Gods, you guys are evil. FINE. Here's your second chapter. But THIS IS IT. And if you tell me otherwise, I will virtually bash you over the head with my computer until you can no longer (virtually) bother me. Thank you to cinthialeonzo23 and naruXmia135251 for the favorites, to PixelUp for the follow, and as for reviews: your replies are below.
WaterWarrior60: Here you go! (So much for that whole 'one-shot' idea...)
Guest: Good point. I'll be explaining…
luisa: Thank you!
Zoe practically flew out the car. She fell to her knees on the pavement until her vision stopped spinning and her stomach stopped heaving and she could breathe normally again. Then she stood, shakily, and leaned on her suitcase.
The Gray Sisters were awful drivers. It went without saying. But oh gods, they were ever so much worse than awful. There was not a number big enough to describe how many parking tickets they should get—each. And there was not a word invented yet to describe what it was like. And—Zoe was interrupted in her little mental rant by the sound of clopping hooves.
Zoe looked up to see Chiron, the centaur, coming down the hill towards her. "Hi," she called weakly. She vaguely remembered him from weekend visits when she was small, but when Charlie was born when she was three, they had slowed, and then Percy only went for business. Then they were just getting to a point where they could travel and "not lose their sanity", as Annabeth put it, when the twins were born. Soon they'd be at that point again, but now she was here. So it didn't matter.
"How was your trip, my dear?" Chiron inquired politely.
Zoe coughed. She must have given him some sort of look, because Chiron merely laughed and said, "Yes, the Gray Sisters are not my preferred method of transportation. Come along."
They walked up the hill together, Zoe dragging her red suitcase behind her. "So, um," she said. "Which cabin am I going to be in?"
Chiron nodded thoughtfully. "Good question. Well, it's up to you, I suppose. Of course the Poseidon cabin will be empty except for you, but if you prefer your solitude…" He drifted off, purposely, Zoe suspected. Chiron didn't seem the type to be ever at a loss for words.
Zoe was torn. They passed through the camp barrier, by the famous pine tree, and Zoe shivered. Chiron didn't seem to notice any changes. "What do you recommend?"
They had paused by the Big House. "Oh, I think it is up to you to decide, my dear."
Zoe hesitated. Alone…but she did come here to get away from her siblings. Uncle Nico's words came back to her. You need time to be what you are—a kid. And normal kids had friends.
"The Athena cabin," she blurted, before she could change her mind.
"A wise choice," Chiron said. Zoe wondered if he intended the pun. But before she could ask, he was gesturing to a tall boy who had magically appeared beside him. "This is George," he said. "He'll show you to the cabin." And he was gone.
Zoe fell in step beside George. "So, you're head counselor?" she asked.
He grinned crookedly at her. "Yup. So, you're Percy Jackson's daughter?"
She blushed. "Yeah. I guess, technically, you're my uncle."
"Huh," he said. "Weird, considering I'm sixteen and you're what, twelve?"
Feeling very mature, Zoe answered, "Nah, just eleven."
"Hm," George said, giving her an appraising look. "You look older. Anyways, here we are."
After the harsh daylight of the outside, even the Athena cabin, which was well-lit and neat, took a moment to adjust to. The cabin was empty. "Everyone's at archery," George explained. "You can have top bunk, over there."
Zoe set her things on the shelf. "Thanks!" Though she ought to have felt nervous, she liked Camp Half-Blood more and more every second.
They walked outside together. "So, looks like you've missed archery, pretty much. Want to head over to the lake for swimming?"
Zoe's eyes lit up. "Swimming? I didn't know we had that!"
"Yup, they added it last summer. It's alright, I guess."
"No way," she corrected him. "It's the absolute best! Awesome!"
George laughed. "Figures you'd think that. Anyways, I'll give you your schedule after dinner—we had a printer malfunction—but then, after swimming, we have Ancient Greek."
"Double awesome!"
George ruffled her hair affectionately. "You'll fit in just fine," he reassured her as they made their way to the lake.
And you know what? She did.
The end! Hope you liked it. And, yanno, even if I won't reply to reviews anymore since the story's finished, I always appreciate them! :) Thanks for reading.
