Chapter 5 - Welcome to Camp Half-Blood: A Place Where Things Get Weird

"What's the meaning of this?"

I turned to the source of the voice. My jaw dropped as soon as I laid my eyes on the speaker. From the tip of his hair to his waist, he is man of about 30 to 40 years. From the waist to the very tip of his toenail no...not toenail, it's hoof, he is a horse. No kidding! He is a human-horse hybrid! My eyes moved up and down, trying to register what they are seeing. My mind raced. The triplets always recounted the tales about the Greeks to me ever since I was a child. They always tell me that someday, the stories they kept retelling will help me. And I definitely need them...NOW!

My mind worked double time. What do you call those humans that are half-horses? Centers. Canters. Ah! Centaurs! Wait...a CENTAUR? My eyes looked at him from top to hoof, unable to register what I am seeing. I let go off Clarisse and stood up, clearly confused.

"Oh no no no no!" I said. " I think I'm getting crazy. First, the vampire girls. Then, this demigod business. Then, those reptiles monsters. Then, this? A half-human, half-horse? A centaur? Who are you, people? Are you even real?"

I might sound insane or ridiculous even though I already have my answers, but I was TOTALLY having a hard time processing everything. I need assurance alright. I want to be sure I'm not going crazy, or dreaming, or even hit my head with everything I am seeing. Cut me some slack, okay?

"If you can see us, Miss-whoever-you-are, in a way that is quite ummm...insane? Weird? Whatever you want to call it. Then, I assure you that you're not getting crazy. You're perfectly normal. Normal in a uhhh... in a godly way."

I looked at the speaker and gasped in shock. He is a Caucasian wispy bearded guy who is a bit shorter than me. He has brown curly hair and brown eyes. Out of his crumple of curly hair, small horns stuck out. He wore a orange shirt beneath his armor and a reed pipe hung at a cord around his neck. From the waist up he is human just like the centaur guy, but waist down, he has hairy goat legs. I stared at him, unable to speak.

"If you're wondering what I am, I'm a satyr. And please, stop the 'I think I'm really getting crazy' craze 'cause I'm telling you AGAIN you're NOT getting crazy. You're perfectly absolutely normal IN a godly manner." He said.

I pulled my jaw up and calmed myself. My hand gripped tightly on the hilt of my sword."Alright. Alright. I'll stop. Just...just help me clear things out. Who are you people? And where...where is this camp of half-bloods? I was kinda lost when I was chased by those dragon-looking monsters." I asked.

The centaur guy walked toward me, his eyes studying me."I'm Chiron, the activities director and this is Grover." He nodded in the direction of the satyr boy. "And these people around you-" He swept his hand around. "Are half-bloods most commonly known as demigods, children of gods and humans."

He then, focused his eyes on me. "And just over this hill is the camp you're seeking for. Camp Half-Blood, the camp of half-bloods."

I swallowed, feeling happy and nervous at the same time. So...I'm really here. Finally...the place. The place where I really belong to.

"Wait Chiron!" All eyes flew toward Clarisse. She looked at me with disturbed eyes. "She isn't a demigod. She's there with me when I encountered the empousai. She was able to see through the Mist but the empousai didn't attack her and just regarded her as an ordinary human."

Everyone looked at me with confusion, murmuring at each another.

"But if that's the case, then why did the drakons chase her around?" One of the demigods asked. He was a tall and handsome guy the same age I was. He has jet black hair and bright sea green eyes. He is very fit, muscular, and lean and has a tattoo of a trident and SPQR on his arm.

"It's because of the Mist. The Mist is very strong around her, obscuring her demigod presence completely from monsters and us. Well, I supposed it was strong before. Now, it's fading slowly." A dark-skinned girl with shoulder length curly cinnamon hair and gold eyes answered. Just like the guy before, she has a SPQR tattoo but instead of a trident, a glyph was tattooed on her arm.

"Hazel's right. Though, the Mist still clung on her strongly. I wonder why the Mist is very thick on her." Grover said. He looked at me as if I was an interesting specimen.

"Answers will come the next days. I supposed we had enough questions for one night. And, I guessed our newcomer is quite exhausted. Connor, Travis," A twin of trouble-looking guys looked up. "Please, prepare a place in Cabin #11 for our newcomer to stay in, well, until she is claimed." The two boys nodded and ran off toward the camp.

"Everyone, please return to your cabins. It's already past 11:00 pm. Anyone who would lag behind, well, be sure not to end up into harpy dinner."

A series of disappointed groans and mutterings as the campers departed, leaving Chiron and Grover with me. I gave Chiron a puzzled look. "Harpies?" I asked.

"It's too late for a orientation. Tomorrow will do. Come, let us go to your cabin. You had quite a night."

I followed Chiron and Grover out of the woods and down to the hill toward the camp. They led me past a number of cabins - each having an unique exterior and numbering on their own - and toward the front of the oldest and most worn-out-looking cabin. Its dull brown paint is chipping off and a caduceus hung above the door. A number 11 hung above the door and a caduceus on the door itself. We stopped on the porch.

"This is Cabin #11. This cabin was built in honor of Hermes, the messenger god. All newcomers who aren't yet claimed like you stay here since Hermes is also the god of travelers. Until your godly parent claimed you, you will stay here with the Hermes kids. But, don't worry, claiming does not take long. Well, it takes long many years ago but that's another story. Anyway, claiming happens the moment a demigod arrived in camp or during the bonfire. In case, well...I guess, it's just a guess mind you, you will be claimed tomorrow or if your godly parent's in the mood, tonight."

"Tonight?" I repeated.

"Yeah. Any moment now. We just need to wait."

A few minutes passed and nothing happened. We just stood there like complete idiots.

"Ummm...How long should we wait here?" I asked.

"Honestly, I have no idea. Claiming happens anytime. And, as far as I know, there's no such thing as godly traffic."

"Right..."

"Well, we just need to wait for the gods to be in the mood and all. And while we're doing that, we need to let the night pass. So, you'll be staying in this cabin til' you're claimed. In case you were claimed within the night, just go out and scream OH MY ZEUS! MY GODLY PARENT CLAIMED ME! I AM A CHILD OF INSERT GOD'S NAME HERE! DIRECTOR CHIRON DUDE! WHERE'S MY CABIN? ASDFGHJKL. Like that. Got it?"

I nodded.

"Good. Now I'm off. Remember just scream if your godly parent claimed you, alright?"

"Yeah..."

"That's a good girl. Bye for now. Good night!" He began walking away but stopped and turned. "Oh yeah. Hermes is also the god of thieves. Keep an eye on your belongings especially your wallet. Ciao!"

I watched him walked away and disappeared at sight. I turned to the door.

Dear me. I watched one of my friends fought donkey vampire girls. I learned I'm a daughter of a Greek goddess. I was chased by those what did they call them? Drakons? And now, I'm going to spend the night in the cabin of the children of the god of thieves.

Right...I really am crazed. I guess I need to call a mental institution as soon as possible. For all I know, I'll be seeing flying pigs and the ground and sky in switched positions. But for now, I need to get used to this. Get claimed and know who are my real parents and (I hope) live a normal life which absolutely impossible now.

I was about to knock when the door opened and arms yanked me inside as music blared and lights blinded me.