New York was fading fast, with Long Island Sound approaching faster.I ran away from the group home a few hours ago, leaving my baby brother, Mike, behind.I feel bad, but it was for him, I got us moved around foster homes,for being a smart mouth, until we got moved to the group home. Now, I'm a 14 year old girl on the run! All I know is the last thing my mother told me before she went to jail , for a scandal about sleeping with a student, was go to the camp near Long Island Sound, and leave Mikey behind, so that's what I did. My family life was horrible, my mom was a professor, and i didnt have a dad, but Mikey did. As soon as they find me missing, that's who Mikey will live with, his dad didn't want me , but Mikey did, so we got put in the system. At least, I hope he will go to his dad's. He needs help, he is in a teenage group home, but is only 6! Now before I start crying, I remembered the camp name, Camp Half-Blood. That's when I saw the notorious strawberry fields, that my mom told me about, but it was different there was a lone pine tree at the top of the hill. Strange? I think so. Minutes later, I crossed the camp border, wounded, from my run in with a strange, hideous creature. About 50 teenagers worked their way over towards me, until I saw a strange animal…. A centaur?! I think I am hallucinating from blood loss, that's when I figured it would be a great time to pass out, maybe I would wake up and this all be a dream? It was not a dream, I woke up with a girl, a boy and the centaur in my room. "Hello," I mumbled. "Hi, I'm Maddison and this is Sonny. I'm a daughter of Hermes and he is a son of Apollo." Ok, demigods exist, I found out, and my run in was with a manticore.As soon as I stepped out in the light, the camp turned their attention to me, so naturally I yelled," Stop checking me out and mind your own dam business…."Sonny and Maddison filed out behind me.Chiron,the activities director, told me to chill, and take a moment. Everyone chose to stare at me, as did Maddison, Sonny, and Chiron. The centaur cleared his throat, saying" All hail Quinn Baxter, daughter of Athena." "All hail Quinn," the camp chanted. I had been claimed, so I took my stuff to cabin 6, where I was bunk mates with 7 year old, Annabeth Chase. Later that day, as I was meeting campers alike, I ran across blue eyed Luke Castellan, counsellor of Hermes cabin 11. I had met a lot of guys but, he was heroic, hilarious and handsome, the three qualities I love in a guy, and I was about to go talk to him!!! Sadly, I knew I shouldn't bother him, as the burning of Thalia Grace's shroud, would take place tonight, as there had been bad weather. Luke Had travelled with the young Annabeth Chase and Thalia Grace, so i knew he would be heartbroken, but I wanted to comfort him, as he was currently crying at the Hearth, in the middle of the cabins.Sooner than I wanted, he looked up, wiped his face, and smiled trying to hide his fallen tears. Though, there were tear stains down his face. "Hey, Quinn, right??""Yeah, and you're Luke. Don't worry about putting on a strong face. I saw you crying. If you need a shoulder to cry on, mine's clean." Suddenly he burst out in tears, hugging me tightly. He mumbled into my shoulder," Thank you Quinn, for understanding. I thought I needed to stay strong, but I just can't. She was the sister I never had." As he poured all this on me, sunset approached. The shroud burning would be held soon. "Luke noticed, as soon as I did. " I have to go Quinn, thanks for lending me your shoulder." "Anytime,Castellan!" I said with too much enthusiasm for the coming event. He leaned over and kissed my cheek. I smiled from ear to ear and blushed as read as possible. WE walked separately, as he went to find Annabeth, as they would be burning the shroud. This was the start of a life saving friendship.