Sunday, July 1, 2007-Haven, Salem, Massachusetts, New York, United States of America.
POV: Hadrian 'Adrian' Frey Peverell, Age: 10, Chronological Age: 32, Species: Demigod

"Whoa." Hadrian gasped looking around the snow-covered camp in awe once everyone has swum to the nearest rocky shore. A light frost covers the chariot track and the strawberry fields. The snow-capped cabins are all decorated with tiny living fairies and small magical flames. More lights can be seen glowing in the dense snow-covered woods. A fire even flickers in the attic window of the Big House, where the mummified Oracle lives. All in all, it looks like a magical Greek wonderland, no pun intended.

Given that Hadrian isn't a year-round camper he's never seen Camp Half-Blood in winter before. Hadrian is used to seeing the camp in all it's warm and sunny glory during the late spring, summer, and early fall months. The snow kinda surprises him. Like most warded properties Camp Half-blood has magical climate control. Nothing gets inside the warded borders unless the ward holder, which happens to be the camp director, Mr. D, wants it to. While outside the camp's wards mounds of snow made the camp nearly inaccessible, within the camp's borders the snow has only been allowed to fall lightly.

"I know right?!" Percy exclaims also looking around in awe. He is the only one not dripping wet with the dripping water quickly turning into icicles. The lucky bastard. Hadrian, Nico, and assumably Nico's sister older Bianca may be immune to the cold but they're not immune to getting wet. They're still in better shape than everyone else. Aside from Percy everyone's clothing is soaked through and beginning to freeze over becoming stiff, sharp, and uncomfortable in the sub-degree weather.

"Thanks," Adrian said when Bianca casts a wandless warming and drying charm over him, Nico and herself.

"No problem," Bianca replied before moving to rejoin The Hunters.

"Is that a climbing wall?" Nico asked

"Yeah," Percy and Adrian responded.

"Why is there lava pouring down it?"

"Little extra challenge," Percy replied flippantly like climbing a lava rock wall is normal. "Come on. I'll introduce you to Chiron. Zoë, have you met-"

"I know Chiron," the newly named Zoë responds stiffly. "Tell him we will be in Cabin Eight. Hunters, follow me."

"I'll show you the way," Grover offered.

"We know the way."

"Oh, really, it's no trouble. It's easy to get lost here if you don't-" he tripped over a canoe fell in the lake and came up still talking which in itself is rather impressive. "like my old daddy goat used to say! Come on!"

Zoë rolled her eyes but allowed the satyr to lead the way. The Hunters of Artemis shouldered their packs and their silver bows before heading off toward the cabins. As Bianca di Angelo was leaving, she leaned over and whispered something in her brother's ear. She looked at him for an answer, and Nico blushed and gave a small smile and nod which relaxed his older sister marginally. Recognizing the bashful look somewhat Adrian wondered what his sister had said.

"Take care, sweethearts!" Lord Apollo called after the Hunters. "Good luck on your quest kids and watch out for those prophecies, Percy. I'll see you soon." Apollo said with a wink.

"What do you mean?" Percy demanded startled.

Instead of answering, Lord Apollo leaped onto the back of the bus. "Later, Thalia," he called. "And, uh, be good!" He gave her a wicked smile as if he knew something she didn't. Then he closed the doors and revved the engine. We all turned aside as the sun chariot took off in a blast of heat. When we looked back, the lake was steaming and a red Maserati convertible soared over the woods, glowing brighter and climbing higher until it disappeared in a ray of sunlight.

Nico was shielding his eyes and looking after the sun chariot. "Who's Chiron?" he asked mock cluelessly while turning back to face us. "I don't have his figurine."

"Our activities director," Adrian explained. "He's pretty cool once you get to know him. I think you'll like him." Adrain said with an amused smile. In our past Nico and Chiron were close, Chiron was like a second father to Nico.

"Yeah but… he's… well, you'll see." Percy said before leading the way to the big house.


Sunday, Dec 4th, 2007-Location: Midgard, United States of America, New York, Long Island, Farm Road 3.141, Half-Blood Hill, Camp Halfblood
POV: Nico di Anglo, age: 10, chronological age: 87, Species Demigod

The first time around Nico didn't properly appreciate the novelty of The Big House fully decorated for Yule. At the time he was still on a high over discovering he was a demigod. This time Nico fully took in the strings of red and yellow fireballs that warmed the porch without catching anything on fire. His favorite though are the live Fairies dancing around the living strings of climbing ivy, the flourishing pomegranates trees, and the newly planted holly bushes. In his old life he and his stepmother, the Goddess and Queen of the Underworld Persephone eventually bonded over their joint love of nature and gardening.

Inside, flames crackle in the hearth where a young yule log burns brightly. The air smells like melting dark chocolate, warm cinnamon, fresh pomegranates, and roasting hazelnuts. It smells like his Mother's home in Italy during the Yuletide holidays. Under each of the windows are silver, green, and red Yule Altars are set up for the Greek Gods of Yule with gold drachmas placed sporadically. Unsurprisingly Dionysus and Demeter have the largest Alter's. In the center of the entryway parlor the Greek God Dionysus, widely known to Greek demigods as Mr. D, and the centaur Chiron are playing a quiet game of poker.

Chiron's brown beard is shaggier than usual and his curly hair has grown a little longer than he usually keeps it. He wears a fuzzy red sweater with a hoof-print design on it, and he has a white blanket on his lap that almost hides his wheelchair completely. Mr. D is in an eye-watering neon orange leopard-skin jogging suit and purple running shoes. A golden laurel wreath is tilted sideways on his curly black hair, which may mean he won the last hand of cards.

Mr. D's ensemble is a bit ridiculous given that Nico can't ever remember Mr. D exercising. Even when Olympus was falling Mr. D simply used the opportunity to get blackout drunk, his drinking restrictions waved given the world ending predicament. Chiron smiled when he saw us only for his eyes to widen and his eyebrows to raise for a second when he glanced between Nico and Hadrian. Chiron shared a confused and alarmed glance with Mr. D before refacing us.

"Percy! Thalia! Hadrian!" Chiron greets "Ah, and this must be-"

"Nico di Angelo," Percy introduced. "He and his sister are half-bloods."

Chiron smiled happily. "You succeeded, then."

"Well…"

His smile melted. "What's wrong? And where is Annabeth?"

"Oh, dear," Mr. D said casually still staring between Nico and Hadrian with a frown that doesn't quite reach his voice. "Not another one lost."

Just then, Grover trotted into the room, grinning like crazy. He has a black eye and red handprint on his face. "The Hunters are all moved in!" Nico's eyes narrow absentmindedly wondering what the satyr did to earn a black eye from The Hunters. After Bianca's death, The Hunters of Artemis collectively treated him like a younger brother. He's always been overly protective of them in return.

Chiron frowned. "The Hunters, eh? I see we have much to talk about." He glanced at Nico and Hadrian again frowning at the joint death glare they are giving the satyr. "Grover, perhaps you should take our young friends to the den and show them our orientation film."

"But…" Grover asks confused before straightening. "Oh, right. Yes, sir."

"What orientation film?" Hadrian asks bewildered snapping out of his glare and looking to Mr. D and Chiron confused. "I've been at this camp for three years and I've never seen this film."

"Which is a major oversight," Grover says nodding seriously while forcefully steering Nico and Hadrian into the den.

"Is it G or PG?" Nico asks frowning at the satyr's hand on his shoulder. "'Cause Bianca is kinda strict-"

"It's PG-13," Grover explains interrupting Nico and forcefully pushing the two 10-year-olds though the doors to the den.

"I get that this is probably mandatory, okay, but Bianca probably won't-" Nico begins only to be interrupted by Grover again while the satyr closes the double doors.

"She's busy. Besides what she doesn't know won't hurt her." Grover says turning around to with a smile only to freeze at the icy look in Nico's eyes "Right?"

"How have I been at this camp for three years and no one has even mentioned this film," Hadrian demands in an icy deadpan voice while crossing his arms.

"Uh… Everyone's probably just too embarrassed to mention it." Grover says awkwardly while quickly scrambling to search through the DVDs.

"I'm leaving," Hadrian says turning around heading to the door as a small pile of DVDs begins to grow on the floor. "I'll be happy to show you around if you want?" Adrian offers to Nico whos still glaring at Grover. "You coming?"

"Yeah," Nico responds as Adrian pulls the door wide open.

As soon as the door is cracked open Percy's rage-filled voice filled the air. "Just because you were sent here as a punishment doesn't mean you have to be a lazy jerk! This is your civilization, too. Maybe you could try helping out a little!"

Nico and Adrain stand frozen in the doorway looking between the clueless and clearly idiotic Greek demigod Percy Jackson and the Greek God Dionysus who is, among other things, the God of madness and ecstasy. For a second, there is no sound except the crackle of the fire which has quickly begun to grow filling the room with a golden glow. The fire's light is reflected in Dionysus's golden eyes, as he glares the demigod son of Poseidon down. He opened his mouth to say something likely a last warning when he noticed Nico and Adrian standing frozen in the doorway.


Sunday, Dec 4th, 2007-Location: Midgard, United States of America, New York, Long Island, Farm Road 3.141, Half-Blood Hill, Camp Halfblood
POV: Hadrian 'Adrian' Frey Peverell, Age: 10, Chronological Age: 32, Species: Demigod

"Our deepest apologies for interrupting you, Lord Dionysus," Nico said quickly and with a respectful bow. Mr. D turned his eyes away from a shocked Percy and gave Nico a look of surprise.

"Yes, we were just leaving and did not realize you were um... dealing with personal matters, Lord Dionysus," Hadrian says backing up his- backing Nico up. "The fault is entirely my own as I convinced Nico not to watch the orientation film."

Chiron managed a nervous smile. "That's fine Mr. Peverell, now if you could please show Mr. di Angelo around the camp. We will address your Quest after dinner tomorrow. Until then we need you to pick two companions for your Quest. For this particular Quest, it doesn't matter how new they are to the demigod life." Chiron says looking pointedly at Nico.

"Of course Chiron," Hadrian says giving Chiron a small smile. "C'mon Nico." Mr. D turned his eyes away from us and went back to glaring at a gaping and white-faced Percy.

"Percy," Chiron said quickly, "you and Thalia go down to the cabins. Inform the campers we'll be playing capture the flag tomorrow evening."

"Capture the flag?" Percy asked stupidly. "But we don't have enough-"

"It is a tradition," Chiron explained firmly. "A friendly match, whenever the Hunters visit."

"Yeah," Thalia muttered. "I bet it's really friendly."

Chiron jerked his head toward Mr. D, who was still glaring at Percy. "Run along now," Chiron told us.

"Oh, right," Thalia said. "Come on, Percy." She hauled Percy out of the Big House before Lord Dionysus could kill him.