A/N: So...this is my first fanfic. Constructive criticism apreciated. The story's set after TLO, imma try update as soon as possible... Well, hope you guys enjoy it.

Disclaimer: I don't own the PJO series, Rick Riordan does. Seriously, why else would this site be called Fanfiction?

Chapter 1 – A new one

Travis' POV

I was doing patrol at the boundaries of the camp – a pointless job, if you ask me. Chiron makes each cabin go commando around the boundaries, in case new demigods show up. I mean, why would we stay there and wait for some bloody kids who might as well not show up? Stupid.

But today the other Hermes campers were helping with the 4th of July fireworks and they decided to send poor old Travis for patrol, as a payback for that especially mean prank I've done with Connor last week. But does Connor get mean punishment? No, because he's supposedly younger and innocent, and I, the tyrannical older brother, dragged him into that. Whaaat? The prank was Connor's idea, but of course the little jerk wouldn't admit.

So I was leaning against Thalia's tree, polishing my dagger absentmindedly and thinking about a good afternoon nap. Peleus the dragon was snoring next to me, curled Pretzel style. Everything was nice, quiet and peaceful – if you could ignore Clarisse yelling at some newcomers in the arena – a normal afternoon at Camp Half-Blood.

But suddenly, I heard some far shouts down the hill. Possibly new half-bloods? I decided to grab my dagger and walk down there to have a look. To my surprise, I only made a few steps and I spotted three figures running towards me. The first one was a satyr with a shaggy mop of brown hair, running on his hooves and dragging along a girl and a boy about fourteen. Jack, the satyr, and two new ones.

They were chased by the one and only – the Minotaur.

"Hurry!" Jack gasped, running with the two demigods towards me. "Take them in! I'll slow him down!"

"I'll bring help", I promised, and pushed the two kids up the hill.

I grabbed them by the wrist and ran all the way to the Big House. Chiron was there, along with Leo Valdez, the Hephaestus cabin's head counselor and Clarisse, both of them yelling one at each other.

The horse guy raised a hand, silencing both of them, and focused on us.

"Jack's…out there…Minotaur", I managed to say.

"Already there, Clarisse said, grabbing her spear and getting going. While she was running to the boundaries, she was yelling for other campers to come help, and soon a small army was marching to help Jack.

"So", Chiron said, scanning the two kids. "New demigods?"

"I'm Lily Ryder", the girl introduced herself, offering me an occasion to look better at her.

She had pale skin, full lips curled in a mischievous smile, bright-blue eyes and curly, messy blonde hair. She reminded me of someone familiar, though I couldn't figure out whom. Her companion was a boy about fifteen, Hispanic, with shaggy black hair and tanned skin.

"I'm Justin Vasquez", he said.

"I suppose you already know why you're here", Chiron asked.

"Yes", Justin said. "Jack told us on the way here. Probably the smell attracted the Minotaur".

He began fiddling nervously with some pieces of metal and wires.

"Jack will be ok, some campers went to help", Chiron said soothingly.

"Now, none of you know who your immortal parent is, right?"

They began shaking their heads, but Leo, who had been very quiet until then, pointed somewhere above their heads. Flaming holograms were floating above their heads. They were being claimed.

Above Justin's head was floating a fiery hammer – he was a son of Hephaestus. And above Lily's head was floating a flaming winged caduceus – a daughter of Hermes.

"What's this?" Lily demanded. "What does this mean?"

"It means, young one", Chiron explained, "You are a daughter of Hermes and your friend here, a son of Hephaestus".

Leo took Justin over to explain him the stuff. Before Chiron could say something else, I grabbed my little sister to show her the place.

"I'm Travis Stoll", I introduced myself. "Son of Hermes. Welcome to the gang. Here's our place – cabin eleven".

I noticed Lily was peeking at my wrist watch.

"Don't even dare to think about it", I warned her. Lily didn't even bother to apologize, but she smiled cockily.

"Like it's yours", she sneered. "Where did you get that? It looks expensive".

As a Hermes' kid, Lily had a nose for expensive stuff and an eye for shiny things. I liked her immediately. I wrapped an arm around her shoulders and told her:

"Some random Aphrodite camper. I have to take you there some day; it's the best place for a raid. I mean, you have to see the amount of jewelry and shiny stuff".

Her eyes gleamed.

"Let's find you a bunk", I said, looking around. No, that's mine, that's Connor's, that's Chris', that's Terry's…oh, no, that's Bailey's. Oh, there. A free bunk next to mine.

"Here, you can sleep over there".

Lily seemed rather impressed. She let her bag fall on the said bunk and looked around. Our cabin is small and, until now, it was awfully crowded with unclaimed kids. Right now, it's a lot more room for our stolen flat screen TV, for the Wii and Xbox consoles and for the music system. It's nothing special about our cabin – we don't have clothes all over like the Aphrodite kids, or weapons on the walls like the Ares kids. But we have our stolen things and a giant trunk full of pranks-related stuff like flashlights, matches, spray-paint, string, purple hair-dye and tons of such things.

"Yo, Travis!" I heard Connor calling me. He stormed in the cabin, then noticed Lily. "Yo, new girl".

"Connor, don't be an idiot. This is Lily. Lily, this is my forever single brother Connor".

Lily grinned and fist-bumped Connor.

"Hey, have you told her about the Rite of Hermes?"

"What's that?" Lily asked, her blue eyes shining at the thought of challenge. Oh, crap. Seeing what a cool kid Lily was, I was intending to "forget" about the rite. But no, Connor had to come and ruin everything.

"So you'll become a full-right member of the Hermes cabin, you have to pull a prank on anyone in the camp, using your own material and without getting caught", Connor explained.

Lily raised an eyebrow.

"That's all? Cool, see you later".

She grabbed her bag and left without any other word.

"Connor?" I said, trying to hold my temper.

"Yeah?" he asked, smiling like an idiot.

"You're the most idiotic thing I've ever seen", I said through gritted teeth, opening the door, ready to go out and look for Lily.

"Why, what have I done?" he wanted to know.

"I'm denying you as a brother. From now on, Lily's my full sister and you're just some random idiot who awkwardly has the same last name like me".

"I don't know what's wrong with you, but I agree with that. I'm sick with your bossy attitude. Always, Connor, give me that, Connor do that, Connor, Connor, Connor".

"Lily is just so cool, and you're getting her in trouble from the first day!" I yelled, defending her.

"Oh, c'mon. Chris made us pass the rite in our first day here, too, remember? It's a tradition. If she's good enough, she won't get into trouble".

"Whatever", I mumbled. "Let's go see what she's up to".

Terry, Bailey and Chris were already there, with Clarisse, Justin Vasquez and Leo Valdez, staring in awe at Lily, who was sitting under a tree, rumbling in her bag.

"What's she doing?" I asked.

Terry noticed us – he's thirteen, brown-haired and blue-eyed just like any other Hermes kid and really cool to hang out with. I guess coolness runs in the family.

"She plans on pulling a prank on Chiron", he whispered with respect.

No newcomer, ever, pulled a successful prank on Chiron since Connor and I arrived at camp. Lily took out of her bag three boxes of hair-dye – pale blue, soft pink and bright pink, a few Barbie tattoos, pink ribbons and sleeping powder. Oh, not even I could think of something better. My Little Pony style prank, delivered to Chiron.