Thorin and Thalia had finally reached Camp Half-Blood. The two of them stood at the top of the hill, tight where she used to guard the camp as a pine tree. She nodded towards the camp.

"From here you go on alone."

Thorin had had the most sickening feeling ever since they hit the road. He wasn't sure what exactly this place was but something in the back of his head was trying to turn him away from it. It was a strange thought but he knew he wouldn't fit in. Although Thalia seemed very certain that this was the one place he truly belonged in, he had to note his uncertainty. But Thalia was someone he knew he could trust – he'd felt a connection to her that he couldn't explain. He felt… at home around her. So hearing her say she was leaving him made his heart sink and a shiver ran through his whole body.

"What?!"

"I… I don't want to go back there. Not right now." She seemed sad when she said it. There was a recognizable melancholy in her voice which took Thorin by surprise.

"What?! No! No, no, no! You have to come. You can't just bring me here and drop me off! What am I supposed to do?! Who am I supposed to talk to?!" he was getting more and more annoyed with her decision. He saw her wonder for a moment whether he was right and he seized the opportunity to convince her to stay. "Look, just come with me and introduce me. I have no idea who I should talk to. I also want to know at least one person here. Not to mention that it was your idea that I came here in the first place!"

He had her. She gave up and nodded.

"Fine," she said as she let out a deep breath. "But I'm not here to stay, do you understand?"

Thorin smiled and nodded and Thalia led him through the barrier. On the way here she'd explained all about it and when she looked at him from the other side he gulped, suddenly frozen by the fear he'd be one of those people it wouldn't let through. Thalia had said that if one of your parents was a god, you'd be let through. He'd laughed but then she'd looked at him in a way that told him she was dead serious. She's insane, he'd thought but then Thalia explained to him all about the 12 Gods of Olympus and the custom they had of coming down and having children. Something deep inside Thorin had stirred and he'd shivered. How hard must that be on the mothers? What about the children? Having to see so many other half-brothers and –sisters… When Thalia had seen he wasn't convinced she'd showed him what she could do. That had zapped the hesitation right out of him.

Now he looked at Thalia with a fixed jaw and flames in his eyes.

"And what if it doesn't let me through? What happens then? Whatever you think of me right now will be wrong." Thalia looked at him and narrowed her eyes challengingly.

"I am never wrong, Thorin," she said and that made him grit his teeth, let out his breath with a hiss and step forward.

He felt a slight tingle and a shift of the air as he moved. He felt warmth and something else he could only describe as energy. It passed through him and it left him with a feeling of power, resonating through his entire body. He smiled and he opened his eyes. He was standing right in front of Thalia. There was a satisfied smile on her face, which made Thorin want to wipe it off. He ignored the urge.

"You never told me who your god parent is." The two of them were walking down the hill towards the main camp site and the cabins.

"Zeus," she said simply and it made Thorin stop in his steps.

"Zeus?!" he exclaimed.

"Yeah," Thalia shrugged. Thorin couldn't believe it. Earlier she'd said that these days there were no children of the Big Three, save for Percy Jackson, who had become something of a legend. "There's just me though," she added and turned away. "There was a boy, Nico. He is Hades's son. He had a twin sister, who was one of the Hunters but she died."

"So that makes one for each god."

"Yes but I don't go to Camp Half-Blood anymore. And Nico doesn't either. Percy's the only one still around." Thalia smiled as they neared the cabins' omega. "You'll like him. He was the reason the gods became more responsible for their children and the reason they built cabins for minor gods too."

Thorin looked around. There were twenty cabins in the omega. Each one was different from the rest. Twelve of them were bigger than the rest – they belonged to the gods of Olympus. Three of them were even larger – the Big Three. It all made perfect sense. It was simple and easy to grasp. Thorin liked it.

There was no movement in the entire camp. 3a.m. was way too early for anyone to be awake. Thalia led Thorin past the cabins to the teacher's lounge. It was quiet, just as the rest of the camp. Thalia smiled menacingly and tapped Thorin on the arm.

"Watch this," she said, excitement all over her voice.

Thorin observed very carefully, and worriedly as Thalia walked inside. He couldn't see her after that but he heard the creaking of the floorboards and some rattling. Then it was quiet until…

"Aaaaaaaah! Who in the fuck—" a voice rang out very clearly. Thorin had the feeling it could wake the entire camp. He shivered and touched his ears to see if everything was okay and he wasn't bleeding. Some mumbling followed and then Thorin could hear the voice of the same man. "What the hell are you doing here?" Thalia answered something he couldn't make out and then the man spoke again. "What are you talking about? That's impossible!" There was another pause and then more screeching as two pairs of feet stepped on the old floor. Thorin braced himself and then Thalia led the man to the porch, where Thorin had been waiting.

The man had a chubby face, a red nose and curly hair so black, it looked purple. It was all messy since he had just got up and his brows were locked in a frown. His eyes were still sleepily almost-closed but Thorin could see they were blue. Compared to Thalia's though, they looked grey. The man was at least a head shorter than Thorin.

"That's Thorin. Thorin, that's Dionysus. He's camp director." Thalia made the introductions with a smile. "You can call him Mr. D though." She added and crossed her arms over her chest. There was something very amusing about this whole thing, Thorin noted, only according to Thalia, unfortunately.

"You, little punk, had to get me out of my bed because of—" Thalia didn't give him the chance to finish.

"I found him on a hill in the woods. In Montana."

That shocked both Mr. D and Thorin. Was she serious? They'd been walking through the woods for no more than two hours! It was impossible to get from Montana to Long Island in two hours! Either she was lying about where they were, or she was lying about where she'd found him. Neither of which made sense.

Mr. D looked at her with a frown and then his eyes studied Thorin. Thorin's frustration was taking over again. What the hell was going on, and why wouldn't anyone let him in on the secrets they all obviously shared…

"Thalia, what did you mean by…" Thorin looked at her but she waved at him to stay quiet. Later, she mouthed and for the umpth time he gritted his teeth to keep from saying something unfitting.

"Well, Huntress, tell me now how your master let you come here just like that," Mr. D said, nagging.

"Oh, she sent me to investigate a strange lightning she'd noticed. That's where I found him."

"Lightning, you say," Mr. D said slowly but then he shook his head. "No way, I'm too sober for this."

Thalia laughed and as Mr. D was looking for something to drink, Thalia explained to Thorin: "I am the lieutenant of the Hunters of Artemis. I'm in the woods – the ultimate hunting ground. I can do stuff." Thorin was appalled. What exactly was this place? A superhuman boot-camp?

Mr. D came back with a Coke in his hand and as he sipped he looked at Thalia and Thorin. Then he nodded. "Fine, he can stay. It's not really like I have a choice."

Thalia nodded. "Which cabin should I lead him to?"

Mr. D grunted. "Just take him to Hermes. I'll see to that in the morning." He finished his Coke and went back inside, slamming the door. "And tell Artemis to stop being so full of herself!" he yelled at Thalia from inside. She smiled and pulled Thorin towards the cabins.

"Look, I'll leave you off with Percy." She said as they walked past the Hermes cabin. "At least then I'll be able to get back to Artemis."

"But…" Thorin started.

"Shut up. I'm not staying."

Thalia went in the cabin and Thorin followed her in. As he was admiring the water-friendly style of the place, Thalia came back with a tall, very handsome young man, with bright sea green eyes and jet black hair. As he came closer, Thorin noticed there was a grey streak and wondered what possibly could've caused it. When those bright eyes fixed on Thorin's, he felt an instant connection to the boy, just like he had with Thalia. He knew he could trust this one. It was a relief.

"Hi," Thorin said then. He'd heard Thalia tell Percy about him but an introduction was needed anyway, so he outstretched his hand towards him. "You can call me Thorin."

"Hi, Thorin," Percy said with a smile and shook Thorin's hand. "I'm Percy Jackson."