Author's Notes: Yeah, sorry to those who were expecting a chapter for FE:L today. Sorta didn't happen. Sadly, I'm running low on inspiration at the moment. I do, however, plan to get a chapter out next week. So hope for that. With that out of the way, let's get on with the main course.
Disclaimer: ...
Elfialtis' POV
I was surprised at how easily they accepted me. I expected to be asked more questions. But hey, I was never one to complain, so I definitely won't now.
"So, where is this camp?" Jacob's question broke through my thoughts.
We were in Samantha's van, technically the camp's van, headed towards the camp.
"Not too far from here." Samantha answered, fiddling with a necklace she was wearing. It sported six beads of different size and color. The middle, the biggest, depicted a hill with a statue in the middle. Under the statue were the letters SPQR.
"Isn't that the Athena Parthenos?" I asked, pointing at it.
She glanced at me, subconsciously gripping the bead in question.
"Yes. Why?" She asked.
"Simply thought it strange that SPQR would be coupled with a Greek statue." I answered.
"It's complicated. Chiron will explain." Samantha didn't take her eyes off the road this time.
Before I could answer, Birch leaned forward from where he and Jacob sat in the backseat.
"There it is." He said, pointing.
Following his finger, I gasped, even as prepared as I was.
Standing at the top of the hill stood an enormous statue, easily eclipsing anything near it in size. It depicted the Greek goddess Athena, holding Nike, the goddess of victory, in her palm, her other hand resting on her shield, Aegis.
"Your mother." I commented to Samantha.
"Yep." She seemed slightly pleased.
"So you have a giant statue of your mom in your front yard?" Jacob asked. "And that doesn't sound crazy to anyone else?"
"It's more complicated than that." Samantha parked the car beside the hill, and got out, the rest of us following.
"So, Birch explained most of it to me on the way here, but how do you keep monster's out?" Jacob asked.
"Magical border." Came the answer as we started up the hill.
"Oh..."
We reached the top of the hill, and I got my first look at the camp, which was a really loose term.
Many buildings stretched before us. There was a group arranged in a U formation, but many more beyond that one, arranged in rows across a plain. Every cabin was different. One was equipped with barbed wire. Another glowed like the moon. A third was encrusted with what seemed like seashells. A larger building dominated one side of this huge camp, with a dining pavilion situated next to it. Samantha led the way down the hill, headed straight for the much larger building. As we got closer, I spotted a person standing in the doorway. Well, standing was a relative term. He was stooped slightly, because from the waist down he had the body of a horse.
"Chiron." Samantha greeted as we got close.
"Is this him?" The centaur questioned, beckoning to Jacob.
"Yea." Samantha affirmed.
"Any trouble with monsters?" He asked.
"There were a couple of Laistrygonians when we got there, but these two handled it." She pointed her finger at me and Jacob. That's when Chiron turned his gaze to me.
"Yes. Who is this? Obviously a demigod, or else he wouldn't have made it across our border."
"Says his mother sent him to the camp."
"Interesting." Chiron rubbed his chin. "Your mother a goddess?" He asked me.
"No." I answered, a small smile once again appearing on my lips. If only they knew.
"Hmmmmm..." He turned back to Jacob. "Do you know why you're here?"
"Birch told me about the camp, and how people are usually brought here, but why was she sent to?" Jacob asked.
"You are the first person in five years not to be claimed by the time you turned fourteen." Chiron answered. He glanced at me, as though adding me to that as well.
"So?"
"The gods promised to do so after the Second Titan War, meaning you are the demigod that the gods broke their promise about. Now this may mean nothing. Perhaps they are growing forgetful again. But it may mean more as well..." He trailed off, clearly lost in thought.
"Okay, the-" Jacob started. He didn't get to finish his sentence.
At that moment, there was a flash of light, and eveyone shielded their eyes. When the light faded, A pair of twin torches floated above Jacob's head. He looked up, face full of shock as he watched the already fading symbol.
"Ah," Chiron exclaimed, "child of Hecate, goddess of magic and crossroads. Perfect."
"Definitely explains why he was so hard to track down." Birch agreed.
"Well, Birch, I want you to show Jacob to his cabin, introduce him to his new bunk mates. He'll need all the time he can get before Capture the Flag tonight. Meanwhile, Samantha, can you show this one around camp? Perhaps he'll be claimed at the bonfire tonight."
They both nodded, and our group of four separated.
"Follow me." Samantha ordered, leading the way around camp. She showed me the armory, as well as the stables, where someone was giving a lesson on riding Pegasi. She showed me the forest, which was always stocked with monsters, as well as the cabins, one for each god or goddess. She even told me about the oracle that they had, although we didn't meet her. She showed me the pavilion, as well as the beach. A couple of new editions, she noted, had been added. A Roman building had been constructed near the woods to house the romans when ever they visited, which was often noe that the Hecate and Hephestus cabins had constructed a type of portal between the camp and their city. We stopped for a break near the main cabins.
"Well, that's just about everything." She said. "Eventually you'll learn your way around."
"Thanks." I said.
"Look, its almost supper, and I need to make sure my cabin gets there on time. Could you hang around here until then?" She asked.
"Yeah, sure."
She thanked me, and left promptly. Turning, I spotted a small girl, around eight, kneeling in front of the fire pit. I approached, and noticed that she was actually tending to the flame that was there.
"Not many people come talk to me." The girl spoke. Her voice sounded...older, as though it didn't match the body. I looked closely at her.
"You're a goddess, aren't you?" I asked. I glanced at the flame. "Hestia?"
"Indeed." She answered. "You are right on both accounts." She stood, and turned to me.
"You will be claimed after Capture the Flag, tonight." She said. "Prepare yourself. From here, it'll only get harder, and only with friends will you succeed."
My eyes darkened, but before I could answer, she disappeared into the fire.
For a long time I stared into the flames, contemplating on what had just been revealed to me. A conch horn blowing tore me from my thoughts. I turned, and noticed many people of different ages all filing towards the dining pavilion, and I shook my head to clear the lingering thoughts.
Tonight, my mother would show who I was, and nothing would be the same.
End Notes: Well, that's that. As I stated last chapter, I'm accepting OCs. you can find the form on the previous chapter. Feel free to leave a review to tell me how I'm doing! R&R! RayTheZoroark Out!
Got It Memorized?
