I do not own PJO or HoO

Chapter 4

Claiming

The night is going to be a long one. I can taste it in the air. But not only that, I can feel it in my gut. It's the dread of waiting to be claimed.

You want to know the truth, but you want to savor the last moments you have to dream. Dream about your heritage, dream about the things you could have accomplished...my dreams could be crushed at any moment in time. I'm not exactly sure what I'm looking for, but I am scared of what I will discover. Who is my father? Who am I? Parentage can affect a person greatly. I am also curious to the powers I will have. Brooke told me about the abilities campers have when they have powerful parents, like...gods.

I follow the daughter of Nemesis to the arena-like structure. A small arena, that is. Steps encircle a blaze, and flags mark the different cabins. I reluctantly part with my friend to sit next to my new cabin. I can't wait to get out of here, I think. The ten of them are whispering to each other and giggling like a bunch of children. Except for the fact that children are whispering about something adorable. These teens are devising something against me. I can tell, just in the way that their eyebrows wiggle, and every once in a while they sneak a glance at me. Either they'll prank me or they're trying to scare me.

The fire blazes a bright orange color. The flames reach up in tendrils to meet the sky. The night is chilly, but with the combination of body heat and the warmth radiating from the campfire, the atmosphere reminds me of a bright spring day. I mention it to my cabin mates. "Isn't it a bit warm for winter in New York?"

They laugh. "The camp's enchanted so that we can train outside all year if we want. If we can use magic, we might as well." Then they resume their plans.

The Apollo cabin starts a sing-along. The warmth, the closeness of everyone, and the song make me dizzy. Chiron steps up and silences the others. He clears his throat. "As most of you know, two campers have arrived today; Sofi Lynch and Gary Hodge. Will everyone give a round of applause to these demigods for getting to camp without a satyr to protect them?" Most of the camp claps, but I realize that not many of them are here. I remember Brooke telling me about Percy and Annabeth being searched for.

"And another cheer for Gary's resourcefulness! He had the sense to run and contact camp immediately. He also recognized Sofi as a half-blood, and brought her to camp." I snort quietly. Had the sense to run? I remember clearly that he had refused to move, only stared at me confused and kept repeating, "I can't believe it," Still, the campers clap again.

"Neither of these two has been claimed. We are hopeful, however, that their godly parents will recognize them as soon as possible. In case you have not met them yet, please stand, Sofi and Gary." We both rise from our bleachers. When we sit down, I hear a loud farting noise and look around. It came from the now appalled Aphrodite cabin. The Hermes cabin is giggling like crazy, and some girls are staring daggers at us. So this is what they were planning... I try to lose myself in the songs.

We sing about Hercules and his feats of bravery, how he slayed the Nemean lion, the Lernean Hydra, how he got the hind of Artemis's deer, he brought the Erymantian boar back alive...how are we supposed to live up to these standards? Hercules was turned into a god.

The song goes on for a bit longer, until it stops abruptly in the middle of a verse. Everyone stares...at me? No. I turn around to see Gary surrounded by wind. It blows his hair around, and he almost hovers off of the ground. Above his head was a glowing ring that shows a gust of wind. Chiron kneels toward Gary, and the others follow suit. "Hail, Gary Hodge, son of Aeolus." He walks over to an empty seating area. He'll have his cabin all to himself, and I'll probably be stuck with these idiots!

A peculiar feeling sparks inside of me. It is like a warm, gentle tug. I close my eyes, and when I open them again halos of light emanate from my skin. The air around me becomes extremely hot, and I briefly wonder if I am feverish, but that wouldn't explain the light. Again Chiron kneels, but this time to me. "Hail, Sofi Lynch, daughter of Apollo." Thank you, Father, I pray silently.

I head over to the cluster of now now excited children of Apollo who clap me on the back in congratulations. "Welcome," a girl says, grinning.

Sorry about the shortness...especially compared to last chapter. Please review!

Thanks again to everyone who read this chapter.