Disclaimer: I do not own Maximum Ride or Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Thank you.

"This is Cabin One," Nico said once we'd met up with him at the head of 12 cabins. "Cabin Two, beside it." Neither of these buildings resembled cabins in the slightest. We had a little shack in the mountains a short 5 minute flight away. It was ashes compared to these white marble columned monument size buildings. 'Cabin' One had lightning bolts flashing in the soft evening light, and Two had peacocks etched into the walls on either side of the door.

"The cabins all represent one of the 12 gods and goddesses that sit on the Olympian Council. Therefore, they have been decorated in ways that honor their patron."

"Like mascots for their teams?" the Gasman said.

"Told ya," Percy said to Annabeth as she sighed. I looked at them questioningly. "That's what I thought when I first heard about it. But's it's only slightly right. Those that stay in the cabins are all children of that god or goddess to which it belongs."

"Is that why some of them look empty?" asked Nudge.

Percy nodded, Nico tapped his foot, and Annabeth was biting her biting her lip, fighting some urge to say something. "There will be a lot more people here when summer comes back."

"So why are we in front of these two cabins?" Iggy asked, sounding bored, but there was a hint of genuine curiosity hidden underneath.

"Because this is my cabin," I said, my mouth going dry. "Cabin One is the cabin of Zeus. This is where I stay, since Zeus is my … father…" I felt Fang's eyes flick to me.

"I call a bed by a window!" Gazzy said, starting toward the door, but the three older demigods shouted and pulled him back.

"No one but children of Zeus should go in there," said Annabeth, going pale. "The Olympians are really territorial."

"But how are we supposed to sleep in there if we can't even go in there?" Gazzy asked.

"We can't, dummy," Nudge said, but there wasn't any real depth to her insult. She was resigned and quiet, a first for my motormouth Nudge. I focused on keeping my breath even as everyone's eyes fell on me. My heart sped up and adrenaline pumped into my veins. Five hands touched me, as if emphasizing the fact that in just a few short hours my family would be separated from me. That we wouldn't be together. That I would be left alone to face the nightmares.

"No," only a whisper escaped from my mouth, something inside me rising.

"What?" Annabeth asked.

I stood a little taller, made my face go blank, and said, louder this time, "No."

Percy, Nico, and Annabeth all took step back, I felt my hairs standing on end, and tried to breathe consistently.

"Max, calm down," Annabeth said gently.

"If you guys had just listened to me," Nico muttered. "Or better yet, just had let me handle this."

"Uh, why don't we go see the other cabins?" Percy suggested, just trying to distract me maybe, move us forward – speed up the inevitable. I took one glance at my family behind me. The younger ones perhaps didn't feel the entire weight of the situation. Perhaps they were young enough to not care, I simply hoped they kept their wits about them until I could figure something out – and I would figure something out. I cleared my throat.

"Let's go see these other Cabins," I said through clenched teeth.

Upon Annabeth's insisting that the ladies go first, she led us down the even side, or goddess side of the cabins. Things I learned during this tour: 1) Grass could grow on roofs; 2) Barbies have come to life; 3) some types of stone can glow in the dark; and, 4) some kids like to live in a library. Also, Annabeth is who to go to for facts. Seriously, she wouldn't shut up till we were outside the library one.

"That one belongs to Demeter, that's why there's grass on the roof and flowers in the windows." "Aphrodite, goddess of love, stay away if you don't want to be given a lecture on fashion." "Oh! This one's mine, or rather, Athena's."

A boys head popped out the door and tapped her on the shoulder. "Annabeth, we're waiting on you."

"Oh, uh, right," she said, glancing between us and her cabinmate – brother I guess. She turned to Percy. "Do you think you can take it from here?" He nodded and she waved and as she went inside Percy grimaced.

"Like I can't handle a tour of the cabins," he scoffed.

AN:

And thus quite possibly one of the shortest chapters of this story I've posted. But don't worry. I have much more headed your way. I just really wanted to get this out there and let you know that THERE IS MORE COMING. I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN.

On a side note, I have a bit of a question for you: I'm going to try and be as much of a listening author as I can. SO: Do you want to have each of the flocks different depictions of their first days at CHB or shall I just continue on in the way I have been?

Until next time,

~Jezi Raewin