The Orphan
Chapter 2

Ten Years Later

The Orphan

No wonder I had never been claimed. I was ten, but had lived with the Aphrodite cabin until I was seven, then in Hermes waiting to be claimed. I finally had been there long enough to have a bed of my own, after sleeping on the floor for a couple of years, and Luke, our Senior Counselor, well, he was great. He worked with me on sword and bow work until I was probably a little better than average for the camp, certainly for my age and size, but still, as demi gods go, I was mediocre. I was convinced my mediocrity was why I remained unclaimed. What god would bother claiming a loser?

Still life at Hermes was pretty good. My room mates, the Stoll brothers, were hysterical and were constantly pranking everyone in the camp. And maybe I would get claimed tonight! I would have my first game of capture the flag, now that I was old enough, and afterwards there would be a campfire, so maybe if I did well, then I would finally be claimed. Who knows?

We were one of several cabins going up against Ares and others. Their team would be led by Clarisse, who was probably the meanest girl ever. Ours would be led by Annabeth who had been at camp as long as me, well almost. She came with Luke a few years ago, was claimed by Athena immediately and was the best at everything, especially swords and hand to hand combat. Luke and Annabeth were the best of friends, so I got along with her just fine. She was really pretty, but, well I was ten and didn't really care about romance. This alone marked me as not Aphrodite's child. Still Annabeth and Luke had taken me under wing and the day before helped me find armor that sort of fitted and a short sword to carry as well from the Athena armory. None of the helms would fit, they were all too large, so I was advised to try to not get hit in the head if I didn't want any scars. I reminded them I already had one on my forehead and we all got a laugh about it. My lightening bolt scar had almost earned me a few other nicknames over the years, but the Aphrodite girls called me "Rue" and that was what counted.

The only unknown factor in the game was this new kid who had killed the Minotaur a couple nights before and was fresh out of the infirmary. He had already pissed off the Ares cabin by making the toilets explode in their faces. No one knew what to make of this Jackson kid. He was Annabeth's age, maybe twelve or thirteen, I don't know, and he was well on his way to being yet another camper claimed by their godly parent before me, and I was practically born there.

I think Chiron thought I was a child of Hecate. He had given me a wand and spell book, and had me practice a few spells, "protecto totalum" and "Stupify", those two I was getting the hang of as they seemed to have some effects when I used them at the archery range. Chiron had me practice them when no one else was around, and I was only allowed to read the spell book at the big house, again in private. I know everyone thought of me as the teacher's pet, but I had no other school and lived year round, so it was only natural that Chiron spent a lot of time training me, not just as a demigod, but my regular school work as well. For the last year he had been spending much of this time during the week at a mortal school, well, until the Jackson kid arrived, but the last few days I was studying math, history, science, lit and grammar again, all day. Then combat training, and then, if I was lucky, dinner. Everyone else was out of school for the year, but not Reubeus. Or "Rue" as the Aphrodite girls still called me.

The day started with cleaning our cabin, which we did poorly. No one really cared, as the Stoll brothers picked a different cabin each day to mess up during breakfast and before inspection, so we wouldn't be the ones with extra chores. It was a good system and had kept us out of KP duty or cleaning the pegasus stables since the summer started. Still it was bound to fail and I only hoped my young age would keep from doing something really horrible as far as duty went. Today was that day, but I was rescued by school. While we were eating Annabeth came by our table to talk to Luke about the game that night and told me Chiron wanted me after breakfast at the big house for class.

Ugh. Everyone else had been out of school and was enjoying camp. Not Reubus. Not Mr Mediocre. No, I had to conjugate fractions or multiply verbs or something. Probably all. Summer. Long.

An elbow hit me in my side gently as someone whispered "Who is that?"

I turned and saw the new kid who was staying with us for the time being.

"That's Annabeth, she's with Athena, head counselor over there. Her and Luke are tight."

"She was there when I woke up in the infirmary. Her and my friend Grover. She told me I drooled in my sleep."

"Well, that's weird. Even by Camp Half Blood standards. I'm Reubeus, but everyone calls me 'Rue'" I said as I extended my hand to shake.

He took it and said "Percy Jackson. So you're a child of Hermes?"

"Don't know. I've never been claimed. Until I am, I stay with Hermes, like you."

"Oh, I figured since you had a cot..."

"Oh, no, I've just been in camp since I was born basically. As other Herme's kids grew up and moved on, or got killed, I moved up in seniority, even though I'm unclaimed. It irritated the guys that have been claimed that don't have cots yet, but, uh, well, I don't want to give up my cot. I slept on the floor three years." I grinned.

"Huh. Is that unusual, going that long?"

"I'm an anomaly. The only way they know I'm a demigod is that I can actually be here. If I were mortal it would look like an empty field to me. No, I have the record for being unclaimed. I figure its because I've never done anything worthy of being claimed. I don't know. Its kind of depressing."

"Sorry I brought it up."

He seemed to really feel bad about it and that sucked. "No don't be sorry. I'm sure I will be. A lot don't get claimed until they are eleven or twelve, or even thirteen. I'm just ten, well, almost eleven. And tonight is my first capture the flag game. Maybe if I can really stand out, I will be. Its nothing to be sad about. My mortal parent died when I was a few weeks old, and, well, I've been here every since" I smiled.

We talked a bit and Percy was a really okay guy. I was glad he would be on our team that night, unless he got claimed during the day by one of the gods whose children were on the other side. I over heard Annabeth and Luke working him into the game plan so I hoped he would be with us, or that plan was shot and Annabeth hated it when her plans didn't work.

After breakfast, and the usual announcements I went to the big house for school. I was going to mention to Chiron that no one else had to do lessons in the summer, but I had been doing so for five years, year round, non stop, but today he was in a weird mood and school was, well, canceled basically.

"Rue, how long have you been with us?" He asked gently.

"Uh, since I was born basically, ten years."

"And you have a birthday coming up?"

"Yes, I will be eleven, so yeah, ten years and"

"Are you happy here?"

"What? Well yes, of course. Its the only home I have, and I think I get along with everyone, why?"

"Have you wondered why you have not been claimed?"

"Yes, but tonight is my first real competition, and I'm hoping that"

"No, nothing like that will happen tonight Rue. You are nearly eleven, and it is time for you to learn certain things."

And then he told me.