I do not own PJO and HOO.

Chapter one – Camp Half Blood

Luke's POV

A sound of a horn came from the side of the strawberry fields. That must be the border patrol. It was around 3 o'clock in the evening and I was conducting my sword fighting class as usual. Clarisse is at the border patrol, so she must be able to handle the situation, so I didn't panic. But I must go and look up what's going on. That's my responsibility and I cannot take any chances.

"Practice among yourself guys and I'll see what's going on there," I said to the other teenagers and then left the arena and started to run through the strawberry fields towards the camp boundary.

When I reached the border, I saw Clarisse covered in monster dust beside 3 other Ares campers. In front of them is a boy, around 10 years old, kneeling on the ground and covered with sweat, breathing heavily. He looked exhausted.

"Two empousas were hunting him," Clarisse said to me.

Nodding at her, I crouched down in front of the boy. "Hey buddy, you are safe now. Are you okay?" I asked him.

He nodded at me and then fainted. I quickly caught him and then carried him.

"Good job guys," I said to Clarisse and the other campers. They nodded at me and continued the patrol.

The border is protected by Thalia's pine tree. Without that, the camp would have been devastated within weeks. But there is border patrol during the whole day and night, to ensure that there won't be any surprise attack on the camp, or in a situation exactly like this. Protection of the Thalia's tree doesn't mean that we can ignore protecting the boundary by ourselves. Anyway, Clarisse insisted herself that we need to continue the border patrol even we received the Thalia's pine tree.

When I turned around towards the strawberry fields to walk back to the camp, Annabeth was running towards me. Her beautiful blonde hair is now tied into a messy ponytail. She is wearing the usual orange camp tshirt and jean shorts. Her tagger is strapped on to his hip. Oh, how beautiful she looks in the background of the strawberry field. How much I desire an alternate reality, without any of this demigod business, and Annabeth running towards me in this same strawberry field just like this, just as beautiful as this, into my open arms to hug me tightly. I will give everything to make that a reality.

"Is he alright?" Annabeth's voice drift me back to the reality.

"Yeah, he fainted because of the exhaustion. I was running away from to empousas when Clarisse met him at the border,"

Annabeth visibly relaxed a little bit hearing that the boy is safe.

"Let's go to the med bay," she said.

"Yeah,"

Annabeth walked in front of me. She has grown into a fine young woman, acting more matured than a 22-year-old girl. She has come a long way since the day I met her as a 7-year-old little girl, running from her parents. Luckily, I found her when I was on the run. Both of us were facing a similar situation, thrust into this world without any knowledge, monsters on our tail. From that day onwards, I protected her. She looked up to me as that little girl at that time, but now she is a strong young woman. There are moments she still needs me, because deep down, in her head, I'm still the boy two years older than her who saved her when she was alone. She has taken the mantle of one of the leaders of the camp besides me. We are not officially entitled, but all the campers treat the two of us as leaders. Someone must be there for everyone.

We walked into the med bay and I placed the boy on a bed. Apollo campers started to treat him. Chiron also joined us at the med bay, the camp director, the legendary centaur. He is the only one who trains and guides the demigods in the camp, other than the senior campers. All of us are students of him. We owe him a lot. For centuries, he is training the demigods since the days of ancient Greece. In a way, it's kind of a curse. The responsibility of training the demigods, which must be dome by the gods themselves, has forced upon him, and he has no say in it. But he says that he enjoys his job and position. With centuries on knowledge and experience, he is wise. With that wisdom and understanding of this world, what he has achieved? Still doing the biddings of gods, fulfilling gods own responsibilities, as the director of the Camp Half Blood.

Camp Half Blood, the only safe heavens for the demigods, the only place where we demigods have some protection from the horrors of the Greek monsters. All are teenagers but forced to live an adult life. Some of us didn't have the luxury to spend even our childhood peacefully. Mortals cannot see the horror of the world we live in. How I envy those mortal teenagers. They do not know how lucky they are, living normal lives with life goals, families, professions, careers, but most importantly, love and care. What do we have compared to them? What are our privileges? Ironically, we are the superior beings. Demigods. Blood of the gods running through our veins. But do the said gods even care about us? We are now fighting for our lives in a daily basis. Outnumbered always. Where are the gods when we desperately need them? We are pushed into this world without any knowledge. Where were our godly parents when we needed them most in our childhood? Isn't it their responsibility to take care of their children? At least guide them to live in this world.

"Luke, can you please arrange some room for our new member in your cabin. He needs some place to settle until he is claimed," Chron said to me in his kind voice.

"Sure," I said to him.

The kid's life is going to change completely upside down when he wakes up. Another poor soul. There will be lot to take in about this whole world. Hope he will not be overwhelmed. Annabeth looked at me and nodded, understanding what is going in my mind.

"I'll stay here until he wakes up," she said.

"Thank you, Annabeth. Bring her to the big house when he has woken up and ready," Chiron told her and exited the med bay.

"See you later Beth," I said squeezing her shoulder. She gave me a little smile. I walked out of the med bay and went towards the Hermes cabin.

As I went inside the Hermes cabin, there were no camper inside because all of them are outside doing various works and activities of the typical day at the camp. I set up a small place and a bed for the new camper. Probably he may not need to stay in here for days. I think he will get claimed at tonight in the campfire.

Now a days, new demigods get claimed within day or two in the camp. Also, the number of new demigods popping up at the camp border has increased in recent time. I think it is because of the events occurred in the last winter solstice, around 5 months ago. After that, gods have physically disappeared from the world somehow. Time to time their presence can be seen and that's all they can do. Even when they lived around us, the didn't care about their children. So, I do not care about the existence of the gods. We only served as their pieces of chess according to their desires. We were basically servants of the gods. Now somehow, they have vanished physically. They might be claiming the new demigods now without any delay because they need us now more than ever before. Even when the gods have vanished, we cannot be left alone. What happened is that the responsibility for the demigods like us, who know this world, has increased. There must be a huge conflict soon, and gods are powerless now and they need us.

I went back to the arena and continued my lesson with them. After that I walked into the big house. When i got there, Annabeth was already with the new kid, talking with Chiron. Chiron must be telling the kid about the Greek mythological world, which is the reality we live in. it must be hard for him. The kid's eyes are wide with wonder. I really feel bad for them. I have seen this exact situation more than enough to know what's going through their small minds. Small children, from age 7 all the way up to 15 16 have walked into this same building, and Chiron has given the information about their reality. From that moment onwards, their whole life is going to change. There are no longer carefree teenagers living and enjoying the lives. From that moment onwards, there are forced to matured without the love and care of the parents.

"Luke, my boy. You are right on time. Can you please show around the camp to our little Jacob," Chron asked kindly from me, when he saw me at the entrance of the big house.

"Hey buddy, how are you doing?" I asked form him kindly. Of course, it's lot to take in at the moment. But what else I can ask from him. I have seen the face of Jacob countless times in my life in the camp. I have been in this position by myself. So, I know exactly what's going on the young demigod's head.

"It's kind of amazing, and also bizarre," he muttered.

"Believe me kid, I know the feeling," I said giving him a laugh. I looked at the kid for figure out who might be the godly parent of his. He has blonde hair. I still did not know the attitude of the kid. Perhaps his father is Apollo, or perhaps his mother is Athena. Anyway, I feel that it might be revealed sooner than later.

"So, how old are you?" I asked from him.

"I turned 11 two months ago," he said.

I wanted to know about his family. But asking about his family might be not the best thing for the kid at this moment. Also, I don't want to hear another disappointing parenting from an Olympian. Again. I am fed up hearing them and their excuses. I took Jacob around the camp, showing all the locations and finally we arrived at the cabins.

"Jacob, this is the place where we live. There are 12 cabins for 12 Olympian gods. Children of each gods live in that god's cabin," I said to him.

"So, where would I be? I do not know my godly parent," he asked looking at me.

If Jacob has asked this question few years ago, I would have started cursing the gods again. In those days, gods didn't even claim their children properly. Some children waited almost years to get claimed by their mother or father. That's the nature of the gods. Now they claim the children as soon as possible, just because now they need us more than ever before. How pathetic. They don't deserve us.

"Don't worry buddy," I said ruffling his hair. "For now, you can stay in our cabin. The Hermes cabin. As he is the god of travelers, his cabin is welcome for all the unclaimed demigods," I said leading him inside.

There was no other camper inside the cabin. All of them are outside doing various activities and chores. It's the biggest cabin among the 12. it has been packed due to the unclaimed demigods in the past days, but now, it is not. All of us are children of Hermes. Looking into the empty cabin now, it feels very spacious. I remembered the first time I entered here. It was a mess, filled with the stuff of campers because there wasn't enough room in here. Now it's more organized, as organized as a Hermes cabin can be.

"Puy your stuff on an empty bed. You will be probably claimed in the campfire at night," I said to Jacob. He walked slowly towards an empty bed and put his bag on the bed and sat down on the bed. His eyes were running around looking at the surrounding. I walked to him and sat beside him.

"So, do I get to see my father today?" he asked nervously.

Poor kid. Perhaps he might have not seen his father for all his lifetime. I can recognize the hope in his voice, hope to finally see his father. I know that feeling too well.

"I'm really sorry to say this but your father will not come to see you today," I said putting my hand around his shoulder. "Something has happened on Olympus. Gods have disappeared since lase winter solstice. We don't know what happened to them,"

Even if the gods were in the Olympus, none of them would have come by themselves down here to claim a child. That has never happened before. They don't care about us like that. The crappy excuse behind that is the godly ancient laws, forbidding them to keep contacting with their children. I don't want Jacob to know about those things right now. This is his first day. My responsibility is to make his new life easy for him and feel him welcomed. The time will come for all the demigods to know the true nature of the gods. It's not far away.

"Oh…," he muttered. "So, what's claiming?"

"Nothing special, your godly parents' symbol would shine up. That's all. It's not that interesting. But at least you know where you belong,"

I should not have said that last part. That does not sound like welcoming.

"Don't worry, we are all here for you. You will find out who are your siblings tonight and they will welcome you happily. You will have a great family with them. With all of us,"

"Thanks," he said looking at me.

"Are you hungry?" I asked from him.

"No, that ambrosia was more than enough. By the way that tasted amazing. Do I get to eat that all the time?" he asked. I laughed at him.

"That would not be healthy for you even though it tastes heavenly. After all, that what gods eat," I winked at him.

"No way!" he gasped; his mouth wide open.

"Come on, let's meet Annabeth. She will tell you more about our world," I said standing up.

We went outside and found Annabeth teaching younger kids about Greek mythology. Seeing us approaching her, she blushed a bit and smiled at me nicely.

"Hey Jacob, come and sit with us. I will tell you some very interesting stories about Greek heroes. That will be really helpful for you one day. You are already a little hero now," she said smiling at the kid.

Jacob sat near Annabeth and listened to her stories with fascination. I wait there for couple of minutes, listening to Annabeth. Her kind nature is showing perfectly when she is with small kids. Most of the time, she is very serious, always thinking hard about the wellbeing of others. But with the children, she seemed relaxed. Almost happy. But behind that shiny gray eyes, which now directed towards the kid with kind and passion, I can see the worry and sorrow. She knows this is our future and this is our responsibility. Those kids' fate is held in our hands. We must prepare them for their ugly and brutal future. Time to time she looks at me and see I stare at her. When our eyes met, she blushed and quickly look towards the kids. Time to time she smiles at me.

My poor little Beth. Why can't she enjoy the joy of youth? Why can't she enjoy her feelings? Why can't I do that? Why we cannot be a carefree couple, enjoying our lives together, building future together for our lives, enjoying the love? Why don't we deserve that? This is all because of the gods. Demigods children cannot live their childhood as children. We do not get the chance to spend our childhood among the love and care of our parents. Even after all that suffering from the childhood, we don't even get to enjoy our youth as we should be. Now even as young adults, we do not have the luxury to enjoy and show the love for the person you love as you should be. Gods have doomed our entire lives, not only our childhood. Giving Annabeth a smile, I left her with the kids, without further distracting her.

Authors note

This is my new story and I hope you will enjoy this one. Reviews and constructive criticism are welcomed. See you next time!