"It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Chiron, activities director here at Camp Half-Blood. I'm sure Percy's mentioned me."

"You're not a centaur," Reese stuttered, taking the seat offered to him. Percy and Annabeth had dropped him off at this odd blue house with the promise that they'd be back to show him around, then promptly disappeared. He stared at the man in the

wheelchair sitting in front of him, wondering how this man was supposed to be the immortal trainer of heroes the duo had mentioned.

"Ah, I see. No, I am not a centaur at this very moment. I prefer this form when speaking to new recruits. It is less, er, overwhelming. However, if you like I am happy to change." Chiron seemed to almost stand up (but wasn't he in a wheelchair?), but he

wasn't quite standing... He kept getting taller and taller, until... Within moments, the man in the wheelchair was in full-fledged centaur mode. "Now, that is nice to stretch my legs for a moment. I must apologize that our true camp director, Mr. D, was

summoned to Olympus. Zeus needed some affairs taken care of, it would seem..." The centaur seemed to catch Reese's momentarily confused expression. "I see Percy has not mentioned our camp director. Mr. D, or rather Dionysus, was sent to this camp as

punishment for something he did many years ago. He is the director for another, oh, ninety five years or so. As an immortal, this is nothing. But he does not enjoy his, what does he call it? Prison sentence."

"Dionysus... Isn't that, like, the god of wine?"

"I see you know some Greek mythology. Good, that will make this much easier. Well, we've got an orientation film, but I suppose you've already learned some from Percy and Annabeth. It was a rather unconventional way of bringing you to camp... Usually a

\seeker finds new recruits – a satyr, that is. Well, no matter. You're here, you're safe, and you need to get better acquainted with the camp. I can call for Grover, if you'd like. Since you had no seeker guide, he'd be happy to substitute."

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Well, you see, usually half-bloods do not bring other demigods to camp. Percy and Annabeth happened to run into you. Satyrs – half goats, in Greek mythology – are often sent out to schools to find unclaimed demigods. So, you see, you never had a satyr

guiding you to camp. Grover is a satyr, one of Percy's good friends. He'd be happy to tour you through camp."

"Oh, that's fine. Um, Percy said he would."

"Percy is more busy than you might imagine, Reese. But if you want a tour, you can find him."

"Where would he be? I don't know my way around..."

"I have an archery class to teach. Perhaps another camper will guide you to Percy."

Chiron rather unhelpfully reentered the blue house, leaving Reese alone on the porch. After a moment, he leaned out over the railing. It looked like there was a basketball court in the distance, with some teenagers shooting hoops. Maybe they could help him

find Percy... He jogged over there. Four or five boys were playing, and one girl.

"Um... Excuse me? I'm new here," Reese began. All of the teenagers stopped. "Are you guys demigods?"

"You're new? You can't be thirteen..."

"No, I'm, uh, sixteen."

"What is going on? Percy can't have..."

"I thought Zeus was listening to Percy now..."

"Percy made them swear on the Styx..."

"Shouldn't he have been claimed? Percy made the age..."

"Look, I am actually looking for Percy. Um, where would he be?"

"Percy Jackson? Where he always is. The sword training arena, duh," one of the guys said, shooting a basket.

"I'm new. I don't exactly..."

"Here," the girl said, coming forward. She held out a bronzed hand, which he shook. "I'm Nyssa. Daughter of Hephaestus. I can show you."

"Okay, Hephaestus. I can handle that."

"What? Oh, yeah. I bet you're still new to the whole Greek gods thing. No problem. We've all been there."

"That's what everyone says."

"It's because everyone has. So, who's your godly parent?" she asked, making small talk as they wandered off the court.

"I don't know. Like they said, um, I haven't been claimed."

"Oh, right. That's so weird... Percy'll have to go talk to the gods... I'm sure he's just as mystified as everyone else. They promised..."

"I have no idea why everyone is making such a big deal of this. And why does everyone keep talking about this Percy guy like he's some celebrity?"

Nyssa raised an eyebrow. "Uh, maybe because he is. Look, I can't exactly explain it. That's for Percy Jackson to do. But he basically made this deal with the gods last year, after he saved – oh, whatever. Ask him about it. The sword arena is that way, and

then to the left. You'll find him there. If not, try the Poseidon cabin."

He was about to ask where that was, but she was already gone.

Well, here goes nothing, Reese thought, and entered the arena.

A/N: Sorry for the short chapter. :\