''Come on guys, it's time for dinner'' Travis said as we walked down to the dining pavilion. There were about 15 kids in the Hermes cabin all together, nine boys and six girls. Conner told me that normally they had twice as many, but since Percy made the gods swear to claim all their children last august, it was mostly just Hermes kids and a couple unclaimed kids now. By that he meant me, I'm currently the only unclaimed in the entire Hermes cabin!

''I'm Ava'' the girl behind me whispered '' are you a hunter?''

I could feel the heat swelling in my cheeks, why did everyone keep asking if I was a hunter? The hunters kicked me out, Artemis herself forced me to leave. ''Stupid goddess'' I muttered.

Ava gasped ''what?''

''Oh, sorry. No I'm not a hunter'' I forced a smile.

Travis looked back at me, a look of sadness and trust.

He started laughing. ''Sammy, a hunter? Not a chance, she's obviously a Hermes kid, you'll see '' he winked. Conner gave me a thumbs up then started laughing too.

'' Yeah, me a hunter? Not a chance '' I made a puking motion with my hands then pointed at Ava, Travis smirked and Conner just frowned and turned away.

We all sat together at a big table, like a big happy family. I sat beside Connor and a girl I didn't know, she looked about ten.

''Uherm, may I have your attention please'' shouted a man in a leopard print shirt '' I guess I should welcome our new camper, Samantha. So welcome to camp half-blood. I'm Mr D, if you have any problems, any concerns, bother someone else I don't care."

''Yes umm... thank you Mr D. '' Chiron said.

Everyone got up, one table at a time. ''Burnt offerings?'' I guessed as each camper scraped some food into the fire.

''Yep'' Conner said, getting up. I followed, and scraped some of my food into the fire.

I silently prayed to Hermes, please claim me, I kinda like cabin 11. It's not the hunt but it already feels home.

I sat back down between Conner and that girl . ''I'm Willow'' she said

I smiled ''Samantha, but please call me Sam''

''Okay''

''So what's the plan?'' I asked, looking at everyone.

They all leaned in really close and started whispering about the prank Conner and Travis had told me about. Around midnight while everyone was sleeping we would dig up the land mines, fill them with slime, relocate them, then tee pee their cabin.

''Why are we doing this exactly?'' I asked, peering at the Ares kids. There were about nine of them, super buff and muscular looking, and most importantly they didn't look super friendly.

''They've won capture the flag three times in a row, so we're gonna set up this prank to put them off their game for tomorrow, because they're so cocky and won't stop bragging'' Travis said and everyone nodded in agreement.

''Got it''

We finished super, then headed to the amphitheatre for campfire and sing along. It made me think of the hunt, sitting around the fire with Phoebe and all the other hunters, we used to tell stories and sing songs like one big happy family.

Nyssa waved at me to come sit with her, so I did. She was sitting near the front, with a bunch of her siblings.

''Nyssa!'' I said overly excited ''And who might you be?'' I asked the little boy sitting on her lap. He buried his face in her shirt, clinging to his big sister.

She smiled ''it's okay, she's a friend. Sorry he's a little shy with new people''

''I'm Harley'' he whispered, lifting his head a little '' like the motorcycle''

''Well Harley, what do you say, can I sit with you and your sister?''

''Okay''

So I sat down beside Harley and Nyssa, she gave me a smile and a high five.

Austin from the Apollo cabin started playing his guitar, ''any volunteers?''

For some reason I put my hand up, I had the urge to sing, to tell a story. ''May I?''

''You may''

Nyssa looked at me, everyone did. So I stood up on my seat, pulling Harley up with me and taking his hand.

''There will come a soldier, Who carries a mighty sword''

I looked around, then drew my dagger spinning and pointing with it. I jumped from one seat to the next. I accidentally knocked over the head counsellor of Aphrodite cabin but I kept going.

''He will tear your city down, oh lay-oh lay-oh Lord'' Then I winked at Harley and he repeated the lyric.

''Oh lei, oh lai, oh lei, oh Lord'' he sang, dancing around the fire with me.

I pointed my dagger at Nyssa and smirked ''He will tear your city down, oh lay-oh lay-oh Lord'' then took a bow.

''Nice playing'' I told Austin, returning to my seat. Nyssa hugged me, ''That was amazing''

Her smile gave me an idea, I pulled her off her feet and spun her around. I started singing again.

''There will come a poet, Whose weapon is her word''

Nyssa's face was turning pink but she smiled as I danced with her around the amphitheatre, putting power into my words. I pointed with my dagger and made gestures with my hands.

''She will slay you with her tongue, oh lay-oh lay-oh Lord''

This time everyone repeated the next line ''Oh lei, oh lai, oh lei, oh Lord''

''She will slay you with Her tongue, oh lay-oh lay-oh Lord''

We spent the rest of campfire singing and dancing around the fire, it grew bigger and brighter as everyone started having more fun. For the first time all day, I wasn't thinking about the hunters.

''How do you do that?'' Nyssa asked, roasting her marshmallow.

''Do what?''

She laughed ''This, you got Harley to love you almost instantly, and you improved everyone's mood''

''I don't know, I just find that when in doubt, telling stories in the form of a song cheers everyone up at least a little'' I smiled, blowing out my marshmallow, I could do a lot of things but roasting marshmallows was not one of them.

Soon we all headed back to our cabins, mission mess with Ares cabin commenced. I came up with the name, don't let Conner tell you otherwise. We got to work with maps and shit, all the boring stuff. I was on tee pee duty because I had no idea how to relocate and fill an active land mine with slime without setting it off.

''This way'' Willow whispered, she was our map girl. She knew where all the Ares land mines were set and how to get around them.

We all followed her through the dark, with our gear ready. We quickly got set up, it only took half an hour for everyone to finish. Me and some of the younger Hermes kids tossed toilet paper and everyone else was working on landmines.

We were almost done when ''BANG'' Conner tripped and set off his land mine.

Travis yelled '' Back to cabin eleven, now!" and we all took off running.

As soon as we got back I burst out laughing ''nice going Conner'' and everyone joined in.

''Whatever'' he grumbled ''lights out''

We all got into bed, I was more tired than I thought. I was fast asleep in no time. My dream was more like my worst nightmare. I was back in Lady Artemis's tent last night, reliving my banishment.

''You wished to see me, my Lady'' I bowed as I entered her tent, and sat in front of her.

''Yes'' she frowned ''you need to leave the hunt, I never should have allowed you to join. That was bad on my part, so I've made arrangements for you at camp half-blood''

A tear fell from my cheek '' But why Lady Artemis, I have followed all your rules. I have devoted myself to you and the hunt''

'' I know your in love with her, and I will not have you act on those feeling, or what if she returned them, you would have her forced out of the only family she's had for centuries?''

''I don't understand''

''Phoebe, I know you love her as more than a friend''

''My Lady, I would never act on those feelings, I swear.''

'' Phoebe is my best healer, I will not take any chances''

'But- Lady Artemis please'' I pleaded

''What's done is done'' she sighed '' I had my lieutenant pack your bag, you must leave now''

And then the scene shifted, I was in the woods with Thaila and Phoebe again, it was dark and something was chasing us.

''Come on guys, hurry up I don't wanna become monster chow'' I said, throwing myself off a Cliff. Thaila told me about how her brother could fly, so naturally I'd been trying to convince her she could too, she just needed the right push.

''Shit Samantha I hate you'' she yelled, jumping off the cliff after me.

She kept her eyes closed the whole time, but she did it. I was right she could fly. Phoebe was perched in a tree branch up above.

''A little help would be nice'' she screamed, firing arrows into the beast.

''I told you'' I said over and over again as Thaila flew us back up the cliff.

''Shut up'' and yet again my dream shifted to the day Phoebe and I became best friends.

We were by a waterfall, it was beautiful. I jumped over the edge into the water below and heard Phoebe scream something plunging in after me. As I came out of the water she punched my arm.

''Ow what was that for''

''That's for being stupid'' she said ''you could have died, and I was worried about you''

''Aww you care about me'' I answered splashing her with water

''Shut up'' she grumbled

''See we are friends, best friends'' she didn't reply. But I could see the smile on her face.

I woke up with tears streaming down my face, beaded in sweat. Travis was the only one awake yet.