AN: As the summary said, it's an idea that just wouldn't go away unless I gave it a home in words. And now it's here to stay. I really hope you like it, because it's fun to write. Oh, and shoutout to two wonderful people without whom the story would be so much poorer: anonymousHippocampus (go read "Camp Echidna") and my awesome, intelligent, and ever-so-geeky beta reader. Thank you so much, both of you. And now, the story, after a short disclaimer break.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything, except a copy of all the books and the laptop I'm writing this on. Go thank (or curse) Rick Riordan for creating (and then owning) the Percy Jackson series and its characters.
I thought that my day had reached the lowest point it could get when fireballs started falling from the sky. Boy, was I wrong. I had no idea that the fireballs were only the beginning of a day that would go down in history as one of the Worst Days Ever.
"INCOMING!" yelled my passenger, informing me of the fact that a fireball was about to hit the ground where I was about to run. Thankfully, the warning came in time, and I was able to dodge most of the explosion, getting only slightly singed in the process. Her hands pounded on my shoulders, and she urged, "Come on, faster! They're catching up!"
My breath was too precious to waste on snapping at her, so I just concentrated on running as fast as I could. The scolding would come if we got out of this alive. It took all my focus to notice every rock, tree, bush, branch, and dip that could spell doom for the two of us. As we burst through a clearing, I strained my ears to catch any sign of our pursuers. I was immediately rewarded with sounds of hundreds of breaking branches and rustling leaves, but forced my attention back to the path ahead.
I jerked right, just in time to avoid being incinerated by the fireball that impacted right where I was about to leap. The shock wave from the resulting explosion knocked me off balance, and I skidded across the forest floor, right into a tree. However, it only delayed me for a moment, and I went right back to fleeing from our pursuers. The forest ahead grew thicker, and I was forced to slow down considerably. I tried to aim for the areas where the trees grew closest together, several times almost unseating my rider. I felt the sting of numerous cuts open from outstretched branches, but ignored the pain and kept going, intent only on escaping our pursuers.
Finally making herself useful, my passenger unsheathed her axe and began swinging it at branches and trunks in an effort to slow anyone behind us down. It worked, and I heard the cries of the wounded behind us. Unfortunately, they quickly changed to yells of determination, which served to help me catapult us to even greater speeds. I couldn't spare the time to glance at my legs, but I knew that they would only appear as blurs to any bystander, though it would be hard-pressed to find one in the New York woods. I saw a stream meandering through the forest, and leaped over it, to continue running on the relatively clear ground there.
I didn't allow myself to become distracted with thoughts of safety by the more stable ground, but focused all my senses to warn me of further attacks. Just in time, too, because more explosions began to rock the ground behind me. Water sprinkled down all around, thrown up from the stream by the shock waves. Ahead, I saw an uncharacteristically even break in the forest, almost as if a line had been drawn in the trees themselves. Just before I reached it, I noticed a fallen log. I leaped to avoid it, right over the line in the foliage.
Time slowed down. That's how it felt, anyway. I was stuck in midair, moving like molasses. My body wouldn't respond to any commands, and the stiffness on my shoulders told me that my passenger had the same problem. Then we suddenly moved forward normally again, as if we had broken through some kind of barrier. Unprepared for the change, I landed badly and tumbled uncontrollably until I came to a stop. It took the last of my energy to lift my head up to make sure my passenger made it, and then I lapsed into unconsciousness.
The first thing I was aware of was a repeated prodding in my side. I swatted at it weakly, and it ceased for a moment, then came back even stronger. I willed my eyes open, and the sight of a frowning girl leaning over me, long hair almost touching my face, made me want to close them.
"Ha! You're awake! Don't try to fool me! I saw your eyes open," she told me.
Keeping my eyes firmly shut, I mumbled, "Five more minutes," as I let my head go slack and bump against the grass-covered ground. I hoped the ploy would make her go away.
"Fine," she said, and I almost relaxed. But then a much harder jab came, deeper in my side. I jumped to my feet and snapped into a combat stance. The offender held one end of a bow, the other end right where my ribs had been a second ago. When she made no further move to provoke me, I relaxed, and studied her a little more closely. She was athletically built, with unrestrained auburn hair, and was wearing comfortable-looking jeans with a sheathed dagger hanging at her side and a bright orange shirt.
"Camp Half-Blood. Well, that explains…" I jabbed a thumb at the barrier, "why I didn't wake up dead by monster, and why you didn't just put an arrow in me." I snorted. "Of all the places to accidentally run into, literally, while being chased by a horde of monsters, this would probably be the best." I looked around cursorily before returning my gaze to the camper. "I was traveling with my sister. Have you seen her? She's hard to miss, with the-"
"Bright blue hair? Yeah. She's right over there." With the bow, she pointed to a shallow dip a few yards away. The camper laughed. "I've never seen anyone with quite that color hair before."
I walked over to my still-unconscious sister. "Yeah. She really likes it, but I have no idea why. Whatever makes her happy, you know?" I bent down, and poked her on the crown of the head, then jumped back none too soon. Her hand smashed right through where mine had been a second earlier. She flipped herself up, and looked around for the offender that had dared disturb her. I waved a hand to get her attention. "Easy. You were knocked unconscious. Are you okay?"
She patted herself down quickly, then looked up and replied, "Yep. Everything's in prime condition."
"Good." I turned to the camper. "All right. Thanks for waking me up, but it's time for us to go. We've got things to do and people to see." I wave and set off toward the barrier.
"Not so fast." All the helpfulness that had been in the camper's voice was gone, replaced by steel. I turned, and she had her bow nocked and aimed directly at my chest. "I don't know who you are, but you're not leaving here so easily. I'm taking you to Chiron." She slowly circled around us, and threatened us into moving where she wanted us to go.
My companion stiffened, and began reaching for her weapon. "We don't have to go anywhere!"
I put a hand on her arm. "Ree, calm down. Let's not antagonize the nice lady who has the weapon pointed at us," I soothed, then looked at our threatener. "Fine, we'll go with you. Just put the bow down, would you? It's making my skin crawl."
"I don't trust you. You'll just run off the second I let my guard down," she said.
"Okay, okay. I swear on the River Styx that I'll follow you to Chiron. Happy?" Thunder rumbled.
She visibly relaxed, and lowered the bow. "Yeah. It'll be faster this way. Thanks for doing that." We walked in silence for a few yards, then she spoke up again, "What are your names? I can't just keep calling you Spike-wannabe and Blue-Hair in my head. What'd you call her? Ree?"
I raised an eyebrow at her and said, "Spike wannabe?" I adjusted my black leather duster. "I'm flattered," I said, deadpan. "But my name's James." I tipped my head toward my companion. "She's Pyleria."
I waited expectantly for a few seconds as we walked, and then she finally said, "My name's Cara."
"Well then, nice to be threatened by you and forced to go where you want us, Cara." She opened her mouth to reply, but just then we broke through the trees and caught sight of Camp Half-Blood. I'll admit, it is an interesting place, and it's a bit odd to see Greek architecture in the middle of a forest.
We went mostly unnoticed until we were almost to the large house on one end. Then we were hailed by a large, loud camper, who was standing outside a red-painted cabin decorated with weapons and boar heads. "Hey, Cara! Nice going, abandoning your post! That's what, the third infraction this week? You're really not cut out for this, are you? Go home! Oh, wait. You can't." her whole cabin burst into harsh laughter.
Cara turned bright red and ignored them. Ehh. Not making such a good first impression on me. I never really liked Ares anyway. "Yo, half-wits!" I taunted. "If you had eyes, you would've noticed that she was accompanying us to Chiron! Too bad you can't see very well with those beady little things!" I then began counting down in my head. Four, three, two, one. Now.
The entire cabin stared in shock, jaws slack. Evidently no one dared insult them like that, and they didn't really know how to respond. They had just gathered up their surprise, and the first speaker raised a spear as if to charge, when a loud, authoritative voice stopped her in her tracks. "Clarisse! Stop that this instant. Cara did exactly the right thing." I turned to face the speaker, a scholarly, yet still strong-looking… centaur. He was apparently satisfied with Clarisse's look of penitence, and turned to study us more closely. "Miss Jenkins, you did exactly the right thing by bringing them to me. Thank you. Now, please resume your post."
Cara nodded, her face returning to its usual color. "Yes, Chiron. I'll get right on that."
Chiron motioned for us to follow him back to the house. Once I had shut the door behind us, he cleared his throat. "Since you have never been here before, but have obviously survived for quite a few years, I trust I do not have to explain anything to you?"
I wrinkled my brow and asked, "How could you tell?"
"You carry yourself like a fighter. Also, I can see the scar on your neck. That would tend to give it away," he said dryly.
I rubbed the offending lump of tissue ruefully. "Your instincts are correct, but that scar didn't come from a monster." Before he could ask, I continued. "Well, I suppose we should be polite and introduce ourselves." I nudged Pyleria.
She jumped. "Oh! Well, uh, I'm Pyleria Murphy, daughter of a sea spirit." She looked at Chiron apologetically and shrugged. "I don't know which one though. We've even consulted a few seers, and all they could tell us is that he or she has been long forgotten."
I stepped forward and said, "I am James Murphy, blessed of Artemis."
Chiron raised an eyebrow, and stroked his chin. "I have heard those names before. Pyleria Giant-Slayer. I would never have imagined her to have… quite so vivid hair." Pyleria squared her chin defiantly, and he turned his gaze to me. "And the Curse-Bearer, son of-"
I cut him off, "That Olympian may have been responsible for my genesis, but I refuse to be associated with that sorry excuse for a god." Thunder rumbled overhead, and I tried to make my look at Chiron earnest but not threatening.
He was unimpressed, and said only, "Well, we're still going to have to put you somewhere. Pyleria, I think we have an open guest room here in the Big House. Do you mind staying here until we can figure something else out?"
Before she could respond, I said, "Whoa there. Don't you think that's a little presumptuous? We've been just fine all our lives outside your camp, and we'll be just fine for a while longer. Come on, Pyleria, let's go."
"I can't let you do that." I turned back to Chiron, incredulous. He continued, "An order came down from Olympus a few weeks ago. It was a decree from- from your parent, ordering me to keep you here at camp should you ever arrive. I thought it unlikely, and dismissed it, yet here you are. I suggest you get comfortable."
Pyleria piped up, "May we at least get our stuff from our base? We don't have much but the clothes on our backs."
Chiron smiled at her. "Of course, child. Tomorrow. Right now, we should turn our energies toward settling you in here. I'll get one of the senior campers to show you and help you get comfortable. James," he turned toward me, "I'm afraid you'll have to stay in- in your parent's cabin."
"Can't I just stay in the Artemis cabin? I am, technically, a Hunter." I pointed out.
"No. the rest of the Hunters arrived this morning, to 'catch up' with their friends here," Chiron said.
"The Hunters!" Pyleria nudged me. "We get to see the Thalia and Anne and Pellope and the rest!"
I corrected her, "Penelope." I locked eyes with Chiron. "I would appreciate if you don't go around telling people who I am. The Hunters know everything, but I don't want it to get spread around." A realization hit me. "Actually, have any of them heard of me?"
Chiron thought for a moment. "I do not think so. You are quite good at covering your tracks. Well, I must go now, to teach my archery class. I'll find a camper to settle you in after that, Pyleria. Goodbye." But just as he was about to walk out the door, he paused. "Oh, and James? You can sleep on the sofa here in the Big House. But just for tonight. Tomorrow, it's off to a cabin."
I called after him, "Thanks." When the door swung shut behind him, I turned to Pyleria and took off my duster. "Take this. And, I think I'll want my Celestial bronze longsword and back sheath." She accepted my coat, and with the other hand made a tossing motion. She caught a bundle, spinning gently on its descent, and handed it to me. I unwrapped it to reveal a sheathed sword hanging off a harness. I straightened my maroon T-shirt, then put it on with speed and surety born of much practice.
Pyleria fastened on her own sword, this time at her belt, and looked at me. "You know, this place feels really open. Alive. It's not all gloomy and shut-in, like Camp E-"
I clapped my hand over her mouth and finished her sentence. "Like the mortal summer camp we visited." I locked eyes with her. "Right?"
Her eyes widened at her near slip, and she pulled my hand away from her mouth. "Right. Totally. The mortal summer camp. Yup. Yessirree, that camp. What other one would I be talking about?" She flushed, and quickly pushed past me, heading toward the door Chiron had exited through earlier.
We stood on the porch for a second, wondering where to go and composing ourselves. Then suddenly we pointed in almost completely opposite directions. My finger led to a pillared arena, while Pyleria indicated a large building emanating strange noises, clanging and cracking and hissing. "Go on. Have some fun. Just… be careful, alright?" She gave me a big grin, and ran off to investigate. I watched her for a moment, smiling at her energy, but then fiddled with my harness for a moment before setting off to the arena. As I got closer, I heard more and more clearly the sounds of people training hard: grunting, clashing metal, and shouts of exhilarated victory.
"HYAAAAAH!" Clarisse from the Ares cabin earlier was in the center of the field inside the pillars, sparring with a tall, black-haired camper. Everywhere I looked, I saw people wearing orange shirts. Most were sitting in the stands around the edge, resting after their own sparring sessions. I decided to lean against a pillar and study the combatants. I quickly dismissed Clarisse as a threat. She may have been holding her own against the black-haired camper, but she fell prey to the most common mistake of Ares' children. She relied almost completely on force and brute strength, will very little technique. Her opponent, however, was a different story. He handled his sword with obvious skill, blocking every attack she made and counterattacking fluidly. He could easily have ended the fight long before I arrived, but for some reason he was prolonging it, never going on the offensive. Then suddenly, it all changed. He stopped an attack cold, then replied with a flurry of slashes, rocking her back on her feet and forcing Clarisse to backpedal. While her attention was divided, he quickly swept her feet out from under her with the flat of his blade, then held the tip to her throat. He held the pose for a second, then relaxed, and offered her a hand up. When she accepted, the stands erupted in applause, cut short when Clarisse raked the spectators with a glare. I was so preoccupied with the match I didn't notice someone approaching me.
"Haven't seen you before. Are you the guy who just came in today?"
I whirled, startled, to face a curly-haired blonde with a neutral expression on her face. I was about to nod and return to watching people spar when I noticed her stormy gray eyes. I immediately looked away, but replied, "Yes. I've been living on my own for a while. Well, my sister and I." When she raised her eyebrows, I explained, "We're not actually related. We met about six years ago, and kind of adopted each other. But we call ourselves siblings."
"Huh." I could feel her eyes roving over me, reading me. I took that opportunity to turn back to the fighting. "What's your name?"
I waited a beat before answering, "James. You?"
"Annabeth. You seem to be very interested in my boyfriend," she commented.
"Yeah. He's the best here. Hope you don't mind if I ask him to spar with me in a bit. I could use the practice." Out of the corner of my eye I saw her turn a little way toward me, and then smile.
"You're welcome to. If you think you're up to it. It should be fun to watch," she said. I could hear the laughter in her voice.
"Pardon me. I just saw an old friend, and it would only be polite to go over and… say hello." I bowed slightly to Annabeth, then walked around the arena, pausing at each pillar and checking to ensure my target remained unaware of my presence. I finally reached the last pillar, and discreetly peeked around. My eyes widened in surprise, not meeting the slim form of my target. Suddenly, I noticed a knife at my neck. "I surrender, Thalia. You win again. When did you notice me?" I asked, turning around.
Thalia dropped the hand holding the knife, and stepped back. "Four pillars ago. The hilt on your sword gave you away, sticking out from behind it. You haven't worn that in a while. What's wrong, Lady Artemis' gift not good enough for you?"
"Could you be a little less subtle? No, I just don't want to advertise it. Too many questions I don't want to answer," I said in a low voice.
"Eh, it's fine. It's good to see you, even if you are a boy." She smiled.
"You too, girl." I extended my hand, and she grabbed my forearm, and I did the same. We locked eyes, then let go. "So, I heard you arrived today. When's the capture the flag game I've heard so much about? The campers against the Hunters? It sounds quite exhilarating."
"Tomorrow. I think I'll enjoy wiping the smile off Seaweed Brain's face." Thalia smiled nastily.
"Well, technically I'm a camper now. So, I wouldn't bet on that. Later." I barely concealed my grin at her look of shock, and made my way toward the center of the arena.
"Hey! Hey, new kid!" I turned, to find myself face to face with Clarisse. She bellowed, "You insulted the Ares cabin! No one insults the Ares cabin and gets away with it!"
I smirked, pushing her dangerously close to the edge. "And what, exactly, are you going to do about it? Yell at me some more! Throw some half-baked insults?"
She reddened with rage. "FIGHT ME! Right here, right now! I won't let you go unpunished!"
If you say so, I thought. "All right. Ready, go." I ran along the seats of the bleachers toward the center field, scattering campers as I went. I skidded a bit on the gravel floor of the field, unsheathed my sword, and looked back the way I came, not a moment too soon. Clarisse was running al me, full-tilt, weapon at the ready. When she came close enough, she swung. I flicked my sword in a circular motion to deflect hers, but the impact jarred my hand, almost making me drop my sword. Damn. I really am rusty. Sure hope I still remember enough to beat her, or I might have to use my- Clarisse slashed again and again, not letting up. Each time, I parried, but only barely diverting her sword from slicing into my flesh. Gotta take the offensive. It's my only hope. I dodged her last strike completely, and began attacking, myself. Up, down, backhand, forehand, stab, overhand slash. With each strike I began growing surer, muscles remembering old movements yet again. This time, Clarisse was on the defensive, backpedaling and blocking frantically. Then, her eyes hardened. I was ready when she rallied, switching from defense to offense as quickly as I had. We were caught up in a pattern of attacking, blocking, and counterattacking. But suddenly my foot slid on a patch of loose gravel, and Clarisse saw her opening. She slashed, and I barely moved my head enough to avoid her blade. But attacking like that left her exposed, and I put the tip of my sword to her throat. "I win." I stared her down until I thought she wouldn't attack me as soon as I turned my back, then lowered my sword and sheathed it. Unlike earlier, there was no sound as I ascended the steps and left the arena.
I wandered around the camp for a while, familiarizing myself with the layout of the camp. I found myself at the bank of a creek, looking out at a forest. I walked around the creek to enter the forest. As I crossed in, I was met with resistance, much as I had when I entered the camp. I continued anyway, and soon found myself surrounded by large trees. I sat down with my back to a tree and tried to meditate, but I was quickly interrupted.
"Hey! James, right? Thanks for sticking up for me back there. I was actually kinda surprised you did, considering I shoved an arrow in your face and all. No hard feelings, right? What are you doing out here?" Cara asked.
I looked at her. "I didn't do it for you. I've never really liked Ares. Plus, you were only doing your duty and they were making fun of you for it. That's it. No need to thank me."
"Oh. Well, Chiron sent me out here to tell you that dinner's in five minutes. He mumbled something about you needing a camper to show you around. I got volunteered, since I'm the one who brought you in. Come on," she said, then beckoned.
I got up slowly, then followed her, a bit reluctantly, I must admit. But as we drew closer, I began to detect delicious smells wafting from the dining area. I took a deep breath in through my nose, and then let it out with a contented sigh. "Beef brisket. It's been a while since I've had that. I think it'll be delicious."
Cara looked surprised. "How'd you know we were having beef brisket? You couldn't possibly have smelled it from here."
I froze for a second, then started rubbing my neck. "I was talking to someone earlier. I don't remember exactly who, but whoever it was mentioned beef brisket for dinner. Anyway, I'm going to run ahead. I'm really hungry!"
I slowed to a jog, then a walk, then stopped. Chiron was waiting outside the pillars, and his gaze locked on to me. "Ah, Mr. Murphy. Since you are very new here, and the Hunters have informed me that you are not allowed to eat with them, I had two extra places set for you and your, ah, sister at the staff table with myself and-"
"Dionysus?" I asked, nodding toward the god in question. "Yeah, that'll work. Thank you very much for arranging that." I quickly slipped through the crowd of campers bustling on their ways to sit down. When they had all settled, I was seated with an empty seat on either side of me, and Chiron beyond the chair on my right. Dionysus materialized in it, and I jumped.
"All right, all right. Settle down, you brats. We have some guests that arrived today." He droningly continued, "the Hunters of Artemis, and…" He leaned over to Chiron, who filled in the blank in his sentence.
"James Murphy, Blessed of Artemis, and Pyleria Murphy, unknown." Chiron gestured widely. "Let us eat!" Nymphs began serving large platters of food to each table.
Dionysus leaned over. "So, kid. You look familiar. Do I know you from somewhere?"
I grinned at him. "You should. I was the one did you that favor in New Orleans."
"Oh." He leaned back. "Thanks."
"Don't mention it. I'd hate for good wine grapes to go to waste." I accepted the platter of food from Pyleria, scraped a good portion of meat onto my plate, and passed it to Dionysus. I noticed the campers getting up and lining up for the brazier. I picked up my own plate and followed them. As it grew closer to me, I noticed that the campers were scraping some of their food into the fire and murmuring a prayer. When it came to my turn, I gave some of my brisket and thought, Lady Artemis, thank you. You have guided me thus far through life, and I just ask you to keep helping me a little longer. The smoke rose, carrying my prayer upward. I turned to go back to my seat when a burning pain burst upon my neck. I dropped my plate entirely, and clapped both hands to the side of my neck. Then, just as suddenly as the pain had come, it was gone. When I finally raised my head, everyone in the pavilion was staring at me. I frantically twisted, baring my neck to get a good look at it in the shiny side of the brazier. What did- Then my eyes met what was on my neck, and I realized what had happened. I had been branded. I quickly pushed down the anger threatening to erupt, as I stared, unbelieving, at the- it looks smug, I swear- owl-shaped brand scar on my neck. "Fu-"
The blond camper, Annabeth, stood up and said, "James Murphy, son of Athena, goddess of wisdom, battle, and weaving! Hail!" Her fellow campers echoed her.
While they were busy making noise, I preoccupied myself with a prayer to Olympus. I kept it short, sweet, and to the point, with all the emotion I could summon up. "Screw you, Mother."
AN: Hope you enjoyed, feel free to leave a review (even if it's just criticizing me), and see (well, not really) you all next time with another installment. Ciao!
