Rumors flooded the camp within the first few hours of the day. The mysterious new kid who had somehow managed the miracle of killing the Minotaur was making headlines in the small camp. The poor kid was going to have a lot of explaining to do when he woke up. Very few had seen the boy. Annabeth who had taken the role of caretaker over him took over as soon as the new Apollo Cabin leader, Lee Fletcher was done. Lee, who was a good friend and brother of Michael's, had been the main leaker of rumors. According to him, the camper was some small kid who had probably just gotten lucky.
Grover, the boys protector, was nowhere to be seen, and could not be attacked for information.
Katie saw the new kid while he was in the infirmary. Well, she saw his head. He was sleeping when she got there. Katie had made a habit of bringing anyone who was in the infirmary flowers. She put them on a base on the stand next to their bed. Most of the time, the patients never took any notice and simply thought they were decoration. Occasionally she would get a thank you, but it did not bother her. It felt good to make the world beautiful when someone who was injured opened their eyes. This boy looked exhausted. When Katie was in there he did not stir one wink. His inky-black hair was a mess and he had drooled all over the pillow. He slept like the dead. He was around Katie's age though Katie was most likely taller than him. Michael was right he didn't look like much of anything.
It wasn't until after lunch that they got a real glance at the new kid. He came out of the Big House with Chiron at his side. This was more surprising. Chiron, giving personal tours? Uncalled for. Never been done before. Maybe he felt bad. It was rumored that the boy lost his mother in the Minotaur battle. Maybe it was sympathy?
Katie sat barefoot in the Strawberry fields picking berries with the rest of her cabin and the Aphrodite Cabin who was joining them for the hour. Most of them were afraid to get their perfectly manicured hands dirty so they were absolutely no help. Riley returned with an empty basket to where Katie was sitting to help.
"Hey, you're back," Katie said. "We are going to need another hour to pick berries. Aphrodite's kids never help out as it is and with this heat they aren't lifting a pretty little finger." She rambled on for a while about the laziness perfectionists that were supposed to be helping before realizing that Riley wasn't listening at all. She looked up to her big brother from her spot on the ground. He was staring off at the two figures coming through the fields. Katie stood up next to him. She took this moment to fix her hair that had fallen out of its ponytail. She moved the pieces off of her sweaty forehead. Raising her hands above her head her orange Camp Half-Blood shirt had come up in the process.
"Is that him?" Riley asked.
"Looks like the guy I saw in the infirmary, just less messy." Katie pulled down her shirt.
"They were right. He is too small to take on the Minotaur."
"He's kinda cute though," Katie admitted. He looked like he could be twelve or thirteen. His black hair was still disheveled and his bright sea-green eyes shifted, looking around the grounds as if something else might pop out of the trees. Thin by Camp Half-Blood standards. He carried around the Minotaur horn. Some would have thought that he was showing off but really that was his only possession. The poor boy came here with nothing.
"So what, you think he the Minotaur went easy on him because the girls would cry if his face got messed up?" Riley gagged.
"I'm just saying . . . he's good looking. Aphrodite Cabin is going to eat him up."
"Sounds like you might, too." Riley looked disgusted. This conversation had taken a turn for the nauseating and revolting side. "Do me a favor and don't start dating until I'm gone, okay, please. I don't think I could take it."
Katie had always wanted an older brother to look after her and ever since arriving at camp a year ago she had gotten three half siblings and made plenty of friends that she was sure would look after and protect her because she knew she would do the same for them. Riley was definitely fitting into the new big brother spot, so was Michael, her "protector".
"I'm not making any promises," she teased.
His stroll through the Strawberry fields was not the only time they heard of this new boy that June day. After Chiron, he was seen finishing the tour of Camp with Annabeth. He also made a splash by drenching the Ares cabin over by the bathrooms. Clarisse was the one person at camp that you did not want to make enemies with (besides the Stoll's, but they would be a close second) especially on your first day. And soaking her with toilet water was definitely not the way to make a good first impression.
His entrance into the mess hall with the Hermes Cabin and the rest of the unclaimed gained him stares and pointed fingers and mumbles from every other cabin that was already sitting down.
The campers food arrived and then they each took turns giving their offerings to the gods. Katie at first though this ritual was odd but after being at camp for a year it would have been odd not to sacrifice some part. They group continued to eat and chat. Everyone in the pavilion was either talking about the new guy or the Capture the Flag game that had been announced earlier that would be happening later that week. The sound of a hoof pounding on the ground caught everyone's attention and they all looked up to the head table.
"Yes, I suppose I'd better say hello to you brats," Mr. D sighed. "Well, hello. Our activities director, Chiron, says the next Capture the Flag is Friday. Cabin five presently holds the laurels."
The Ares table roared. It was a normal cheerful yell and clap, it was more like a war cry, Katie thought.
"Personally, I couldn't care less, but congratulations. Also I should tell you that we have a new camper today. Peter Johnson." Chiron turned and whispered something to the God. "Er, Percy Jackson. That's right. Hurrah, and all that. Now run along to your silly little campfire. Go on." He waved us off.
So that was his name. It was a good thing Mr. D had made an announcement. Otherwise everyone would have called him "new guy." Percy Jackson. Well at least his name had heroic origins.
The campfire passed as it typically did. Apollo Cabin led the sing along. Katie sat by the rest of the Demeter Cabin. The triplets had returned that afternoon but as usual stuck to themselves. Riley and Katie both took their normal spots on either side of Jaz tying to get her to sing and dance along. As accustomed she would get annoyed with the two of them for embarrassing her and would pound her feet and walk to the back of the amphitheatre. The next two days also passed as common as any other day at Camp Half-Blood. Though now people were paying more attention to the Hermes Cabin and more importantly Percy Jackson. People seemed to be placing him everywhere trying to figure out where the new demigod belonged. All week it remained a mystery.
Friday night. The night of Capture the Flag. The Demeter Cabin had allied themselves with the laurel holding Ares Cabin, Dionysus, Aphrodite, and Hephaestus. The five groups generally got along well. If they really wanted to win no one would have picked the Aphrodite cabin because they were not all that aggressive. But Jaz mostly agreed to join this alliance because she knew from previous experience that Katie and Travis would somehow end up fighting if they were told to work together.
The two teams meet together just outside of the forest. Chiron was waiting by two tables to deliver the usual instructions.
"Heroes! You know the rules," he shouted. "The creek is the boundary line. The entire forest is fair game. All magical items are allowed. The banner must be prominently displayed, and have no more than two guards. Prisoners may be disarmed, but not bound or gagged. No killing or maiming allowed. I will serve as referee and a battlefield medic. Arm yourselves!"
The table on either side of Chiron suddenly filled with weapons, protection, and equipment. Each table was filled with the same things. The right side was stocked for the red team and the other for the blue. Being on the red team Katie moved toward the right.
Being small, quick, and good with nature, she would be one the red teams scouts but she stocked up with everything like everyone else so the blue team would not know where she would be. After the starting horn she would stash it under a bush. Dunamis would offer her protection, strapped to her hip. The Demeter cabin followed the Ares kids who were throwing taunts at the blue team. They made their way into the north woods. Clarisse sent Katie's friend, Jake Mason and his sibling Charles Beckendorf to hide the flag and then stand as guards. Every other Hephaestus kid was paired up with a Demeter kid and were placed all over the north woods to watch out for intruders. The two Dionysus boys' were on jail patrol. That left the Aphrodite offspring who never really did much. Silena Beauregard, the leader and most involved person from the Aphrodite cabin, was the other scout. Nobody ever really thought she would capture the flag but anyone who stopped her would have to deal with her flirt and would instantly become distracted from the game. The only people left were Clarisse's henchmen. They were on some sort of "special mission". Katie knew they were going to have revenge plotted against Percy Jackson for the incident in the bathrooms but no one tried to stop their leader.
With their orders fresh in their minds, the red team took positions. Katie had begun to take off her armor when she heard the conch horn blow. She took off at a brisk walk, staying as close to trees as she could. Already she was near the border so her next move would be to cross. All Katie needed to do was wait for the right moment. She heard a roar from a ways down the creek, no doubt the Ares Cabin and their "special mission." Katie saw the warrior in the blue plume that had been across from her run to the noise leaving a wide gap. Deftly she made her way across the creek into enemy territory. Katie turned her head towards the noise and smiled at her good fortune. Just as quick as her smile came she ran into something. Her nature senses told her it was not a tree, so someone had collided with her. She was falling to the ground and so was this person. They landed with a thud and Katie's head began pounding she was immediately regretting taking off her helmet. He had landed on top of her. Through the blue plumed helmet she could see the piercing ice blue eyes that Katie would recognize anywhere.
She groaned. Why'd it have to be him who caught her? The devastated look on her face made the assaulter smile.
Katie began to raise her hands to her head that was now hammering. He stopped her by using his own hands to lock her wrists to the ground. The only thing separating them was his breast-plate. Knowing it was no use to try to fight it she clenched her eyes closed and knit her eyebrows together praying to the gods, willing the pain away.
"No, Katie, you're not dreaming. I really am here." He taunted obviously misinterpreting her pain.
Without opening her eyes she responded. "Any dream of mine that you are in, Stoll, is a nightmare."
"Of course, I'm the knight in shining armor that saves you from the horrible monster!"
"No, you're the monster." A smile played on her lips and Katie opened her eyes.
"I guess I will have to be happy with that for now. As long as I know you're thinking about me."
Was he flirting? Did he just admit to liking Katie? It wasn't exactly a reassuring thing that Katie wanted to hear. But she decided to channel her inner Aphrodite and Athena to get herself out of this mess. She thought of every sappy Nicholas Sparks movie she had ever seen to help her out.
Katie looked deep into Travis' eyes and slowly moved into his face. She felt his body stiffen and his eyes began to search, panicking. His hands loosened just a bit around her wrists and she made her move.
Katie pushed all her weight and strength forward and flipped him over so she had the upper hand. Their positions had changes. She backed off just a bit, ready to run off in search of the flag again. However, he still held her wrists.
"That's means Kay. Are you sure you're not a child of Aphrodite?" Travis asked her. He didn't look to upset with the situation though.
"Yup, I'm just underestimated." From far away, more cheering came through the forest, the sound of victory. Someone had won the game, but whom?
Katie turned her head to the noise. She could have sworn she heard Travis mumble "never" under her. Ignoring this, she squinted into the distance and saw a red flag charging toward her across the creek.
"Oh, Hades," she had lost the game.
Travis took her sudden distraction to his advantage and pulled the same move she did before. The two rolled to the side and Katie was under Travis, again.
"Don't get distracted now, Katie, dear."
Luke was running across the creek with red flag in hand. Watching his back, behind luke, were some Apollo kids. They ran past the pair who was lying on the ground. Two of them stopped.
"Need any help there Katie? I do have my protector duties." It was Michael.
"No I got this." She kneed him. Travis rolled over. Once Katie was free and jumped up fast, successfully giving herself a head rush. Michael and the other Apollo camper who Katie guessed to be Kayla, Katie's other friend, laughed at the pair.
"Gods, Katie! Are you sure you're not the monster in those nightmares?!" he yelled at her. Katie joined in on her friends laughter. As they walked to where the teams had gathered.
Chiron had met the two teams by the creek and blew the conch horn. The blue team had won. Usually Katie would be bitter about losing but with Travis' pain still in her mind she smiled. She couldn't help but think about what would have happened if that almost kiss they had, had turned into an actual kiss? It was a new thought for Katie. She shook it out of her head.
The group of three had reached the river with Travis trailing closely behind Katie.
When they arrived they saw Percy Jackson yelling at Annabeth, something about "being pulverized." No one was really paying attention to them. There was a lot of yelling for revenge and trading chore jobs. then the sound of a howl echoed through the forest. The demigods were immediately on edge. All cheering stopped.
In Greek, Chiron shouted, "Stand ready! My bow!"
Katie drew her dagger and backed up to get into place. As she took a step back Travis took a step closer to her. His sword drawn and his face nervous.
"Katie, where's your armor?" his face was scared. He didn't wait for an answer before taking a step to stand directly in front of her. Not wanting his protection Katie turned around to guard his back.
A large "THRUMMP!" made every camper gasp, on top of the pile of rocks on the edge of the creek stood a large hellhound. The monster was the size of a minivan with burning blood-red eyes and fangs that could tear anything placed upon them. The hound stood directly above where Percy was standing and stared down the new kid. Annabeth yelled for Percy to run but he stood just as motionless as everyone else. Because of that Annabeth made a move to stand in front of him. The creature jumped over her and knocked down the boy. Defenseless, Percy laid on the rocky shore of the creek completely helpless to the monster clawing at his armor. The metal was ripped to shreds and just when the hellhound had destroyed it all a series of arrows was shot from all angles into the hound killing him in an instantly. Thank the gods the monster had fallen to the side and not on top of Percy. Everyone was quiet. The only noises were the one of the Apollo medics tryng to bring supplies to the wounded Percy and Chiron's hooves trotting over to the boy.
"That's a hellhound from the Fields of Punishment. They don't . . . they're not supposed to . . ." Annabeth send amazed. She was talking specifically to Chiro but everyone listened to the conversation wanting to know what was going on.
"Someone summoned it," Chiron responded, "someone inside the Camp."
"It's all Percy's fault! Percy summoned it!" Clarisse yelled. This was a ridiculous accusation. First, Percy had been with the rest of the group that had included Clarisse the entire time. Second, Percy had only been at Camp for less than a week. If he had learned how send for a hellhound then someone must have taught him in those few days. And everyone has watched him to see what he would become. There was absolutely no way Percy could have summoned the monster from the Underworld.
"Be quiet child," Chiron told her, watching the hellhound disappear into the ground.
"You're wounded. Quick, Percy, into the water." Annabeth demanded. Percy tried to tell her he was alright. "No, you're not. Chiron, watch this."
Again, he tried to argue but with more campers closing in, Percy felt pressured and slowly backed up into the water. Instantly, his wounds began to heal themselves.
"Holy styx, that's awesome!" Katie heard Travis mumble next to her.
The water was healing Percy's body. It was something no one at camp had ever seen before but that was not all. Most campers were amazed the first few times they saw a claiming. The magical feeling they felt would wear away after two or three. But they were all seeing a different symbol this time. Something none of them but Chiron had ever seen except for in books. A glowing green, three-pronged trident rotated above Percy Jackson's head.
"It is determined," Chiron announced.
Every camper, satyr, and wood nymph shared the same grieved face as they knelt to the demigod.
"My father?" Percy asked Chiron.
"Poseidon," Chiron answered. "Earthshaker, Stormbringer, Father of Horses. Hail Perseus Jackson, Son of the Sea God."
Each person who was kneeling stood up and raised their weapons in silence.
The new kid was a Son of the Big Three.
So, how have you guys been? It has been a while. Is the story gtting good?
Thank you for readign and reviewing! It makes e so happy to see how much you enjoy my crazy imagination.
I need to remember to thank the man himself! Mr. Rick Riordan, the creater of this magical world. All rights go to you!
sincerely- scripted