PERCY POV
Hecate finally finished tying the barrier together. A shimmer of multicolored light covered the area in a huge dome including a large sprawling part of the forest and even some of a lake situated nearby. A majority of the cabins had finally been finished, now only the Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, and Iris cabins were in need of the last few design touches. I watched as Hecate tied the source of the shield to a pillar of marble I had moved to the middle of camp. It gleamed with power and suddenly dimmed back to the normal gleam of marble under the sun.
She huffed, "That should do it!
I smiled, "Thank you so much, Hecate. This couldn't have been done without you." I said patting her shoulder.
"For once I am getting some respect!" She cried dramatically, grinning at me.
I laughed, "Yeah, yeah. Save your melodramatics for when they need a theatre/theater god!"
She pouted slightly, "Your no fun!"
I chuckled, "Alright, alright. Anyway I have some stuff I need to work on, so I gotta go."
"Alright Percy, if you need some help, just call." She said, and flashed away.
I stretched and walked towards the Poseidon cabin. I walked inside and ran my hand over the walls feeling the texture if the wood, how the cabin smelled of the sea, and the salt-water fountain flowed smoothly. In truth, I couldn't have been happier with the results. The cabins were looking great and were perfectly serviceable. The gods had done what they could to make the camp a good facility. Dummies, shields, swords, knives, weapons and armor, pretty much anything we needed to arm a person for a battle was available.
But then again there was the problem of finding demigods and bringing them here. I asked Pan, who was still around, whether he could help with the satyrs, and he nodded, but they were yet to bring any demigods to camp. I had also asked Zeus about Chiron and whether or not he could join me at the camp. Hermes got the message to him and Chiron had decided to come, to at least check the camp out. The minor gods would visit from time to time, and inquire about the state of things.
"Not much going on, truth be told." I would always murmur.
The aurae and nymphs were practicing cooking, and I had to be the taste tester. Although, I had to say, it was not bad at all. Except for a few occasions in which they tried to feed me pure cellulose sugar, or whatever it was plants eat, the food was nice, and definitely edible. I had to do the dish-washing myself, it wasn't too hard, even with the lava. It was a great thing, except the nymphs and spirits always argued over serving me.
Then one day I heard it the sound of hooves on wood. I yawned and stretched , getting out of my bed.
"The satyrs are early I thought they were going to be here in a few days..." I murmured going to the basin and splashing some water on my face. I used my powers to dry off and stepped downstairs into the "living room" area of the Big house. I shifted into some jeans and a t-shirt under my cloak, too drowsy to care if it was ahead of its time.
"Sorry," I mumbled, "I was going to sleep in today, I wasn't expecting any...one..." I trailed off as I looked up.
Chiron was standing there, inspecting the drawers that were empty and the craftsmanship. He looked up surprised when he saw me. He looked younger, but just the same. His eyes hadn't acquired that look of pain, a millennium of loss and victory. A millennium of pain and pleasure. Of being alive. Otherwise, he was looking at me when I had first stepped into his classroom. Surprised.
"Chiron?" I said, shocked.
"Um...yes, I am, I assume you are Percy?" He said holding out his hand.
I grasped his forearm, still shocked. I realized just what I had been thrust into for the next few hundred years. Chiron always had a wistful look, like he was remembering a good time, and even then there was a certain pain in his eyes. I knew that maybe one day, even a day from today or a thousand years later, my eyes would acquire that same look. Living and starting to get tired of it.
I shook off the thoughts and smiled, "A pleasure to meet you. I wanted to see if you could help me train heroes, not that we have many yet, but it will come in time, I am sure."
He gave me a small smile, "I have seen what you have constructed, it is amazing, and all this for the 'next generation' of heroes? Again, amazing."
I led him outside and discussed my plans, he would occasionally ask for a clarification and I would give it. I showed him the stables and dining hall; even the archery range. I was still trying to move on to constructing the lava wall, but I needed Hephaestus for that and he was currently busy with the sword automatons, I had requested, not that he was complaining, he was rather happy to have a lot of work on his hands.
"So you are a master of archery, right?" I asked as he pocked up a bow and quiver, inspecting them.
He shrugged, "I prefer them over other weapons." He corrected.
We both were silent until I asked, "So will you join? I'll understand if don't want to but I just want you to know, the position is always open."
"Why choose me?" He asked.
I chuckled, "I don't think I can ask gods to go out of their to watch their kids in the camp, plus those gods would get to interact more with their kids, I personally don't have a problem with it but I can see how that would be unfair. Besides you're a respectable person who has experience, an invaluable asset."
He sighed, "You don't think anyone would be mad or confused as to why I am teaching?"
I patted his shoulder, "Trust me Chiron, I'll make sure they won't. You can teach more about the archery, I can manage with swords, the only real trouble is that we have no one else for spears, knives, and other weapons, I don't want us to only specialize in a few things. I suppose I can ask Athena for some instructors or books..." I mused.
He nodded, "Then I suppose I have nothing to really worry about. This is a nice place and I don't see why I shouldn't come here."
"You have any luggage?"
He turned to me with a confused expression, "Luggage?"
"Uh...bags! You know, possessions?" I corrected hurriedly, trying to cover my slip.
He nodded and cantered off to the big house. I sighed and rubbed my forehead, I needed to stop using future words. I just stood there staring at the dining pavilion in the distance and the next thing I knew I was getting tapped in the shoulder. I turned and saw Chiron looking at me with a worried expression.
"Ah, sorry!" I said, flushing, "I tend to lose myself in thought."
He chuckled, "Just don't do that too much."
I began to walk to the cabins when a column of fire landed right in front of me. I closed my eyes and chuckled, "Lord Hephaestus, how are you doing?"
He rubbed his leg brace, "As well as a deformed god can, lad, as well as I can. Anyway, here are the sword automatons you asked for, high grade craftsmanship, the works." He said placing a large sack on the ground.
I opened it and pulled out a small bronze box, "Ah, thanks! This will definitely help! I was wondering if you could create another project..."
THESEUS POV
I had set out from the palace about a week ago, I had decided to capture the Marathonian Bull. I had stopped to make a campsite on my sixth night of travel but a kind old woman named Hecale had offered me shelter. Just as I had sat down the sky rumbled and storms flashed in the sky. I sighed as she handed me some warm bread and some water.
"I can't thank you enough. I don't think my small shelter would of held against, well this." I said gesturing to windows and taking a bite of bread.
She gave me a smile, "It's been while since anyone has eve come by this path, I am glad a handsome young man such as yourself, even deigned to come in here."
"No, no!" I said honestly, swallowing, I continued, "This is quite a nice place, I was on my way to capture the Marathonian Bull, but I was going o rest before I really tried it."
She let out a small laugh, and then grasped her chest as she relaxed, "Well if that is the case, you'd better be glad you decided to come to rest, that bull is almost unstoppable when it starts fighting."
I frowned, "I have some experience in dealing with charging animals..."I replied.
"Of course, but that only gives you a slight edge, you must be able to outlast it, you must be stronger and able to keep moving."
I looked at the bread, I bit into it and sighed. The rest of the meal was silent and I pondered just how skilled I was.
I woke that morning and Hecale wrapped up a small meal for me and wished me good luck.
I smiled and waved, "Thank you! I swear I will die before I fail."
"Then, come by again, and I shall make a sacrifice to Zeus for your safety and prosperity!" She called.
I smiled and walked away from the little house. I passed a few hills over the course of and hour, and soon heard a snorting and grunting. I quickly bent down behind a rock and peeked around the corner, a massive brown bull with horns coming out of its nose and head, was sniffing at some bushes. It turned and I saw a scar crossing down its eye and multiple gashes that had become scars across his side.
"Marks of those who failed to kill it..." I muttered.
I drew my club from my back and adjusted the leather lock on my sheathe to pull out my sword more easily. I carefully used the rocks and bushes to sneak up. It snorted and tossed it head in my direction, and I struck, I leapt up and slammed my club across its face. It squealed in anger and blinding pain. Quick as a snake I slipped my club onto my back and pulled out my sword and slashed at its wide side. I opened up a gash and jumped away; then I started to run, if I wanted to survive I would have to play smart. There was no way I could match its strength. That blow with my club was more to disorient it rather than hurt it.
Right then there was an enraged squeal and the ground started to tremble.
"Dekára!" I grumbled.
(Damn!)
