Hadrian follows the other demigods in a silent state of shock and anger. According to the girl, Annabeth, the only way he would be able to even see the camp is if he's at least a demigod. However, despite being a demigod like them, they have made it clear he is not to be welcomed into the camp with open arms. They're not happy with him for bonding with Nero. They keep using words like monsters, enemies, and betrayal. He's made his stance very clear as well. Nero is a newborn puppy and thus has not earned the label of a monster. In turn, the four other children have unanimously decided that he is to be brought to 'the big house' so that two of the adults in charge can decide on his fate.
He's putting on a brave face but honestly, he's terrified. His parents must have sent him here for a reason and he's probably already screwed his one shot at acceptance up. Still, he can't find it in himself to be mad at Nero. The poor guy is just a puppy not to mention he's just lost his mother. If he's mad at anyone it's the other kids for their blatant black and white view of the world. While he's terrified of rejection he'd rather continue his training at home than with a bunch of self-righteousness kids. From what he's seen Luke and Annabeth are the ones in charge and they're only eleven and thirteen. When they finally reach 'the big house' Hadrian takes a deep breath and follows them inside.
The other demigods look to him in confusion when he fails to flinch or react in any way at all at the fact that one of the adults in charge is, in fact, a centaur. He's an Addams now and before that, he earned Godhood living as a British wizard. He's past the point of being able to be shocked. A centaur is nothing. At this point, if he finds out he has a centaur cousin he honestly would not be surprised. Hadrian follows the centaur into the next room as the other children go back outside where Nero is waiting. He just hopes Nero will still be okay when he comes back out.
"Just who in Zeus's name are you supposed to be?" The other adult demands suspiciously. "You look half-god." The term reminds him of what the mother Cerberus said about him having the blood of a god but the flesh of a demigod.
"I'm Hadrian Peverell, sir. It's nice to meet you." Hadrian says bowing respectfully and reaching out to shake their hands like he was taught.
"Your surname is Peverell?" The God asks after begrudgingly shaking his hand.
"That's what my soulmark says yes."
"Is that not what people call you?" The centaur asked worriedly.
"No, sir, people call me by my first name, Hadrian," Hadrian responds sarcastically.
"Alright, well welcome to camp half-blood. I'm Dionysus, most campers call me Mr. D. This is Chiron the camp activities director. If you need anything ask Chiron. Just know as the head of the camp I have the final say unless Olympus itself intervenes." Dionysus says obviously reciting a script.
Hadrian nods his head and immediately turns to Chiron. "Is my familiar welcome here at camp half-blood? His name is Nero and he's a Cerberus."
"You have a Cerberus familiar?" Dionysus asks impressed before quickly hiding it.
"Yes, sir," Hadrian responds making sure to make eye contact with Dionysus while replying.
Dionysus assesses him while they wait for Chiron to get over his shock. The centaur's expression minors that of a startled deer. "How have you tamed a Cerberus?" Chiron asks at length.
"I didn't tame him. I just helped heal him and his mother gave him to me before passing away."
Chiron and the God Dionysus share an impressed look. They then seem to share an entire conversation between themselves before turning to reface him. "Your familiar is welcome here at camp half-blood so long as he does not attack anyone unprovoked," Dionysus says at last.
"Thank you," Hadrian says with a happy smile.
"Just out of curiosity what would you have done had we not allowed your familiar to stay?" Chiron asks.
"I would have gone to the other camp my mother mentioned in her letter." Hadrian carefully responds not wanting to trigger his portkey.
"And which camp would that be?" Dionysus asks feigning confusion.
"Jupiter." Hadrian carefully responds.
"Intelligitis Romanorum praeter Graecos?" Dionysus asks annoyed in Latin seemingly thinking he's lying. Hadrian's mind instantly translates the Latin to English "You understand and grasp of the Romans, in addition to the Greeks?"
"Ita domine." Hadrian responds which means, "Yes, sir," in Latin before continuing in Greek. "Ti eínai asyníthisto se aftó?" meaning "What is unusual about it?"
Dionysus and Chiron share a confused and worried look. "Most demigods are the children of one God," Dionysus explains. "You are very clearly the child of two and already on your way to Godhood."
Chiron moves forward. "Follow me, young warrior. I'll show you where you'll be staying."
Hadrian follows Dionysus and Chiron to the cabins with Nero playfully nipping at his heels. He's making a mental map of the place as they walk. The other campers keep a safe distance away. Some look to him like he's crazy, the rest either stare at him in confusion or anger. It seems they would rather make assumptions about him based on seeing Nero at his side than actually getting to know him. He's accustomed to the feeling of stares at his back and being avoided by others his age. He had hoped things would be different here but it seems once again he's an outcast. Nero for his part is a mixture of terrified and excited. Expressing that through playing like that is the only way the newborn puppy knows how.
"This is the dining pavilion. We're going to stop here to grab something to eat before we continue on." Dionysus says interpreting Chiron's story of past greek demigod heroes they've helped to train.
"It's not quite lunchtime yet but it looks like the campers and nymphs have already cooked enough food for us to go ahead and eat." Chiron agrees hesitantly.
Hadrian nods his head looking around the 'dining pavilion'. It seems to be an outdoor cafeteria designed to mimic a Greek temple with no roof or walls. He's already planned ten detailed escape routes out of camp by the time he, Nero and Chiron reach the plates. The area is crowded as this is where the majority of the campers are currently at. They've just reached the 'fire pit' an outdoor kitchen when someone decides to confront him about his familiar once again.
"Hey newbie, what are you doing bringing that beast in here!"
"He's not a beast he's a puppy," Hadrian responds turning around to face the accuser.
"Well, he can't be here. Chiron tell em!" another boy shouts.
"This Cerberus is allowed. His name is Nero and he's Hadrian's familiar." Chiron introduces as Dionysus picks up a plate.
"So what? We're allowed to keep monsters as pets now?" A buff girl wielding a golden sword demands.
"There's never been a rule against it," Chiron says with a shrug absentmindedly gathering his meal. "In fact, the only rule against pets in camp half-blood is that they can't attack unprovoked."
"Of course it's going to attack unprovoked! It's a monster!" Two twins pause to shout before going back to fighting over a half-eaten turkey leg. They each have more food on their plates so he doesn't much see the point of their fight.
"It's not just going to attack unprovoked, it's going to kill us all and then tell others how to get in!" another girl dressed in expensive-looking clothing agrees clearly horrified by the thought.
"You demigods have a bad habit of assuming everything different than what you're used to is a monster. Some of the things you demigods call monsters are in fact your parent's beloved pets." Dionysus scolds shocking and horrifying the campers into silence.
"If we've been fighting our parent's pets then why don't they stop us from killing them?" Annabeth finally asks, properly horrified and confused.
"Yeah, that doesn't make any damn sense," Luke says looking up from his mobile to back her up.
"We take lessons on how to take em down why go through that if some of em are their trained pets." The girl with the sword demands.
"You can't kill your parent's pets. King Hades has measures in place to prevent that." Chiron explains "However you can kill their offspring. Hadrian's familiar is an example of one such offspring. He saved the puppy's life after one of you mistook its mother for a monster and tried to kill them. Eventually, its mother will come back to life and look for it. Until that time Nero will remain with Hadrian. You all would do well to think about how you would react if your children made a habit of killing your pets and their newborn offspring."
In the oppressive silence afterward Hadrian gathers two plates of meat, one for Nero and one for himself. On his own, he puts some of the BBQ, some fruit, cheese, and freshly baked bread.
