Have you ever wondered how normal people woke up on an important date? Like, how would the average Japanese person from Hiroshima woke up before an atomic bomb was dropped? I always assumed they woke up like any other day, having their normal lives when suddenly everything changed. The weird part is, that's not how I felt at all the day Percy Jackson arrived at camp.
I had been here at Camp Half-Blood for about two months with the same daily routine. First I woke up, went to talk with the Apollo campers, then I went to eat and then I went to train. To say that I didn't feel claustrophobic would be a lie comparable to when Hitler said he wouldn't invade Checoslovakia. Two completely obvious lies.
You see, down in Shepherdstown I was always running around and going anywhere I wanted. I had the freedom to do anything I wanted and, to some extent, I overused that freedom. I am not going to go into the details but let's just say that it is one of the first signs that someone is a serial killer. I keep getting out of track, sorry for my bad ADHD.
Anyways, the day Percy Jackson arrived was far from normal for me. Instead of a normal vision/dream, I had like a voice reaching out to me. It was deep and menancing, a voice someone would most likely be afraid of. The voice told me lots of stuff, but to summarize, he basically said "Ditch the camp, come with me, we will rule the world, your godly parent doesn't care because you're a mistake". I was tempted to go with him, but there was a little voice in my head telling me this was a bad idea. So, I trusted my instinct and turned him down, so I woke up with a cut on my chest. Weirdest thing ever I know.
After that weird encounter/dream, I went over to the hill to meet with my friends from the Apollo cabin. It had become routine to go there at the rising of the sun and talk to them while they watched the daily occurrence. We always joked around and everything, most of the time about girls or people that we didn't like. For example, I didn't like Annabeth at al,l and neither did most people to be frank. Sure, she had to run away from her home at seven years old, but she was really annoying and prideful. I would be lying if I said she was ugly, but with the Aphrodite campers going around, she couldn't be relying on her looks.
The Apollo campers and I always thought I was their brother, I mean with the blue eyes and archery skills who wouldn't. The only difference was that I couldn't play an instrument to save my life or that they were usually more social than I was. Don't get this in the way that I'm an antisocial kid, because I was really popular at school. But even then where everyone knew me, I still had my close knit friends that I trusted with my life. Every time I think about them a pain hits my chest, a pain of the realization I will never talk to them again.
After that I went to the Dining Pavilion and ate my Trix cereal. The Hermes table was always the most chaotic, with people throwing food, others hitting each others, others yelling insults, etc. You get the idea. The first few times I sat here, all I felt was amazement. I mean, here were the children of GODS, and all they were doing was throwing French toast at each other.
I looked around the table and saw Luke glancing at me, more than usual. You see, ever since I arrived Luke had been a really good companion and friend, but I always knew he knew something about me I didn't. Something that made him extremely uncomfortable. So, every time I was with him, he was friendly but I could sense him trying to distance himself from me.
The rest of the day, like until five maybe, was pretty normal. Training, playing basketball, practicing archery, doing hand-in-hand combat against Clarisse (the Ares camper), talking with Silena, flirting with her sisters (mostly with Drew because it was the easiest to get to make out with me), and dining. Once again, I prayed for my mom or dad to claim me, and a little bit to Dionysius (to keep me on his good side), sat down and ate.
We had an hour before the daily campfire and sing-along, so instead of going to flirt like I normally would, I went to the woods to clear my mind...and do other stuffs. I put on my camouflage hoodie and checked to see if I still had my necklace. Once I had both, I went to the woods at a fast pace.
Must've been about fifteen minutes later when I found a squirrel on the ground.
"There there little squirrel, this won't hurt at all" I muttered, summoning my bow and getting into a ready position. I waited patiently, analyzing the surrounding area for any unknown animals or persons. Once determined that there weren't any, I counted to three to make my kill. I focused completely on the squirrel, analyzing its weak point, every move it made. I was on the three when suddenly, a voice behind me interrupted, making me lose focus and miss my shot and, in response, the squirrel running away.
I turned around to yell at the person who interrupted me in my kill. The weather around me dropped about fifteen degrees, the trees began to move along my fury, the woodland critters came out of their hiding places to look at the turmoil and, once they saw me, they stood there motionless. When I saw the being that had interrupted me, I stood surprised when instead of a human I saw a bear. He was sitting there, looking at me with curiosity.
"Did you just talk?" I asked without panic on my voice. The bear looked at me and did what I could only suppose was a smile
"Yes indeed young Jagger. Now, you must be wondering how you can talk to me" the bear replied
"Well, yes I'm wondering that. What I'm also wondering is why you haven't attacked me yet and why did you interrupt while I was doing my kill"
"Ah yes, I'm much sorry about that, but my boss would not be happy if you killed any more squirrels for amusement It has been...tedious to replace each and every one you kill" the bear said
"What?" the bear didn't pay attention to me and kept talking about his 'explanation' for everything
"I haven't attacked you because I am forbidden to do so and because you are important to our future. As to why you can talk to me, let's just say you were born with this gift. Ever since you were little and you got frequently lost in the woods, we woodland critters have looked after you. We watched you in the fight against Lycaon and his pack and also against the hunters. By the way, good job on beating Zoë up, that girl needed a lesson." the bear said while chuckling a little
"But why me? What do you mean I'm important to your future?"
"I'm not really supposed to be talking about it. All I can say is that, because of the circumstances of your birth, many deities want to kill you or manipulate you into doing other things. That is why I was sent to you, to tell you and let you make your own decisions. I'm not here to reclute you to our army or anything of the sort, but always remember to trust your instincts."
"Okay, anything else Mr. Bear?"
"Yes, two things actually" I groaned internally " Firstly, you will have a dog to look after you. You can talk to him as you would with me, but he will have to report to me your progress and occurrences, so remember to behave. Second, today an unusual kid will arrive. He is a very powerful kid who is loyal to a fault. So, under no circumstances, must you be on bad terms with him. It is for your own good, trust me." I looked at the serious look the bear and knew instantly that he wasn't joking around. I nodded and bowed a little out of respect to the bear. When I got straight up, no longer did I saw the bear that had been talking to him.
Instead, in his place stood a pretty big dog. He was pretty big yeah, but you could see that he was still a puppy by his facial structure.
"Hola locoquees laquehay? Aquientengoquematarahora? Nosotrosvamosa ser el duo dinámico, ya vas a ver. Solo conunamiradahacemosquenuestrosenemigossemuerandemiedojajajaj.No mehascontestadobro,quees laquehay?" the dog started to talk in Spanish
"I don't talk Spanish. But I'm Jagger Buckley, your name is?" I talked awkwardly
"Bro it's so lame you can't speak Spanish. I better teach you dude. Anyways my name is Luis Enrique, call me Sato, and I'm you guardian dog. You know, like an guardian angel but only better. Because, like you know, dogs are mans best friend. Plus you know, I know how to party so we'll have a good time."
"Why do you say speak like 'spik'? I asked. If dogs could have an offended look, then trust me, Sato had one
"Don't be racist dude. At least I talk two languages unlike you! I better teach you, that way you'll be less ignorant. And to answer your insensitive question, I can't say it well. I was born far away from here and have just been recently summoned to you. Once all this passes, you better come to my home." Sato said excitedly.
"Will do. Anyways, let's get back to camp. I have a feeling something important is happening" I said and started walking towards the camp.
Many questions passed through my brain. Why was I born able to talk to bears and apparently dogs? Who is the bear boss? Why does he have to replace every squirrel I have ever killed? Did this apply to other animals? Who is this new kid that I was supposed to have on the good side?
The latter question was answered that same night. Apparently, in all the time I was in the forest talking to animals, a new kid had arrived. But, different from others, he had just thefeated the freaking MINOTAUR. Yes, the minotaur. So, no doubt this was the kid I was supposed to keep on his good side.
"Hey Lee!" I said to the blonde haired Apollo camper, one of my best friends.
"Jagger, where were you?"
"On the woods"
"You shouldn't, it's not safe and you know it. And how did you get that dog?" he scolded and asked me
"Yeah I know, but as you can see, I'm fine. I found Sato on the woods. Anyways, who is the new kid that arrived?"
"I'm as clueless as you are. The only thing I know is that he arrived tonight and had to defeat the minotaur. Oh, and that his name is Percy Jackson or something like that"
Well, it seems I have just found the kid I'm supposed to befriend, or at least keep him on my good side. He must be a powerful one if he defeated the minotaur without training.