SAPPHIRA CHAPTER FOUR!!

A long night

After a day filled with Stoll brother boot camp, Max was exhausted. He stood by Sapphira as they tossed food into the fire as an offering to the gods. Sapphira through a chunk of meat in and rolled her eyes. He did not blame her. She had been abandoned by her parent even after her other parent passed. The fire blazed as Max tossed in a chicken wing. It turned a slight blue, and then faded back to orange. Max jogged to catch up with the group.

They sat at the tables of their god parents. Max sat with his new siblings while his other friends were over at the Hermes table. He dug into his food and stuffed his face just as one of his sisters swatted him in the head.

“What was that for?” Max grumbled over the food in his mouth while rubbing the back of his head.

“If you inhale your food that fast you will get gas later tonight. I’m not going through that twice.” The older girl said while scowling at a boy with straight golden hair who beamed and waved at her.

“Boys,” The girl said under her breath, her curly brown hair bouncing as she turned back towards Max. “I’m Lori and that is Chance.” She said pointing at herself then the boy who was wolfing down his food and chewing with his mouth open. Lori named the other kids at the table and Max waved to each or snapped his fingers playfully.

“What’s your name?” A twelve year old boy named Chris asked Max.

“Max-million Ernest,” Max grinned at the kid and started scarfing up his food again. He saw Lori out of the corner of his eye roll her eyes, roll up her sleeves, and his face was shoved into his plate. He pushed up against her hand and found pieces of chicken and green bean casserole stuck to his face. Everyone laughed as Max picked food off his face and ate it. Lori put her head in her hands in exasperation. 

“Finally, someone who can get on Lori’s nerves as much as she gets on ours,” bellowed Chance and Chris fell out of his chair backwards to roll on the ground laughing.

“Oh cheer up Lori. You can kill him during capture the flag.” A girl named Sara comforted her sister with a playful elbow to the rib cage. Lori grinned and motioned with her fingers that she was watching Chris who mimed terror. Max hit the table with his fist he was laughing so hard and realized he loved his new family.

“All right twerps, time for camp fire time, sooner than later so I can go watch my shows.” Grumbled Mr. D who stood at the fire with his arms crossed. Max got up and followed his siblings out to the small campfire where the flames were low to the ground and the color blue.

“The more excited we get the higher the flames and more colorful,” explained Chance who slung an arm around Max’s shoulders and led him to the front of the crowd. Max saw Peter and waved him and the others over.

“Enjoying the family reunion sunny?” Sapphira asked as she stomped over to him with crossed arms.

“The way you stand, you could almost be a daughter of Dionysus.” Max joked, she punched him in the arm.

“Bro, you didn’t tell me you had a girlfriend.” Chance laughed and elbowed Max in the other arm. Sapphira practically lit up. The fire near them grew a dark red and she blushed.

“Were just friends,” Sapphira growled while sidling closer to Peter.

“Very convincing,” Chance said to her before whispering to Max, “She totally likes you. She is in denial right now, but you two are going to be together by the end of the year, I bet you five drachmas.” He stuck his hand out for Max to shake. Max’s eyes twinkled and he shook Chance’s hand firmly.

“I think she will kill you by the end of the year,” Max joked and Chance laughed out loud.

The kids started singing and the fire grew slowly until it blazed multicolored. The night went on and the fire got higher. Max felt his joy fill up in himself as he belted out any of the songs he knew, and he found out he could learn them fairly quickly. Sapphira wandered back towards Max and Chance halfway through and the other two followed.

“Hey Peter, what’s up?” Max asked the taller boy who was busy flipping his hair to the side. It seemed every time he moved girls stared, especially Lucy. Max scrunched up his eye brows, what was so cool about a swish of the hair? He decided to try it for himself and ended up hitting his head on Chance’s shoulder. Chance cracked up and rubbed his shoulder.

“Look next time dude,” Chance laughed.

“Not much, what about you Max?” Peter answered Max as if he had not seen his epic fail.

“Oh you know, gawky.” Max laughed while rubbing his head with gentle fingers. Sapphira laughed behind her hands.

“Wow, nice Max,” she giggled and he bowed. Chance elbowed him in the ribs and smirked. Max elbowed him back and they started a tumble. Chance laughed as Max lunged at him and ended up landing on the ground. Kids were cheering them on and laughing at Max flopping around.

“Give up Moxie,” Chance said with a straight face, Max shook his head. With a sweep kick from Chance Max found himself on the ground. A hand was offered to him and he slowly got back up. Chance laughed.

“You’re alright Moxie,” Chance joked and went off to see his other friends.

“Dude, your family is weird.” Peter joked and elbowed Max.

“Did you guys just have a fight?” Lucy asked in a shaking voice.

“Ha, no we just tussled that’s all.” Max laughed and grabbed Peter in a head lock which he immediately pulled out of.

“Max, you fit right in with your family.” Sapphira grinned.

“All right campers, you have twenty minutes to get back to your cabins, then I will send the satyrs on you.” Mr. D told the kids into a megaphone. The campers took off for the showers or to get in last minute practice. Peter and Lucy waved goodbye and headed off to bed. Sapphira stood by Max quietly, contemplating her next attack.

“Do you want to go for a walk?” She broke the silence and shrugged.

“Sure, where to?” Max asked her while playfully sticking his arm out for her to grab. Sapphira locked arms with him and they strolled off towards the beach. They were very quiet all the way down to the small beach and quietly sat down by the sea. Max cleared his throat and waited.

“So, you want to talk?” He asked her while getting up and walking out to the surf. He stepped into the cool water and wiggled his toes in the sand.

“Yea, what are you going to do about this quest?” She asked the most reasonable question. Max found himself being surprised by it though. Of course she would be thinking sensibly like that. Chance had gotten to his head.

“Oh, well I was planning on going out there and giving it my all.” Max stretched and looked up at the setting sun.

“Do you know anything about your dad or what will happen while out there in the real world?” She asked with her arms wrapped around her folded up knees. She looked too worried to Max so he kicked some water at her. She jumped back and realization flashed in her eyes as she tackled Max into the surf. He found himself covered in a wave and choked on salt water. When he got up he leaped at Sapphira who nimbly jumped away from him and gave him a sly smile before giving him the same sweep kick his brother had delivered to him earlier that night.

Max fell back into the water, but was ready this time and lurched at her feet. He grabbed her legs and pushed her into the water. They both jumped away and stood in the surf breathing hard and laughing. What was there to laugh about? He was being beaten by a girl!

“Truce,” Max stuck out his right arm and shrugged his shoulders in submission. Sapphira grabbed it and pulled him towards her. Before he could react she tackled him and they fell into the surf once again in a giggling fit. As Max got back up he saw something gray hovering over Sapphira’s head.  Max froze and gaped up at the sign.

“No way-” Max breathed as he stared up at the grey owl staring him down. Sapphira realized there was something wrong and looked up. When she saw the shape above her head tears sprang to her eyes and she ran out of the water. Max followed her and kneelt by her in the sand.

“Sapphira, I know it’s a surprise, but at least it’s not Mr. D.” Max half-heartedly laughed and saw her wipe away tears. He wrapped his arms around her and gave her a big hug.

“Come on Nemo, let’s go tell Chiron.” Max pulled her up while still hugging her and to his surprise she turned around and hugged him. They stood there for a while before he finally patted her back to let her know they had to go. She let go and pushed him into the spray of the waves for good measure. Max laughed and lifted his hands above his head to show he gave up.

“Ok, I get it, let’s go kiddo.” Max joked and took her hand as they headed up the hill back to the big ranch house. He had been to the house too many times in one day. Sapphira let go of his hand once they got near the cabins and they just walked side by side, soaked to the bone, warmed by the setting sun, towards the tall house.