Welcome to Camp Halfblood? Weird. I wonder what that's supposed to—wait. Halfblood as in DEMI GOD? Woah. I walked up and the barrier was—OPEN? I thought you could only get in if you were a halfblood. I got in, so does that mean I am a halfblood?

I guess I am. I thought I was just a strange, adopted band geek. GO FRENCH HORNS! I guess now I am a French Horn demigod. Cool.

I never thought I would run away from my troubles, but here I am, running out of my old life and into what I hope is my new.

When I walk in I see a boy who looks around 20 in an orange t-shirt with a girl beside him who looks the same age.

The boy has smiling green eyes and messy dark hair. The girl has skeptical eyes, but a warm smile and dirty blond hair.

"We were expecting you." They say in unison. Woah, creepy!

"Jinx!" The boy says, very immaturely. The girl seems to agree, as she rolls her eyes and extends her hand.

"This is Seaweed Brain. My name is…"

"Wise Girl!" The boy butts in and says.

"Nice to meet you, Wise Girl." I shake her hand and Seaweed Brain's. "You too, Seaweed Brain. I'm Rhea. I take it Wise Girl is a daughter of Athena, right Seaweed Brain?"

"Yeah," Seaweed Brain says.

"And Seaweed Brain is a son of Poseidon, right Wise Girl?"

"Right again." Wise Girl answers. "And we would like to welcome you to Camp Halfblood."

"Seems like fun," I remark.

They look at each other, then say, "It is."

So they gave me a tour. About halfway through, Seaweed Brain starts falling behind.

"Come on, Seaweed Brain, hurry up!"

"Do I have to show some scrawny 11-year-old around the camp EVERY TIME?"

"OF—" Wise Girl starts, but I interrupt.

"DID YOU JUST CALL ME SCRAWNY?!" I run over to him and jump up against him to kick his 20-year-old chest with my Nike tennis shoes. He stumbled backwards, and I say, "TAKE THAT SEAWEED BRAIN! I am 12, not 11!"

He grumbles something about not being ready, then Wise Girl interrupts.

"He can defeat Gaea and Kronos but not an 12-year-old? Wow."

"He defeated GAEA?! AND KRONOS?! I am more powerful than I thought!" I remark with a smirk.

ANNABETH'S POV

There is something different about this 12- year- old. Something I don't understand. She is likeable, yes, but I think it goes beyond that. Something I had never seen in a demigod before. And they were interesting. I noticed more and more about her as we went around the camp, showing her where to go, and stuff like that. She absorbed it like a sponge, and she was witty. She was strong, too.

So as we went to show her the cabin she would stay in while there, it made me sad to send her to the Hermes cabin, unclaimed. She would be claimed soon, though. I was sure of it. I wasn't sure why, I was just sure she would be. She was special.

She just didn't know it yet.

Rhea walked into the Hermes cabin, speechless. She seemed solemn about it, as she set her backpack and the strangely shaped case down. I wonder what's in there, I think for a second. But it is, of course, none of my business. She takes something out that looks like a pocket knife. Add 'prepared' to that list.

"Come on," I say to Rhea, then turn to Percy, "You, Seaweed Brain, are free."

"Woohoo!" He says, and dashes out the door.

"Where are we going?" Rhea asks.

"The armory." I say.

"I get armor?! Awesome! Can I have a sword, too?"

"Sure!" I laugh, then we head out to the armory.

"So what's your REAL name?"

"Annabeth." She says, "And Seaweed Brain is Percy."

"Cool name." She says. "How long do I have to stay in the Hermes cabin?"

"Until your parent claims you. Which parent do you know as your biological parent?"

"Neither." She responds. I must have looked confused, because she quickly adds, "I'm adopted. My parents said they'd tell me what my real parent's names were when I turned 13."

"Huh." I say, interested, but, of course, we arrive at the armory, so we have to get Rhea in her armor. I find some to fit her, and we move onto swords. She swings them around before choosing one with a purple diamond in its hilt. When she swings it I notice the diamond flicker. Strange. "Do you feel well enough to begin training?" I ask Rhea.

"Yeah," she replies, "Let's do this!"

I take her out on the field and teach her a few swings, because the big group already started. "Can we spar?" She asks m.

I'm surprised, but of course I say yes, and we start to spar.

I swing at her, but she deflects. We spar for a while, me taking it easy on her until she steps on my foot, which makes me pause just enough for her to get the sword up to my chest. This girl fights dirty.

I start to tell her how good that was when the sword glows. Really bright this time, glowing purple at the hilt. Then, her sword still up to my chest, light shining, a spirit of a peacock appears out of nowhere and bows down in front of Rhea.

I duck out of Rhea's sword and announce to the others on the field, "Hail Rhea, daughter of Hera."

They just stare at the spiritual peacock still at Rhea's feet. Then someone at the back starts clapping. Everyone joins in. Then Rhea reaches down to touch the peacock, and it disappears. I drag Rhea away with me. We need to see Chiron. Now.

"You realize what this means, right?" I ask Rhea.

"No." She says, "not at all."

"Hera is the goddess of marriage." I explain, "She has never had another demigod before."

"Oh." She says. "So she should have a commitment to Zeus because they are married."

"Yes. But Zeus used to always go have mortal children. Now he can't because he promised. Now Hera has hit him where it hurts. You."

What did you guys think? Like it? Dislike it? Please review! None of the OCs from my little competition have been introduced yet, but they will be next chapter. Hope you enjoyed!