Betrayed.

That is how Katie felt.

Michael had left her in the infirmary for the night. She wanted to know what was happening but she did not imagine that it would hurt this bad. One of her parents was not her biological parent. Both of them had been lying to her for the past ten years.

Katie laid on the flimsy mattress and stared at the ceiling while silent tears rolled down her cheeks. How was she supposed to take this information? The two people who she had trusted the most in the world turned out to be hiding the biggest secret of all. Suddenly remembering, the little girl sat up and felt her way to the end of the bed and then to her bag. In the side pocket of the bag she found the letter that her father had given to her earlier that night.

She reached back to the side table that held a lamp and turned on the light. Slowly, Katie rested her head against the headboard and opened the envelope. She read.

It was not an outrageously long letter, about a page in her father's scribbled cursive writing. He started out by telling Katie the truth. He told her that Dianne was not her real mother. He could not say who her mother really was but hoped that Katie would soon find out. The letter said that she was eventually supposed to come to the camp but it was not supposed to happen for another year or so. He wrote that something that had happened to her at school pushed him to send her here. The rest of the sentences were meaningless to Katie. He kept going on saying that he loved her and that he was sorry. She was able to come home if she wanted to; of course it had to be when the summer was over.

The sadness Katie felt before was now replaced with anger. She was lied to, then dropped off in the middle of nowhere at night with a letter that was supposed to explain everything. Her "parents" didn't even have the decency to tell her in person. And saying she could come home at the end of the summer. What was that! It was like saying, "we still love you, come back in four months!"

Somehow, in all her built up frustration, Katie feel asleep. She woke up as the sun was rising the next morning. Unsure of when, or where for that matter, breakfast was, she grabbed her bag and walked to the bathroom to get ready. Looking in the mirror she saw the mess that she was. Katie had red puffy bags around her eyes courtesy of crying and lack of sleep, and her hair was knotted everywhere. After changing her clothes and brushing her hair and teeth, Katie decided that was as good as her look was going to get, and walked out of the room back to her bed.

To Katie's surprise, just as she sat her bag down on the pathetic excuse for a bed, Michael walked into the room.

"Oh! Hey! I didn't think you would be ready yet" he told her. "I was coming to tell you that breakfast is in twenty minutes."

Not wanting him to see her eyes, she turned her head to the side and replied, "oh-okay, thanks Michael." Unfortunately, that was not enough. He saw.

"'Are you alright?" He asked. Michael didn't have to wait for her to respond, he laughed at himself because he already knew the answer. "I know, I know, of course you're not alright." Katie looked up to the smiling face of the boy next to her. Something about the way he laughed answering his own question brought a grin to the little girls face. "Come on, we will go down early." He held out his hand. She took and they walked out of the infirmary together.

They walked down the hall, to the door by which they had entered the building the previous night. Instead of going out to the grounds they turned on the white porch that wrapped around the big house. In the corner there was a small table set up with five chairs around it.

Curious, Katie asked, "This is where you guys eat breakfast? Must be a small camp."

"No no," Michael laughed. "Campers eat at the dinning pavilion down the hill. Our directors, who live in the big house, eat breakfast and lunch here. Then, they come down for dinner every night. Chiron and Mr. D invited you here for breakfast this morning. It's just a standard welcome-orientation thing that they do to all new campers. Usually your protector would be here with you but since you came here without one I thought I would come. I mean, as long as that's alright with you! I can leave if you don't want me here! It's just that, I thought you might want to have someone with you that you knew."

"Actually," Katie said, "that's really sweet. Thank you."

"So you want me to stay?"

"Of course I do! You could be my own special kind of protector. " She laughed.

"Katie Gardner, I would be honored to be your stand in protector," Michael tried to hold a serious face but had to smile when at Katie's laughter.

"Just no more of that "sneak up behind me then hold a sword to my neck thing", deal?" she held out her hand for him to shake. Which Michael returned with a firm grip.

"Deal."

"Do you promise?" She bent forward, looked him straight in the eyes and pulled the clasped hands closer to her.

Michael leaned forward, "promise." With an agreement made, they began to laugh again.

"Well, Miss. Gardner," interrupted Chiron rolling out of the house in a wheelchair. Hearing the man, the two kids pulled apart and sat up straight in their seats. "It's nice to see you on this lovely morning. Oh, and Mr. Yew, what a pleasant surprise, will you be joining us for breakfast?"

"Yes sir, if that is alright with you? Katie did not come with a protector watching her. Since I found her, I thought could assist in her introduction to the camp."

"That's a very generous thing for you to do. Of course you may join us. Unfortunately, it will only be the three of us. Mr. D was called out to the strawberry fields this morning. We weren't quite prepared for growing season this year, I'm afraid."

Michael stood up and removed one of the chairs from the table to make it accessible to Chiron. There was a light breeze and as if by magic the plates were filled. There was a fruit basket in the center of the table as well as muffins and a pitcher or ice tea.

"Now, Katie, I read in the letter that something happened at school. In a science class, and there was something with the plants. Your teacher called your father. That's how you ended up here."

Katie thought about it for a minute, she could not remember anything crazy happening.

"Well there was this one experiment. We were studying the growth of the sunflower seeds we had. I don't know, some of the other kids in my group said that when I was talking that the flowers all turned to face me. I never noticed. I thought they were all insane…was that it? It's not like I did anything on purpose!" her voice was growing louder with every word.

Chiron gently put a hand on her shoulder, "it may be. But we can not overreact. One day you were bound to end up here." He let out a deep breath and let his arm drop. "Now, I have a slight idea as to who your mother is but I cannot say anything."

"My father said the same thing. Why can't you?" she asked.

After taking a bite out of his blueberry muffin he answered, "Every godly parent must claim their child. That's the way things have been going on for years."

"And if she doesn't claim me?"

"There are demigods who have never been claimed but you can't worry about that. It does not make you different from everyone else. We are all demigods one way or another."

The trio ate for another ten minutes together. They talked more about the claiming process. Katie learned that your godly parent determined where you would stay on the grounds. If you were unclaimed, then you would stay with another cabin, the Hermes cabin. She also learned that they had different classes that each camper was required to take. Some taught by cabin leaders, others by satyrs, and some by Chiron. As if this was his reminder, Chiron excused himself to go to class and stood up, out of his wheelchair into his full centaur self. He suggested that Katie follow Michael and his cabin around to their classes for the day.

"But sir, shouldn't she go with the rest of the unclaimed for the day?" Michael asked.

"Wow, protector, trying to get rid of me already?" Katie looked at Michael and replied sharply before Chiron could respond to the question.

"I have a feeling," Chiron said looking to the sky, "that Katie will not be unclaimed for long."

Michael's face had a look of disbelief. His jaw had dropped. Chiron, their leader, not going by the rules, it was madness.

"You," he looked to Katie, "must be something really special. Not having to go with the unclaimed, wish I was that lucky."

His statement confused Katie. They just had a talk about how it was not bad to be unclaimed but now Michael was saying she was lucky she didn't have to be with them.

"Well, excuse me. I am unclaimed. Am I that bad to be with?" she questioned.

"No, they're not bad people!" Michael answered waving his hands around to help prove his point. "It's just that, some of them have been there a while and, well, they get angry and jealous sometimes. They will never admit it of course." Michael looked at his plate, embarrassed by his words. From a far off distance, a horn blew. "Come on, that's the signal, it means breakfast is over now." He stood up and Katie followed.

"What's first on the schedule?"

"Archery." He said the word like it was the best thing in the world.

"I take it you like the subject."

"I'm an Apollo kid. This is what I do best."

They continued to walk a ways till they reached an open field with a few targets scattered around. There were already other campers there. They waved at Michael but then saw Katie and a confused expression crossed their faces. Katie immediately felt self conscious and stopped abruptly.

"I can't do it," she said and turned around ready to walk back to the big house. Michael caught her by the arm thought before she could make a break for it.

"Whoa, there, where do you think you are going?"

"I can't do it. They are all staring."

"They're just confused as to why you are here." Michael assured her. "I will go talk to Adam. He's our cabin leader. I'll tell him what's going on. Just stay here. Uhh..." Michael looked around. "Will! Can you come over here for a second?"

Michael let go of Katie's arm so she could turn around. The boy who Katie guessed to be Will was jogging over to their spot. He looked like Michael did only he had shorter hair.

"Katie Gardner, meet Will Solace." Michael introduced. "Will this is Katie, the girl I was telling you about last night."

"It hasn't even been a day and you're already gossiping about me?" Katie playfully said turning to glare at Michael, while he held his hands up in defense.

"It was all good things, I can assure you," Will announced to save his half-brother. He held out his hand to the girl. "It's nice to meet you." Katie reached her hand out to finish the handshake and smiled at the boy.

"Katie is still unclaimed but Chiron suggested she follow around the Apollo cabin for the day. I am just going to go tell Adam. I need you to keep an eye on her for me. She's a runner, this one." Michael began to walk away. After about four steps he pivoted around, walking backwards now and laughing at his thoughts, he continued, "You guys have a lot in common, who knows?"

Once Michael was out of earshot, Katie asked, "Is he always so happy?"

"Most of the time, yes," Will said. "A lot of people are happy here. You will be to. Once you accept it."

"Accepting it is the hardest part."

They talked for a few minutes about Will's life at the camp before Michael came running back. He returned carrying his bow with a few arrows secured on his back he also held out another bow for Katie.

"I think I should just watch today. Being a newbie and all," Katie was reluctant to accept the object that the boy was holding for her. She would not tell anyone but the truth was Katie was scared of it. This thing could cause harm to something or someone and she was scared.

"Come on, you are going to have to try eventually. Take the bow," Michael demanded.

She did not want to let her new friends down or look weak. Katie reached out and grabbed the bow before they could see her hands shaking. And both boys smiled.

"Good," Michael smiled, "now we…" Katie didn't hear the rest of what Michael said because he was walking away to find a target to start teaching at, leaving Katie there shaking her head in laughter.

"You'll do fine, it's not that scary," whispered the other boy into her ear, causing Katie to turn in shock.

"I'm not scared," she refuted.

"Oh, really!"

"Just you watch!" Katie ran off to where Michael was standing ready to start.

One hour later the lesson was over. Katie was not as bad a shot as she thought she would be. With some practice, Michael said a bow could become her weapon of choice. The next class, to attend made Katie feel right at home. The Apollo cabin was being sent over to help out in the strawberry fields.

"I have to warn you," Michael said as they walked into the fields, "we Apollo kids usually begin to sing while we work."

Katie laughed, "Is that supposed to scare me away?"

"No-no, it's just a warning. The cabin leader for the Demeter cabin, her name is Olivia; she stays out here all day. She does not like it when the Apollo cabin comes in the morning because we sing and get a song stuck in her head all day." Michael led Katie over to a shed that looked like the size of a barn. The shed was on top of a hill that gave a fantastic view of the strawberry fields. Inside held every gardening tool imaginable.

There was a small shriek from the back of the room followed by a loud clang. Michael ran to the back without thinking twice, Katie trailed him. They didn't reach the back before the girl from which the shriek came from stumbled out into the open. She was an African American girl probably around the age of 18. She was tall, lean wearing shorts and an orange camp half blood shirt that she had tied up to show part of her stomach. Her hair was black and in a high bun on top of her head.

"I'm okay!" she yelled out as she steadied herself. The girl looked up and saw the wide-eyed pair walking over to help. "Oh, hi there! Didn't realize people were in here." The girl walked back to where she had stumbled. Soon she came out carrying buckets filled with tools. "Here," she said, handing the tools over to the pair, "Michael, could you please take these out."

"No problem, Olivia," he responded and walked out of the shed.

"Anything I can do to help?" Katie asked. The girl, Olivia, had gone behind another stack of tools.

"Sure!" Olivia exclaimed as if it was the first time anyone had offered to help. "You can bring out some more tools." The girl came back with a handful of tools for Katie as well as herself. "You new here? I haven't seen you around before?"

"Yeah, I just got here last night."

"Welcome to Camp Half-Blood. I'm Olivia, Daughter of Demeter, head counselor of Cabin Four. I would shake your hand if mine weren't full."

"Katie Gardner, godly-parent unknown."

"An unclaimed, really? Why you with the Apollo cabin?"

"To be honest, I have n idea, Chiron's orders." Katie was starting to get sick of hearing this.

"Hmm, interesting," was Olivia's response, "never heard of that happening before." she thought for a moment unsure of whether to say more.

Wanting to get out of the "claiming" conversation, Katie changed the subject.

"So, what are we doing out here today?" Katie asked.

"Today the Apollo cabin is going to be tying up the vine. Being the offspring of a healer we can trust them to be careful and they will the loose vines to the posts. Since I am the head counselor for Demeter, I get to be here all day and supervise. I usually walk around, hand out water, help out campers and plants if necessary. Today being your first day you can shadow me if you like." Olivia leaned in closer to Katie to whisper, "I can give you the low down on how things are here." she said with a wink.

They had reached their destination now, and set the tools down. The Apollo cabin members had slowly trickled in and were standing around ready for instructions. Olivia gave out tools and directions then sent the campers on their ways.

The girls walked through the fields for a bit just chatting about general information. Olivia asked about Katie's life at school and home, and what bought her to camp. Katie assumed Olivia was just trying to figure out who her parent was but played along anyway. She failed to mention, however, the accusations of her so called "Flower-Power".

"Oh no," Olivia groaned.

"What?" Katie asked worried.

"Their singing," she said seething through her teeth.

Katie just laughed. It's not that the singing was bad. It was actually really good. But when seventeen different campers were singing different songs, one of them was bound to stick.

"I can see how that can be annoying," Katie admitted and they continued on their way.

Some twenty minutes later the field was just about done being worked on by the Apollo campers. Olivia decided it would be a good idea to get some water because "her babies look thirsty", so they walked up to the shed again. Katie followed; she stood outside the shed though Olivia grabbed two watering cans from the back. .

Outside the barn-like structure were small window bow gardens filled with daisies. Katie observed the flowers. They were all so small and fragile looking but still beautiful in their own way. She noticed one in the back of the box of dirt. It had not blossomed yet. Katie felt like the bud. She had come to camp but did not seem to be part of it yet. Katie had not bloomed or become who she was supposed to be.

Katie looked over her shoulders for anyone behind her. If she was going to test her power, she did not want to be seen.

I must be crazy, she thought.

Slowly, her right hand raised directly above the flower.

"Come on little guy," she whispered. "You can do it."

The flower bloomed. It was magic before the girl's eyes. She could not believe it had actually worked. A huge smile overtook her face and there was a tingle in her hands. Then she heard footsteps.

"Kat-Oh my gods!" yelled Olivia as she came out of the barn.

Katie pulled her hands behind her back, "I didn't do anything!"

Olivia was not looking at Katie though she was looking at the spot over her head. "Sister!" she exclaimed.

"What are you talking about? I was just standing here."

"No-No, Katie, you've been claimed," she pointed above Katie's head. "It's Demeter! We're sisters!"