p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"(Author's note. This is where time skips will start happening throughout her life. Not every single day is important to give background on Maddie as a character so I'm only going to be highlighting certain scenes that helped shape her into the person she is now in the campaign. I will make it clear whenever there has been a jump in time but just know that that's how things will be happening from now on)/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Hey Maddie! I saved you a seat!" Chameleon called over to her as she made her way into the amphitheater for the nightly bonfire. She made her way down the rows of benches and sat down next to her and a few of her other Ares siblings./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""First bonfire of the summer, huh? Glad you decided to join us for this one unlike last year. It was like pulling teeth to get you to join us last time. Even Mr. Grumpy Marcus attends them on occasion and he hates social interaction." Chameleon teased./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Maddie spotted Marcus and his friend a few rows away and waved happily at them. Marcus was the only one who noticed. A look of slight surprise crossed his face to see her at the bonfire but he responded with his lopsided grin and went back to talking with the others./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""He's not that grumpy." Maddies responded, sticking out her tongue as she sat down. She then glanced at the sky line past Chameleon, at the sinking sun in the horizon, as it got darker and darker. Her fingers anxiously twisted together. "It's just...I...I don't like being out so late at night…"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Jeez, you're thirteen and still acting like a five year old. It's not like you have a bedtime or anything here."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""N-no! It's not like that...I just...I…" Her eyes darted quickly back towards the sun, where the last rays of light just began to sink./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Maddie, you've been here for almost a year at this point. How many bonfires have you attended? Two?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Three! Four...including this one…"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Exactly! You're one of the happiest people I know and you love making friends and talking with people. The bonfire sounds like it should be your favorite activity! You should come join in on it more!" She nudged her playfully and Maddie responded with a weak smile./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I...I just don't…"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Wait. Maddie. Don't tell me. Are you afraid of the dark?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Huh!? W-what! N-no! That's for little kids...I'm not…"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""You are! That's why you avoid staying out at night and why you're so quick to run back to your cabin at night!" /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""W-what!? N-no...It's just that I can't see anything and you never know what could occur in the dark! Someone could be standing right next to you and you'd never even notice!"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Alright, alright. I get it. You're afraid of the dark. Noted. If it's so awful for you, you know you could just ask me to walk you back to the cabin or something. I want you to be able to have fun with everyone, and part of my job as head of our cabin is to make sure everyone is a-okay!" Chameleon said, her smile bright and welcoming./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I...thank you…" Maddie's eyes sparkled with happiness. She had been here almost a year and already everyone was so helpful and willing to assist Maddie. Even though most of the campers had left after the summer, Marcus and his friends as well as a handful of others had stuck around. Over the past months, Maddie got to know all of them even better. She hung out regularly with Marcus and Kelly and everyone. She had also become close with the other year rounders, Xander, Lana, Minnie, Peter...they had all reached out to her one time or another. Teaching her how to properly bandage wounds or how to sneak the best food to the pegasi when it wasn't feeding time so that they would be more friendly to you. She had learned so much and had better learned how to interact with others too. Her social anxiety was still rough but she at least knew how to hold a conversation and not stammer as much. That didn't mean her past months were perfect though. She had made a fool of herself multiple times. Thomas and Chameleon, as well as all the Ares kids had all left for the year. She had missed them terribly and had almost tackled Chameleon to the ground with a hug when she had arrived earlier that day. She had cried when Thomas invited her to eat dinner with him tonight because she was worried he had forgotten about her over the winter and wouldn't care about her anymore. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The winter had been awful as well. After spending an entire year at the camp she realized just how awful the months were when the sun hid away. She was no stranger to New York's intense climate, especially in the winter time, but spending every day inside was a lot different then braving the cold inside of a cabin in a giant open field. The camp had a protective barrier around it, so it honestly wasn't terrible during the winter months compared to what it could be. The barrier prevented intense winds and dreadful snow storms that in any other circumstance, would've caused everyone to get stuck inside their cabins. Yet, even though it fended off the worst of the elements it still hadn't been pleasant, though it had been interesting to see Marcus train during those days, since the additional winds made him ten times stronger. The worst part had been the lacking presence of the glorious sun, one of her biggest reminders of why she had gone against her mother and why she was so devout to her lessons when other campers weren't. It had been painful. The winter had made her realize that she would never complain about the heat or sun again. It meant too much to her now./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The fire was nice. Chiron and Mr. D welcomed everyone back to camp which led into joyous campfire songs and jokes, just as it always was. This first day of summer made Maddie remember how much she loved Camp Half-blood. Whatever doubts she had gained over the past year were gone as she sang off key next to Chameleon. Even as they were plunged into deep darkness Maddie barely even noticed, instead having too much fun with everyone./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The night got late and one by one everyone started returning to the cabins. Maddie couldn't help but feel bad when Chameleon opted to leave the campfire early to help Maddie get back safely. The two walked together in the darkness, with only a dim light from Chameleon's flashlight leading the way back./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""By the way, whatever happened to your mom?" Chameleon asked./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""H-huh? Oh...well...she stayed outside of camp for a couple of days, demanding that I return home. Eventually she went home...but...she keeps sending letters to the camp and trying to contact me...she hasn't returned yet, though. I wouldn't put it past her to try again." Maddie retreated into herself the more she talked. While she had been extremely happy to be able to stay at camp she couldn't help but feel guilty. Was what she did right? Her mother had done everything to protect her and raise her all on her own. Yet, Maddie had run away at the first chance she got. Of course her mother would be upset. But Maddie wanted to be with her friends and be free. She didn't know if she would ever get that freedom again if she went back home. It wasn't fair to her mother though. It wasn't like she had ever hurt Maddie on purpose. Her mother loved her, she had always said so and Maddie betrayed that love. At the same time though, why hadn't her mother ever told her the truth or tried to get her help for her battle mind when it was obviously connected to her father? Why had she been determined to keep Maddie out of site and confined? All of it was too confusing for her and she hated that what once had felt like such the right decision was now something she was so conflicted about./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Chameleon watched her curiously and let out a small sigh. "Families are strange. Parents are strange. We don't often always understand what they do or why they do it. But you made a choice and in my eyes, it was the best choice. I don't know everything obviously but from the way you act whenever she's brought up and from the way you are in general, I think it's good that you have escaped that world. Your mom will understand, it'll just take time."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Maddie quickly wiped her eyes, hoping that Chameleon hadn't seen the tears starting to form. She didn't want to show weakness in front of one of her closest friends but her words struck a chord within Maddie's heart./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Chameleon left Maddie at the cabin after the two said goodnight. She quickly got ready for bed and took a moment to stare up at the moon. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Hey moon...my mom...she'll be okay, right? Before now, it was only her and I. All her friends and family left her. They didn't like interacting with her...I...I don't think I can blame them. She got angry easily...she would scream at me a lot. Remember those days...weeks...when mother wouldn't step outside of her bedroom and I had to slip candy bars under the door just to try and get her to eat? Do you remember? I do...I was so scared...I'm glad you were with me those nights. I don't think I could have gotten through without you by my side. There were times too when I...when I would mess up and...and that's all she would talk about...how I...I was worthless and pathetic...how it was why…" Maddie choked back tears but forced herself to keep talking, she felt safe with the moon by her side, "how it was my own fault I wasn't allowed to leave. Cause I was pathetic without her...I...I don't blame everyone for leaving...in the end...I left too..."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Maddie rubbed the tears from her eyes and took a few breaths to steady herself. She knew it hadn't always been easy with her mom. But she wasn't there now. She was here, with her friends. That's what mattered. And her mom must've accepted her decision because she was no longer at camp, right? She hadn't appeared for the past year. It was all okay. After all, Maddie wasn't her mother. She was different. She was friendly and nice and /spanspan style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"good.../spanspan style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"and no one would leave her. She didn't want to experience the same pain her mom had felt. She wasn't going to allow it./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Hey Maddie! I saved you a seat!" Chameleon called over to her as she made her way into the amphitheater for the nightly bonfire. She made her way down the rows of benches and sat down next to her and a few of her other Ares siblings./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""First bonfire of the summer, huh? Glad you decided to join us for this one unlike last year. It was like pulling teeth to get you to join us last time. Even Mr. Grumpy Marcus attends them on occasion and he hates social interaction." Chameleon teased./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Maddie spotted Marcus and his friend a few rows away and waved happily at them. Marcus was the only one who noticed. A look of slight surprise crossed his face to see her at the bonfire but he responded with his lopsided grin and went back to talking with the others./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""He's not that grumpy." Maddies responded, sticking out her tongue as she sat down. She then glanced at the sky line past Chameleon, at the sinking sun in the horizon, as it got darker and darker. Her fingers anxiously twisted together. "It's just...I...I don't like being out so late at night…"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Jeez, you're thirteen and still acting like a five year old. It's not like you have a bedtime or anything here."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""N-no! It's not like that...I just...I…" Her eyes darted quickly back towards the sun, where the last rays of light just began to sink./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Maddie, you've been here for almost a year at this point. How many bonfires have you attended? Two?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Three! Four...including this one…"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Exactly! You're one of the happiest people I know and you love making friends and talking with people. The bonfire sounds like it should be your favorite activity! You should come join in on it more!" She nudged her playfully and Maddie responded with a weak smile./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I...I just don't…"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Wait. Maddie. Don't tell me. Are you afraid of the dark?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Huh!? W-what! N-no! That's for little kids...I'm not…"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""You are! That's why you avoid staying out at night and why you're so quick to run back to your cabin at night!" /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""W-what!? N-no...It's just that I can't see anything and you never know what could occur in the dark! Someone could be standing right next to you and you'd never even notice!"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Alright, alright. I get it. You're afraid of the dark. Noted. If it's so awful for you, you know you could just ask me to walk you back to the cabin or something. I want you to be able to have fun with everyone, and part of my job as head of our cabin is to make sure everyone is a-okay!" Chameleon said, her smile bright and welcoming./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I...thank you…" Maddie's eyes sparkled with happiness. She had been here almost a year and already everyone was so helpful and willing to assist Maddie. Even though most of the campers had left after the summer, Marcus and his friends as well as a handful of others had stuck around. Over the past months, Maddie got to know all of them even better. She hung out regularly with Marcus and Kelly and everyone. She had also become close with the other year rounders, Xander, Lana, Minnie, Peter...they had all reached out to her one time or another. Teaching her how to properly bandage wounds or how to sneak the best food to the pegasi when it wasn't feeding time so that they would be more friendly to you. She had learned so much and had better learned how to interact with others too. Her social anxiety was still rough but she at least knew how to hold a conversation and not stammer as much. That didn't mean her past months were perfect though. She had made a fool of herself multiple times. Thomas and Chameleon, as well as all the Ares kids had all left for the year. She had missed them terribly and had almost tackled Chameleon to the ground with a hug when she had arrived earlier that day. She had cried when Thomas invited her to eat dinner with him tonight because she was worried he had forgotten about her over the winter and wouldn't care about her anymore. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The winter had been awful as well. After spending an entire year at the camp she realized just how awful the months were when the sun hid away. She was no stranger to New York's intense climate, especially in the winter time, but spending every day inside was a lot different then braving the cold inside of a cabin in a giant open field. The camp had a protective barrier around it, so it honestly wasn't terrible during the winter months compared to what it could be. The barrier prevented intense winds and dreadful snow storms that in any other circumstance, would've caused everyone to get stuck inside their cabins. Yet, even though it fended off the worst of the elements it still hadn't been pleasant, though it had been interesting to see Marcus train during those days, since the additional winds made him ten times stronger. The worst part had been the lacking presence of the glorious sun, one of her biggest reminders of why she had gone against her mother and why she was so devout to her lessons when other campers weren't. It had been painful. The winter had made her realize that she would never complain about the heat or sun again. It meant too much to her now./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The fire was nice. Chiron and Mr. D welcomed everyone back to camp which led into joyous campfire songs and jokes, just as it always was. This first day of summer made Maddie remember how much she loved Camp Half-blood. Whatever doubts she had gained over the past year were gone as she sang off key next to Chameleon. Even as they were plunged into deep darkness Maddie barely even noticed, instead having too much fun with everyone./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The night got late and one by one everyone started returning to the cabins. Maddie couldn't help but feel bad when Chameleon opted to leave the campfire early to help Maddie get back safely. The two walked together in the darkness, with only a dim light from Chameleon's flashlight leading the way back./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""By the way, whatever happened to your mom?" Chameleon asked./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""H-huh? Oh...well...she stayed outside of camp for a couple of days, demanding that I return home. Eventually she went home...but...she keeps sending letters to the camp and trying to contact me...she hasn't returned yet, though. I wouldn't put it past her to try again." Maddie retreated into herself the more she talked. While she had been extremely happy to be able to stay at camp she couldn't help but feel guilty. Was what she did right? Her mother had done everything to protect her and raise her all on her own. Yet, Maddie had run away at the first chance she got. Of course her mother would be upset. But Maddie wanted to be with her friends and be free. She didn't know if she would ever get that freedom again if she went back home. It wasn't fair to her mother though. It wasn't like she had ever hurt Maddie on purpose. Her mother loved her, she had always said so and Maddie betrayed that love. At the same time though, why hadn't her mother ever told her the truth or tried to get her help for her battle mind when it was obviously connected to her father? Why had she been determined to keep Maddie out of site and confined? All of it was too confusing for her and she hated that what once had felt like such the right decision was now something she was so conflicted about./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Chameleon watched her curiously and let out a small sigh. "Families are strange. Parents are strange. We don't often always understand what they do or why they do it. But you made a choice and in my eyes, it was the best choice. I don't know everything obviously but from the way you act whenever she's brought up and from the way you are in general, I think it's good that you have escaped that world. Your mom will understand, it'll just take time."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Maddie quickly wiped her eyes, hoping that Chameleon hadn't seen the tears starting to form. She didn't want to show weakness in front of one of her closest friends but her words struck a chord within Maddie's heart./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Chameleon left Maddie at the cabin after the two said goodnight. She quickly got ready for bed and took a moment to stare up at the moon. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Hey moon...my mom...she'll be okay, right? Before now, it was only her and I. All her friends and family left her. They didn't like interacting with her...I...I don't think I can blame them. She got angry easily...she would scream at me a lot. Remember those days...weeks...when mother wouldn't step outside of her bedroom and I had to slip candy bars under the door just to try and get her to eat? Do you remember? I do...I was so scared...I'm glad you were with me those nights. I don't think I could have gotten through without you by my side. There were times too when I...when I would mess up and...and that's all she would talk about...how I...I was worthless and pathetic...how it was why…" Maddie choked back tears but forced herself to keep talking, she felt safe with the moon by her side, "how it was my own fault I wasn't allowed to leave. Cause I was pathetic without her...I...I don't blame everyone for leaving...in the end...I left too..."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Maddie rubbed the tears from her eyes and took a few breaths to steady herself. She knew it hadn't always been easy with her mom. But she wasn't there now. She was here, with her friends. That's what mattered. And her mom must've accepted her decision because she was no longer at camp, right? She hadn't appeared for the past year. It was all okay. After all, Maddie wasn't her mother. She was different. She was friendly and nice and /spanspan style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"good.../spanspan style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"and no one would leave her. She didn't want to experience the same pain her mom had felt. She wasn't going to allow it./span/p