Selana Larane and the Demigod Adventures
By: Sheniqua Tiluna
Chapter I
The new arrival
When I woke up in the morning I was lying on the cot in cabin three and some part of me told me that one of my relatives was here but I didn't recognize his aura. I then heard a knock on the cabin door and I decided to get up and answer it. I walked over and I prayed to the Gods it wasn't Clarisse daughter of Ares. When I opened the door standing there was a sandy haired boy, with Elvin features and blue eyes and a scar on the side of his mouth.
"Hey Luke, what's up?" I asked him. "Hey there Selana sorry for the rude awakening, I was sent by Chiron. There is someone who he wants you to meet." He said to me timidly. "Alright, are they still at the Big House?" I asked him. He nodded his head and turned and left for the eleventh cabin. I sighed as I watched him leave. Why did everyone but Annabeth, Grover, and Chiron treat me so differently? I wondered if it was because of what I could change into. But I never told them let alone showed them.
I left the cabin shutting the door behind me. I walked down the path past the first and second cabins—which always remand empty. I continued down until I saw the Big House come into view. It was a ranch style looking house with a white railing trimming the outside. I looked over towards the right where Half-Blood Hill sat and standing there was Thaila's pine tree. She was a daughter of Zeus who had sacrificed her life in order to save the lives of her friends. I continued down the path taking in the scenery. The arena, volley ball court, and forest veered off towards the left. The mess hall was farther up the hill and just beyond that Long Sound Bay.
When I came into view of the Big House Grover stood up so quickly that his little goat legs hit the pinochle table. I groaned a little as Chiron was trying to calm down an overly appojectical Satyr. I came over and leaned against the railing. "I was summoned?" I asked sarcastically. "Yes," He said ignoring the sarcasm. "This is Percy Jackson he just arrived." He gestured to a boy no more than twelve years old. He had brown hair and deep sea blue-green eyes. "Hey welcome to Camp Half-Blood." I said to him as happy as I could.
He nodded solemnly and gave me a weak smile. I wondered if something happened on the way up here to make him so miserable. "Selana I was wondering if you could keep an eye on him just for a bit, just until he has a hang of things." Chiron said to me. I cursed silently in my mind. "Yeah sure I don't mind doing that. I mean I do owe you for like three hundred and sixty favors." I said to him looking disgusted. He chuckled and nodded his head. "Well I have to go and do my daily duties now." I said before I could lose control over my temper.
I quickly walked off and headed down towards the canoe lake passing by campers who gave me wide eyed looks as they saw where I was coming from. When I reached the lake I turned and ran down towards where all the campers sit and watch fireworks for the fourth of July. I reached there and found the place completely dirty still. A nymph and a naiad—nature spirits—had already started cleaning up but when they saw me they ran away.
I was used to it by now but still it sort of hurt. I picked up a bag with a sigh and a little stick with a poker at the end of it. I went around and started to pick up the trash that had floated in. I was only halfway up the beach when I heard someone sniffling behind me. I turned around and saw Grover sitting on a sand dune crying. I looked around to see if anyone else was there but it was just me standing there. There was no one else but me and Grover. I decided to walk over to him and try to make a friend. I walked over to him and cleared my throat. He looked over at me and started whimpering again which was slightly annoying. "Sorry I just needed someone to talk to. I'll go if you want me to." He said getting up.
I placed my hand on his shoulder. He looked over at me and I smiled at him. "I'll listen to whatever you have to say." I said to him smiling. I could tell he was shocked because he tilted his head at me. "Seriously you will listen to me?" He asked me shocked. "Don't worry I'm not as cold hearted as I seem." I said to him still smiling.
I sat next to him as he explained to me how much of a failure he was for not being able to protect Percy and his mom. So I was confused about that so he explained that to me and how it was his second chance and he had failed. "Grover don't worry about it too much you'll be able to make it up with a quest. I'm one hundred percent sure that Percy would want you on his team instead of someone like me." I said to him. He looked at me and I could tell he wanted to ask me something but he didn't know how to.
He nodded sadly and looked away. "They are true." I said to him. He looked at me confused. "The rumors about me being able to change into a water dragon are true." I said to him. He looked at me wide eyed and I felt worried that he would scream and run away. But instead a wild smile spread across his face and he tackled me down to the sand.
"That is so awesome! Thank you so much for telling me!" He said enthusiastically. "Alright, alright just swear on the River Styx you won't tell a soul Grover." I demanded of him. He got off of me and nodded his head and then he helped me up. He even stayed around and helped me pick up the trash until the horn for dinner blew. We dropped our work stuff and ran to the dinner pavilion.
I sat down at the third table and Grover went and sat down next to Mr. D and Chiron—who was a centaur—and the other satyr's. I turned around as the other cabins of Athena, Ares, Apollo, Aphrodite, Hephaestus, and Hermes all filed in. As Percy passed my table I and he caught each other's eyes and I continued to follow him with my eyes until he sat down. I looked forward as Chiron stepped forward and pounded his hoof against the marble and everyone fell silent. He raised his glass and said, "To the Gods!"
Everyone followed his example except for me. I never followed the gods even though my own farther was Poseidon. The wood nymph's came out then bringing platters of food out: grapes, apples, strawberries, cheese, fresh bread, and barbecue. The nymphs avoided my table completely because I rarely ate after a newcomer arrived.
I watched as campers rose and walked up to the fire pit and scraped off a piece of their food for the Gods. Some part of me was envious but another part of me could careless, That part of me won whenever I saw this. I saw Grover walk up and he waved happily at me. I smiled and half-heartedly waved back.
Then I saw Luke and Percy went up and I had really hoped he would get claimed right away so I wouldn't be alone at this table or in the cabin anymore. When Percy turned around I looked away. When everyone sat down again and finished their dinner Chiron pounded his hoof on the marble. Mr. D-a.k.a. Dionysus-stood up with a huge sigh."Yes, I suppose I'd better say hello to all you brats. Well, hello. Our activities director, Chiron, says the next capture the flag is Friday. Cabin five presently holds the laurels."
A bunch of ugly yells and cheering came from the Ares table. I just sighed not really caring about it. I just wanted to go to bed.
"Personally," Mr. D continued, "I couldn't care less, but congratulations. Also, I should tell you that we have a new camper today. Peter Johnson." Chiron murmured something.
"Er, Percy Jackson," Mr. D corrected. "That's right. Hurrah and all that. Now run along to your silly campfire. Go on." Everybody cheered and they all headed towards the amphitheater, where Apollo's cabin would lead them in a sing along.
As Percy walked by I looked at him straight in the face and I could tell I made him nervous. It was like that with everyone. They didn't even know me yet they judged me and way too harshly. But instead of ignoring me he smiled at me. I couldn't help but smile back at him. He encouraged me to follow and I did up until the point where I saw the cabins and I veered off towards them.
I was exhausted for some weird reason. I climbed the stairs to my cabin and opened the door. I walked over to my bed and the second I laid my head on the pillow I was out cold. I had no dreams but I felt even more alone than usual because of that.
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