To begin with, my name is Andromeda Ariadne Skye Jackson.

I lived in a New York apartment, which isn't cheap. My mother worked for a sweets shop, my brother-we don't really know who was born first...though I believe it was me, it could have been Percy-and I went to several different schools.

My mother, by the way, is Sally Jackson. My brother is Perseus Achilles Theseus Jackson. We're twins.

I ran away when I was six years old, meeting up-quite on accident, and after I had outrun a monster-with a girl my age, Annabeth Chase. She was a little older, of course, she was already seven while I would turn six in about a month (maybe two). She knew what was out there. She'd miraculously survived several monster attacks, like I had.

Soon enough we met with two others like us-a kid named Luke Castellan and Thalia Grace, although she was quick to point out the fact she hated her last name.

We ran into a bit of trouble quite a few times. Annabeth's face was on some flyers-she was considered 'missing'-and I was put on an Amber Alert.

Luke had established several safe houses across the country; how a little kid could do that, I'll never know. Perhaps it was his dad's doing, somewhat.

We met Hermes once when Luke was planning to grab some bandages from his mother's house. He was nice; he healed my wounds that were infected and gave us lunch boxes. We were then on our way again, freshly cleaned and healed. Luke was sour. He never wanted his dad's help.

A small blessing arrived soon after we had left Luke's old home. Grover.

Grover Underwood was-is-a satyr. He was young-perhaps too young-to be tasked with guiding Thalia and I to Camp Half-Blood.

I didn't know then who my dad was; I always assumed I was the kid a random, deadbeat guy and the only thing I remembered was a glow; maybe a smile. Grover didn't even know.

I said I wouldn't leave without Annabeth or Luke. Grover said he was under express orders to bring only Thalia and I.

Thalia refused and agreed with me. No way were we leaving Annabeth and Luke behind-especially not after the Cyclops.

And so we journeyed, hitchhiking most of the way, to Camp Half-Blood. We hailed the Chariot of Damnation and it stopped near the borders of camp.

We left those crazy sisters, trying our hardest to get to the camp.

But we were tired. Hellhounds had come out of nowhere, the minions of Hades out for blood.

Thalia told us to go forth and enter the camp; she promised she would be there.

Only Luke seemed to know she was lying. His face had closed off, but he had nodded to Thalia and started dragging us into the camp.

Grover seemed panicked. He'd ran ahead to get help, but was too late.

Thalia sacrificed herself to save Camp Half-Blood. And for that, her father Zeus gave her a gift.

So that none may die once they were inside the camp, he made Thalia into a pine tree and put up a barrier, a magical barrier that all inside would not be harmed by the monsters that Thalia gave her life to save us from.

Thalia was a great friend, and I will always remember her sacrifice.

And in making Thalia a tree, it set in motion a lot of things.

For one, my connection (the Twin Telepathy everyone goes on about? That's actually true. Apollo and Artemis had it when they were born; probably still do. I suppose that it only works in some twin children) with my brother went beyond telepathy; apparently he got the wounds I did until I learned to block it from him.

I didn't see him again, until that fateful day at Camp Half-Blood, when I was twelve and a new camper moved into the Hermes cabin. We had very little contact with each other; I was almost convinced that he barely recognized my voice. However, we were able to recognize each other pretty well when I saw him.

Oh yeah-Luke wasn't the only one to go to steal an apple from the Hesperides on that quest. I'd gone with him...but...well...you'll see.

As I said before, I'm Andromeda Jackson, and this is my story.

~:~

"Skye! You know that newbie we got?" A voice said, way too cheerfully in the morning to me.

I mumbled something and burrowed even more beneath my covers.

"His name's-"

"Daisy! Quit bugging her!" Luke's voice said. Daisy muttered something unkind and possibly uncomplementary towards Luke.

"Why does she get to sleep in?"

"Because Chiron told her she had to, now go on!"

Two sets of footsteps left the Hermes cabin. I knew it was past lunch, but hey. When you are a favorite of Chiron and Mr. D and one of the best swordsman in a century aside from Luke, you get certain priveliges.

Besides, I was actually still resting from an attack. I'd felt my brother close by, and he'd gotten hurt...and so did I.

And now I was on four days of forced bedrest. Which was kind of awesome for me.

I heard a set of footsteps again.

"Hey, 'Meda? You going to be okay in here?" Luke asked. I popped my head out from under my blankets.

"Uh huh," I managed to reply.

Luke smiled. "Love ya, 'Meda."

I smiled at Luke. He was like a big brother to me. I could even pretend that I was his real half-sister.

"Love ya too, Luke," I replied. I grabbed one of the pills from the Apollo cabin and the glass of water and drank it down.

It was a mild sedative, something that was quick to knock me unconscious for a couple of hours. I'd stolen them from the Apollo cabin; years of living with the Hermes cabin had trained me to be as stealthy as them. I was a great liar, too.

"See you in a couple hours for dinner, okay?" Luke asked. I nodded, already drowsy.

I'd been using the pills every ten hours; Chiron wanted me to just sleep, Mr. D agreeing with him. Today was my last day-thank the gods-of this forced bed rest

Ever since the winter solstice...they'd been even more concerned about me for some reason.

I hadn't been at the winster solstice; I'd had a broken leg thanks to Luke and I summoning a monster.

~:~

I woke up to the sound of the conch horn. Hastily, I got up, tripping over my blankets (to the amusement of several other Hermes kids) and grabbed my hairbrush, and quickly braiding my hair in a sloppy French braid.

"Ready?" Luke asked, his amusement plain as I threw him a dirty look and got behind him in the line, not getting a chance to glance at the newcomer.

My brother suddenly thought to me, making me jump a little.

Wow...I am dead last.

Well, Percy, you should learn not to be late, I teased him.

I felt his relief.

Did you hear what happened to Mom?

No...now shut up. I'm heading to dinner.

So am I, sis.

That's nice. I smirked as we left the cabin.

Yeah, technically I was disobeying Chiron's orders by following Luke to dinner. So what?

We got in line for the food; I picked my favorite, beef jerky with a side of grapes, as well as some yummy brisket.

Then I heard someone say, "You're supposed to sacrifice to the gods."

I threw all of my grapes in and prayed. Father...wherever you are, please claim me.

Then I moved to my seat at the overcrowded Hermes table. Catching Annabeth's eye, I nearly moved over there, but then I saw the newcomer and dropped my plate.

He was frozen, too.

"Percy?" I choked out. Luke looked smug.

Percy cleared his throat and walked towards me.

"Skye?" He asked slowly.

I nodded, speechless.

He set his plate near mine (the food had landed on my place, thank the gods) and then we embraced for the first time in six years.

Then we sat down and began to eat, silently conversing in our heads with each other.

~:~

Soon after dinner, Chiron pounded his hoof on the pavilion floor.

"Heroes! This Friday we will have Capture the Flag! Some cabins, such as the Athena and Hermes cabins, have made an alliance with another. Privileges have been traded, such as shower times and chores, to bring this alliance about. See your cabin counselor for more news about this week's game. And," Chiron added, "Skye, Percy, may I please see you?"

I looked at Luke, a bit confused.

He shrugged.

Everyone but Luke and Annabeth called me 'Skye' because 'Andromeda' was too long and Thalia was the only other one in our group to call me 'Meda'. Luke and Annabeth called me 'Meda' because it was a reminder of Thalia's sacrifice.

I stood up, Percy standing with me.

Chiron started walking away, Percy staying to the right of Chiron for some reason.

"What did you need to ask us?"

"Are you two twins?" he asked.

We looked at each other and said in unison,"Yeah."

Chiron went pale.

"It's arriving," he whispered. He dismissed us. I silently told Percy to go ahead of me.

"It's the Great Prophecy that's coming, isn't it?" I asked him, my voice low.

Chiron nodded. Annabeth and I knew the Great Prophecy.

"Chiron...who is Percy''s and my father?"

Chiron said nothing, only looking at me mournfully.

Like he was picking the colors for my shroud.