Hey everyone!
Sorry I have not updated for a while...with school starting I have been pretty busy. I am going to plan on updating at least once a week. Maybe over the weekend or on Monday, I am not sure yet. Please don't be upset if I fall behind a tad bit, I will do my best and I don't break my promises! (: Please read and review. Enjoy! (;
When I finally got off the train in Manhattan, I hailed a cab and drove to a giant hill.
"You sure about this?" the taxi driver asked when I said to stop here, "There's nothing." I nodded and tipped extra so he wouldn't get suspicious, only later thinking that he probably was suspicious about the extra tip. Oh well.
The taxi peeled away and I hiked up the hill. At the top I stood next to a giant pine tree—Thalia's tree. I looked out at the camp: Camp Half-Blood.
"Hey Caitlin," people called as I walked. I stopped by the Big House and told Chiron I was here, then made a beeline to my cabin. While unloading there was a knock at the door. When I opened it, Annabeth stood there. "Hey!" She gave me a giant hug.
"That was really fast; I barely got here."
"Word passed around pretty quickly that you were in," she said. I stepped out and closed the door. We walked around the green and volleyball pit, catching up.
"Any monster attacks?" I asked.
"About six at my dad's," she confessed. "What about you?"
"I think five, counting the one at the train station. What's happened here since I left?"
Her face darkened and she told how Luke tried to kill Percy. He was working for Kronos and was trying to raise him from Tartarus. She relayed the latest quest where Clarisse, Percy and his stepbrother Tyson—who happened to be a Cyclops—and her had traveled to the Sea of Monsters to save Thalia's poisoned pine tree. Grover had been in the clutches of the giant Polyphemus. They saved him and brought the Golden Fleece back to save the tree but it had worked a little too well.
"Thalia was found in the roots of the tree," she concluded.
"Can I meet her?" was the first thing that came out of my mouth.
"Sure." I turned to see a girl with electric blue eyes and spiked black hair standing with her arms crossed. The rips in her clothes and chains hanging from her neck were intimidating; I would have given her lots of space if I saw her anywhere else. "Thalia Grace, daughter of Zeus." She smirked as though the title should give her access to whatever she wanted.
"Caitlin Hancock, daughter of Hera," I replied, holding my chin up. Her eyebrows raised into her choppy bangs.
"Really? I heard Hera had a mortal child who was running around but I assumed that was a myth."
"Funny word to use, myth. Myths are real around here." She stared daggers at me and I held her gaze, daring her to break away first.
"I like her," she finally grinned. "Caitlin, you said? Glad to know there's somebody else who I can turn the attention to if ever I get in a pinch."
"And what's that supposed to mean?" I demanded. She nodded to Annabeth and stalked off. "Nice to meet you, too," I called after her. Thalia raised a hand in acknowledgement.
"Don't mind Thalia's attitude," Annabeth said reassuringly. "She's like that to just about everyone. Once you get to know her she'll open up more." When one of her brothers called her over I was left to wander around alone. While sitting beside the canoe lake someone pushed me in from behind. I came up spluttering and yelling.
"Perseus Jackson!" I yelled and he grinned down from the dock. Splashing him had no effect.
"Welcome back!"
"I don't need to get wet every time I arrive." He laughed as I hauled myself out of the lake, flopping like a fish out of water. We exchanged stories of the school year and I insisted on knowing every detail from the latest quest. It sounded terrifyingly amazing to me and I felt a slight twinge of envy that I hadn't gone on one quest yet. Time would permit, I suppose. I saw Clarisse with her cabin mates and she nodded in my direction. To annoy her I flashed a white-tooth smile and flirty wave.
Dinner was steak with sautéed mushrooms and mashed potatoes and gravy. I have to say that the kitchen naiads do a wonderful job with the food. At the bonfire that evening I sang along and roasted marshmallows, getting more of it on my face than in my mouth. When the conch horn sounded I headed to Cabin 2 and crawled into bed. This first day was much better than my last.