Hello dear friends! So sorry I haven't updated in so long. I have some things to say. First! I have decided to add a Male Annabeth, a Female Annabeth, Rachel, Calypso and Thalia. Now. To weirdhead. I did make Luke younger because Shadow Thanatos made a very good point about how much older Luke is. I am also NOT AGAINST HOMOSEXUALS! My best friend is homosexual so I have no problems with them. The reason I did not add them is because I didn't know if anyone wanted them. Anyway on to the story!
Chapter7
So apparently, these campers don't know how to shut up, seeing as the bathroom incident spread in just a few hours. So wherever I went, campers just pointed at me and murmured some shit about toilet water. Or they were just talking about Annabeth, who was basically dripping with sewer water.
Despite me soaking her, she still showed me around. She showed me the metal shop where some buff kids forged cool swords, the arts and crafts room where I saw satyrs making a marble sculpture of Pan, and lastly, the climbing wall. The climbing wall was the best thing at this damn camp. It had two facing walls that shook violently, dropped some big ass boulders, sprayed hot ass lava, and clashed together if you didn't get your ass up to the top in time. I was so trying that.
Finally, we returned to the canoeing lake, where the trail led back to the exotic cabins.
"I've got training to do," Annabeth said indifferently. "Dinner's at seven-thirty. Just follow your cabin to the mess hall."
Damn. Who stuck a rod up her ass? Wait. I did...
"Annabeth, I'm so- I'm sorr-" I just couldn't seem to say the damn word. "Look, what I'm trying to say is that I'm sorrrrrrrr...eeeeee?" It came out like a question.
Annabeth, who was looking amused through the whole thing, put back her mask of indifference and said, "Whatever."
"Ok, do you know how hard that was? And all I get is a damn whatever?! I NEVER apologize! You should be honored!"
"Me? Honored? Yeah, keep dreaming."
"Just go back to your training!"
Annabeth narrowed her eyes at me, studying me. "You need to see the Oracle. I'll talk to Chiron about it."
"You know what," I said exasperated, "I'm not even gonna ask."
After my little speech, I stared at the lake, not really expecting someone to come out from the bottom.
"Holy shit! She gave me a heart attack!"
All the little blue lady did was wave. I just gave her a dirty look; I hate being scared.
"Can you just be nice for once and wave at the girl?" Annabeth demanded.
"Aren't you supposed to be training? Take your ass out of my convo and leave."
"You're insufferable."
"I know."
Yeah, I was hoping she would leave after that. But guess what. She didn't.
"So, since you already knew that your dad is a god, do you know who he is?" Annabeth inquired, a curious glint in her eyes.
"Yes," I replied, then continued before she could get a word in, "I know exactly who my father is. But I'm not telling. I want to be claimed first."
She looked a little dejected, but let out a disappointed, "Fair enough."
"Since you wanna butt your way into my life, I'll butt my way into yours. Who's your mom or dad?"
Her hands seemed to clench on the railing when I mentioned her dad.
"Daddy issues? We all have them."
"My dad is a professor at West Point. He teaches American history," she forced out.
"Who's your mom?"
"Cabin six."
I looked at her incredulously. Did she expect me to know who that was?
She must've seen my look because she looked a little sheepish, but then straightened and said, "Athena. Goddess of Wisdom and Battle."
"You could've just said Athena. Jeez."
She gave me a scathing glare to which I just brushed off.
"So, I have to stay with the Hermes cabin until my dad claims me, right? When do you think that'll happen?" I asked.
"Well, it depends. Sometimes they claim you within a month, and sometimes..."
I knew she was going to say never.
"Wait, lemme get this straight. So, the gods want us to fight for them, but they don't acknowledge us? That makes no sense!"
"You see, Percy, gods are busy. They have a lot of kids and they don't care about some of us."
Suddenly, the sullen faces I saw in the Hermes cabin made sense. They were waiting for a call that never came. I'd seen kids like that at Yancy. Kids who were just shipped off by their rich parents without a care in the world. But these were all powerful gods; you'd think they'd behave better.
"So that's it? I'll stay here fighting for the rest of my life, never to see the outside world again?" I asked. Don't get me wrong, I didn't mind the fighting, in fact, I loved it. The only problem was not being able to go anywhere. I didn't want to be confined to one place; I was a free spirit.
"That also depends," Annabeth started. "Some campers only stay in the summer. If you're a child of a minor god or something, you're probably don't have a huge aura. The monsters might ignore you, allowing you to get by with training in the summer and to live in the mortal world the rest of the year. But for some of us, it's too dangerous to leave. We're year-rounders. In the mortal world, we attract monsters. They sense us and come to challenge us. Most the time, monsters ignore you until you're ten or eleven, but after that, it's up to the demigod to make their way here or they get killed off. A few manage to survive in the outside world and become famous. Some of them don't even realize they're demigods. But very, very few are like that."
"What I'm gathering here is that monsters can't enter this place."
Annabeth nodded her head. "Correct. Well, not unless they're intentionally stocked in the woods or specifically summoned by someone on the inside."
"Why the hell would anybody want to summon a damn monster?"
"Practical fights. Practical jokes."
"Jokes? Well, I'm startin' to like this place more and more," I said with a mischievous smile.
"The point is, the borders are sealed to keep the monsters and mortals out. From the outside, to mortals, camp looks like a regular strawberry valley, nothing unusual."
"Mm. So... you're a year-rounder I'm assuming."
Annabeth nodded and pulled out a leather necklace with five different clay beads out of her obnoxiously bright T-shirt. I realized that it looked just like Luke's, except Annabeth's also had a big gold ring strung on it.
"I've been here since I was eleven," she said, surprising me. "Every August, on the last day of the summer session, you get a bead for surviving another year. I've been here longer than most of the counselors, and they're all in college."
"Why'd ya come so young? Did it have something to do with your father?"
She twisted her ring on her necklace. "None of your business."
"I was just asking, damn, no need to get snappy," I muttered under my breath. If her scathing look towards me meant anything, I'd say I didn't do a good job.
We stood there in an uncomfortable silence before I finally spoke. "So... I could just walk outta here right now if I wanted to?"
"It would be suicide, but you could, with Mr. D's or Chiron's permission. But they wouldn't give permission until the end of the summer session unless..."
"Unless, what?"
"You were granted a quest. But that rarely ever happens. The last time..."
Her voice trailed off. I could tell from her tone that last time wasn't a good time. So I decided to change the subject.
"Uh, back in the sick room," I said, "when you were feeding me that stuff-"
"Ambrosia."
"Yeah, whatever. You asked me about the summer solstice."
Annabeth's shoulders tensed. "So you do know something?"
"Nah. But back at my old school, I had overheard Grover and Chiron talking about it. Grover mentioned the summer solstice. He said something about not having enough time, because of a deadline. Do you know what that means?"
She clenched her fists. "I wish I knew. Chiron, the satyrs, and obviously Mr. D, they all know, but they won't tell me. Something huge is wrong up in Olympus. But the thing is, last time I was there, everything seemed normal."
"Well that means that it happened either during or after the meeting- wait, you've been to Olympus? Cool."
"Yeah, I'll have to consider that. Also, yes, some of us year-rounders—Luke and Clarisse and I and a few others— we took a field trip during the winter solstice. That's when the gods have their big annual council."
"How'd you get to Olympus?
"The Long Island Railroad, of course. You get off at Penn Station. Empire State Building, special elevator to the six hundredth floor." She looked at me like I must already know this shit. "You are a New Yorker, right?"
"Are you stupid? I thought we already established that I'm a new fucking demigod. How the hell would I know about the damn six hundredth floor on the Empire State Building if I'm new to this?"
She, again, looked sheepish and mumbled a barely audible apology before continuing. "Right after we visited, the weather got weird, like the gods were fighting. I've overheard some satyrs talking. All I know is that something very important was stolen. If it's not returned by the summer solstice, there's going to be a lot of trouble. When you came, I was hoping... I mean- Athena can get along with just about anybody, except Ares. And there's the rivalry with Poseidon. But, aside from that, I thought we could work together. I thought you might know something."
"Well, you though wrong." This girl was being an absolute bitch in my opinion. Why was she letting her parents problems get in the way of who she befriended? Were all Athenian kids like this? I hoped not, for their sake.
"I've got to get a quest," Annabeth muttered to herself, a little too loudly. "I'm not too young. If they would just tell me the stupid problem..."
I ignored her for the delicious smell of barbecue that invaded my senses. Annabeth must've heard my stomach growl (who wouldn't? It was loud as shit) so she told me to go on and that she'd catch up with me later.
Back at the musty cabin eleven, everyone was fuckin around, waiting for dinner. For the first time since I got here, I actually took the time to analyze the campers. Most of them had sharp noses, upturned eyebrows, and mischievous smiles. They were the kind of people that I'd be caught hanging out with. As I walked over to my spot on the floor, some of the campers shot me wary glances. As I put down my Minotaur horn, I made eye contact with almost every camper. When they looked at me, I pointed to the horn, then to them, then made a slitting motion across my throat. I think they got the memo, as they all nodded.
The counselor, Luke, came over. He had the Hermes resemblance, too. It was marred by the scar, but I thought that that made him look awesome.
"Found you a sleeping bag," he said. "And here, I stole you some toiletries from the camp store."
I just gave a short bark of laughter and accepted the bag.
"Thanks."
"No prob." Luke sat next to me, pushing his back against the wall. "Tough first day?"
"Nope. It was great! I got to kick a guy in the stomach, drench a possible friend in toilet water, and back talked a bunch of people without getting grounded! This place is great!"
He looked at me weirdly, like he couldn't believe I did all those things, then burst out laughing. "Oh, I like you!"
I just smiled with him.
"So your dad is Hermes?" I asked.
"Yeah. Hermes."
"The wing-footed messenger guy," I said, trying to lighten his mood even more.
He gave a shot laugh. "Yep, that's him. Medicine, travelers, merchants, thieves. Anybody who uses the roads. That's why you're here, enjoying cabin eleven's hospitality."
"I wouldn't say enjoying," I joked, earning another short laugh from him. "Have you ever met your dad?"
"Only once."
"Cool."
Luke looked up and smile. "Don't worry about friends here, Percy," he said, completely changing the subject. "The campers here are all good people. After all, we're extended family, right? We take care of each other."
I wasn't really worried about making friends, but it was nice to know I wouldn't be spending my entire summer with a bunch of stuck-up assholes.
"Annabeth said that I should talk to an Oracle. What's all that jazz about?"
"I hate prophecies."
"Hmm? Prophecies? Why do you hate prophecies?"
His face switched around the scar. "Let's just say I messed things up for everyone. The last two years, ever since my trip to the Garden of the Hesperides went to shit, Chiron had forbade anymore quests. And Annabeth's curious self has been dying to go to the outside world. She pissed off Chiron so much that he told her he already knew her fate, that he'd had a prophecy from the Oracle. He wouldn't tell her the whole thing, but he said Annabeth wasn't supposed to go on a quest yet. She had to wait until... somebody special came to the camp."
"Is that why she kept calling me 'the one' today?"
"Don't worry about it, Perce," Luke said. "Annabeth wants to think that every damn person that comes here is 'the one'. Now, come on, it's dinner time."
"Hey! Don't call me-!" I was cut off by the sound of a conch shell blowing in the distance. When I looked to my right, Luke was already up and out of my reach.
"That little bastard," I muttered.
"Eleven, fall in," Luke yelled.
The whole cabin, about twenty of us, filed into the commons yard. We lined up in order of seniority, so I was obviously dead fucking last. Campers from other cabins filed in, too.
We marched up the hill to the mess hall pavilion. Satyrs joined from the meadow; naiads emerged from the canoeing lake; and dryads came from the trees.
In total, there were probably a hundred campers, a few dozen satyrs, and a dozen assorted dryads and naiads.
At the pavilion, torches blazed around the marble columns. Each cabin has its own table—which I though was stupid. What if you had friends from other cabins? All of them were covered in white cloth trimmed in purple. Four tables were empty, but eleven's was way overcrowded. I was about to sit on the very edge when I noticed two mischievous looking twins wave me over, an open spot between them. I walked right over and plopped between them, giving them a nod of thanks.
I took this time to look around at the other tables.
Grover was sitting at table twelve with Mr. D, other satyrs, and two plump boys who must've been D's kids.
Annabeth sat at table six with a bunch of serious-looking athletic kids, all with grey eyes and honey blond hair. They looked like total buzzkills, like Annabeth.
Clarisse sat behind me at Ares's table. She looked over at me and gave me an acknowledging nod, to which I gladly returned.
Finally, Chiron pounded his hoof against the marble floor of the pavilion, which had to have hurt, and everyone fell silent. He raised a glass. "To the gods!"
Everybody else raised their glasses. "To the gods!"
Wood nymphs came forward with platters of food: grapes, apples, cheese, fresh bread, and yes, BARBECUE! My glass was empty, but the dude to my left said, "Speak to it. Whatever you want that's non-alcoholic."
I looked at him skeptically. "If you're pulling my leg, I'll kick you with said leg."
He gulped but nodded nonetheless.
"Cherry Coke," I said.
The glass filled with the wonderful carmel liquid.
Then I had a brilliant idea. "Blue Cherry Coke."
The soda turned a violet shade of blue, earning me weird looks from the twins.
"So, who're you guys? And why'd you save me a seat? Not that I'm complaining," I joked.
They both smiled at me.
"Well I'm Conner Stoll! And to your right is Travis, my older brother!" Conner said, a hint of mischief in his eyes.
"Give me my brass knuckles!" I demanded.
He looked sheepish before handing them over.
"She's good," Travis said. "Hey! I have a great idea! Wanna be prank buddies!"
I gave the most mischievous smirk I could and said, "Totally."
After our little exchange, I was about to dig in to my plate, but everyone was getting up and heading to the fire.
"What're we doing," I whispered to who I thought was Travis.
"We're giving offerings to the gods. They like the smell."
I gave him an incredulous look. "You're kidding."
His normally playful face wasn't so playful and I knew to not take this lightly. I couldn't help but wonder why these immortal, omnipotent deities would like the smell of burning food.
Connor, Travis, and Luke all approached the fire, bowed their heads, threw in a part of their meals, and said, "Hermes."
I was next.
I already knew what gods name to say.
"Hermes, Hestia, and Poseidon." I said their names so quietly that no one else heard me. Thank god, er, gods?
I caught I whiff of he flames and I actually didn't gag.
It didn't smell like burning food. It smelled of hot chocolate and everything else in the world that was good. I could almost believe that the gods could live if of that.
Before I went back to my seat, I saw a little girl in the fire. I almost freaked out until I realized it was Hestia. She looked at me and smiled, so waved to her and bowed. She quickly looked away; I thought I saw a blush on her face, but it must've just been the fire.
When everyone had returned to their seats and finished eating, me getting to know the Stolls better, Chiron pounded his hoof again for our attention.
Mr. D got up with an over dramatic sigh. "Yes, I suppose I'd better say hello to all you brats. Well, hello. Chiron says that the next capture there flag is Friday. Cabin five presently holds the laurels."
A bunch of loud cheers rose from the Ares table.
"Personally," Mr. D continued, "I couldn't care less, but congratulations and all that. Also, I should tell you that we have a new camper today. Percy Jackson."
Everyone seemed surprised, even Chiron, that he pronounced my name right. Guess he doesn't do that often.
"That's right. Hurrah, and all that. Now run along to your silly campfire. Go on." Mr. D said, completely oblivious, or just ignoring, to the stunned silence.
Everybody cheered. We all headed down toward the amphitheater, where the Apollo cabin led a sing-along. We sang camp songs about the gods and ate s'mores and joked around. And for the first time in my entire life, I felt at home.
LINE BREAK
Later in the evening, when the sparks from the campfire were floating into the sky, the conch horn blew again, and we all filed back into our cabins. I didn't realize I was so tired until my head hit the sleeping bag.
When I closed my eyes, I fell asleep instantly.
That was my first day at Camp Half-Blood.
I wish I'd known how everything would go to shit so soon.
And that's a wrap! The poll will be ending in a few chapters so make sure to tell me who you want to be Percy's soulmate.
POLL:
Who should Percy be with?
Luke: 2
Ethan: 2
Conner: 0
Malcom: 1
Olympian: (Be specific): 5
Male Annabeth: 3
Female Annabeth: 8
Thalia: 1
Rachel: 0
Calypso: 0
Other: 0
None: 0
So there! Looks like Fem!Annabeth is winning. Tell me if you want to change your vote or I didn't put it down. For those of you who o put just Annabeth, I put you down for Fem!Annabeth. Tell me if you wanna change. So it's midnight right now so bye!