DISCLAIMER: All the characters except the OC's, belong to Rick Riordan.
Chapter 15: My ironic First day at camp.
"Hello again, Perseus." his dream self turned around to face the beach. Under the stormy night sky, stood Poseidon, in his fisherman outfit. He stared into the ocean with a faraway look. Percy followed his gaze to an astonishing scene.
On the edge of the surf, stood two most beautiful animals he'd ever seen. A magnificent white horse galloped along the waves and a majestic golden eagle hovered above the shore. They circled and charged each other, clashing repeatedly on the surf. The eagle tried to tear off the horse's muzzle with huge talons and the horse kicked at the eagle's wings. As they fought viciously, an eerily cold voice chuckled somewhere beneath the ground, goading and taunting the animals to tear each other apart.
"This is our current situation. Three brothers trying to outdo each other. Two of them lost their divine weapons and blame the last to no end." Poseidon sighed.
"What do you want me to do?" Percy asked lightly. He had to ask this, even if this was of no concern to him. Personally, he'd rather Zeus lose his master bolt than fetch it himself.
"Can you detain the situation? My hands are tied with the issues at the empire. Old sea spirits are rising. Do what you must." he implored.
Percy sighed but nodded. Just what he needed. He came to the camp to stay away from the struggles, but here he was, dragged into its eye.
The giant eagle screeched and scooped down, aiming at the horse's eyes. The horse stomped its hooves on the wave and raised its forelegs at the eagle's body. The eerie voice cackled in glee. Percy's vision turned dark before he saw the outcome.
He woke with a start. What a nightmare. He had come to the camp to stay away from all the drama; he came here to avoid another god knocking on his door for his missing toothbrush. It seemed he and peace have no destiny together.
"You're awake. That's good." he nodded to Piper. She sat at his bedside, sans injuries. He flipped the sheets and stood up. He felt a dull throbbing on his temple but ignored it and observed his surroundings. "Where—"
"Infirmary. We've lost consciousness immediately after crossing the border. Grover told me about everything." she said. He took a few steps, arrived at the window, and peered over it. A breeze blew against his face, carrying with it the sounds of laughter and the scent of strawberries. The whole valley appeared to be made of Greek theme with a mighty Coliseum, an equally astonishing amphitheater, an outdoor dining pavilion, and a large forest with a winding stream, that shone with an ethereal light beneath the slowly descending sun.
Beyond all that sat the great and noble Long Island Sound. Just a glimpse at the estuary and he could tell the type of water body it was. Just as he was marveling at the scenic beauty, his senses tingled and Percy felt being stared at. He tried to pinpoint the gaze before Piper called for him.
"Percy! Put on a shirt." she spluttered and cleared her throat. "Let's go. Chiron's waiting for us." she stood up.
"Pipes, we don't know anyone here, save for four, I guess." he amended, remembering Thalia and Grover. "The usual, half-lies about the mortal world, and.." he paused, noticing Piper looking at him with a funny look.
"Don't gimme that 'not again' look. This is important. Never reveal the Imperial gold and Requiem silver. The camp prefers Celestial bronze. Act like a newbie. If we're doing this, we're doing it my way."
"You're no fun." she slumped on the infirmary bed. "A lot of kids peeked at us all day. I was about to let loose on them," she grumbled but followed him out.
They stepped into the hallway when a beefy, blonde guy with dozens of eyes pointed them towards the interiors of the house. When they arrived at the back porch, four figures entered their vision, two unfamiliar ones. Mr. Brunner—Chiron—sat across a middle-aged man at a cards table and two kids stood by the porch railing.
The middle-aged man was average, but porky. He had a chubby face, a red nose, big watery eyes, and curly black hair. He held a can of Diet Coke and a pair of playing cards in his hands and looked like an overgrown cherub on a serious hangover. Though Percy had never been one for fashion, even he could tell the leopard-patterned Hawaiian shirt was out of season by decades.
Since Percy decided to get involved in this mess, he would play the game on his terms and place himself in an advantageous position. He had to create an opportunity where the gods would have to ask him first to take the initiative. So he needs to leave an impression.
He only needed Dionysus to have a little impression of him, then his plans can move forward like a pegasus soaring through the sky. Succeeding in one step was a challenge, but doing something strange to attract the god's attention, was his specialty.
Then he turned to the last unfamiliar figure. It was a girl, his age. She was probably within an inch of his height, but their builds were remarkably similar—built from years of athletics and strenuous work. With light tan skin and curly blonde hair, she looked like a stereotypical Californian girl.
However, not one of those features struck him so much as her eyes. They were cold, otherworldly gray, and carried harsh scrutiny that seemed saved solely for him. On the outside, her gaze looked ordinary, but it was actually backed by her a level of superiority; a realm achieved by a life of monster hunting and training. She wanted his first impression of her to be that of 'This girl is a borne genius'
She only needed to seed such feelings, then it would be of great help when he needed her aid in the future. Their cooperation would have a greater chance of going smoothly. At that moment, Annabeth thought Percy was simply passing by, that he was unprotected against such gaze. But who would think that a gaze could have such an effect? Who would think that he too was aiming for such a result?
So, Percy's gaze was even more deliberate.
For this exchange, he even brought out the cold, ominous aura from hurricane to create an icy atmosphere like a field of ice and snow. His gaze was sharp, arrogant, and wild like the alpha of the wolves in the northern grasslands; sharp like a sword and cold as ice. Under his gaze, all living things were like ants to be killed without care. All worlds were no more than grass to be trampled.
However, Annabeth's gaze was peaceful, warm, and calm like the quiet surface of a lake. Like an ocean accepting thousands of tributaries, limitless domination.
One side was intentional, the other inadvertent but also intentional. Without any prearrangement, they collided with full force.
This was a duel of power!
But such a duel has no outcome. If Percy's gaze was the ocean waves, Annabeth's was the sturdy reefs. The waves rolled and crashed. The reefs stood still and remained unwavering. In the end, would the rocks break the waves? Or would the waves drown the rocks? How could it be determined who will win?
But all ended in the blink of an eye. Percy felt the middle-aged man stare at him and he was forced to look directly into those strangely luminescent orbs of violet. The momentum he had gained came to a screeching halt. He doesn't know what he saw in his eyes, but he knew he'd never forget it.
Chiron took the moment to make introductions. He introduced the girl with blonde curls as Annabeth, the one who tended to his injuries the previous night. He internally thanked the Centaur's sense of propriety and turned to her to express his gratitude.
But the girl, Annabeth, averted her eyes. On an unrelated tangent, "You drool in your sleep." she blurted.
Percy stood, stupefied, but recovered quickly. Alarm bells rang in his head, not because of her words, but what her words implied. He sneered internally. Piper stood beside him, slack-jawed at Annabeth's comment.
"So, you're a peeping tom, then." he threw back. Annabeth stood, wide-eyed, like a deer caught in headlights.
Chiron glanced mischievously up at her before him. "Annabeth, I thought I told you that cap of yours was only to be used on quests and for capture the flag."
Annabeth blushed like a kid caught sneaking cookies from the pantry. Behind her back, Percy noticed she was holding a New York Yankees cap. Shaking his head, Chiron gestured her to the edge of the patio. "I understand this matter is of high importance to you, but you must let them get settled in before you go badgering him of quests and prophecies. Now, why don't you go and check on their sleeping arrangements? We'll be putting them in cabin Eleven for now."
"Yes, sir," she said automatically and began making her exit. She stopped at the edge of the porches' shade and looked back to fix him with a final look. Though Percy could be mistaken for nothing other than a curious glance, there was also a second emotion hidden behind it, one he couldn't grasp. She caught his eyes, quickly turned around, and walked away.
Chiron coughed and turned to a pudgy man, who was still looking at Percy with great curiosity. "Chiron—" he started but the Centaur beat him to it. "Mr. D? You're the director."
Mr. D heaved a great sigh. "Oh, I suppose I must say it. Welcome to Camp Half-Blood. There. Now, don't expect me to be glad to see you."
"Mr. D," Grover asked timidly, "if you're not going to eat it, could I have your Diet Coke can?"
"Eh? Oh, all right."
Grover bit a huge shard out of the empty aluminum can and chewed it mournfully.
"Thank you, Lord Dionysus," Percy said, to let Piper know about him, but she took it the other way.
"You're D—Dionysus?" she spluttered. The disbelief in her tone could be heard across the Long Island Sound. Chiron had already informed him about the god's stay at the camp before. The immortal looked up from his cards at her exclamation.
He then rolled his eyes. "What do they say, these days, Grover? Do the children say, 'Well, duh!'?"
"Y-yes, Mr. D."
"Then, well, duh! Pepper McCain. Did you think I was Aphrodite, perhaps?"
Before she could offend the immortal, he nudged her. Piper gritted her teeth but didn't retort.
"No, sir. She's surprised that an Olympian god would be here at a demigod camp." he praised the god while shooting a look at Piper. She mutely nodded at Mr. D in apology.
"Someone understands the absurdity of the situation, at last." Mr. D threw the cards on the table in exasperation. "Now then, Grant Undertake," he called.
Grover trembled and stepped forward. "I want to listen to your story, again. Don't omit anything. I shall decide whether you get a chance after your last failed attempt." he declared. Grover nodded and went into the whole situation: How he traced the scent back to Percy's school during his search, his term with the demigods, the precautions he took, the scene with the Fury, and his attempt to bring them back to the camp quickly. He left the scene with the three grandmas in the fruit-stand from the story, though.
Mr. D turned to them. Percy understood he was affirming the veracity of Grover's story and confirmed parts of it. Though he knew Grover wasn't much of help where it needed, it was not the satyr's specialty either. He had to use subterfuge and bluff on many occasions to elevate Grover's accomplishments.
Mr. D nodded. He then snapped his fingers and a goblet appeared on the table, as if the light had bent, and woven into a glass. The goblet filled itself with red wine.
Grover trembled a little but Chiron hardly looked up. "Mr. D," He warned, "Your restrictions."
Mr. D looked at the wine and feigned surprise. "Dear me." He looked at the sky and yelled, "Old habits! Sorry!" Thunder rumbled in the distance.
He waved his hand, and the wineglass turned into a Diet Coke can. He sighed unhappily, popped the can, and took a sip.
Chiron winked at them, who were watching the charade, amazed. "Mr. D offended his father a while back, took a fancy to a wood nymph who had been declared off-limits."
"Yes, but can you blame me, Chiron? I couldn't help myself. She was really pretty. Father loves to punish me, that's all. He sent me here, a summer camp for brats like these, who don't even show proper respect. 'Be a good influence' he said, 'Work with youth rather than tearing them down', it's unfair. Absolutely horrid. For a century no less."
Mr. D sounded like a whiny six year-old, pouting kid.
He got up, and Grover rose with him. "I'm tired. I believe I'll take a nap before the singalong tonight. And Grover, meet me after the dinner to hear about your performance on this assignment."
"Y-yes, sir." his face broke into a grin. Mr. D turned to them.
"Cabin Eleven, Percy Jackson, Piper McLean, for now. Mind your manners and stay out of trouble in my camp." he hovered above the ground and moved into the big house, Grover following behind him.
"Old Dionysus isn't half bad." Chiron mused. "He just hates his job. He's been...grounded and he can't stand waiting another century before he's allowed to go back to Olympus."
"But for now, we should get you a bunk in cabin Eleven. There will be new friends to meet. Come along." he then slowly rose from his wheelchair. A huge white stallion. The upper body of the—ex—history teacher was smoothly grafted to a horse's trunk. He trotted down the walkway, playful in his steps.
They reached the great pine tree at the top of the hill. It was the same tree that he'd used to observe the camp previously. It was the same tree he felt summoned at before night. What appeared before them on the other side of the hill wasn't the remains of a battlefield like they'd expected. Instead, it was a peaceful, plain-looking backroad that cut through the forest, its pavement cracked and worn. No tire tracks or scorch marks, and no crashed taxi.
Chiron came to a stop beside them, staring at the plain road. "The repairs were finished just this afternoon," he said. "We couldn't risk drawing attention to the camp and began cleaning it up once we recollected your things." Percy nodded.
"We've surveyed the crash site after you were taken to the infirmary. We found the driver alive and, once we ensured he was alright, left him at the nearest truck stop." The duo exchanged a guilty look. The driver had lived? In the heat of last night, he hadn't even once thought of him after they'd crashed. Sure, there had been more important things to take care of, but still...
They made their way back to the valley. The Big House was a lot bigger than he'd realized. It was four stories tall, colored blue with white rims, like an old-fashioned beach resort. They passed the volleyball pit. Several of the campers—some younger, some older—ran past them, nudging each other. Every last one of them, no matter their race, age, or appearance, seemed to be having a good time, smiling and laughing as they jogged around the valley. It was so corny-looking that he nearly gagged just watching it, but strangely, he couldn't bring his eyes to look away, a strange warmth filling his chest as he continued watching.
"They're just like you in every single regard," Chiron said. Percy looked back to see the Centaur smiling warmly at him. "The monsters, the troubles at school, the longing for answers...at this camp, Percy, you will find boys and girls who have gone through the same struggles as you. Here, I promise, you will be accepted."
How Percy wished the answer to be true. But once everyone know who he was, what he'd gone through, what he'd done to get there, he wondered whether they'd still look at him the same. He doubted anyone at camp had seen the number of monsters and supernatural beings he'd killed in his life.
"Come along, children," Chiron said, his lighthearted tone now a little forced after watching his expression. "Lots to see."
They walked through the strawberry fields, where campers were picking bushels of berries while a satyr played a tune on a reed pipe. They were told the camp exports strawberries to New York restaurants and Mount Olympus for their expenses since Mr. D had that effect on fruit-bearing plants. Since he was restricted from growing grapes, they had settled for strawberries.
It took a while for Percy to get it. "So the camp's front is this strawberry farmland."
"Delphi Strawberry service," Chiron corrected.
Watching the satyrs and demigods grow strawberries, Percy wondered if Grover could work that kind of magic with music. Speaking of Grover...
"Grover will get his license, right? He proved to be a good protector, though our case is a little different," he said.
"I might agree with you," Chiron said. "But it's not my place to judge. Dionysus and the council of Cloven Elders must decide. They might see this assignment as a success. But Grover missed the Minotaur and placed your lives at risk. And the fact that he was unconscious when you dragged him over the property line. The council might question whether this shows any courage on Grover's part."
"That's not fair. So what if he could find the Minotaur before it found us. What could he do to escape its clutches? Do the council even have anyone capable of such a feat. Please, let me prostrate before him and accept him as my master, if so." he snarked. From Chiron's words, he got the impression that this council-whatever was a mess of a cesspool.
"Does he get a second chance?" Piper asked. She has been silent all along the tour. Watching demigods having fun might've aroused her curiosity. She took in the scenic views with excitement.
Chiron winced. "I'm afraid that was Grover's second chance, Piper. The council was not anxious to give him another, either, after what happened the first time, five years ago. Olympus knows, I advised him to wait longer before trying again..."
"What happened the first time then? Was it really that bad?" she asked.
Chiron looked away. "That's not for me to answer. Let's move along, shall we?" Chiron refused to answer, so the duo dropped the subject. The tour continued with an archery range, the canoeing lake (Piper jumped up excitedly, watching the naiads, much to the bemusement of Chiron), the sing-along amphitheater, the arena, the javelin range, the stables (Chiron didn't seem to like the place very much), and the open-air dining pavilion.
"So, what do you think?" Chiron asked.
"It's quite different from the world I lived in so far. The civilization and technology are between the middle age and the modern era. Perhaps the greatest difference, as far as I can tell, seems the existence of magic and the demigods possess physical strength that surpasses humans by a lot."
It's really picturesque. Chiron apparently didn't want such a perfunctory response. "Oh, why do you say that?" he asked again.
"There's still a huge gap between the fragile flowers raised in the greenhouse and the strong grass grown in the storm. Most of them wouldn't survive the Minotaur's onslaught." he gave his genuine appraisal of the campers' strength. Chiron sighed in distress.
They reached the cabins, nestled in the woods by the lake. They were arranged in a reverse-U shape with two at the base and five in a row on either side. No cabin looked alike; each one was a bizarre building. The number Nine had smokestacks and looked like a mini-factory. Number Four had tomato vines on the walls and a grass roof; a typical treehouse without a tree. Cabin Seven and Eight seemed to be made of pure gold and silver respectively.
"Woah! What's that!" Piper exclaimed, looking at cabin Ten. It was like a giant Disney-themed house. She looked like she had swallowed a rotten apple.
All the cabins faced a common area filled with Greek statues, fountains, flower beds, and a couple of basketball hoops. In the center of the field was a huge stone-lined firepit. Even though it was a chilly evening, the hearth smoldered. A girl about nine years old was tending the flames, poking the coals with a stick. She glanced at him before resuming her work.
"Look," Chiron said, "Annabeth is waiting for us." he led them to the last cabin on the left, cabin Eleven. The cabin looked old—all the cabins are, to be honest—with worn-down thresholds and peeled-off paint job. Over the door was a symbol of a winged pole with intertwined snakes—A Caduceus. The cabin was full of people—forty or so—with sleeping bags, spread all over the floor. It looked more like an evacuation center than a summer cabin.
"Annabeth," Chiron said. "I have a meeting with Mr. D now. Would you take Percy and Piper from here?"
"Yes, sir."
"Cabin Eleven," Chiron told them, gesturing towards the doorway. "Make yourself at home. I'll see you at dinner." He galloped away towards the Big House. The kids inside the cabin were staring, sizing them up. The duo had changed enough schools to know the routine. The new kids have to earn their rep.
"Well, go on." Annabeth prompted. They both stepped into the cabin, under several curious and mischievous looks.
Everyone turned to them. The boys were openly staring at Piper, tongue-tied. She's that effect, not that she'd ever wanted it.
"Percy Jackson and Piper McLean, meet Cabin Eleven," Annabeth announced.
"The bull-guy?" someone at the back asked.
"I'm not the bull guy. I'm the one who slew the bull-guy." Percy corrected. The residents Oohed.
"Regular or Undetermined?" another one asked. That one threw the duo off. They were even befuddled when everyone groaned at their 'Undetermined' status.
"Don't be like that, guys." another one interjected. "That's what we're here for. Hermes takes everyone in. Percy, Piper, you can take that corner. It's a little crowded here but you'll get used to it." A Hispanic guy of fifteen years old introduced himself as Chris Rodriguez, the interim counselor of Cabin Eleven. He said the actual counselor was away on a mission for the camp at the moment.
Since the duo still had their stuff in the infirmary, there was nothing to do in the cabin, so Annabeth led them outside to continue the tour.
"You're the resident big shot!?" Piper asked once they stepped outside.
"Why do you ask?" Annabeth didn't seem to take it the wrong way. "I'm actually not. It's just I've been here at camp more than most of them. So they tend to give me space." she said with a wry smile.
"Next question: What's regular and undetermined?" Piper continued.
"You become a regular camper of a cabin when a god/goddess claims you as their children. Until then, you're undetermined and stay with the Hermes cabin." Clearly, Annabeth had had this conversation before with other kids.
They arrived before the two big buildings. They looked like Mr. & Mrs. mausoleums; buildings made of marbles with solid columns in front. Cabin one was the bulkiest with a set of bronze doors with shimmering holograms of lightning bolts. Cabin two was more graceful, with slimmer columns, decorated with pomegranates and flowers. The walls were carved with images of peacocks.
"Zeus and Hera?" he asked. Annabeth nodded a little and scowled at Hera's cabin.
"No one's in there?" he thought about Thalia. She should be either be in the cabin or doing some work—searching for the Bolt—outside.
"Hera doesn't have demigod children, so her cabin is honorary. Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades took an oath to never have demigods after WW II, so their cabins also turned out to be honorary." He waited for her to bring up about cabin One resident, Thalia, but she didn't. He opened his mouth to ask about her but thought otherwise. He couldn't answer how he knew Thalia before she had even reached the camp.
"Artemis swore maidenhood and she doesn't have any kids, but her cabin is used by her hunters when they visit the camp." Instead, she pointed at cabin Eight which looked pretty normal for a cabin but was made of silver, glowing in the twilight. Piper looked at the cabin longingly.
"Isn't Athena, a sworn maiden too. How come cabin six is bustling with campers then?" she asked, gesturing to cabin Six.
"Oh that, my sibling and I are born the same way our mother was born. We were created from her head just like she was born from the head of her father."
"Does that mean, just like her father, Athena has swallowed your father?" Percy asked, still thinking about how to broach Thalia to her.
Annabeth blushed crimson—either embarrassed or angry, he didn't know. She opened her mouth to retort but swallowed her words. She cleared her throat and started. "No, we are born when our mother appreciates the intelligence and mortal ingenuity of men. We're literally the brainchildren." she clipped.
"What about Hades? Where do their kids stay?" Piper asked to distract her.
"Hades doesn't have a cabin at camp, nor a seat on Olympus. He does his own thing in the Underworld. Every other demigods are placed in Cabin Eleven. Since Hermes is the god of travelers, he welcomes everyone to his cabin. That's why you're going to stay there until you are claimed."
They started their way back when a husky voice rang ahead of them. "Well, well! what do we have here? Newbies?"
Five kids sauntered from cabin Five, blocking their way. The cabin was badly painted in bright red and lined with barbed wire, like a military command center. A stuffed wild boar's head hung over the doorway, and its eyes seemed to follow the passerby. The residents from the aforementioned cabin were a bunch of mean-looking kids in camos and orange t-shirts.
The one who spoke was a girl fourteen-years old. She had dark beady eyes, long brown hair in a bandana, and wore an XXL t-shirt over camo pants. She had another four kids, all big, mean-looking, following her. The lead girl had an evil sneer as she sized them up.
"Clarisse, why don't you go polish your spear or something," Annabeth replied in exasperation.
"Sure, so that we can run you through with it Friday night." The burly girl—Clarisse—snarled.
"Erre es korakas!" Annabeth cursed. "You don't stand a chance."
"We'll pulverize you," Clarisse said, but her eye twitched a little. Perhaps she wasn't sure she could follow through on the threat. She turned toward them. "Who're these little runts?"
"Percy Jackson, Piper McLean," Annabeth introduced. "meet Clarisse La Rue, daughter of Ares."
"Wow, you look nothing alike." Piper blurted out. Percy thought along the same lines. Ares was said to be a handsome but cruel, war-crazy god that even Aphrodite went crazy and courted. Now, to see his demigod children as burly and mean was a total letdown.
"You got a problem, squirt!?" Clarisse growled.
"No, no problem at all." he interrupted. "Just look at those muscular legs, they could put trees to shame."
"Eh-hem," Annabeth started to cough loudly in an attempt to conceal her laughter.
"Hahaha.." Piper, on the other hand, didn't even try to cover up; instead, she laughed gloatingly.
Clarisse's face burned red with anger. "We got an initiation ceremony for newbies, Prissy," she growled.
"Percy." he corrected.
"Whatever. Come on, I'll show you." She reached out to him.
"Clarisse—" Annabeth tried to interject.
"Stay out of it, Princess." Annabeth looked pained, but she did.
Clarisse then took Percy by chokehold and dragged him towards what suspiciously looked like the bathrooms building beside the cabins. Another boy took hold of Piper's arms and twisted behind her and pushed forward. The duo didn't refuse the rough holds and allowed their assailants to drag them, curious about the initiation ceremony.
Once near the buildings, they immediately reacted at once. They both escaped the binds and dislocated their assailants' shoulders in the blink of an eye. Percy even broke Clarisse's arm, fracturing it. He then lay on her the ground. Piper kicked the boy between his legs and tied his arms behind his back. He moaned in pain and dropped into a fetal position. The rest of the Ares cabin residents looked gobsmacked. The boys clenched their legs tightly and the remaining didn't dare to attack. The dark-haired duo considered the bullying and left their assailants with minor setbacks: dislocations, sprains, and hairline fractures.
He at least has to give it her guts. Clarisse didn't scream or curse, except for occasional grunting. Percy didn't consider his actions as some achievement either. They both took Ares residents by surprise.
"It's a clean break, heals in two days, and would be stronger than before. I won't charge for this. Consider it a charity." he said and moved along the path.
Annabeth overcame her shock quickly. She watched the growling Clarisse to the calm Percy and followed the latter. "How—"
"Don't ask for something you already know. You really don't want the answer." Piper joked. He could even hear Annabeth's eyeballs roll in their sockets.
They continued with their tour. The forges, the arts and crafts room, the lava climbing wall. They soon wound up back in the dining pavilion.
"I've been meaning to ask, what happens when it rains?" Piper asked.
"Oh, no worries. The camp borders are magically protected from monsters and mortals. From the outside, it only looks like a strawberry farm. The weather interior is controlled for our needs. It never rains unless we want it to." Percy had meant to ask Chiron about it but held his tongue after the look in Centaur's eyes. Clearly, the immortal teacher had been waiting for him to ask to gloat about his camp.
"So, there are no monsters inside the boundaries, then?" he asked instead.
"Not unless they're intentionally stocked in the woods or specifically summoned by someone on the inside. Practice fights, practical jokes."
"Practical jokes?" Annabeth nodded with a knowing look.
"The point is, the borders are magically sealed. So, demigods can stay here peacefully. Some campers only stay for summers. The monsters tend to ignore them, so you can get by with a few months of training and live in the mortal world for the rest of the year. A few managed to survive in the outside world and become famous. Believe me, if I told you the names, you'd know them. Some don't even realize they're demigods. But very few are like that."
Percy thought about it. Leaving everything up to fate and hoping to get lucky? That wasn't something he could do. He had never once survived on luck; his luck was rotten.
"But for some of us, it's too dangerous to leave. Once you're old enough—ten or eleven years old—most demigods either make their way to the camp, or they get killed off. We stay year-round. I'm a year-rounder. I've been here since I was seven, longer than most of the counselors, and they're all in college."
"What about school for the year-rounders? How do they join the college?" he was intrigued now. There has to be some way, right?
"There's a library in the Big House for everything. But some of us are not cut out for it. We have to learn everything on our own, too. The camp conducts exams for every grade at the end of the year and Chiron pulls some strings to get grades for the year-rounders." Annabeth sighed sadly. Perhaps, the school would be a theme park for the children of Athena.
"So, the library in the Big House has records for everything, I presume?" he asked. Annabeth nodded automatically. They toured around the forges, the arts & crafts building, and rounded back to the canoeing lake.
"That's Thalia's pine tree." Annabeth pointed to the great pine on the top of the hill at the entrance. Her eyes softened considerably in the twilight.
"What!" Percy and Piper exclaimed loudly.
"What's what?" Annabeth turned towards them, a little doubtful about their outburst.
"N-no, nothing, little surprised a tree was named and all." he spluttered a response. She nodded.
"It's a legend at camp. The tree was a memory of a fallen hero," she said shortly. Percy didn't pry anymore. They couldn't continue asking questions on a touchy subject and escape unquestioned. They reached the edge of the canoe. The dusky sunset painted a picturesque scene on the lake.
"Now, my turn. Who are your parents?" Annabeth turned and asked vaguely.
"Which parents?" sure enough, Piper got caught in her trap.
"So, you do know about your godly parents then? Who're they?" Annabeth latched on to her slip up.
"What do you think?" he shot back lightly.
"Then, at least tell me about your mortal parents." she thought about it a little and compromised.
"My mom works at a sweet shop in Manhattan. Piper's dad sells art souvenirs in Brooklyn." he gave the customary response from their script.
Annabeth thought for a moment. "Hmm, only from looks, I'd say you're Aphrodite since it's your father. But Aphrodite campers don't know how to fight, at all." Percy nudged Piper, who grounded her teeth. "You're not one of Athena, for sure. And you haven't shown any interest for nature to be Demeter, yet. You're an odd one. I'd say one of the minor goddesses." she then turned to Percy.
"You're even more abnormal. You don't have the sneaky looks of Hermes, nor a buff physique like Ares. Mr. D would've recognized you. You don't have the good looks of Apollo either. I've never seen your eyes on anyone at camp, or in the previous camper photos. My bet is Zeus, the Lord of the sky. You don't match any god that I know of, but you share a few resemblances with Zeus." Percy shuddered, to be compared with Zeus.
Piper, on the other hand, giggled. She was told Percy looked like a photocopy of Poseidon, except for his lopsided smile and dimple from Sally. For Annabeth to say no god matched his looks, it was obvious she hadn't had the chance to meet the Lord of the Sea yet.
A splash of water sprayed on the trio. Percy remained completely dry while Piper swiftly hid behind him. Only Annabeth was caught off-guard and her hair lightly got wet. At the base of the pier, twenty feet below, two girls in jeans and shimmering green t-shirts waved and giggled at them. Their brown hair floated loosely around their shoulders. They both bowed to him slightly to show their respects.
Piper and Percy naturally waved back.
"Don't encourage them," Annabeth warned. "Naiads are terrible flirts."
"Are they?"
"Yes, I've seen it on Olympus many times on our visit," she replied tersely.
"You've been to Olympus before?" he asked, too busy to hide his curiosity.
"Yeah, some of the year-rounders took a field trip during the Winter Solstice; that's when the gods have their annual meeting. Empire State Building, special elevator to the sixth hundredth floor." she looked at them like she was sure they know this already. "You're New Yorkers, right?"
"Yeah, but we've never been there before," Piper said. They both know the location but were too scared to snoop around the area.
To continue their flow, he instead asked, "Back at the Big House, Chiron said something about quests and prophecies..."
Annabeth's shoulder tensed. "So you do know something, huh. Chiron wouldn't tell me. There was a problem on Olympus..."
"Not exactly. Chiron and Grover talked a lot about the Solstice deadline during the term. They talked about something like 'we didn't have much time,' and 'the consequences are going to be unbearable'. Probably someone lost something big and was in the middle of searching for it." he supplied.
"Yes, I've thought as much. Something is wrong on Mt. Olympus. Last time, everything seemed normal at the beginning..." she stopped talking all of a sudden. Percy understood what happened and looked around.
Word of their fight with Ares' cabin spread immediately around the camp. Campers in the distance were pointing at them, looking above their heads. He guessed everyone was probably re-assessing their initial evaluation of them, given their display. They all scampered away, after being caught by him.
"Right," Annabeth continued. "everything was normal before the weather got weird as if the gods had started fighting and we were quickly chased away. A couple of times since, I've overheard satyrs talking." she coughed at that. He partly guessed her 'overhearing' as 'snooping around' and nodded. "The best I can figure out is that something important was stolen from Olympus, from the throne room, no less. And if it isn't returned by the Summer Solstice, there's going to be trouble."
Percy was wondering why she was giving away crucial information without getting any answers from them. His doubt faded immediately when he learned her true motives.
"When you came, I was hoping...I mean, I thought we could work together. I thought you might know something."
So that's what's going on? And here I thought I found an accomplice to the theft. he cursed internally.
He might've added a word or two to her in the right direction, if not for the sneaky look that passed her face briefly. She had shared everything in hopes to find something from him. Something more concrete to her pieces of speculations. Too bad...
"I've got to get a quest," she muttered to herself when he didn't speak. "I'm not too young. If they would just tell me the problem..." She then told them to follow the Hermes cabin for their schedule, she'd catch on later. They separated on the pier, but the duo returned once Annabeth was out of sight.
They made their way to the canoe lake. Percy sat at the edge of the dock, feet slipping into the water. Piper mimicked his actions. They waited till a naiad appeared directly below them in the water. They acted like nothing was wrong and like they were alone.
"Elaine, how's the camp for you? Got any friends?" Piper asked. The naiad, wearing a green blouse and jeans, was Elaine.
"Percy, Piper!" she exclaimed gleefully. "You've gone for six months. I missed you so much." she gushed.
"Not as much as Bill, I believe." Percy threw back jokingly. The freshwater nymph blushed, a faint blue tinted her cheeks. "I'll tell him you're bullying me here," she grumbled. "Anyway, I've made tons of friends here. There're all kinds of nature spirits residing in the woods nearby."
Percy and Piper took turns to give her the details of their terms, minus the monster slaying. Elaine was a peace-loving spirit and propagated everyone to follow her path too.
"Elaine, I want you to be my eyes at the camp. Naiads are terrible gossipers. Or so I've heard." he amended his statement after her pointed glare. He coughed and continued like he didn't see it.
"See if you can find anyone demeaning the gods and propagating their downfall or such. Don't reveal yourself. No information is more important than you. You're new here, so don't get caught." he warned her.
"Ok, Percy. Leave everything to me. I'll get you the inside story in no time. I'll be cautious too." she acquiesced after their disapproving looks and disappeared under the lake.
They returned to the Hermes cabin with their luggage in tow from the infirmary. Chris got him some basic supplies and a corner for a sleeping bag while another girl helped Piper. Few of the demigods in the cabin had similar features—sharp noses, upturned eyebrows, mischievous smiles, which would peg them as troublemakers while some had dull and listless eyes. He joined in the conversations and tried to find out more about the cabin counselor, Luke.
A conch horn blew in the distance, calling the campers for dinner. The whole cabin filed into the common yard and marched up to the dining pavilion. A group of satyrs, wind nymphs and dryads joined the pavilion. A total of hundred campers with dozens of satyrs and nature spirits. A huge central fire in a bronze brazier burned brightly in the pavilion. Huge torches blazed around the columns. A total of twelve stone tables filled the pavilion. Four of them remained empty with the lack of residents, but the Hermes' table was overcrowded.
Percy saw Grover at table twelve with Mr. D, along with other satyrs, and a couple of plump blonde boys; demigods of Mr. D. Chiron stood to one side, at a different picnic table. The demigods at the same table resemble each other, their Olympian parent features prominently on display.
The Athena demigods are a bunch of serious-looking athletic kids, all with gray eyes and different shades of blond hair. The demigods at table four are kind and passionate about gardening. The Apollo kids are a bunch of handsome boys and beautiful girls with slender frames, suitable for archery.
Finally, Chiron pounded his hoof against the marble floor of the pavilion, and everybody fell silent. He raised a glass. "To the gods!"
Everybody else raised their empty glasses. "To the gods!"
The wood nymphs came forward with platters of food: fruits, cheese, fresh bread, and beef. Everyone spoke their choice of drinks to the empty glasses; non-alcoholic, of course. Percy ordered blue coke and filled his plate. He saw everyone drop a portion of their meal into the fire. Chris told him the gods like the burnt offerings from their subjects.
So he approached the fire, bowed a little, and dropped a portion from his plate into the brazier. "Poseidon!" he murmured.
Unexpectedly, he received a response immediately. "Take a few days to settle in. Once I claim you as my own, you'll be isolated." It was Poseidon's instruction on his next move. The whiff of smoke from the brazier smelled nothing like burning food. It smelled of chocolate, fresh-baked brownies, and much more. He could almost believe that gods could live off that smoke.
Since the table was crowded, Percy simply sat on the grass and continued enjoying the meal made of magic with Piper, disregarding everyone's stares. Since it wasn't against the rules, no one spoke anything to the duo.
During the dinner, Dionysus stood up and everyone quieted, paying attention to the god. He heaved a sigh. "Yes, yes, hello to you brats. Our activities director, Chiron, says the next capture the flag is Friday. The Ares cabin presently holds the laurels." cue cheering from the said cabin. "Personally, I couldn't care less, but congratulations." he continued.
"Then there are new campers joining us today. Peter Johnson and Poppy McDonald." Chiron whispered something to him. "Err, Percy Jackson and Piper McLean." Mr. D corrected. "That's right. Finish eating and run along to your silly campfire. Don't bother me." he grumbled and sat back.
Everyone cheered and headed down towards the amphitheater, to the sign-along led by Apollo cabin. They sang camp songs about the gods, ate s'mores, and joked around. Percy and Piper found a lot of information about Luke and his time at camp. Though he had betrayed the camp, he didn't fail his reputation and deceive the whole camp with some phony training.
He tried to get around to Grover, but Annabeth was either with the satyr or was staring at them during the sing-along. He needed some other method to find out about Thalia. Of all the campers, he believed he'd had a huge chance of finding the truth from Grover.
When the conch horn blew again in the night, everyone filed back to their cabins. Percy and Piper collapsed on their respective sleeping bags, exhausted by the turn of events. They hoped to enjoy the rare peaceful time at the camp before the storm hits them.
xXx
A/N: I tried cover everything possible in the camp introduction and how a new demigod tours around it. As always, reviews are appreciated. Let me know if I missed anything.
