Ugly creatures climbed up the sides of the boat. They were wrinkly from years of age and their eyes… Their eyes were like sockets with red golf balls. It was horrifying and I tried to look away. Another scratching noise pierced the air and I pushed my fingers farther into my ears. How would we fight these things if we were deafened by their voices?

Candlewax.

That was it. I surveyed the deck but couldn’t find any. Suddenly Sophia ran out from the hull with a big wad of white stuff.

Candlewax.

She ran around to everyone, stuffing it in their ears. The scratching sound was faint and I was relieved to hear nothing. Blake was the only problem.

“Oh, look how beautiful!” he screeched at the top of his lungs.

Beautiful?

Sophia ran over to him with a ball of wax but he swatted at her and advanced on the creatures.

“Pretty. Come to me!” I read his lips.

I drew out my knife and started to follow Blake. Adonia had already shot some down with her bow but they kept coming.

By now Blake stood at the edge of the ship.

Tray ran in and started swiping at creatures; I did the same.

Then two things happened at once.

A screech, I looked up in the air, a giant black bird thing with three people onit, Jason, Nick and Jen. As they came closer, I noticed Nick’s laughing face. Jason sneered, Jen cackled. Had they helped these creatures?

The bird swooped low over our heads and I could just push Tray down to get he raway. She put up her sword and cut at the bird’s feet.

Nothing happened.

The bird had foot armor on. Foot armor? They were ready and no sword could pierce it.

Tray cursed in ancient Greek. Adonia launched arrows; Nell threw a small dagger.

At the same time Blake was climbing over the side. Tray turned around. A dampened scream and she ran.

“NO!” she yelled, her eyes black.

She wanted to save Blake, catch him before his fall, but she’d sacrifice herself.

More creatures climbed up the boat. Sophia ran towards Tray; she’d noticed too. She wanted to stop Tray. I ran after both.

A bird-like screech and Tray and Blake disappeared off the side of the boat.

“TRAY!” I screamed.

I dove in after.

I could feel the cold water and I made an air bubble around me. Tray was panicing while Blake just stared around in a trance.

Tray had her hand around his shirt but he was just weighing her down more.

“Let him go!”

She turned around, shaking her head. I knew she wouldn’t do it--she never would.

I swam faster, catching up. I didn’t remember ever seeing Tray swim, and by the look on her face she couldn’t and was to scared to try.

I was behind Tray, right behind. I grabbed her shirt and heaved. She turned around and grabbed me. Her eyes were a mixture of gray-black. I kicked and ordered the water to send me up.

A giant force shot us up and into the boat.

Tray coughed. “Thanks,” she choked. Then we looked at Blake. No movement.

[[Wow, that was smart of Adonia, putting ambrosia and nectar in a hip pouch.  I'm widening the box so the paragraph breaks aren't lost.]]

Sophia--

Pain.  Swirling around me, like the tornadoes I read about in an old newspaper, blinding me.  I could hardly see or feel or breathe.  Someone walked up.  Voices echoed in my head, but I didn't know who spoke or what was said.  Someone walked away.  I didn't know who.  My knees were ready to buckle, but somehow I stayed upright.  Suddenly something was shoved into my mouth.  Ambrosia.  Something new.  It tasted like the cookies I used to help Dad make.  I'd ask later.  The tornado lessened, dropped.  I could see a bit better.  The pain decreased a tiny bit.  I could feel warm liquid trickling down my leg. Blood.  I could feel it now.  I took a breath.  It felt good to breathe.  I felt as though life was coming back into me.  [[OOC (in other words: We interrupt this program to say...): By rights Sophia should ("should?") pass out here, but she's been kind of incapacitated lately (well, from the first she was incapacitated) so I'll keep her awake.  By the way, Sophia asks me to tell you please not to give her any more wounds for a little while.]]  Life and strength.  Strength to stay on my feet.  Strength to think.  Think.  Think, Sophia.  Think.  My father.  Memories came back in a rush that almost knocked me over again.  Memories of my father that had slept for seven years; that I didn't want to awaken.  As he died he said to me, "Think, Sophia.  Think.  Always think.  It will save your life.  Think well enough to make your mother proud.  Think."  I must think.  He said so.  I will think.

Think.  Where?  This ship.  The evil ship.  The ship with the gods and monsters on it.  Why.  That's right.  Gaia sent us.  Because her husband went into the girl... Jenifer.  And the boy Nick wants Tray.  They all want Tray for some reason.  That boy isn't Nick, though.  That's... Jason.  That's right, Jason.  Must think... think... think... think!  Think, Sophia!  How to think.  Look.  See.  Listen.  Hear.  I turned my head to the left.  There was... Sam.  Yes.  Sam.  On her left was Adonia.  On my right was Blake, and there was Nell.  Where was Tray?  There she was, on Adonia's left.  She was silent.  I breathed more deeply.  The warm trickle down my leg had slowed.  Adonia was scrabbling in a hip pouch.  For what?  She pulled out what looked like lipstick and passed it to Sam.  It was very dark red, almost brown.  Sam looked disgusted but put it on.  She handed it to me, licking her lips.  Her face of disgust evaporated.

I  tried it, then licked my lips.  It tasted like the cookies again.  I shut my eyes against the memories and handed it to Nell.

Once we'd all taken some, it was passed back to  Adonia.  She put it away.

Jason turned around.  "Enough with the makeup.  Belowdecks, all of you!  Except the little Hades girl."  His voice was a snarl and a sneer.  He took Tray's arm.  She glared at him, but he only smiled.  We turned left and marched down the stairs for the second time.  "And no funny business, any of you!"

[[I'll stop for now.  If no one posts by dinnertime (my dinnertime) I'll post again.]]

//Jenifer//

I walked onto deck to see Jason eyeing the Aphrodite girl. I made a note to fight her later. The three of us circled around Tray and sat down. I grabbed a metal dectector and swiped it up and down her body. Nick used a magic dectector and did the same. He looked pained, like something was bothering him. I'll talk to him later. "I'm going to ask you one more time. Come to us. We need you." She rolled her eyes. "And, why do you need me?" I snapped my fingers and Jason kicked her. "Now why would we tell you that?! We're not stupid, Thanantos. Now, are you coming to us or not." She looked around, at all of us. Hatred to Jason, confusion at me, and a look that I could not undertand went to Nick. He lingered with her stare and she looked at her feet. "I, I'll do it. I'll come to you." "Perfect. Now, I'll send an Irish message. Telling your little 'friends' about your decision." I walked to the front of the room and cast a rainbow, asking Iris to give me a message. I didn't even have to give a drachma; Iris was on our side. Their faces appeared in the mist. "Jenifer. How lovely to see you again," Samantha sat up and told me. "Ah, Samantha. We had such, what's the word, interesting times together. I'm glad I left you." Nell sat up and reached for her sword, but ah! It wasn't there. Ha, what fun. "What could you possibly want with us? And where's Tray?" That one cute boy, Blake, was it, stood up. "Ah, we did nothing to her. Just knocked some sense into her. She made the right choice. I believe that your little 'group' has been reduced to just five little children. Now, run along kiddies. We civilized people have work to do." I swished my hand, and they disappeared in the scene. "Thank you for using Iris Messaging Service. Have a godly day!" Sounded and the I.M. disappeared. "Now, Tray Martin. We will tell you our plans."

Was that okay with everyone? She doesn't have to change sides if she doesn't want to, I just thought that we weren't getting anywhere.