'd tear us apart and you are too important to die. I won't risk it."
"He's going to tear us apart either way and I'm still going to be dead. I'm a demigod, right? That means I have powers, right? Powers that can take him down?""Powers that you still don't understand, but yes." Pantelis sighed and came to a stop. He had a bad feeling, but he knew that the kid was right. Every fiber of his being was telling him to keep running, but even if he started back now it was too late. The decision was made and the predator found its prey. He stepped towards the beast and motioned for Zeru to get behind him. His safety was still the priority. He pulled his club from his side and held it out ready for battle. He whispered a silent prayer. "May the gods protect the young master." He charged forward pulling the club behind him before jumping into the air aiming for the left head. He had been close to clubbing it but was quickly swiped at by its right paw.
Pantelis was sent crashing into a nearby tree and Zeru ran over to him. The monster watched on not caring to attack either while one was nearly dead and the other had his back turned. Even a beast had honor.
Zeru looked down at his friend and his wounds and knew that this was the end for him. It was all his fault. If they had kept running maybe they would've made it. Maybe someone from the camp would've come out to help them if they were just a little bit closer. He looked up the hill and saw no sign of reinforcements. This was it. This was going to be his last stand. Droplets of tears trickled down his cheeks and onto the passing Satyr.
"I'm sorry Pantelis. I'll make this right." He reached for the club and stood up to turn and face the two headed canine that had caused him so much pain and trouble. He could feel something change within him. Electricity cackled around him and surged around the club and when he spoke his voice was deeper and tinged with anger.
"Hey, doggie. Fetch."The dream shifted before it could continue and Zeru found himself having a bird's eye view of the camp. And not just any bird, his golden eagle Aquila. It was morning and the world below was bolstering with activity. Returned campers and newcomers were strolling into camp and getting settled in. The full-timers were already in the middle of their routines. Aquila continued to fly over camp coming close to a pit of an excitement. She viewed the Obstacle Tower and the challengers on it already trying their best to beat each other. Upon seeing this in his dream Zeru sprung up from his sleep realizing that he had overslept.
He looked around his empty cabin taking a second to fully wake up and adjust to his vision going from bird to human so quickly. He then leapt out of bed and scrambled to find some pants. He found a clean pair and fell over onto the floor as he tried to put them on.
"I can't believe they started without me. They won't get away with this." While on the floor he wriggled into his pants and made a whistling noise. Zeru then jumped up from the floor, grabbed a mint and headed straight out of the door forgetting to wear a shirt and shoes.
Once Zeru made it outside he was met by his trusty storm steed.
"There you are. Let's get going." He mounted Sylph and the two rode off into the sky. The sound of thunder roared over the normally weather-proofed Camp as she galloped across the sky above. While aboard flight Venti Zeru took the opportunity to take his mints and prepare for his landing. Once they hovered close to the pit that the Obstacle Tower stood tall he too stood atop her back as if he were a balancing circus act. As he approached he yelled down to the others to catch their attention even more.
"I can't believe you all started without me. I heard Ky had a winning streak. I'm here to put an end to it."As he said that Zeru jumped down from Sylph and used the wind to cushion his landing. He turned his back to the crowd revealing his the new eagle tattoo sprawled across his back. He looked up at the tower, ignoring what was going on with Talon and his siblings on the ground, and noticed how much of the competition he had managed to miss. His eyes widened as he noticed Pierre getting close to the ring. Could his victory be snatched before he had even the chance to compete for it?