Yep, here it is: a slightly longer chapter. (1,213 words)*GASP!*And it also might be the 2nd to last:'( yeah, nobody really reads it, even thought i like it, so...review? pity review?
Heroes of Olympus Book 2 and a Half
Chapter 5
The girls walked up to the main deck, where dozens of campers were busy putting the finishing touches on the boat.
They had just reached the top step when Piper called, "Hey Leo!"
The boy grinned and walked towards them. He had dark curly hair and nimble fingers that couldn't seem to stop moving; from tapping his leg to brushing his hair.
"Hey Beauty Queen, what's up?"
"Leo, meet Daphne, one of the new campers from last night."
Leo shook her hand, "Leo Valdez, son of Hephaestus, god of blacksmiths and fire." Suddenly, Leo's hair lit up in flames. Daphne gasped and let go of his hand, but Piper just shoved him, "Gods, you're such a show off."
"You're just jealous Mclean."
"No, you are a show off," the blonde guy from last night walked out from behind him, and stuck out his hand to Daphne. "Don't mind the repair boy. I'm Jason Grace, son of Jupiter. What's this about?" he asked, looking at Piper.
She took a deep breath, "Well, Annabeth and I think that Daphne, um, might be one of the seven."
The boys looked shocked. Jason opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted when Annabeth ran over to them. "Guys, come on, Rachel's here."
As the five of them left the ship, Daphne couldn't help noticing that many of the campers who had heard their conversation trailed behind them, eager to see if she was 'the one'.
They walked over to a crazy assortment of cabins, forming a big Ω. They all had some strange theme, the only thing the same about them was a big brass number. However, Daphne didn't have time to examine them, because she noticed there were people waiting for her in the clearing.
The first one she noticed was a centaur; the sleek, white body of a horse, but where his neck should be sprouted the upper body of a middle age man with a scraggly brown beard. Daphne remembered from the video that he was Chiron. Yep, the Chiron, trainer of all the classic heroes like Achilles. He was in a deep conversation with a bare-footed, red-haired girl. Her dark cloak made her look almost mysterious, but her marker-stained jeans and bright green shirt ruined the image. Thq two stopped talking when they saw the group approach.
"You must be Daphne, " the centaur said with a smile. "I am Chiron, and this is Rachel, our oracle. Please child, tell us your story."
Daphne was nervous, but Annabeth and Piper gave her reassuring nods. She told her story for the third time that day, only now it felt like a presentation, with over half the camp hanging on her every word.
When she finished everyone turned to Rachel, as if waiting for her verdict.
"Well Daphne, you're lucky you got here on time, because you are one of the seven." Campers gasped and looked awed. It's like everybody thought she was lucky, but it just made Daphne feel queasy. "You will leave with the others tomorrow for Camp Jupiter, then to Rome. Percy, as well as the other two riding in the boat in your dream, are also children of the prophecy."
People started to cheer until a voice spoke up from the crowd, "Wait, isn't that eight?"
They all turned to face Rachel, who had a guilty expression, "Um, actually-"
"No," Annabeth's voice was solemn, "there's Jason, Leo, Piper, Daphne, Percy and the two Romans. I'm not one of them."
Everyone gasped again. Jason looked at her, "But I always thought-"
"No, I knew I wasn't one from the prophecy. I'm still going with you, to save Percy and because, frankly, you'll need all the help you can get. But in the end, I won't be the one to defeat Gaea."
Chiron spoke, "Then it is settled. Tomorrow Daphne will accompany the others on their quest. But to do that, the Argo II must be ready, so everyone please, back to work!"
Campers trickled away until Daphne was left with her other quest mates, Chiron, and Rachel. She turned to face all of them. "Look, I know you guys need me to help you save the world, but I'm really not ready! I don't know how to fight monsters, and I don't even know who my godly parent is."
"Well, isn't that your parent?" questioned Chiron.
"Huh?"
He pointed at her necklace. Daphne unclasped it and examined the silver pendant-the gift from her dad. It was an uneven circle with the profile of a woman's face engraved in the metal. "You're saying this is my mom?" Annabeth looked at it too. "I can't tell who this is supposed to be. Chiron, do you know?"
He took the pendant, the handed it back. "I'm not sure who that is," Something about his voice made Daphne think that he knew exactly who it was, "I guess you'll have to wait until you're claimed. Either way, it doesn't matter. Whoever your parent is does not define who you are."
She was putting her necklace back on when Leo spoke up: "Do you know what type of weapon you want?" Daphne had actually been thinking about that since she watched the movie. She'd narrowed it down to either a bow & arrow or a sword, but since her aim isn't great, and she took fencing lessons for her school play, she finally said "a sword."
Leo grinned, "Great, wait right here!" He spun around and took off, running into cabin nine. They all looked at each other quizzically until he came out carrying a gleaming 3-foot long bronze sword with flame designs on the hilt.
Piper look surprised. "Leo," she asked, "where'd you get that?"
"I made it." Leo said as we all admired it, "I was thinking of retiring my hammer, but this turned out too light for my many muscles." He flexed his skinny arm. "So Daphne, do you want it?"
"Really?" She took it tentivley from his hand. It was perfectly balanced. She did and experimental slash. "It's perfect, thank you!" She gave him a one armed hug, the sword in her other hand.
"Hey, what's a deadly weapon between quest buddies?"
Daphne smiled. At least now, with 3 feet of sharpened bronze, she felt as if she stood a chance.
• • •
The rest of her day was a blur. Annabeth had started teaching her how to use her sword, and they spared for hours. At dinner, Daphne burnt over half her food, praying to every goddess she knew. One of you is my mom. Please, tell me who you are.
By bedtime, she was exhausted but she still listened for hours as the Hermes kids told her of the many "fun things" they'd done at camp. (most of which she was certain were illegal.)
While she was lying in her sleeping bag, she couldn't help but admit how fun her first day at Camp Half-Blood had been, and how she dreaded the fact that it might be her last.
There you are. The next chapter is probably the last...so it you are reading this-PLEASE JUST PRESS THAT FREAKIN' BUTTON!
And that's all i ask.
