I don't own Percy Jackson and the Olympians

1: First Day Home

Struggling up the hill at a crawl to the safety I can only hope is there my body continues to grow weaker and the fear that I may not survive creeps back in. I haven't felt this fear in a long time. I thought I had learned how to survive, but I guess someone just really wants me dead. As the blood continues to flow from the open wound that starts at my mid thigh and goes up to the bottom rib on my right side I reach the top of the hill barely aware of the tree standing proudly right next to my pathetic figure.

It seems cruel that the night of my death should be so beautiful. The warm air of late spring on my skin is soothing in the face of my imminent demise. But then I notice a building with its lights on. But with my rapidly draining energy I can tell much more than that let alone pursue assistance from its residents. As I lost all hope and consciousness faded I made one final note. Footsteps…coming towards me? It was too much to hope for that someone might save me, but I found myself hoping anyway. And with that final prayer to any god who might be listening unconsciousness enraptured my body and mind.

And to my surprise… I awoke.

The first thing I noticed about the room I woke up in was the smell. Fresh strawberries. I thought it odd at first but reminded myself that I live in a world of completely abnormal circumstance. I heard a light thud as someone set something on a table somewhere to the right of me. Whoever was in the room with me must have saved me but that didn't mean they couldn't turn right around and kill me. So I decided I would proceed with caution. I opened my right eye slightly to see who was there.

It was a girl around, the age of 14 if I'm not mistaken. Soft brown hair, green eyes, tan skin, and an athletic figure. She was pouring some drink in a glass of ice. I opened both my eyes completely to get a better look but as I did she turned and I was caught. Not seeing any sense in trying to hide it I decided now was the best opportunity to make any observation I could. I was in a small room with one window which at the moment was the only source of light though I did note a light imbedded in the ceiling. There was one door, a small night stand, the old fashion wooden chair the girl was sitting on, and the bed I was laying on. The bed had plain white sheets and wooden frame. In fact everything was made of wood, building and all.

I was taken from my thoughts by a "How are you feeling?" from the girl.

I turned to her debating on whether or not she was going to attack me later. I decided that either way it wouldn't change my answer to her question. "Well enough."

At this her expression changed to one of confusion. "Well enough for what?" she asked.

"To survive," I answered simply.

She smiled. It seemed genuine. Not like a 'we'll see' kind of smile that is. And she said "I should hope so. I've been nursing you back to health all day," with a small laugh. I smiled a little and she handed me the glass of what she had been pouring.

Turning serious again I asked "What's this?"

"Nectar" she replied resealing the bottle from which she had poured it.

I became skeptical. Why would she just give me a godly drink? How did she know I would even survive it's effects? So I asked "Why?"

She responded, eye brow raised as if the answer were obvious "It'll make you feel better." Not sure if I could trust her I tentatively took a sip. The flavor was indescribable and in my pleasure I forgot my fears and cleaned out the glass ice cubes and all. I then became aware of laughter from the girl. I looked at her questioningly. Between her spurts of laughter she said "Well you seemed to enjoy that."

I rolled my eyes and said "Yes, quite," which only added to her laughter. "Where are we?" I asked.

Her laughter dying down she answered with "The Big House of Camp Half-Blood."

I was stunned for a moment. Then as I accepted what she had said I relaxed. My shoulders sank and I let my head fall back on the pillow before saying "I made it then," and a smile spread across my face.

"Congratulations" the girl said wearing her own smile for me.

"What's your name?" I asked.

"Brittany" she replied.

"Well," I said sitting up so I could rest my back on the head board of the bed, "I'd like to thank you Brittany for reviving me." I stuck out my hand.

She shook it and asked "What's your name?"

"Jason" I said.

"Well Jason it's good to meet you," she said releasing my hand. And with that I swung my legs out of bed to discover I was wearing pants other than my torn and bloody jeans and no shirt. The sudden movement caused me to feel light headed which Brittany must have noticed because she then asked, "Where do you think you're going?"

"Check out my new home," I replied.

She then said, "Oh no you're not. You've lost a lot of blood you're not ready to go anywhere."

I said, "You're kidding yourself if you think you're keeping me here. I'm way too ADHD for that."

"All half-bloods have ADHD," she countered.

"So you understand. Look you can either help me up or watch me struggle but you can't stop me from trying," I said while trying to maintain my sitting position on the bed.

She let out a small snicker before saying "Fine," and helping me to stand and get stable.

We walked through the "Big House" and found our way outside where I was greeted by the most spectacular sight I had yet experienced. Volleyball courts, strawberry fields, rock wall, Pegasus stables, amphitheater, sword arena and even a lake. This place literally had everything. I haven't even mentioned the like twenty cabins, archery range, pavilion and forest. Brittany appeared to enjoy watching me marvel at everything because as she did so she began to laugh lightly. "Come on you need to talk to Chiron. He's probably down at the archery range," she said pulling me in that direction by the arm.

When we got there, there was a group of kids watching the centaur teacher himself pegging bull's-eyes from fifty feet out. We waited for him to finish teaching then we walked over to him. When he saw us coming he trotted over and said, "Well hello. I was just about to come check on you. How are you feeling?"

"I'm a little tired and a little hungry but I'm mostly just excited I alive and I'm safe and I thank you for extending to me your hospitality in my time of need," I said.

This caused him to chuckle. "It is my pleasure to assist you but your thanks are better spent on Miss Jackson here," he said gesturing to Brittany. "She found you and nursed you back to health."

I turned to her and said "Then I thank you twice over, and would be honored if you would show me around camp." I was acting quite different from how I would normally act, but in wanted to extend my gratitude and respect to the both of them. I guess it's just that I finally felt safe.

Brittany giggled and said, "If it's alright with Chiron."

"Of course," he said "I must get back to my students so I will see the both of you at lunch," and he trotted back to his lesson.

Once he was gone Brittany asked "What was that all about?"

"What?" I asked.

"You and your respectful behavior," she said.

I shrugged and said, "I've never had anyone to respect before."

After that she didn't bring it up again. She showed me around camp and explained the cabin and dining arrangements. I'd be sleeping and eating with the Hermes cabin until I was claimed which should be soon Brittany said. She said all demigods were supposed to be claimed by age thirteen but since I'm fourteen and just got here she said I'd probably be claimed by dinner. I was going to ask her about her godly parent but before I got the chance she changed the subject.

We continued the tour until we got to the sword arena. Upon arrival we were greeted by the sight of a dark haired man training with what I assumed to be the Ares cabin. It appeared to be a two on one battle with two Ares kids that looked around seventeen fighting a middle aged man. I thought it seemed unfair until I realized just how skilled the man was. He gracefully evaded an attack by one of the boys while blocking the other with his sword. The man didn't appear to be trying to hit the boys, just dodge and block. I was confused if they were fighting shouldn't he be trying to win? But what happened nest really confused me. The man caught one boys sword in his hand while disarming the other.

"Show-off," Brittany muttered.

"Who is that?" I asked.

She sighed and said "My dad, come on you should meet him."

The man was dumping water over his head when he saw us walking over and said "Hey Brittany, who's this?"

"Hey dad this is Jason he came in last night," she replied.

"Good to meet you," he said extending his hand for me to shake.

I took his hand and said, "Likewise Mr. …"

"Jackson, but please call me Percy," he said.

I was stunned but only for a moment. This was the Percy Jackson, slayer of Kronos. I assumed he was one of those people that would rather not have people worshiping him seeing as how he declined godhood, but I had to ask "Destroyer of Kronos, right?"

"That's what they tell me anyway," he said. "Do you know who your god parent is?"

"No," I replied.

"How old are you?" he asked.

"Fourteen." This seemed to anger him slightly.

"I'll have to make the gods aware they are breaking their oath," he said mostly to himself.

"Dad I'm sure he'll be claimed soon," Brittany tried to assure him.

I wanted to talk more but at that moment the horn for lunch sounded and we were forced to part ways. Brittany went and sat with her father at the Poseidon table and I went to go join the Hermes table. On my way I realized that Brittany must be the daughter of Percy and Annabeth, two of the greatest hero's to ever live. I'd expected someone like that to be more… arrogant? But she was nice and funny and smart and well…normal.

I arrived at my table where I was introduced to everyone by Conner and Travis Stoll. The food was good and it was the first meal I'd had where I actually interacted with others. In fact it was the first meal where I had actually eaten with someone since I left the orphanage. It was fun. We laughed and joked until we were full from eating and then we left. I followed them to their next activity which was canoeing. I went through the day with them until we got a break from our training at which time most of them dispersed in to separate groups.

I didn't know what to do so I went to the arena even though we weren't scheduled to train there until tomorrow morning. When I arrived I found Percy training some younger kids though I couldn't determine what cabin they were. Then I noticed Brittany at the back of the arena hacking away at some dummies. I decided to walk over there. On my way I noticed the finesse in her movements. Her style reminded me much of her fathers. It was clear she was well trained.

When she saw me walking towards her she stopped mid-stroke and smiled at me. She was slightly sweaty from training and her hair which was down before was now up in a pony tail. "Hey," she said.

"What's up?" I asked.

"Training," she replied. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing, I've got break right now. Mind if I join you?" I say.

"Sure I'll give you a little training before your sword lesson," she said with a grin. I picked up a sword. It felt a little light in my hand but I figured it would do for now. We began a light duel. "What do you think of camp so far?" she asked.

"It's fantastic. I finally found a place where I fit although I suppose a lot of campers say that," I said parrying an overhead strike.

"Yeah, this is really the only place a half-blood belongs," she said with a sigh.

"But your parents make you different from the rest, doesn't it." It was a statement. I knew that everybody must love her parents which makes her more isolated than everybody else. She has a lot to live up to.

"No, it doesn't make me different!" she said while launching a particularly powerful strike that sent my sword skirting across the ground. "Everyone thinks I'm supposed to be like this model hero but I'm just like the rest of them!"

"That's what I meant," I said carefully. She was panting trying to regain her composure. I decided to take this opportunity to make peace by saying "How 'bout I just treat you like the only friend I've had in years?"

She smiled and said "That'll work."

I smiled back and said "It's the least I can do after you revived me, now teach me how to use this hunk of metal you call a weapon."

"Hey, swords are the best weapon ever invented," she said in mock offence.

"Not my style," I said. "I prefer something longer and lighter."

"Yeah, you look like a spear kinda guy" she said wearing a thoughtful look. "Unfortunately that's not my forte."

"Oh well then, teach me to sword fight," I said. And she did and it was fun. We laughed and joked and I actually learned a lot. She was an excellent sword fighter, and she said she got it from her dad giving her personal lessons since she could walk. We fought until the dinner horn sounded and we realized just how hungry we were.

Dinner was quite similar to lunch except Chiron decided it would be a good time to announce my arrival. Everyone looked at me expectantly. Nothing happened. After a moment Chiron continued his announcements. There was a capture the flag game on Friday. Two days and we all run at each other with weapons and try to steal our opponents banner. That sounded like fun.

That night I was finally given the opportunity to sleep peacefully but that almost never happens. For any demigod I mean, not just me. We always have horrific foreboding dreams, and the comfy bed didn't even help as I fell hard in to the worst dream I had ever experienced.