Mercy

Chiron listened to our story without much expression. Once in awhile he'd tell us to continue with a gesture or nod, but he didn't seem to want to talk very much. If I had to classify him, I'd say he was the pondering type. Annabeth did most of the explaining, with Percy or Adam and I adding in some details we thought were significant enough to mention. When we finished, the old man said "I see." He wheeled himself from the table to get a closer look at us. There were laughter lines around his eyes, but there was also sadness there. Chiron addressed Adam and I. "And you are the only ones who know of this place?"

"Yes," I said, "my step-daughter and her boyfriend went back to the hotel before we followed these two-" I pointed sideways with a thumb at Percy and Annabeth. Adam growled under his breath when I mentioned Gabriel as Jesse's boyfriend. It didn't go unnoticed. The old man raised his brows.

"Is there something the matter?"
"No," Adam said as he regained his composure. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. "I just need to make a call, tell them that we're fine and we-"

"No!" shouted Percy and Annabeth at the same time. My husband and I stared at them. They gaped at the horror that was Adam's cellphone. I didn't get why- I mean the price tag was enough to make me cringe, but it was a pretty cool gadget that could do more than my work computer. I thought teenagers loved phones.

"What's wrong?" I asked.
"No cell phones," said Annabeth, holding out her hands as if to fend off an attack, "they send out a signal to every monster in the area and make it easier for them to spot us."
Adam pressed the lock button on the top of his cell and took out the battery for good measure. "I thought this place was air-tight with security barriers."
"We do have some protection from the outside world," said Chiron, "but the camp isn't invincible. Monsters have been known to enter."
"I'm sorry," said Annabeth. She shook her head. "I should have checked them, Chiron. It's my fault."

"It is alright, my dear," he said, giving her hand a pat. "At any rate, Adam, you cannot use electronic devices within the borders of this camp. Technology is something we have to do without."

Adam paced from one end of the room to the other. "Is there any way we could send a message?"

"You could Iris-message them," Percy offered, "you make a rainbow with some water and toss a golden drachma in, and if Iris or her apprentice isn't too busy, they'll patch you through."

I only got half of that. After Percy repeated himself and Annabeth translated, Adam ran his fingers through his disheveled hair.
"We need to talk with some of the wolves, as well," said Adam. "the Marrok will want to know about this place."
Percy cocked his head sideways like a confused puppy. "Marrok?"

"He's the leader of the wolves," I said, "The ones in North America, anyway. He's kind of like a second father to me." The first was Bryan, the wolf who took me in along with his wife Evelyn when my mother found out what I was. Mom loved me, but at the time she was sixteen and didn't have any idea how to raise a coyote-human hybrid. So Bryan agreed to raise me until the time of his death. Then I was sent over to Bran and lived under the Marrok's protection until living on my own.

Chiron scratched his chin.

"Werewolves in Camp Half-Blood," he murmured.

"We don't want to harm you or the campers," said Adam. "We just want to know more about you- and you can benefit from it as well. You said you had some holes in your defenses- I could help with that."

I put a hand on his shoulder blade. "Adam works at a high-tech security place. He knows what he's doing." I caught the smirk he gave me over his shoulder, but kept my focus on the old man in the wheelchair. Rachel had been lounging on one of the chairs in the background, listening to our story with intent as she examined one of the many paint stains on her pants. Her red hair reminded me of the Disney princess Merida, but this girl looked like she could take down the other in a fight. Or paint her to death.

"I think they should stay awhile," she said to Chiron. "I can't see everything, but I have this gut feeling we'll be needing them around." Before Chiron could answer, the discussion was cut short by labored breathing and what sounded like two coconuts tapping against one another.

"Hey Percy! Annabeth! I didn't get a chance to catch up to you when- oh!"

A young man came to a stop just inside the door. Well, sort of a man. I know it's impolite to stare, but it's not every day you find yourself looking down at a couple of goat legs attached to a human torso. Horns sprouted from the top of his head among curly locks, and when he saw me and Adam, he froze. The creature clopped its hoof once, stepping back as instinct kicked in. I could smell the fear radiating from him. "You're- a goat," I said.

"This is Grover," said Percy, "best friend and satyr."

"Satyr," said Adam. He looked more confused than anything, and since his eyes weren't golden I knew we were safe- as safe as we could be, anyway. Didn't seem to convince the goat-man.

Grover looked at my husband and let out a nervous "Blah-ah-ah". He even sounded like a goat. I fought the urge to walk over and take his horns in my hands, just to see how they felt. Percy gave him the shortened version of how we came here, but it didn't seem to make him feel any better.

"Wolves," he said with a visible shiver. I almost felt bad for the poor guy- goat. Chiron turned his wheelchair around so that he was face-to-face with him.

"We must call a meeting. Grover, find the other councilors and bring them here at once." The satyr was more than happy to find an excuse to leave. A flash of reddish-brown fur, and he was gone without so much as a 'goodbye'. "You'll have to forgive Grover," said Annabeth, "he's afraid of predators."

"He's afraid of pretty much everything," said Percy.
"No," said Rachel, "he loves food."
Annabeth nodded. "Especially soda cans and enchiladas." The three of them laughed.

After a minute or two of small talk ("So how's that venomous spider bite treating you?" "Did you see how so-and-so demolished the Ares guy in the lava pit?") the camp councilors started filing in. There was a big girl dressed in typical biker getup, with a mean snarl that could curdle milk. Next came twin boys with brown hair and sharp features that told me they would steal my lunch money if I wasn't careful. The Native American girl we had spoken to earlier- Piper, I remembered- came soon after. And Nico and Jason were there too, followed by a tan boy with surfer-blonde hair who was standing a little too close to Skull Shirt for them to be just friends. More arrived, and the last to come was this scrawny boy who looked like he had been woken up from a deep REM cycle. They all took their places around the ping pong table. Some looked alert. Others looked confused. All of them had that same golden smell.

The scent of demigods.

Just then, a growl came from the back of the room. The leopard head that I thought was just another wall decoration was moving.

It swiveled its head every which way, daring anyone to come close enough for it to bite. Adam and I exchanged a look. Demigods, goat-men, and live taxidermy- sure, why not? No one else seemed surprised by this. Without giving it a second glance, the big girl reached into a bag tucked under the table and pulled out a raw t-bone steak the size of her head. She chucked it across the room, right into the leopard's waiting jaws. It ate with enthusiasm. "Don't ask where the food goes out," said Percy as he leaned sideways for me to hear over the others, "You don't want to know."

"Thanks for the warning," I whispered back. As I spoke, Adam came to a stop beside me to wait for the campers to arrive. He slid a hand around my lower waist in a silent declaration: I was his. Typical alpha wolf crap. If there are any males present, he goes into defensive mode. Percy didn't even notice. The last of the campers filed in, and he took his place at the ping pong table along with the others. Chiron sat at the front where everyone could see him, and Adam and I stood near the door. If we were going by Native American customs, we were in the lowest-ranking position, the visitor's spot. Chiron was seated in the place of honor. The place of leadership. He waited for everyone to sit before he started talking.

"Now then, as you all know this is the first meeting we've had since the Prophecy of Seven has been fulfilled." This was met with nods, grunts, and fists pounding against the table. Chiron held up a hand, and the campers fell silent again. "Camp Half Blood has always been a safe haven for demigods to train and make friends-" he glanced over at us "-and as of today, we have become host to a different kind of guest." He gave the shortened version of our story. As he spoke, everyone turned to gawk at the werewolf and his coyote wife.

"Hold up," said the big girl dressed in biker clothes, "you mean they're staying?"
"For the time being," said Chiron. Judging by the tone in his voice, he was used to this girl throwing in her two-sense. "There is much that we can learn from them, and they us."
"It could give us another alliance," agreed Annabeth.
"I'm with Wise Girl on this," said Piper.

Biker Girl narrowed her eyes first at them, then us.

"My wolves and I can help you," Adam offered, "Set up a perimeter, stand watch. We're good with security." The two locked eyes, and I was sure that a brawl would happen if no one intervened. Percy must have thought so to, because he cleared his throat loud enough that she turned her wrath to him. She still addressed Adam.
"We have gotten on just fine without help from the outside," Biker Girl snapped, "especially without werewolves. Thanks but no thanks."
"They aren't all bad," said Jason, "you haven't met Lupa- and who knows? Maybe one day we'll need to team up with the wolves.
"Wha- wolves?" said the sleeping kid. He lifted his head to reveal a puddle of drool where he had been napping. Biker Girl slammed her fist on the table.
"Come on, Clovis! You're in a meeting- stay awake."
"But I was having such a good dream..." he was snoring before he could finish. I cleared my throat.
"Our friend will want to speak with you," I said to the old man, "learn about your camp- about your world. And I'm guessing you'd like to do the same."

Chiron nodded, his hand folded across his lap. "Yes, we would." He glanced at Biker Girl. "I am sorry, Clarisse, but we must speak with them further. This meeting isn't to debate whether or not they stay, but to inform you of their visit."

"Visitors, huh," said one of the twins. He scratched the underside of his chin. "And I suppose they'll be bunking in our cabin?"

"Oh no," said his brother. He turned to look at us. "Sorry, but we're filled to burst as it is-" then he looked to Chiron with a look that was somewhere between exhaustion and panic "-between the children of Hermes, all the newcomers pouring in, and a pack of wolves?"
"It can't be done," said his brother.
"It's okay," I said. Being a coyote, I was always used to travelling and learning to rough it- and Adam wasn't all that high maintenance. Aside from having to eat so much meat. "We can make do and sleep under the stars."
"I'm afraid not," said Chiron, "the cleaning harpies will eat anyone they find out after hours- nasty things, harpies, but they're excellent cleaners."
"Not very many stains fire can't get off," said Percy.

Annabeth shot him a look. "Wolves are a favorite of Artemis," she said to Chiron, "Maybe they could stay in cabin eight."

The other campers seemed to like the idea. Chiron considered. "Yes, that would work. Though I'd better send word to Thalia lest the hunters come for a visit." He gave us a rueful smile. "Wouldn't want them taking a pack of wolves by surprise."

Clarisse crossed her arms. "How do we know we can trust them?"
"I say they're cool," said Percy. He lifted his chin and stared the girl down, but she wasn't backing out. Both seemed to be equally dominant. Chiron looked at Percy with renewed interest.
"You will vouch for them?"
Without missing a beat Percy said "Yes."

"You know," said Jason, "where I'm from, someone who vouches puts their life on the line when speaking for a newcomer." He locked eyes with me. "This isn't a game we're playing- if you guys do something, both you and Percy will have to pay."

Clarisse took out a knife and used it to pick dirt from under her nails. "So they stay and everything's good," she said, "or something happens and I get to pound all three of you to dust."
After a moment she looked up from her handiwork to give Percy a wicked grin. "I'm in."
"Fine," said Percy.
"Fine," agreed Adam, "In exchange for protection and exchange of information, my wolves can enter the camp boundaries."

Chiron clapped his hands. "It has been decided. Mr. and Mrs. Hauptman will remain here while we make the arrangements. That will be all, councilors. Percy, Annabeth- since you were the ones who brought them here, I think it would be fitting that you give them a tour tomorrow and explain anything they might want to know. Annabeth, I give you my full vote of confidence. Percy- well, just follow Annabeth's lead. Now then, if I am correct it will be time to eat soon. Campers, to the dining area."

Everyone filed out of the Big House, whispering to one another about the weirdos who had just arrived. Chiron went to oversee dinner prep, and Rachel stood and left with a parting "See ya later!"

It was just the four of us again.

"Not to sound rude," said Adam low enough for only us to hear, "but why does it matter where we sleep?"
Percy spun in his chair to face us. He pressed his fingertips together like an evil genius, hooking one leg over the other. "The gods get offended real easy. One wrong move and you're lightning dust- or worse."
Annabeth rolled her eyes. "As eloquent of a description as that was- he's right. Gods aren't always- well, they can get pretty hot-tempered if you rub them the wrong way."
"It's what I always loved about mythology," I said, "it's like ancient gossip, except instead of dumping a cheater, you could curse them for all time."

"Basically," said Percy. Then his features sobered. "But sometimes, people who are punished don't deserve it." He blinked away the sadness in his eyes and replaced it with casual neutrality. "So you gotta be extra careful- like not sleeping in the wrong god's cabin."

"Each cabin is made to honor a certain god or goddess," said Annabeth as she held up a finger, "and the children of said god is assigned to their godly parent's cabin. But some cabins- like Hera or Artemis'- remain empty. They didn't sire any mortal children, so their cabin is just honorary."
"Because it would offend them if they didn't have one," guessed Adam.
"You got it," said Percy as he got up and stretched. Scratching the side of his face, he wandered over to where the leopard head was hung.
Adam scrubbed his face with his hands, then he looked at me in bewilderment. "And I thought you were enough of a handful."

"You're the one who married me," I quipped.

Suddenly there was a loud crash. Everyone jolted and whipped around to see Percy lying face-down on the floor with a considerable chunk missing from the seat of his pants. Just above him, the leopard chewed the bit of fabric in its mouth with a triumphant purr. In Percy's hand was another raw steak. Annabeth sheathed her knife. "Uh, Percy? What are you doing?"

Her boyfriend popped his head up from the other side of the table so that we could see his eyes. "I have... made some recent decisions that I now regret."
With a heavy sigh, Annabeth gave Adam a sideways look. "Trust me- when it comes to handfuls, I know exactly how you feel."

The four of us entered the dining pavilion just after dark. Tables set beside each other were arranged under a roofless structure that my history degree told me was authentic to ancient Greek culture. But no one was seated. Instead, the residents had gathered around a bonfire a little ways off that shot ten feet in the air. Every camper had filled their plates from an abundance of meats and fresh fruits. The smell was intoxicating. My stomach growled in response, making Adam chuckle under his breath. We watched as one by one, campers came forward and threw a part of their meal into the flames. The thickest steak, the ripest strawberry. Some were thrown without a second thought, but other campers would nod their head in reverence and say "Hestia" or "For Hermes".

"Offerings to the gods," said Annabeth by my side. The fire made her golden hair look like it was glowing. I thought the combinations of strange food pairings would make the fire smell horrible- you don't want to know what raw meat and fruit smell like when burned together- but this was...different. That golden smell I picked up on the demigods was amplified times twenty. It carried among the campers and out through the fields. It was a combination of magic and something much more ancient and primordial than fruit.

Percy and Annabeth led us to the plates. Adam chose meat as his primary source of nutrients, which makes sense. Having so much muscle mass and burning so many calories during shifts, werewolves have to gorge on protein. I leveled my plate with a little of everything, pausing at a small pile of blue chocolate-chip cookies.

"My favorite," said Percy with the enthusiasm of a kid in a candy shop. He loaded his plate until Annabeth took his free hand and urged him on. Balancing his plate on his palm, Adam slid his hand across my lower back and guided me forward as well. I raised a brow at him. "Being a bit paranoid, aren't we?"
He scanned over the crowd, keeping his voice so low that only a coyote could hear. "Teenage hormones. I could smell their arousal when you walked by."

I kept walking, ignoring the warmth at the base of my back. Adam was pack alpha. Werewolves are territorial by nature, but if you tried to come between the alpha and his mate, you were signing your own death warrant. The idea of being "owned" by a man was never my idea of fun, but when I realized being mate to Adam meant that I owned him as much as he did me, I started to accept my feelings for him. Knowing that we were both equals made me feel centered. If the roles were reversed, if there were a hoard of girls ogling my husband (which there have been) I would be just as defensive. So I let him keep his arm around me as we headed to the edge of the fire where our guides stood.

Annabeth plucked a chicken wing from her plate and tossed it in the heart of the fire. "Athena," she whispered.
Percy lifted one of the many blue cookies, and with a simple "Poseidon," he followed Annabeth's lead.
Adam and I shrugged our shoulders. I didn't know which god I should make my offering to, so I chose the biggest apple on my plate and said "To the gods."

"To the gods," said Adam as he threw his steak beside my apple. In a moment they were both sizzling to ashes. Once the offerings were made, we followed the rest of the campers to the pavilion. Some tables became crowded within moments, others remained empty save for one or two people. Looking at how the cabins and offerings went down, I'd guess seating arrangements had a certain order to them as well.

"Hey Percy," I said, "where should we sit?"

He paused for a moment or two, chewing the cookie he had started gnawing at the second he stepped away from the bonfire. "The Artemis table would be safest, since that's where you're staying." He directed with a hand to the empty table near the middle of the chaos. "I have to go to the Poseidon table, and Annabeth will be with her siblings at the Athena table. It's kind of a no-no to sit with campers from other cabins."

"Because it will offend the gods?"
"Yep."
Adam sighed. "Is there anything that doesn't set them off?"

Percy's smile said it all. He told us he'd catch us back at the bonfire for sing-alongs and scary stories. It appears that some aspects of being a summer camp still applied, even to demigod children who spend most of their time battling ancient monsters on behalf of the gods. I sat on one side of the table, with Adam on the opposite end. He alternated between taking massive bites of meat and staring down someone behind me. I rested my chin on my hands.

"Do you ever get tired?"

He paused from glaring at whatever poor kid drew his attention to look at me. "Of what?"
"Being the over-protective, cross-me-and-you'll-wish-you-were-never-born alpha type."
He took my hand. "Only when I'm with you."
I feigned shock, letting the bit of food on my fork drop. "I am an absolute pleasure!"
His chuckle sent a shiver up my spine. "You're something, alright."

We ate the rest of our diner, ignoring some of the looks and whispers directed our way. Word travels pretty fast, especially among the children of immortal gossips. Most of the faces were friendly enough, but everyone was sure to keep their distance from the werewolf and his coyote shifter wife. It felt like high school all over again. Percy and Annabeth's friends gave us variations of warm smiles, save for Nico who was too preoccupied arguing with the sandy-haired boy to pay us any attention. We were led back to the bonfire, whose flames started turning different colors as campers filled the seats next to the same people they sat with at diner. Annabeth explained that the height and hue of the fire changes to fit the mood of the campers. Tonight it was about seven feet and bright orange. Could have been higher, I thought, if we hadn't shown up. The campers didn't know just what to make of Adam or I, but we hadn't attacked them yet so we must not have made a huge negative impact.

The sandy-blonde boy, along with some others that looked like they could be his siblings, pulled out lyres and other instruments and led the group into song. These kids didn't sing kumbaya.

One song depicted how grandma puts on her armor, and another one involved pointing to various body parts and calling out what kind of armor goes where. Some were funnier, like I Am My Own Great Great Great Great Grandpa and This Land is Minos' Land. In between songs they would laugh and tell ghost stories, or talk about what monsters they had to fight off this year. It was pretty cool. I melted into the background and listened as the others talked and laughed together, remembering the good times and mourning the bad. I was about to ask who this guy named Beckendorf was when a horn sounded some distance off.

"That's the signal for bed," Annabeth explained. "The harpies will be out soon."

In confirmation of her statement, the others stood from their places, eating the last of their roasted marshmallows and chucking the sticks into the dying fire. It was too dark to see much in front of me. I had no clue where I was going, and had to rely on Adam's memory and Percy's knowledge of the camp to find our way to our sleeping arrangements in cabin eight. Artemis' cabin. I didn't get a good look at it, and was only aware of Percy saying goodnight and bumping into Adam once or twice as we felt around the dark room. Piper had dropped off some sleeping bags earlier, Percy told us. I'd thank her in the morning. Other than the threat of monsters, this felt like regular camping. Crickets chirped under the stars outside. Adam's shoes made deep thunking sounds on the wooden floor as he laid our bed out, and it was all I could do not to fall over and sleep right there. "Oh, no you don't."

He lifted me with ease and settled me into my sleeping back in one of the cots. I felt something cool beside my arm and shivered. He tucked me in further, kissing my forehead before laying in the cot next to mine. "Tomorrow, we'll send word to Jesse and Bran. Tell them what's happened, and have someone sent down here."

I mumbled in agreement.
"We should get ahold of Darryl and Warren too- I think he and Kyle were taking a trip somewhere nearby."

Another half-hearted sound that was bordering on a snore. A hand played with my hair, followed by another chuckle. "There's no talking to you when you're this far gone." Adam let out a sigh. "Alright, alright. I'll talk to you in the morning. I love you." The cot shifted under his weight. The sound of wings came from outside, followed by the smell of fire and ash. Must have been the harpies. Not that it mattered to me- I was just glad to be laying down and falling asleep. It was the deepest sleep I could remember having since before we left.

The sun had just started to rise when someone's scream woke me.