The Contest

June woke up the next morning with Roxy still on her legs

"June!" a voice yelled from behind her. June turned around to see Bella, Dream, and Jace running toward her,

"I should go," Roxy said as she lifted her head.

"No! Stay with me" June pleaded to Roxy, who gave in and stayed with June.

"We have been looking for you all morning!" Dream shouted as she pulled June into a hug,

"Sorry Dream" June said as she hugged back, feeling like she was being hugged by a mother, a mother that was all her's.

"Hi Roxy," Jace said as he noticed the Hellhound next to June,

"Thank you for keeping her company and warm," Jace said as he patted Roxy's head. Bella looked at Jace like he was crazy and pointed at Roxy,

"It's a Hellhound," Bella said

"She won't hurt you unless you threaten June," Dream said as she stood next to June and patted Roxy's head, Bella sighed and let it go.

"Y'all look like a family" Bella laughed as she pointed at the two eighteen-year-olds who stood next to a seven-year-old,

"Well Dream is better than my mother and Jace feels like a father" June giggled as Dream and Jace gawked at each other before laughing as well. Dream, Jace, Bella, and June walked to the dining hall for breakfast. Roxy was told by Jace and Dream to stay in the shadows if Roxy wanted to be by June.

"I need to speak to Noran" June told Bella as they ate at the Hermes table

"Jace and Dream will take you after breakfast" Bella responded as she ruffled June's hair,

"Thanks" June replied as she swatted Bella's hand away from her hair. June walked with Dream and Jace to the main house to see Noran,

"Noran!" Jace shouted as they entered the house

"Right here!" Noran shouted back from across the house. Noran pointed to the couch when June, Dream, and Jace found their way to Noran,

"What do you need?" Noran asked as they sat down

"I know what Creation means" June answered

"I'm listening" Noran replied as he leaned forward; June explained what Roxy had told her and shared about her mother and why June ran away from home.

"I see," Noran said as June finished

"Thank you for sharing what you learned. Now let me tell you where you'll be heading to fight the evil. There are signs of monsters gathering in Marquesas Keys, Florida. We are going to hold a contest to see who will join you on this quest June" Noran explained what he had learned while they slept last night;

"Contest?" June asked and they all smiled before taking June to the training area. The other campers were told to come to the training area, and as soon as they all filled the stadium Noran started his speech.

"I have asked you to gather because there is a quest!" Noran shouted so the stadium could hear him. The stadium was filled with excited chatter and Noran had to scream at the crowd to get them to quiet down.

"Now this contest I'm holding will decide the two Demigods joining June on this quest. So everyone, prepare your weapons and strength because the contest starts in thirty!" Noran shouted to the Demigods who rushed out of the stadium to prepare for the contest. Noran showed June to the first contest,

"This is the wall," Noran said to June as he pointed to a huge wall that had moving parts, fire exploding out, and other obstacles on the wall.

"Are you sure this is okay?" June asked Noran as they walked closer to the wall

"Don't worry, we have ambrosia, the food of the Gods and Goddesses, which heals the Demigods from their injuries. Plus the Demigods train every day for what might happen out in the world." Noran explained as he stopped in front of the wall,

"If you say so," June said to Noran as she looked at the wall.

"June, I would like you to try the wall before the others get here," Noran said

"What?" June was baffled that Noran would suggest such a thing,

"I want to make sure you can handle yourself on this quest without putting the others in danger" Noran explained

"Fine," June replied, understanding Noran's reason. June stepped up to the wall and took a breath before starting her ascent. June moved across the wall carefully as the holds moved around, and the traps set off at different times. June dodged the fire, the water, and the pieces coming out like someone was punching. The top was within reach, but June got hit by a piece coming out

"June!" Noran yelled as she fell, but June didn't have any fear as she fell. June closed her eyes and felt the wind and allowed the wind to carry her back to the wall. Noran watched as June drifted back over to the wall, and June finished the wall as if nothing happened. June walked over to Noran with a smile on her face.

"I did it," June said to Noran

"Yes, you did" Noran smiled back,

"Did you even realize the wind helped you?" Noran asked June

"Now that you mention it, the wind did seem to help me. I don't even know how that happened" June answered,

"Well you are the Creation, so your body probably reacted without you noticing" Noran explained as he patted June's head. The others arrived at the wall and Noran separated everyone into eight groups.

"Now group one may start" Noran announced and June watched as the group ran to the wall. Many shoved others out of the way and others ran right to the wall without causing problems. As they climbed the wall June watched as people fell after missing a hold or getting hit by an obstacle, but there were two far ahead of the rest. June watched as the two dodged every trap and reached the top,

"We have our winners" Noran announced as they walked over to Noran and June.

"Dream and Bella have passed the first contest!" Noran shouted and the crowd cheered for Dream and Bella,

"Good job," June said to Dream and Bella

"Thanks, June," Dream and Bella said as they stood next to June. Noran announced that the second group would be going next and June watched the group scramble to the wall. The campers fought their way up the wall, all of them very close to one another. June watched with the crowd as one fell after another until there were only three winners left.

"Jace, Claire, and David are the winners" Noran announced as they walked over to June,

"Congrats," June said to the winners

"Thanks, June" Jace said as he high-fived her

"Thank you. I'm Claire, daughter of Ares the God of war" Claire, a girl with dark brown hair and amber eyes, said to June

"Nice to meet you" June replied as Claire walked by,

"Thanks, Pipsqueak. I'm David, son of Apollo the God of the sun, prophecy, healing, archery, music, and poetry." David said as he ruffled June's hair

"Don't call me Pipsqueak" June swatted at the boy with bright blonde hair and blue eyes, who only laughed as he stood next to the other winners. Noran announced the next group and this time there were two more winners,

"Nate and Ellie have passed the first contest!" Noran shouted to the crowd, who cheered for the Demigods. Nate and Ellie walked over to June,

"I'm Nate, son of Anteros the God of requited love" Nate bowed his head to June as he introduced himself

"Nice to meet you" June replied as the redhead walked by,

"I'm Ellie, daughter of Demeter the Goddess of grain, the harvest, and agriculture," Ellie said as she hugged June, Ellie's dirty blonde hair blocking June's view,

"Uh, hi" June replied, unsure of being hugged by a stranger. The fourth group only had one person reach the top of the wall, a black-haired and pale boy.

"I'm Issac, son of Hades the God of the Underworld and death," Issac said as he stuck his hand out to shake June's hand

"Nice to meet you," June said as she shook his hand, which felt cold,

"Onto the fifth group" Noran announced and the group got ready to climb the wall.

"Oh great there's an Aphrodite child in there" David whispered from behind June and Noran

"Oh shut up David," Ellie said as she smacked him, June looked at Noran confused but he ignored them. The winner was decided fast as a girl with long golden brown hair reached the top.

"The winner is Ashley" Noran announced and Ashley came up to June,

"I'm Ashley, daughter of Aphrodite the Goddess of erotic love, sexuality, and beauty," Ashley said

"Congrats Ashley" June said with a smile

"Thank you" Ashley replied with a smile of her own. The last groups had only one winner,

"I'm Garrett, son of Hecate the Goddess of magic, crossroads, and transitions," a boy with blonde hair that looked white said as he joined the others,

"I'm Nala, daughter of Poseidon the God of the sea, earthquakes, and horses," a girl with sea-green eyes said as she bowed her head to June,

"I'm Karson, son of Zeus the God of rain, thunder, lightning, the sky, and the ruler of the Gods and Goddesses," said a boy with bright blue eyes.

"Now that we have our twelve contestants, let's go to the next contest" Noran shouted and the crowd cheered,

"Our next contest is…"