(Author's Note: Alright, I think I'm getting into a good pattern with my updating: once every week or so, during the weekend. Thanks for staying tuned, and please review!)

Chapter 5

Camp Mutant

"I got the 'camp' part down, but what's with the 'half'? You don't have mutants running around here, do you?" Midge asked Tyson as the hippocampus slowed.

"In some sense, yes, we do have mutants." Tyson smiled. From his expression, it was as if he was talking about himself. This didn't make any sense, by the way.

The hippocampi were now pulling up to the shore of Camp Mutant. I didn't know what to expect, zombies coming to eat us? Aliens coming in peace? I didn't know what Valentino, Shannon, or Midge was thinking just then, but I knew that they weren't expecting kids playing volleyball come greet us.

The kids, teens, actually, wore orange t-shirts with a logo that was hard on my dyslexia. It wasn't hard to guess, though, since Tyson had already told us what the place was called: Camp Half-Blood. Or Camp Mutant. Whatever.

One of the teens, a guy of maybe thirteen years, stepped forward. He had annoyingly bright red hair and wore a vest covered in badges.

"Tyson?" he said, surprised. He grinned when he eyed us, especially Midge, who was absent-mindedly taking her neon boots off; it was hot out here, after all. Other campers, who weren't mutants, as far as I could tell, stared at her strangely. Midge, finally noticing that everyone was watching her, stuck her hands in her pockets and looked down, her boots now at her feet, instead of on them.

While the volleyball-playing campers were busy scrutinizing Midge, I noticed out of the corner of my eye that another had walked into their mist. He had a chubby face and looked rather bored; it seemed as though he had only strolled over to join the party. He wore a Hawaiian-print button-down the color of road kill, cut jean shorts, and unlaced maroon gym shoes. His outfit, not to mention his misshapen curly hair and bloodshot eyes, was enough for me. I hated this guy right away.

The redhead regained his cool. "Tyson, who-"he began, but was cut off by gasps from his fellow campers. They were all looking at Midge, again, who looked annoyed.

"Hey, just because I wear different clothes, doesn't mean-"Midge gasped herself. "Oh, my."

Above Midge's head, a glowing staff, swirled by snakes, glowed. It made its way around Midge, shining brightly all the while, until it burst, showering small golden arrows like confetti.

"That was quick," snorted the man with the Hawaiian shirt.

Midge looked frightened, but she wasn't even fazed by the man's appearance, I guess she'd noticed him earlier, too. "W-what was quick?"

"Your claiming," he snorted again. "All hail." He rolled his bloodshot eyes.

"What are you talking about?" I snapped, confused.

"Watch your tongue, kid. Or it might just come off," the redhead from earlier snapped. He raised his hand and my tongue squirmed. Then, it wasn't there. My hand snapped up to my mouth. The crowd of volleyball players laughed.

"That's enough, Kent," the man sighed. "But still, you need to watch what you say."

"It's Keith," the redhead frowned as my tongue suddenly formed in my mouth again. I kept my mouth shut. Midge was confused as ever.

"Like you pathetic mortal children say, 'Whatever'." The man snapped his fingers and a Diet Coke appeared. He cracked it open and drank the whole thing, ending with a satisfied sigh.

Tyson shook his head good-naturedly. "Mr. D, where's Chiron?" he asked.

Mr. D, the man with the bloodshot eyes, jerked a thumb back toward a large blue house that I hadn't noticed earlier. Hey, I notice an apparent Diet-Coke-aholic, but not a big blue house on a hill. Go figure.

Tyson led us away from the campers, their laughter clear in the air. Mr. D walked with us as Tyson got us introduced.

"This is Mr. D-" Tyson began, but Mr. D interrupted.

"Don't waste your breath, Cyclops," he said. All of us threw alarming looks at our guardian, but I was the first to shrug it off. It was just a nickname, right?

"I'm your camp director, high and mighty," Mr. D continued. He glanced at Midge. "And you, little girl, are a daughter of Apollo."

"Obviously. And my name is Midge, not little girl!" Midge retorted.

"Midget, is it? I wasn't that far off," Mr. D mused.

"Hey! I am above average height, Mr. D, if that's even your real name." Midge muttered.

"My name is Dionysus," Mr. D raised his voice. "God of wine, madness, festivities, and, most importantly, Diet Coke."

"Yeah, right," I snorted.

I felt a wave of dizziness and the smell of wine. I fainted.

I woke up with Tyson hovering over my face. I started, and yelped. He… he only had one eye.

"Tyson! Your… your eye!" I whimpered.

"What, oh, this guy? Right in the smack of my forehead? Yeah, it's been there for some time now, Nikolai."

"What?" I asked.

"Nikolai, I…" Tyson sat down hard on the end of my bed. He didn't seem to notice that he was cutting off all possible circulation in my legs. Tyson didn't get to finish, for Midge burst into the room. She grinned excitedly when she saw that I was awake.

"Hey, Nick!" She came to my bed and pinched my cheek. Ow.

"Someone's enthusiastic," I muttered, now not only my legs aching, but also my face.

"This place is amazing! Have you seen Cabin Seven? Oh, of course you haven't; you've been asleep." Midge paced around the room excitedly. My eyes followed her as she walked, and I got a good look of the room. It was some sort of hospital room, an infirmary. I figured that I was in the Big House.

I ruffled my hair lazily."Where are Shannon and Valentino?"

"Well, Shannon is with her cabin mates and Valentino with his. They both got claimed pretty fast." Midge continued to pace the room.

"Who picks who goes in which cabin, anyway?" I asked Tyson.

Midge spoke for him. "Uh, your parent does, duh."

"And how does that work out for us orphans?" I asked.

"We're not as orphaned as you think," Midge said, flashing me a smile as brilliant as the sun. Whoa, those were some shiny teeth.

"What is that supposed to mean?" I frowned. "I mean, I know we have Tyson and everything."

Tyson looked touched. "Thanks, Nikolai, but no, I'm not the only guardian you've got out there."

My befuddled expression urged him to continue. "Nikolai… Nikko, I know it's a lot to take in, but my stories are real," he said quietly.

"What, so you're saying that Goldilocks is real?" I snorted.

"Well, no. Not those stories. What other stories have I told you all?" Tyson asked.

"Myths," I replied. "Not at all, Nikko. Well, yes, you're right, but those stories are not myths." Tyson shoved his hands in his pockets.

"You mean Greek gods and goddesses?" I asked.

"Look, Nikko, I know I'm doing a bad job of explaining this. You should talk to Chiron," Tyson said.

"He's right, Nick. And no sweat; Chiron's awesome! Best archer ever!" Midge added.

"Alright, I'll talk to this Chiron guy," I muttered. I wondered vaguely when I would wake up from this dream and be home in Antarctica, with Pru…

"Pru! Tyson, we haven't found anything out by coming to this camp! What was the point of this?" I banged my head against my bed's headboard before letting it sink into my pillow.

"Nikko, we'll find her, don't worry," Tyson assured me.

"How do you know? She could be dead for all we know!" I raged.

"Nick, cool it! Wait, I've got something…" Midge put her hands to her temples. I swear, if she was about to do some telepathic spell to find Pru, I'd faint again. Fortunately, she didn't; my head wouldn't have been able to hand that. Unfortunately, her next words were just as crazy, and not to mention annoying:

"Pruella Park is safe.

Her sisters will find her safe.

Pruella Park is safe."

"What was that?" I chortled.

Tyson laughed. "Midge has taken on some of her father's poetic expertise."

"Every line ended in 'safe'. Is that supposed to be a Haiku?" I commented.

"Yes, it is." Midge said stiffly. "

Don't Haikus have to deal with nature and stuff?" I asked.

Midge frowned. "My Haiku did deal with 'nature and stuff'," she retorted.

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever. Where's this Chiron dude, anyway?"

"Oh, right. I'll go get him," Midge volunteered.

Once Midge had left the Big House, I turned to Tyson. "Seriously, how are we going to find Pru?"

"As Midge has said, her sisters will find her." Tyson shifted his weight uncomfortably from one foot to another.

"Pru has sisters?" I asked.

Tyson smiled. "Of course. Just ask the trees."

(Author's Note: Guys, this is supposed to confuse you, if you are confused. If you aren't... dang it! Anywho, thanks for reading, please review! ;D)