Hi everybody! Thanks for continuing to read my story. I know that fist chapter was not the most exciting but it leads up to what happens now. This is more of a filler chapter but has a few important details. Please read and leave a review and if you have any suggestions I would love to hear them! Enjoy! :)
I ran up the hill to Camp Half-Blood, followed by a pack of black dogs with glistening red eyes and razor sharp fangs. I stumbled and Grover grabbed my hand and helped me up, but not before one of the dogs sank their fangs into my lower leg. I ripped free and felt something warm trickle down my leg. Looking down I saw blood gushing from my calf.
"Come on! When we get over the hill we'll be safe!" Grover pulled me up. We stumbled past a pine tree. Looking over my shoulder I saw the hell hounds pounce but they bounced back, like hitting an invisible beach ball. Exhausted and scared I tumbled down the hill and blacked out.
My view was foggy when I opened my eyes. I was resting in a bed with curtains pulled back, allowing sunlight to filter in. There was a man sitting at the end of the bed, someone standing by the door, and Grover looking out the window.
"Are you alright, my dear?" The man asked.
"I think so. Ouch!" I felt down my leg to where that hound had ripped the flesh off. There were layers of bandages.
"Try not to move too much. I am Chiron, camp activities coordinator," he introduced himself, holding out a hand. I shook it, that name ringing a bell.
"Chiron..." I looked at the man silently standing at the door. At first I thought I must have a concussion because eyes covered him from head to toe. The longer I stared the realization sank in that they were real. "You're supposed to be the centaur that trained heroes." After a week with Grover, traveling across the country with monsters on our tails, I was slowly beginning to accept Greek mythology as real and—whether I liked it or not—a part of my life.
"I still do," he replied.
"Right, sorry," I said not very apologetic. "If you really are Chiron, then where is your horse body?" I blurted out.
With an air of leveled patience he stood up. It was not a chair he had been sitting in, but a wheel chair. In his full centaur form his head brushed the ceiling. The top half was a man in his mid-forties, the bottom a white stallion. "You, Caitlin Hancock, are a demigod. Part Greek god, part human. Grover is a satyr that was sent on a mission to find demigods like you and bring them here, to Camp Half-Blood, as he has already informed you."
"Then those—Grover said they were hell hounds—can't get in here?" I asked, still skeptical.
"Yes. They are forbid to come into the camp borders, yet sometimes campers give them permission to enter. They feed on half-bloods like yourself."
"How do we fight them?"
"You learn to fight here; here you are safe."
At the word my heart longed to be back home where I never had any doubt about being safe and protected. "Speaking of safe, how did I get in this bed?" I had trouble recalling anything after passing the pine tree.
"You rolled down the hill, leaving a trail of blood in the grass," Grover said, crunching into an aluminum can. "Some campers from the Apollo cabin ran over and stopped the blood flow. Then Argus picked you up and brought you into the big house."
"Thanks," I told the silent man. He grunted and nodded.
"Any other questions?" Chiron asked me. I had a million, but didn't know where to start. I shook my head. "I need to get down to the archery fields. Grover, would you mind showing Caitlin around?"
"Wait," I called, "who is my mom?"
He paused with a hand on the door. "That I cannot say. Hopefully we will learn within shortly of your arrival." And with that Chiron left the room and I passed out once more.
Grover gave me something called ambrosia to eat, saying it would help my leg heal faster. The taste reminded me of s'mores my dad and I would make while camping. When I felt ready to get up Grover helped me stand, supporting most of my weight. It was a slow walk down the stairs with a bad leg. Once out on the porch I was able to see the whole camp. There were archery fields, where Chiron was teaching, a sword fighting arena, strawberry fields, an outdoor pavilion with tables, 12 cabins in a U shape, a climbing wall that was shaking and spouting lava, a canoe lake, sand dunes hiding a stretch of beach, and a fire pit.
I let Grover lead me around. I was on autopilot, head swiveling around to take in everything at once. This is not real, I kept telling myself. This is not real.
"This is the Hermes cabin," Grover said with a dramatic wave of his arms. It was wood with a caduceus over the door. There were a BUNCH of people in the cabin. "This is where the half-bloods that have not been claimed by their parent go." With a reassuring smile and squeeze of the hand Grover stepped into the sunlight and headed off, leaving me standing by myself in a room of strangers.
A boy who looked as though he should be in college came forward. He had an athletic frame, sandy hair and blue eyes. A scar drawn along the left of his face from eye to chin. He was very attractive but I brushed it away. This guy is how much older than you? I mentally chastised myself. He probably already has a girlfriend. It could never work anyways. "I'm Luke," he stuck out a hand. "This is cabin eleven, Hermes. He isn't picky about who stays here so any new, unclaimed or children of the minor gods are here. You eat with us, sleep with us, and do the activities with us."
"Are many people not claimed?" I asked, nervous of the answer.
"Not many. Most are claimed within a month of arriving." Noting my nervousness he smiled. "It doesn't happen often, though. Someone like you, I think you'll be one of the important gods." He showed me to a small space on the floor where I could sleep and put my things down. I sat down heavily and shrugged my backpack off, watching everyone else. The bell tolled for dinner and everyone marched out, me in the rear.
I followed suit, getting what I wanted and scraping a portion of it into the fire. Please tell me who you are, I thought as the smoke drifted upwards.
Luke sat beside me and explained the daily schedule. "Hey, don't worry about it, you'll be fine after a week or so. Just stay away from the Ares cabin," he nodded to a table seating several buff, scarred kids who spoke loudly while shoving their mouths with food.
After dinner people meandered to the bon fire. Luke had saved me a seat between him and two of his brothers who were introduced as Travis and Conner Stoll, who were identical twins. The flames shot 20 feet in the air, light colors roasting the first row of marshmallows.
Chiron stomped his hoof on the ground. "May I have everybody's attention? We have a new camper, Caitlin Hancock." He beckoned me to the front beside him. I limped up, regretting my decision. I felt awkward in front of all those eyes that were searching me; taking a read on me and thinking if I was a threat or not.
Suddenly there was a flash of bright light. When the darkness returned, people were muttering among themselves and pointing at me.
I glanced up and did a double take. Floating in the air above me was a white lotus flower, spinning and ablaze.
Chiron's brow furrowed with deep lines, his face seeming to age in a matter of seconds. He bent his front legs under him and everyone followed his example. I was completely lost until he announced, "All hail Caitlin Hancock, daughter of Hera. Queen of the heavens, goddess of marriage, lady of the peacocks."