Chapter 2

Alyssa choked back a laugh. What had this boy dragged her into? Was this some stupid joke? She was even counting down the seconds until the boy said 'Surprise' and a tv camera crew jumped out from behind trees and bushes. But it never came. They boys face remained deadly serious and Alyssa paused to take in his features. He was tanned with bronze, tousled hair and he was also quite tall. The more she studied him, the more she appreciated how attractive he was. Obviously she would never admit that, especially after she had been dragged out of a plane by him.

He grabbed her hand and pulled her through the gates. What she saw made her gasp. Laid out in front of her was rolling fields of strawberries, cabins stretched out as far as the eye could see and … a battle arena. Suddenly Alyssa realized that this wasn't a scout camp. She was also confused. Before she went through the gate, there was just a forest. She couldn't make sense of it, any of it.

"Beautiful, huh?" the boy said. She nodded dumbly as he continued. "Anyway, my name is Cameron. You'll be staying in the Hermes cabin." He pointed vaguely in the direction of 12 massive cabins in a ring around a courtyard.

"But, but," she stammered, "Hermes is a myth. This is just a sick joke. I should be in New York now, not here!" he just smiled broadly.

"I'll let Chiron fill you in." He led her towards a big house on a hill. Some people were playing outside it. Except that when Alyssa looked closer, the 'girls' were green and the 'boys' had goats' legs. She rubbed her eyes, but the image didn't change. As they were about to knock on the door of the big house, it opened, and framed in the door frame was a man. Except he wasn't really a man, since he had horse legs. Except that he was a centaur. Then she fainted.

"It looks like she's coming around Chiron. Do you still need me or can I go?" Alyssa blinked twice in the bright light, with the face of Cameron peering down at her.

"I think you should stay Cameron. It's a lot to take in."

"Excuse me, but can someone tell me where I am." Alyssa said. Cameron glanced at her.

"We are at Camp Half Blood of course. We are the children of both humans and Gods, and this is a safe haven for half-bloods. You are one, of course. We learn fighting skills amongst other things, so we can defend ourselves against monsters, such as the one on the plane. Though how you managed to kill it leaves me flabbergasted." After this recount, Cameron's face was still serious. Then he grinned.

"I think Alyssa here has had enough to take in for one day. Can you show her to the Hermes cabin Cameron?"

Cameron helped her up from the chair she was sitting in, and took her outside. They walked slowly to the large courtyard.

"Cameron," she said tentatively, "What, ummm, what god is your parent?" He smiled.

"Hephaestus."

They came to a stop outside a cabin which Alyssa could only assume was the Hermes cabin.

"This is where all unclaimed kids go." Cameron said, and at her confused face he went on. "Unclaimed means your godly parent hasn't come forward to claim you as their own. Anyway, here you are, you'll find clothes on your bunk and dinner is at the mess hall at 6pm. Ask a Hermes kid to show you the way."

"Thanks Cameron." She called over her shoulder as she pushed open the door.